Naithon Beach Mansion

The place is run-down, with old, wobbly furniture, weak water pressure, a sunken mattress, and uncomfortable pillows. My friend's metal shower rack in another room came right off the wall. My own cheap hotel key snapped while I was trying to open the lock, and they charged me 5000 Thai baht to replace it. I tried to discuss it with the staff, but they said that's the standard penalty in Phuket. The maintenance is awful. Stay somewhere else.

The staff were kind, generous, and helpful, and the place felt safe and quiet. The rooms are simple, up three flights of stairs, with tile floors and a tiny balcony looking toward the beach and some jungle. It's an easy five-minute walk to the beach and the boardwalk, where there are vendors, massage places, bars, and restaurants. There's no breakfast, but plenty of options nearby, plus a family-run mini mart, laundry, and liquor store next door. I paid 250 baht for a 30-minute massage and 68 baht for Thai iced tea. There's no secure luggage storage for an early arrival or departure, and no beach towels. You can use the massage area's shower and toilet around check-in or checkout, which worked as a base for a day trip. One thing to know: the cleaning products are strong and the smell lingers even with the balcony door open. Phuket Elephant Care is an easy 20-minute walk through downtown, behind the hotel. It offers a way to see elephants rescued from abusive settings, including riding, tourist tricks, and the logging industry. Feeding costs $1000 baht, feeding and bathing is $2200, and a full day walking in the jungle with the elephants costs more.

I stayed in two rooms. The first was fine, but the AC in the second didn't work, and I woke up to ants around my toothpaste in the sink. The place didn't feel very clean, and the front desk ladies barely spoke English. There isn't a lift or anyone to help with bags, and I was on the fourth floor, where it was pitch black at night. I definitely wouldn't recommend staying here.

The one star is for the hardworking middle-aged housekeeper, who was friendly. The room smelled musty, and the whole hotel had just one hair dryer and one iron. We booked because it was near our friend's wedding. The nightly rate seemed fairly cheap until a problem came up. A rude counter staff member named Pan kept asking for money over small requests. She wanted 500THB to replace a tenant in my room, even though the room was fully paid for four nights. I understand an extra tenant charge, but this was a replacement. She also charged my friend 5000THB for a hotel key that broke in half in the hotel's own doorknob, saying the lost-key fee was Phuket hotel policy. The owner later said they had received only 500 baht. Extremely dishonest staff. Book at your own risk.