Fiji Palms Phuket

Steve made our few nights at Fiji Palms after a boring stretch in Kata the part of the trip that really stood out. He took us around a great beach area, introduced us to wonderful locals, and showed us where we could feed monkeys. His suggestions opened our eyes to how much Phuket has to offer. He went beyond what we expected, and we’re truly grateful.

My wife and I loved this part of our Thailand trip. We had enough peace and local character here to get away from obnoxious crowds and the downsides of tourism, while still being close enough to reach the things we wanted to do. Steve can call a trustworthy taxi, share things about Thai culture and language, or point out nearby places to hang out and explore.

Steve, the owner and operator, was kind and accommodating, and my father really enjoyed his time here and appreciated him. He drove us to the coast for a long tail boat day trip and took us to a nearby beachside restaurant for dinner at sunset. We visited in low season, June 2019, when the place was quiet. The southern coast of phuket looked nice, especially at sunset. There was a decent pool and places to relax, plus a bar that wasn’t manned and a pool table that was out of use. Things may be different in peak season. The rooms were very basic and weren’t serviced while we were there, as Steve was the only staff member. Gaps around the doors let in bugs, and there were lots of mosquitos in the rooms, which was rough for me since I’m sensitive to bites. The property is also very far from the airport and Phuket’s main beaches and attractions. Given how much my dad liked his stay and how kind Steve was, I think the place deserves its 5 star review.

We were disappointed and wouldn’t come back. The place felt run down and poorly maintained. The beds weren’t comfortable, the air conditioning was loud, and the pool was so over-chlorinated that our eyes stung and burned after swimming. The pool bathrooms were dirty, so I wouldn’t suggest using them. There’s no beach access, and the beach it’s supposedly “near” was so dirty with trash that we were afraid to step onto it. There are concrete steps down to a rocky area by the water, where you can rent a canoe and paddle around. One night we wanted to play pool, but nobody was around to get the sticks and balls. At check-in, no one was there to greet us. Steve, who is currently running the place alone, came back, checked us in, explained the area, and told us about a motorbike rental across the street, which was a great place to rent. When we put our bags down, we found 8-10 cockroaches in the bathroom. I told him, and he immediately sent a maintenance man to patch the cracks and get rid of them. While the bathroom was being fixed, Steve showed us around town.