The best place we stayed in Thailand. ...
The best place we stayed in Thailand.
Karon is central between Kata and Patong, both about a 100B tuc-tuc ride away.
The South Sea's staff gave us excellent treatment, really first class. There is a traffic gaurd that solutes each guest on their way in (awesome touch), the bell men arrange cheap cabs and will do anything to make you happy, the tour desk helped us find train tickets to other parts of the country, the front desk spoke very good English, house keeping even folded our laundry.
Rooms were beautiful (just like the picture), the pool cleaned every morning, bathrooms are the same or better than what you would expect in the USA. The hotel, in USA terms, should be about $150 - $200 per night, 4.5 stars without a problem. The marble floors when you enter and the small feeling of the hotel made us feel like we were in our own palace, wanting to stay more when we left.
Hotel massage is the best we found anywhere in Thailand in 2.5 weeks of travel. Beach is across the street, about 30 seconds from any room.
Some tips: If you take a taxi to Phucket Town, don't get the day rate (700B). There is a bus that goes therefor 20B per person each way and then you can hire a Tuc-Tuc to take you around for the day for about 100B. Be careful of the surf, under tow is killer on Kata, Karon, and Patong. Every local we talked to has a friend who had been sucked under and killed by it, we didn't find this out until after we went swimming. Check with the front desk and they will tell you if it is safe to swim. Un-like the states a tip is not expected, but the bell men, wait staff and cab drivers all talk and know who the good tippers are.
This hotel is a must stay at while on Phucket.