Pacific Club, Karon Beach
I stayed there over Christmas and New Years. It was a great hotel and the food and spa were great. It was guest friendly as far as I could tell. By the time I rolled in late at night, there was nobody at the desk, but I dont think they care what you do. In fact they have some very stratigically placed mirrors so they know whats up. It has an American owner, and this guy was great. More than happy to help with any requests.
Like the other posters said, there is some construction going on, which takes away from it a bit.
I think it was about 200-400 baht for a tuk-tuk to Patong, not bad at all.
A few good restraunts in Karon, Nice beach, not nearly as crowded as Patong Beach.
I would be staying there again this March if it were not for the construction. I will be staying at the Blue Marine in Patong this time.
(tom loves thai 27. Feb. 2006)
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Can't say I was that impressed with Karon itself (nice beach but very little else) but the Pacific Club is great. Spacious well-appointed rooms, a fantastic restaurant and a really nice roof-top pool area with a view over Karon bay. The staff are very friendly and helpful and the wifi speed was certainly one of the best I've had in Thailand. The bathroom had a decent sized tub for LOS and the shower was big enough for 2, which is always a bonus.
There's a lot of building work going on in front of the hotel at the moment and so if you stay on the 1st or 2nd floors then you won't have much of a view. I was on the 3rd floor and still had a pretty good sea view and if you were on the 4th floor then the view would be totally unobstructed. The rooms are well soundproofed so the noise of the construction work wasn't an issue unless you were sitting on the balcony and I didn't notice it as a problem when lounging by the pool.
If you're looking for somewhere quiet to relax then you won't go far wrong with the Pacific Club. I can't comment as to how guest friendly they are as I was with my girlfriend and although she puts up with my butterflying I didn't see a single girl in the bars of Karon that tempted me. Often there was nobody at reception when I returned to the hotel though so I wouldn't have thought it would be a problem to bring back multiple guests.
Can't help with recommendation for bars or restaurants in Karon (other than the hotel restaurant) as I wasn't really taken by any of them, but it was my first visit and I'm sure there are plenty of more experienced BMs that can tell you of all the great places I missed. I didn't take any tuk-tuks within Karon as my girlfriend refused to let me pay the mafia prices (they wanted 150 THB to go from the centre of Karon to the hotel) but a tuk-tuk to Patong was 250.
(West 27. Feb. 2006)
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Heh im there just now also! Floor 3...
It is a nice place, although this morning the builders woke me for a bit, although its not that bad, no big machine tools just odd bit of hammering I hear...Due to the hill out front and it being unpaved as yet however its a bit of a nightmare with the chair (not even contemplated my folks trying to push me up that hill, almost killed them walking up there in the heat).
My opinion of the place basically mirrors Wests, including that of Karon...im afraid to say Karon isnt where I will be staying again.
So, were renting a car today to go scout about and look for someplace new...still gonna stay here for a week though probably.
(Izeikl 27. Feb. 2006)
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Pacific Light Hotel
Apologies in advance if these details have already been added to the forum, but I could not find anything before posting this.
The new Guesthouse round the back of the KN Guesthouse, is called the Pacific Light Hotel. It's brand new and may be useful for anyone going to LOS during high season who is still looking for accomodation. I stopped by there yesterday and spoke to a lady on reception who gave me the following information...
There are 3 types of rooms available and they have 3 different rates according to the time of year
Peak Season : 20th December to 15th January
High Season : 1st November to 30th April (excluding Peak Season)
Low Season : 1st May to 31st October
Rooms (and rates per night in baht)...
Suite : Peak 3,500 - High 3,000 - Low 2,500
Superior : Peak 2,600 - High 2,000 - Low 1,500
Standard : Peak 2,500 - High 1,800 - Low 1,200
Other details...
All rooms accessed by stairs (no lift)
Prices for room only, i.e. no meals etc. They have no restaurant.
Joiner fee : 500baht for 1 week and not restricted to 1 girl
Website : pacificlighthotel but doesn't asppear to be up and running yet.
Tel : 076-340233
Fax : 076-346700
(Dizbuster 06. October 2007)
Patong Bay Garden Resort, Phuket
Patong Bay Garden Resort was GF when I stayed there last year..but you need to book for two people.....asking about their policy for having a guest stay with you overnight is a good idea...and if they are fine with it keep the email with you.......good price you wee offered BTW..........if you can afford it stay in one of the rooms on beachsied rather than on Beach RD side.much quiter and closer to the pool/beach
(nelsonone 19.June 2006)
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Posted a pic of a junior suite in Patong Bay Garden before, here it is again. Own pics with golfbag in the corner.
Only negative about the hotel is food. Breakfast is not famous
Two biggest junior suites are 3207 and the one opposite of the swimming pool as they are at the end of the corridor so you win the surface of the corridor in those rooms. Don't go for the 2 which look out to the sea and the short side of the pool above the main entrance (roadside). Those are old rooms, shitty bathroom full of mosquitos (there is a fanhole in the wall and you can not close that) and the roomarrangement is bad.
(Captain 04.07.2006)
Patong Grand Ville, Patong
This is a great place. Managed by Thai, has a big pool in front of the bungalows and airco. I've been there three times and I just loved it. There is at nighttime a guard and all rooms have a safety box, kabeltv and fridge.
Some -facts
You need a motorbike to go in Patong because it's 20 minutes walking to Patong center.
Owned by Thai, so be careful you make good appointments with the owners about the price and service.
The restaurant is shit and expensive so you don't need the breakfast.
Some +facts
Payed 12000 Bath for a month (cheap)
There will be no fine if you bring someone for the night.
Really great swimmingpool (with lights in the water) andif you're not to noise you can even use it at night.
If you arrive you can remove the drinks from the fridge and put your own drinks inside.
The staff is nice and safe.
You also can rent a motorbike for 3000 baht a month there.
Girls love staying there, you feel like middle in the jungle there with all the noises from animals.
Hope this is something for you.
(forward one 01.Feb.2006)
Patong Merlin Hotel
hi I have been 5 times in patong merlin,never at the coconut.it has 3 great swimming pool,a good massage center,fitness center is ok,stuff very good and nice,great breakfast <I could never weak up in time>good location,joiner fee 800 baht,room 3800 in march "think the same in april"enjoy it
(whuakito 24. Feb. 2006)
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Hi mate, my group of 7 guys stayed at the Patong Merlin Hotel.
We had one mate who is a hard core Rock Ape that decided he must exercise and couldn't stop for 10 days.
Positives - Great Hotel, Fantastic Food, Gym/Excercise Room, the HUGH numerous pools ARE open all night to those that decide the guards could do with a small tip.
Negatives - Not the cheapest hotel, 800b joiner fee, 10+ min walk (sober) to Bangla (tuk tuk ride home) More of a family/couples hotel but we liked the quality, facilities and the POOLS.
Enjoy your holiday its a great place
(sierradelta 19. Jan.2006
Patong Resort
Just come back from an 8-day stay @ the Patong Resort, located next to the Patong Tower.
Good sized rooms and bathrooms and relatively clean and tidy hotel all-round. Friendly staff (especially around the pool/sports bar and cleaners), was always greeted with a smile and any issues were sorted A.S.A.P. All the facilities you require, good sized pool and sun lounges. Included breakfast is on the average side as are most hotels.
Location is brilliant, with access to beach, bangla and Rath-u-Thit Roads from either entrances. Within 2min walk to 7/11, Pharmacy, Massage and small markets. During June there were mixed ages of people staying there, but mostly couples in their 50's. Services charges are reasonable, but look for things such as safe deposit box charges (50baht/day).
Joiner fees. If you want to bring back a local Thai girl, you will be stung 700baht, and the security guards can be a bit rude to your guest. Once inside the lobby though its all smiles from the service counter. Friends of mine brought back farang lady guests most nights and were not charged a single fee nor asked whether they were staying at the hotel.
Would recommend for families, couples - but not single gents looking for a bit of late-night fun.
(Ranger J 28. June 2006)