Karon Beach Hotels
Karon Beach is normally thought of as the second most touristy beach in Phuket after Patong. Probably true, but it's way quieter than Patong, much cleaner, and if you drive from Patong to Karon you will see what I mean. Like a breath of fresh air, with flowers, trees, a beach that has no direct development except for the new Centara Grand at one end, and just over 3km away the Karon Beach Resort right at the other end. The rest of the beach is natural - sand, some greenery, trees, and there is a drainage canal running along part of the beach, but it's been built to look nice, you have benches to sit on, plenty of beach access and a golden dragon statue too!
Check Agoda for a full list of Karon beach hotels.
Karon has 2 main centers, the most developed near the north end with the road heading inland from the circle to the temple. I have written about Karon Beach on the blog already where you can find more general information. The north end can be quite busy. Lots of hotels and smaller guesthouses and lots of restaurants too. Past the circle further north are a few hotels - Phuket Ocean Resort, Front Village, Centara Grand and then just off the beach are Centara Villas and Karon Cliff which are on the hillside with a great view along the whole beach.
Then along the beach road (a small road runs all along from the circle to the south) you have resorts, some smaller, some larger, such as South Sea, Karon Princess, The Hilton, Thavorn Palm Beach, Moevenpick, Old Phuket, Karon Sea Sands and more. Each resort has its property and each one keeps itself clean. Only pity is that during this current high season, the powers that be have been digging up the beach road! As you get to the south end, a road heads inland (I work up there at Sunrise Divers), and up that road is Phuket Orchid plus many smaller hotels like Karon Place, Casa Brasil, and some lower budget guesthouses like the Pineapple. Karon has accommodation to suit every budget. The last hotels to the south end are Andaman Seaview, Phuket Island View, Horizon and then Karon Beach Resort and Marina Phuket. If you stay near the south end, you can also walk to Kata Beach in about 10 - 15 minutes
The Pacific Club Resort is at the north end of Karon, not right by the beach but on a hillside up a small road, great views, peace and quiet, a 10 minute walk into the busy end of Karon. This hotel consistently gets good reviews, and is in my Top 10 Phuket Hotels list.
• Pacific Club Resort - Review on Jamie's Phuket
• Pacific Club Resort - Check Rates and Availability @ Agoda.com
• Pacific Club Resort - Over 100 Reviews @ Agoda.com
Phuket Orchid Resort
Phuket Orchid is quite a big hotel with over 500 rooms, the entrance is 1 minute walk to Karon beach. Great for families with several large swimming pools. It's on the side road heading off the beach - walk up that road for restaurants and bars and Sunrise Divers, where you can find me :) A friend of mine was manager of this resort for a while - he still works for the same company managing a resort in Samui.
• Phuket Orchid - Review on Jamie's Phuket
• Phuket Orchid - Check Rates and Availability @ Agoda.com
• Phuket Orchid - Over 150 Reviews @ Agoda.com
Marina Phuket Resort
The Marina Phuket Resort sits on the headland right at the south end of Karon Beach. The main entrance is up the road a little from the beach, but some of the rooms ahve a fantastic seaview and they have a restaurant called On The Rock which sits above the beach. Always gets good reviews, and close to Kata and Karon beaches.
• Marina Phuket - Review on Jamie's Phuket
• Marina Phuket - Check Rates and Availability @ Agoda.com
Old Phuket Hotel
The Old Phuket is tucked away up a side road near the middle of Karon beach - the side road is for hotel access only, not a through road, so it's very quiet and just a couple of minutes walk to the beach. Hotel is designed in "olde Phuket" style - if you want to see the real thing, take a tour of Phuket Town!
• Old Phuket Hotel - Review on Jamie's Phuket
• Old Phuket - Check Rates and Availability @ Agoda.com
• Old Phuket - Over 500 Reviews @ Agoda.com
Boomerang Village
Boomerang Village - a bit of an oddity, not by the beach, I guess at least 10 minutes walk, it's up on the hillside between Karon and Kata off the "back road" called Patak Road (good for finding small local restaurants!). It gets great reviews, always sits in the top 10 on TripAdvisor,
• Boomerang Village - Review on Jamie's Phuket
• Boomerang Village - Booking @ Agoda.com
• Boomerang Village - 90+ Reviews @ Agoda.com
More Karon Beach Hotels
• Karon Princess review on Jamie's Phuket
• Le Meridien Resort review on Jamie's Phuket
• Phuket Island View review on Jamie's Phuket
• Centara Grand Resort Info & Booking at Agoda.com
• Hilton Phuket Info & Booking at Agoda.com
• All Karon Beach Hotels @ Agoda.com
Check Agoda for a full list of Karon beach hotels.
Karon has 2 main centers, the most developed near the north end with the road heading inland from the circle to the temple. I have written about Karon Beach on the blog already where you can find more general information. The north end can be quite busy. Lots of hotels and smaller guesthouses and lots of restaurants too. Past the circle further north are a few hotels - Phuket Ocean Resort, Front Village, Centara Grand and then just off the beach are Centara Villas and Karon Cliff which are on the hillside with a great view along the whole beach.
Then along the beach road (a small road runs all along from the circle to the south) you have resorts, some smaller, some larger, such as South Sea, Karon Princess, The Hilton, Thavorn Palm Beach, Moevenpick, Old Phuket, Karon Sea Sands and more. Each resort has its property and each one keeps itself clean. Only pity is that during this current high season, the powers that be have been digging up the beach road! As you get to the south end, a road heads inland (I work up there at Sunrise Divers), and up that road is Phuket Orchid plus many smaller hotels like Karon Place, Casa Brasil, and some lower budget guesthouses like the Pineapple. Karon has accommodation to suit every budget. The last hotels to the south end are Andaman Seaview, Phuket Island View, Horizon and then Karon Beach Resort and Marina Phuket. If you stay near the south end, you can also walk to Kata Beach in about 10 - 15 minutes
Recommended Karon Beach Hotels
Pacific Club Resort The Pacific Club Resort is at the north end of Karon, not right by the beach but on a hillside up a small road, great views, peace and quiet, a 10 minute walk into the busy end of Karon. This hotel consistently gets good reviews, and is in my Top 10 Phuket Hotels list.
• Pacific Club Resort - Review on Jamie's Phuket
• Pacific Club Resort - Check Rates and Availability @ Agoda.com
• Pacific Club Resort - Over 100 Reviews @ Agoda.com
Phuket Orchid Resort
Phuket Orchid is quite a big hotel with over 500 rooms, the entrance is 1 minute walk to Karon beach. Great for families with several large swimming pools. It's on the side road heading off the beach - walk up that road for restaurants and bars and Sunrise Divers, where you can find me :) A friend of mine was manager of this resort for a while - he still works for the same company managing a resort in Samui.
• Phuket Orchid - Review on Jamie's Phuket
• Phuket Orchid - Check Rates and Availability @ Agoda.com
• Phuket Orchid - Over 150 Reviews @ Agoda.com
Marina Phuket Resort
The Marina Phuket Resort sits on the headland right at the south end of Karon Beach. The main entrance is up the road a little from the beach, but some of the rooms ahve a fantastic seaview and they have a restaurant called On The Rock which sits above the beach. Always gets good reviews, and close to Kata and Karon beaches.
• Marina Phuket - Review on Jamie's Phuket
• Marina Phuket - Check Rates and Availability @ Agoda.com
Old Phuket Hotel
The Old Phuket is tucked away up a side road near the middle of Karon beach - the side road is for hotel access only, not a through road, so it's very quiet and just a couple of minutes walk to the beach. Hotel is designed in "olde Phuket" style - if you want to see the real thing, take a tour of Phuket Town!
• Old Phuket Hotel - Review on Jamie's Phuket
• Old Phuket - Check Rates and Availability @ Agoda.com
• Old Phuket - Over 500 Reviews @ Agoda.com
Boomerang Village
Boomerang Village - a bit of an oddity, not by the beach, I guess at least 10 minutes walk, it's up on the hillside between Karon and Kata off the "back road" called Patak Road (good for finding small local restaurants!). It gets great reviews, always sits in the top 10 on TripAdvisor,
• Boomerang Village - Review on Jamie's Phuket
• Boomerang Village - Booking @ Agoda.com
• Boomerang Village - 90+ Reviews @ Agoda.com
More Karon Beach Hotels
• Karon Princess review on Jamie's Phuket
• Le Meridien Resort review on Jamie's Phuket
• Phuket Island View review on Jamie's Phuket
• Centara Grand Resort Info & Booking at Agoda.com
• Hilton Phuket Info & Booking at Agoda.com
• All Karon Beach Hotels @ Agoda.com
Check Agoda for Phuket Hotels ►
Karon Beach Hotels | Jamie's Phuket Blog
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Please do add your comment or ask a question
Hi Jamie,
Just thought I'd share the following... Took your advice last year and scanned agoda for a hotel, ending up at the Horizon Karon Beach. The Bangkok protests and economic woes meant that I got a "sea-views" room for £19 per night (!!!) and the hotel is exceptional. More than twice the price this year. In-hotel services such as dining and laundry are very expensive, but plenty of options for both in Kata village just 100m away... Going back in July to see if it holds the appeal...
hi, Jamie, I have read through quite a lot of articles from your blog and i found so interesting and useful. i will be going to phuket early next year. I plan to go to Karon and then spend two days in phuket town. Do you have any recommendation for the hotel as my budget is less than 2500Bahts per night? Thanks..
Hi Ching Shou,
Karon Beach has a wide range of hotels - best place to look is at Agoda.com - Karon Beach Hotels.
Phuket Town - I have a page on this blog : Hotels in Phuket Town or again, check Agoda. Enjoy your stay!
Hi Jamie,
I came across your blog earlier this week when I was planning for a birthday trip for my girl friend to Phuket. I am looking to spend 4D3N either at Patong or Karon with easy access the town and also to the beach. I read through Agoda and found Secret Cliff. Review on Agoda shows this as quite a good value accommodation. Can I tap on your expertise to comment on this? Thanks and Regards.
Hi Levin,
The Secret Cliff resort is pretty nice, but please be aware that it's not on the beach - it's built into the cliff (thus the name) in between Karon and Patong beaches, not walking distance to either unless you like a good hike! If you stayed there, hiring a scooter will be a good idea otherwise the local taxi drivers will be happy to charge you probably 300 Baht every time you want to go to Patong or Karon. If you want somewhere quiet with a great sea view but a little out of town, Secret Cliff does the trick. If you want to be by the beach, then maybe try something else ... anyway, check Agoda for good rates all over Phuket!
Hi Jamie, Thanks for the information. After reading much on your blog and looking at prices at Agoda, it seems that accommodations are more expensive in Patong, let alone those closer to the Patong Beach. I have roughly came to a preference that accessing the beach is not as much as a priority. Is there any recommendation on accommodation around south Patong (to avoid the busy Patong Central and to enjoy the Karon breezes) and that overlook the Andaman instead of by the beach? I am looking at something at least a 4-star. Thanks and Regards.
Hi Levin... not sure but you seem confused about the beaches Patong and Karon (you want "accommodation around south Patong (to avoid the busy Patong Central and to enjoy the Karon breezes") - can't be in Patong and get the Karon breeze! Not really sure of your budget, but with nice views at the north end of Karon, not on the beach is the Pacific Club Resort.
hi jamie
your blog is really helpful. My mother in law is traveling to phuket in nov with 2 of her friends. They are all over 65 yrs. Can you reccomend a few good hotels for them in karen beach under 2000 bahts and walking distance from the restaurants & market outside.
Thanks
Hi Matts,
So... inexpensive but near the center/restaurants.. the market in Karon is at the temple, Tuesdays and Saturdays. November is high season, so getting anice hotel less than 2000 Baht is less easy - try:
Malai House Hotel
(a bit over 2000 but close to everything!)
Or
Karon Living Room
(much cheaper, away from the beach, but good value)
Hello Jamie,
I love your site. We are traveling in to Phuket in mid-February, coming from Cambodia. I am looking for a smaller place, friendly, clean, quaint, walking distance to markets and shops. We will not rent a car, will do tuk tuk. It can be in Patong, Karon area. Walking distance to beach. The oversized, modern resorts don't give the laid back feel I am looking for.
Thank you, Jude
Hey Jude,
Just a random suggestion - have a look at Bamboo House - it's in Karon, about a 5 minute walk to the beach, near the temple.
Hi Jamie,
We are staying at the Centara Karon Resort in October. Is this hotel ok? Could you walk to Kata Beach from here? Also is there anywhere to go to meet tigers, we have been to the Fantasia show, where you can meet a baby tiger, there is a Tiger Temple in Thailand is this possible to do from Karon.
Many Thanks
Ro
Centara Karon is fine, just a couple of minutes walk to the sand at Karon Beach, but about 3km to Kata Beach - see Centara Karon.
There is a tiger temple in Thailand, yes, its near Kanchanaburi, about 900km from Phuket. There is normally a tiger at Phuket Zoo, not highly recommended.