gav0106

Junior Suites older, but we prefer them. In same wing as lounge. I like the wood style.
The new suite we had was nice, but felt cold and as mentioned not that great a standard. It is far from main areas as well and lounge

Kacee

I do, too. They let me stay in one of the older rooms for a few hours after I had checked out my Deluxe Suite last time and I thought it was pretty nice. Jr. Suite is probably the best value at this property.

There are lots of positives here, including beautiful, expansive grounds and very nice staff, but just keep in mind that this is not a 5* property, and that it now attracts lots of Chinese tour groups.

Bluehen1

I don't know whether that's better or worse than the Russian tour groups that were staying there the last time I was there. I could probably handle the Chinese after living in Shanghai for two years.

I hope they don't refurbish the Junior Suites. They're great rooms and the style fits Thailand.

Kacee

It's better. And I probably should have just said "large tour groups" as that's the truly salient fact (as opposed to any particular nationality).

Hanspeter

After being here I can only say, DON'T GO, everything is so old and overpriced
so even they offer rates from 3300 THB++ around New Year is not worth the money.
If you have Lounge access you get leftovers from their restaurants
from day before. People who work here is still smiling and very nice but
the management is... don't know what to say..but NOT good.
Good advice... Save your money and find another place in Phuket

dabee69

Can you please be more specific what exactly was not up to your expectations? What kind of rate and room did you have?

Any other fellow FTers stayed there recently?

I have booked flexible reservation for February. Everything is on the expensive side in February. Hilton would be natural preference for a HHonors diamond member.

LF72

+1

thbe

I've been there 1 1/2 months ago. I liked the Junior Suite with Sea view. Nice room and in good condition. The breakfast was good.

There is a road, which you have to cross on your way to the beach. The service was more average than good. Some staff members were very nice, other where overburdened. Didn't get an upgrade, but I've heard that the potential upgrade doesn't offer better rooms than the Junior Suite. I've rented a car and that Hilton is not well organized for that. I agree, that it is not the best managed Hilton.

Karon beach is a good trade-off of Patong and Kata or Kata not beach. But it is a trade-off. If you prefer Patong, you better stay there. If you want it more calm, stay at a less crowded beach.

All in all it's a good hotel, but more the kind of a hotel that is included in a package tour. More mass than class. Phuket is full of very good hotels and most of the luxury hotels are better than the Hilton, but many of them are more expensive as well.

Cymro

I stayed there last year and am returning in May. I liked the property a lot. Sure, there are a lot of Russians but I thought the property was well managed, having a car wasn't really a problem (probably a good idea and even necessary, even though the walk to the car park is quite long). Overall, I'm sure there are many better hotels and many cheaper ones, and as you say, it's neither completely secluded nor in the thick of Patong, but it is a good compromise - and at 2,600 THB in May for a junior suite (standard rooms below 2k) I really can't see what there is to complain about.

Kacee

All the hotels in Karon (and virtually all in Kata) are across the road (or farther) from the beach. Of the various reasons to criticize this property, I don't find that to be one of them.

The biggest issue I have is that the management is exceptionally cheap.

They're gone. Replaced by Chinese.

thbe

Actually that is the reason, why I booked another hotel for my next trip to Phuket. I like rooms or villas close to the beach or waterfront and that is not what you get at that Hilton. Phuket offers much more nice spots than Karon or Kata. Btw: The Meridien isn't across the road from the beach.

The management is obviously focussing on the staff being very friendly. They meet that goal, so I wouldn't call it exceptionally cheap. With more than 650 rooms and a lot of guests from China or Russia it's maybe the right concept, even if they disappoint some DIA members.

Kacee

Right, but that's not on Karon beach. A much more expensive property as well.

The staff here has always been exceptional. I think that's their nature, rather than any effort on management's part.

camsean

I had a stay during Divali last October. Even though the hotel was very busy, I thought it was pretty good.

I was upgraded to a seaview room as gold and the view was lovely. Breakfast was fine too.

LF72

Breakfast was free as a gold, right?

cln

afaik yes !