On-The-Hill Karon Resort is a family run gem located a hill overlooking Karon Beach (Phuket). I stayed here for several weeks and I can honestly say that I felt like I was treated as part of the family. I travel frequently for both business & pleasure and this hotel had the most friendly and helpful staff that I have ever encountered.
Reasons to stay here:
- Great location overlooking Karon beach (beach views from most, if not all, rooms) as well as the restaurant. Short (steep) walk down to the beach.
- Also close to Patong (5-10 minutes cab ride) and Kata Beach (about the same)
- Owners & staff will always great you with a smile and help you with anything that you need. (Example #1: pretty much any hotel in Phuket will rent you a scooter to get around. At On-The-Hill the owner gave me free lessons to make sure that I was going to be safe on the road. Example #2: I was leaving very early in the morning for a trip to a nearby island and was pleasantly surprised to have breakfast waiting for me before I left. The owner had gotten up before 6 AM to cook me breakfast without any request on my part).
- Owners will assist with any tour bookings that you are interested in and will generally get sizable discounts from the listed price (this is Thailand after all).
- Great restaurant next door which serves Thai and Western food at very reasonable prices. I only ate Thai dishes and they were all excellent. The owner took pride in having me try different dishes representative of different regions in Thailand.
- Comfortable rooms with great views and the usual amenities (Wi-Fi, dvd player, pool, etc) at a very reasonable price
This hotel is perfect for:
- people visiting Phuket for diving, other watersports, or Muay Thai (Patong Boxing Gym is 500m down the road)
- anyone traveling on a budget who wants great value for their money and wants to be close to some of the best beaches in Phuket
Tips:
- While you can book online, I highly recommend that you email the owners directly (email located on their website). You will likely get a better price and they will make sure to have a room that best fits your requirements.
- If you are traveling by taxi from the airport, some drivers will not be sure of the location. All the drivers seem to know the 'Secret Cliff Resort" which is about 500m away and you can use that as a reference point. Better yet, ask the hotel to arrange a pick up for you and you will likely get a better price.