Phuket Orchid Resort & Spa — Hotel in Karon

Review Hi, We stayed in Phuket orchid resorts from 2-5 January, 2025. We were group of 17 including small children & 2 elderly(74,73years) and booked 7 Deluxe rooms. Despite our repeated requests since the beginning of the booking through mail in October means 3 months back that we must get atleast 2 rooms on ground floor to accommodate elderly couple & children but unfortunately we were denied that on check-in cited that they were fully booked and couldn’t provide ground floor rooms, moreover, all 7 rooms allotted were scattered in different buildings. 2 rooms in 7th building 2 rooms in 5th building 3 rooms in 6th building. After heated discussion and even once their front desk receptionist threatened us to cancel our booking( which we had done 3 months back, imagine). Finally, we were given 4 rooms in 7th building on first and second floor but not even single room for elderly on ground floor and rest 3 rooms in 6th building with no view at all. Yes, they do have elevators but only one per building, sometimes very far from your room and their buildings are largely spread, we had to use wheel chairs all the time to ferry our elderly mother. We requested again next day for atleast one ground floor room to make our parents comfortable while coming to the restaurant, pool and out but again turned down. It’s very big resort having hundreds of room but didn’t understand why our genuine request were turned down more than once and couldn’t be accommodated. On last day, they sent a fruit basket as a goodwill gesture but it was all too late as our tour to Phuket already spoiled because we all 17 couldn’t stay together and troubles we faced. It’s big resort on good location but mainly Europeans stay there so if you are an INDIAN please don’t stay here as We felt little indiscriminately behaviours toward us. And trust me we were not at all over demanding, just repeatedly requested them through mails, WhatsApp messages and even after checking for one request. Their Rooms, Food, Pool, Rides all are good, close to Karon beach and lots of eating joints and markets are nearby. On reaching to Krabi we peacefully stayed in Holiday Style resort as they were quite understanding, Kind and accommodated our...

If I could give 0, I would. Don’t be misguided by the reviews here, or photos (not even sure who does post all these positive reviews? Probably people who have never experienced a decent hotel or have never seen a pool?!) Some people here posted that they spent a month at this place- I genuinely cannot wrap my head around this fact. The place looks more like a horse stable than a hotel to me.

Rooms are old, dirty and dark, and disgustingly smell of damp. Room safe didn’t work. Bathrooms are dirty (we had mosquitos’ blood stains on the walls that probably haven’t been cleaned up for decades). There is no warm water to shower- it is either dangerously hot or cold (bear in mind this place positions itself as a family hotel, how are you supposed to shower babies with hot water?!).

Hotel territory is big, but full of mosquitoes and flies. No one takes care of the territory, which is a shame because it’s wasted on this stable. Sun loungers look like they were purchased in the last century- prolapsed, colour is faded and uncomfortable to lie on because they are prolapsed.

Breakfast is mediocre at best. It served by the road. Food is cold most of the times. The place is packed with people and mosquitoes-latter one come to feast with you literally. It seems they have lots of food for breakfast and yet nothing to eat, because it all looks sad and of low quality. For the amount they charge (we paid 90£ per night) there is no decent coffee for breakfast rather you get only Instant Nescafé coffee.

Staff is not what you would expect from Thai hospitality. No one smiles, says bye or hi. Upon arrival no cold drinks or cold towels were served as it normally happens in other places across SEA. Shame on senior management to charge what a five star hotel would charge during low season, and treat their people to the point of them not smiling.

I would never go back to this stable or recommend this place to any of my friends no matter how many water slides or positive reviews they have.

Don’t be fooled by the reviews here, save your money and go to any nice hotel nearby for the same amount of $.

Long story short-AVOID...

I spent almost 2 weeks here with a family of 5. This is 3-star accommodation and is reviewed on that basis.

The whole facility is clean and tidy. There are plenty of staff and all were friendly and very helpful.

Our adjoining rooms were comfortable and serviced daily. The air conditioning worked well (outside temperature was about 27C to 31C) and the basic facilities worked as expected.

The only 2 complaints would be the hot water was more luke warm about half of the time (not such a problem given the outside temperature) and the internet was almost unusably slow at times. It makes me wonder how this would be during peak times.

The pool was great and the kids (and the big kids) loved the slide. The in pool bar was reasonably priced and the staff were good fun and spoke English.

Breakfast was a good selection of local food and cereals and simple things for fussy kids. Strangely nobody seemed to have dinner at the on site restaurant (the same location as breakfast) but we had a meal there and it was very nice.

The gym was quite modest but there was enough equipment to get a descent weight or cardio workout and everything worked as it should. There is also reasonably priced massage on site (and some other younger kid activities and a pool I did not look into).

While there was not alot nearby compared to other areas, there were plenty of restaurants (and good experiences at all that we tried) and there were some very well priced merchants within walking distance as well as supermarket type stores across the road. The beach is a short walk and there were beach activities nearby. There was also plenty of cheap transport options again within walking distance, and often right outside reception.

There is a tourist stand at reception with brochures and the ability to make bookings, as well as a doctors office (staffed by a nurse and a pickup service to the doctor nearby).

If you want to be in the middle of hype of activity this may not be the place for you, but if you want a good balance of relaxed with a bit of travel then this is a winner. I would definitely consider another stay...