Our travel group has changed so I am re-evaluating our hotel choice in Phuket. I've got a resevation through a Thai Air package at Allamanda Laguna Phuket. Now I'm concerned that it is too far from the beach and too far from any restaurants...

I tried Katathani and Le Meridien, but both are booked.

We're a family of four, two of us those middle age types and two college daughters. We want easy access to the beach, a pretty pool and a nice room. I thought Patong might be too crowded and touristy - am I wrong?

Did I botch it? Where else should I have the travel agent check? Thanks, all, for any suggestions.

Try the Crowne Plaza in Karon Beach. Lots of different types of accommodation and a great resort. Villas are superb, but the rooms are good too.

james---i told her you would have great suggestions...

Thanks, Bob, for chiming in. JamesA had kindly steered me to the Katathani and Le Meridien, but alas, no room at the inns.

Anyone know anything about the Thavorn Palm Beach Resort?

Even though Patong does not appeal to me, I've been reading positive things about Impiana Cabana. The hotel looks really pretty and there are nice write ups about the food; is the beach totally crammed? Opinions would be welcome!!

I mentioned the Impiana before, for the beach 'yes' it will be busy and crowded, the plus side though is location, and location, and location. For your duaghters it is a simple walk to and from evening entertainment and even as you walk out from Impiana nice cocktail bars and places right there.

http://www.beachsiam.com/impiana-cabana.html

The downside is that it is busy but you have to weight up the balances, Laguna area is 'ok' if people want quiet and in an area of high class resorts but you are a very long way from Patong and it's a thought that if your daughters head out in the evening it's nice to know they are just around the corner!

At the south end of Patong across road from the beach is the Anantika Boutique Resort which is nice.
Although 'not' on the beach but a walk are the Diamond Cliff and Novotel Coralia, normaly I would not suggest them but for your ages group set up to satisfy both yourselves and your daughters they might be worth looking at.
We mentioned before about Karon and Kata, you have actualy hite quite a good one in the Thavorn Palm, it's across the beach road from karon beach, realaxing, but within 20 mins max of Patong, also in Karon you have restaurants etc, it is also just as easy to go over the ridge into Kata, it is not beachfront but it has been around for many many years, the resorts built first has the best choice of land and tend to have far larger grounds than never places since naturaly land prices shot up.

The pools are particularly nice and it is also home to one our favorite restaurants, the 'Old Siam' ( this is great at sunset, cocktails and Thai cuisine open air overlooking the beach to watch the sunset ).
Plus side for Karon is that there is no construction on the beach itself, you just go across the beach road and it is miles long and very wide.
The Thavorn comes out a very good alternative!!

http://www.r24.org/beachsiam.com/phu...palm/pictures/

My honest opinion is that the Thavorn would be just so much nicer than being up at Laguna area, look at the Thavorn and then think about Impiana, but remember that Karon is 15-20 minutes from Patong, plus you have local restaurants, easy access to Kata beach for more restaurants and some bars and local shopping, the Impiana although great for location 'will' be busy.

Thank you again, JamesA, for coming to the rescue. It was rhkkmk's suggestion to ask you about the Thavorn Palm. (Is the other Thavorn property worth considering?) The Anantika is not offered through Thai Air, so that is out. I can try both the Thavorn and the Impiana and see if there is any availability. If you or anyone else have further suggestions, let me know!!
Just for my edification, how do you compare Karon and Kata beaches?

You don't need your travel agent to check these, you can put in a request for those places without needing to give any credit card details, your request goes straight thru to the hotel itself, you can also click a box for 'similar available' so if your main ones are full they can tell you what 'is' available, you can put in as many as you want, doesn't costs a cent, when they tell you what is available you have a few days to make your choice before giving a deposit, it is real easy!
Then just sort the flights.

we just returned from Phuket and stayed a week at the Kata Beach Resort - its right on the beach at south end of Kata - a VERY nice property, pretty good value - definitely recommend sea view rooms - they are worth the upgrade for a little extra space and the view. The rooms come with a big buffet breakfast. The location is great and Kata Beach is a better swimming beach than Karon

james....she is on a "deal" from thai air so i think she has to go through them??

we just happened on the palm beach ...it was 6 mos after the tsunami and they were starving...only 12% occupancy they told us....the place is huge...tons of gardens and pools and the ocean right across the road from the back gate...a perfect place for you....we peeked into one room and it looked nice....the property is older, but privately owned i believe and very well kept up....location is quite good...taxis are cheap of course....let us know what you decide and also tell us about it after your return....

if we give you info, it is mandatory that you write a trip report or we put a hex on you....haha

I promise to write a trip report. Scout's honor!!

Thavorn Palm I would go for if that is offered, the Kata Thani is very good indeed. Karon is a much longer beach and if you are going busy season you won't find it probably as busy, there are lots of new places built behind the Club med area at Kata and that means more people on the beach, Kata is more picturesque but Karon is wider and longer.

Can they offer you the Kata Thani on their package?

The Crowne Plaza is now Movenpick. The Allamanda is right on a lagoon, which you just take a boat across to get to the beach. I've stayed there before with family and it was very nice. Getting to the beach is part of the fun.

JamesA - the Katathani is booked, hence my further queries. The Thavorn Palm Resort gets pretty favorable reviews on all the various websites. MichaelBKK, thanks for your reassuring words about the Allamanda; so glad to hear you enjoyed your stay!!

There are about 10 restaurants on the beach at the Laguna. We ate in about 7 of them and found them all very cheap and most served great food. We particularly liked a restaurant called something like "aroma" near to the Laguna Beach Resort.

I don't think you've botched it at all.

Especially, but not exclusively, for Walter and Michael:

Since you've stayed there in the Laguna area, can you tell me just how far it is to the beach from the Allamanda? Are the pools at the Allamanda nice? (I assume one does not swim in the lagoon.) There are about 5 hotels in that area, I think. Would one be better than another? Glad to hear the restaurants were good - Thanks!

Can't say, I've only stayed at the dusit. But I doubt it is more than 5 mins walk away. There is also a shuttle bus that runs every 5-10mins between the hotels. There is also a small vilage just outside the Laguna complex with even more restaurants and shops to.

In additon to the restaurants I mentioned off site, there are about 20 restaurants within the 5 hotels, all of which can be charged back to your hotel. They are signifcantly pricier than the beach hotels and in our opinion not really worth the extra on a regular basis.

Walter, Is the Dusit on the beach?