Centara Grand Beach Resort Phuket Review
Centara Grand Beach Resort Phuket is a large resort with a desirable location, right on the sands of the superb Karon Beach on the west coast of Phuket. With such a unique situation, large pools, and many outlets, including a beach club, Centara Grand Beach Resort is a top-rated mid-range hotel in Phuket. It is perfect if direct access to the beach is what you care about most, with enough restaurants and simple nightlife nearby, but not as intense as in Patong.
Centara Grand Beach Resort Phuket fast facts
Hotel Summary & Guests Score | |
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Booking.com | |
The Beach | Beautiful wide beach with clear water in high season. |
The Hotel | A 5-star resort, 262 rooms. |
The Facilities | 3 restaurants (Asian, Mediterranean, Italkian), 2 swimming pools (1 is adults only), beach club, huge fitness, cooking classes, a superb spa, kids club. |
What's Around | Some small restaurants nearby, close to the beach. Karon town is just 1 km away with plenty of dining, shopping and a bit of nightlife (nowhere near Patong nightlife though). |
Who is it for? | everyone, including couples and families. |
Worth Noticing | When booking it, make sure you book Centara Grand Beach Resort Phuket, not Centara Karon Resort Phuket nearby! |
Price | A bit pricey. |
Check the rates
The rooms and suites
With 262 mostly sea-facing rooms, suites and villas, Centara Grand Beach Resort Phuket is a large hotel designed in a pink Sino-Portuguese style. The hotel is built around a large pool and a vast central dining area that you might get a little confused on your 1st day.
Deluxe Ocean Facing Room
We booked a Deluxe Ocean Facing room, but we didn’t get lucky with the ocean view from our balcony: we were far from the beach and in a remote back corner. A word of advice: don’t be shy to ask on arrival if any real sea-facing room is available. If you can afford it, spend more and get a One-Bedroom Beachfront Villa.
Our corner room was 72 sqm large and well equipped with a surprisingly large, convenient, and welcoming balcony. It was an excellent place to spend time and relax or even work with a cold drink. The well-designed bathroom features a big bathtub with a separate shower and plenty of amenities such as the expected hairdryer, shampoos and bathroom standard amenities. The resort is a 5-star, and an espresso machine would have been a nice touch, as it is standard in most luxury hotels.
Restaurants & Dining
There are three restaurants to enjoy. With about 200 seats, The Cove is the largest restaurant where you will probably take most of your breakfasts. The buffet is huge, and everyone can find something to start the day.
On the downside, if, like us, all you need is a coffee and a single dish, you can’t have it unless the waitress is nice and understanding as she was for us on the first day (but not the second). If weather permits, the terrace facing the sea is the best place to be. Open from 6 am to 10.30 pm.
Mare Restaurant is an even bigger dining venue opening from 11.30 am until 10.30 pm and serving good Italian food for up to 260 people. A large part of the restaurant is also outdoors, which is the most attractive area.
The Beach Club
Coast Beach Club shares the outdoor section with Mare, but the best sitting area is still on the beach’s large sofas. The beach club is the best place to end the day with cocktails and good music. We wrote a dedicated page about Coast Beach Club, which you can read here.
The hotel also has an excellent cooking class located above the Italian restaurant, but we didn’t get a chance to see it in action. Centara Grand Beach Resort is also near Karon Center, where you can enjoy many shopping and dining venues.
Facilities
Centara Grand Beach Resort Phuket is so large it can get busy around the main swimming pool, so if you have no kids and prefer a quiet holiday, aim for the ‘adults only’ pool a little higher. Space is limited, but it is very relaxing up there.
Spa Cenvaree is superb and well-equipped, with rooms designed for each type of treatment. Choose from traditional Thai massage, aromatherapy, and a couple of treatment rooms with a jacuzzi to a mysterious dripping water treatment that looks a little intimidating but is probably a great experience.
The fitness room is excellent, with a vast choice of well-maintained machines facing the ample open space of the garden and friendly staff.
The colourful kids club is also famous. The team is excellent, and the kids seem to have a lot of fun playing so many cool games that parents play, too! The kid’s pool outside the club has a couple of water slides, and children can drift along in your buoy for hours. Children love it.
Summary
Overall verdict:
Centara Grand Beach Resort Phuket is a 5-star but not truly a top luxury resort. However, with such a unique location at the right price, Centara Grand Beach is an excellent choice if you want to be right on the beach in Karon. The resort offers a range of facilities, including multiple restaurants, large pools, a beach club, a fitness centre, a spa, and a kids club, making it perfect for families and couples alike. While the rooms and suites are well-equipped, some may not offer the desired ocean views, so it is recommended to inquire upon check-in.
What we liked:
- Location, of course: right on the beach!
- Great Spa
- Well-equipped Fitness room
- Excellent Kids Club
- An immense pool, which is excellent during the low season when the sea is rough
What could be better:
- Service is not always consistent: sometimes good and sometimes hard to get attention.
- The water temperature in the shower is impossible to manage.
- The hotel can feel crowded.
Photos of Centara Grand Beach Resort Phuket
Information
Bookings and Availability:
Check the rates
Centara Grand Beach Resort Phuket Info
Location: Karon Beach
Address: 683 Karon Beach, Patak Rd, Karon, Mueang Phuket District, Phuket 83100
Phone: 076 201 234
Open: 24 hours
Factsheet
⛱️ Main beach nearby: | Karon Beach |
⛱️ Distance to the beach: | on the beach! |
⛱️ Beach condition: | Excellent |
⭐ Range | 5-star resort |
🏊♀️ Swimming pools: | 4 |
🍴 Restaurants and bars: | 7 |
🛍️ Facilities | Spa, Fitness, Kids Club, Cooking Class |
🚙 Distance to Karon city centre: | 1 km |
🚙 Distance to Patong Beach: | 6 km |
🚙 Distance to Phuket Town: | 19 km |
✈️ Distance from Phuket International Airport: | 42 km |
Centara Grand Beach Resort Phuket Map
Other Popular Hotels Nearby (Karon)
Your Karon Beach Travel Guide
FAQs about Centara Grand Beach Resort Phuket
Q. What are the main attractions around Centara Grand Beach Resort Phuket?
A. The main attractions around Centara Grand Beach Resort Phuket include Karon Beach, Kata Beach, Big Buddha Phuket, and Wat Chalong Temple are about 15 kilometres away.
Q. Are there any restaurants in Centara Grand Beach Resort Phuket?
A. Yes, Centara Grand Beach Resort Phuket has several restaurants, including Mare Italian Restaurant, Coast Beach Club & Bistro, and The Cove.
Q. How far is Centara Grand Beach Resort Phuket from Phuket Town and Patong Beach?
A. Centara Grand Beach Resort Phuket is approximately 19 kilometres away from Phuket Town, 42 kilometres from Phuket International Airport and 6 kilometres away from Patong Beach.
Q. What time are check-in and check-out at Centara Grand Beach Resort Phuket?
A. Check-in at Centara Grand Beach Resort Phuket is at 3:00 pm, while check-out is at 12:00 pm.
Q. Does Centara Grand Beach Resort Phuket hotel offer free Wi-Fi?
A. Yes, Centara Grand Beach Resort Phuket offers free Wi-Fi to its guests.
Q. How far is Centara Grand Beach Resort Phuket from the beach?
A. Centara Grand Beach Resort Phuket is located directly on Karon Beach, so it is just a few steps away.
Q. How many rooms are there at Centara Grand Beach Resort Phuket?
A. Centara Grand Beach Resort Phuket has a total of 262 rooms, suites, and villas.