How is Centara Grand Beach Resort Phuket?
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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. It is perfect if direct access to the beach is what you care the most about, with enough restaurants and simple nightlife nearby, but not as intense as in Patong.
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 central dining area and is so vast that you might get a little confused on your 1st day.
Our 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 or even better. 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 balcony, convenient and welcoming. 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 separate shower, and plenty of amenities such as the expected hairdryer, shampoos and bathrooms standard amenities. The resort is a 5-star, and an espresso machine would have been a nice touch as it comes as standard in most luxury hotels.
Facilities
The hotel 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 located 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 Thai traditional massage, aromatherapy, a couple of treatment rooms with a Jacuzzi to a mysterious dripping water treatment that looks a little intimidating, but 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 kids seem to have a lot of fun playing with so many cool games that parents end up playing too! The kid’s pool just outside the club has a couple of water slides, and children can drift along in your buoy for hours. Children love it.
Restaurant & 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 at 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 outdoor, which is the most attractive area.
The Beach Club
Coast Beach Club is sharing the outdoor section with Mare, but the best sitting area is still on the large sofas facing the beach. The beach club is the best place to end the day with some cocktails and good music. We wrote a dedicated page about Coast Beach Club, and you can read it 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 very near Karon Center where you can enjoy lots of shopping and dining venues.
Overall verdict:
Centara Grand Beach Resort Phuket is a 5-star resort but based on our long hospitality experience; it doesn’t compete yet with top luxury resorts. However, with such a unique location at the right price, Centara Grand Beach is an excellent choice if you want to be in Karon.
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 low season when the sea is rough
What we didn’t :
- Service is not always consistent: sometimes good and sometimes hard to get attention.
- Water temperature in the shower is impossible to manage.
- The hotel can feel crowded.
Photos of Centara Grand
Centara Grand Beach Resort Info
Location: Karon Beach
Address: 683 Karon Beach, Patak Rd, Karon, Mueang Phuket District, Phuket 83100
Phone: 076 201 234
Open: 24 hours
Bookings and rates: see Centara Grand Beach Resort rates here
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/centaragrandbeachresortphuket/
Factsheet
Range: 5-star
Swimming pools: 4
Restaurants and bars: 7
Distance to the closest beach: on the beach!
to Karon City Center: 1 km
from airport: 42 km
to Phuket Town: 19 km
