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During my recent trip to Phuket, I was lucky enough to spend two nights at Thavorn Palm Beach Resort on Karon Beach. At first glance I thought this resort would be very family-oriented and although it would be great for families I was pleasantly surprised when I saw so many other sides to it. I believe this beachfront accommodation in Karon has something for everyone. Keep reading for all the resort details & my full review.
Overview of Thavorn Palm Beach Resort
When I first arrived at Thavorn Palm Beach Resort I was greeted with friendly smiles and staff eager to assist me. I was there before the check-in time and my room wasn’t yet ready, but I was able to leave my luggage at the reception and start exploring the resort.
The previous two nights I had stayed at another Thavorn property (Thavorn Beach Village Resort & Spa) and straight away I reconsigned a totally different vibe between the two.
Palm Beach Resort is beachfront accommodation in Karon and this resort didn’t have the private oasis feel or the peacefulness as Beach Village Resort did. It was more open and in the distance could hear the laughter and fun screams of people using the water slides.
This certainly wasn’t a bad thing though, I could tell this was going to be a fun few days.
The motto for Thavorn resorts is “Where Thai tradition meets nature”, and this is so clear at Palm Beach Resort. Nature is the main focus of the resort, the botanical gardens were stunning and full of so many colourful flowers. This especially looked stunning against the white building around the resort.
The resort has three pools and all cater to different moods. The water park, the one with the swim-up bar and the one that couldn’t be any more peaceful and relaxing.
Thavorn has everyone covered here!
Palm Beach Resort Room Types
The room type my husband & I stayed in was Deluxe Terrace. It was on the second level and what I loved most about it was the balcony. Plus, I could slightly see the ocean & views of the water park, all while being surrounded by the stunning gardens.
The Deluxe Terrace rooms also have an extra-large bed, comfortable seating area, tea, coffee making facilities & a small bar fridge. There was a bit of space for hanging up clothes and the bathroom was a decent size.
Also, our room was adjoining to the room next door. This would be great if you were travelling with a big group of friends or other family members. But as we were travelling along we found this quite noisy, the neighbours weren’t particularly loud, it’s just these doors aren’t very soundproof.
There is such a wide variety of room types available here, so I’m sure the resort will have something for everyone. The other room options at Thavorn Beach Village Resort has are;
Seaview Sunken Lounge Deluxe Terrace
Deluxe Terrace Garden Access
Deluxe Terrace Pool View
Seaview Deluxe Terrace
Family Fun Deluxe Terrace
Two-Bedroom Family Suite
Seaview Three Bedroom Suite
Palm Beach Resort Facilities
The Swimming Pools
Even though Palm Beach is beachfront accommodation in Karon, it’s still necessary to have good swimming pools available.
Thavorn Palm Beach Resort does not disappoint here, there are 3 swimming pools on the property, each with its unique vibe & atmosphere.
The Water Park
One of the first things that will grab your attention at Thavorn Palm Beach Resort is the water park. A towering structure that has 4 water slides coming off it. These slides were a lot of fun, but particularly the highest one & the wide one in the middle go so quick! I wasn’t expecting to go down the slide that fast.
A few goes were enough for me but there were seriously kids going up and down for hours, having the time of their lives.
Swim-Up Pool Bar
The swimming pool that included the swim-up bar was located just behind the water park. The pool was a great size and the bar was a lot of fun, with plenty of room for guests. Plus they have Happy Hour every afternoon.
Swimming Pool For a Bit of R & R
Then the third pool is tucked in a quiet corner of the resort, surrounded by beautiful Frangipani trees. I found this pool perfect for relaxing, during my stay there were very few people spending time here.
Each of the swimming pools are surrounded by comfortable sun lounges and cabanas.
Gym
No resort is complete without a gym for those days when you feel you’ve been eating and drinking too much. The gym at Palm Beach Resort was very open, had heaps of equipment and best of all the big windows showcasing the beautiful botanical gardens.
Orchard Gardens
Follow the narrow garden path towards the resort’s Orchard Gardens and get lost exploring this beautiful corner of the resort. You’ll feel as if you’ve stepped into a rainforest, where every corner offers a new photo opportunity.
I particularly loved all the cute animal statues spread around the gardens and the colourful concrete Tuk-Tuk parked amongst the trees.
Remember to take bug spray with you when exploring this part of the resort. The mosquitoes love it in there too.
Palm Beach Resorts Animal Village
Similar to Thavorns other property (Beach Village Resort), Palm Beach also has a petting zoo that allows guests to interact with some of the resort’s cutest residents, including rabbits, goats, birds, piglets and tortoises.
Unlike the petty zoo at Beach Village Resort, the animals here can’t roam around. Instead are confined to a dedicated fenced off area. But this area is close to the main road so a fence is necessary.
Twice a day the animals come out and guests can either feed or observe the animals.
I find this a very unique feature for a resort and as long as the animals are treated with respect it can be a great experience for all.
Did I Mention this Accommodation in Karon has Direct Beachfront Access?
Although, Palm Beach Resort isn’t located right on the beach, it’s literally across the road.
Karon beach is one of the longest beaches in Phuket, this 5km stretch of coastline is stunning. I found this beach to be very clear and one of the best places to watch the sunset in Phuket.
Karon beach is much quieter compared to Patong and I think this is what makes it so much better. There is just as much to do here as there is in Patong, but I think it is on a smaller scale which gives this area a cleaner and relaxing feel.
Thavorn Palm Beach Resort Restaurants & Bars
Thavorn Palm Beach Resort has heaps of options when it came to food and drinks. And, even though the Bakery & Blue Heaven Pool Bar is still closed (due to Covid), I never felt like something was missing.
The buffet breakfast is served at Windsong restaurant, which is in a great location right in the middle of the resort. I loved this buffet, a great mix of local and Western dishes plus so much fresh fruit.
Then along the beachfront, there are two cafes and the restaurants where we did most of our eating.
Sweet Talk, is an ice cream & dessert shop. They sold so much sugary goodness like cupcakes, lollies & multiple flavours of ice cream. Plus it has the cutest old school set-up, I have no doubt you’ll want to take photos in there.
Coffee Talk Cafe Karon Beach, then adjoining to Sweet Talk was a coffee shop and I highly recommend their ice coffees or flavoured teas.
Ciao Pizza & Bistro, this is where we had lunch and dinner each day and the ocean views are beautiful. I did find their menu had extremely limited Vegan & Vegetarian options but everything I ate was delicious. The staff in the restaurant were so lovely though and would try to accommodate wherever they could.
A-joining the resort but independently run is Zippy Day Club, entry to the club can be made via Ciao Pizza Restaurant or the main road along the beach.
Zippy Day club has an awesome pool, bar, and massive beach beds and at times they have a Dj playing. Unfortunately, this was so quiet during our stay, Phuket is still very quiet in general. But on a busy day, I have no doubt this would be so fun, and the art deco design was awesome.
Why I Love This Beachfront Accommodation in Karon?
I stayed at this resort with my husband so for us this was very much a couples holiday. But during my time I saw such a variety of guests enjoying themselves, from families, groups of friends and other couples.
This would be the main reason I would recommend staying at Thavorn Palm Beach Resort. I feel like there is something for everyone here. The amazing swimming pools, variety of dining options, and different room types will suit everyone. All while receiving incredible Thai hospitality.
Also, just across the road from the resort (on the beach side) is a local taxi stand and they always offered us very reasonable prices. So it was a convenient location and I never felt like I was getting ripped off.
Where is The Thavorn Palm Beach Resort Phuket?
Thavorn Palm Beach Resort is Beachfront Accommodation on Phuket island and right across the road from the beautiful Karon beach.
This area is quieter in comparison to the busy Patong Beach, but there is still a lot to do close by including, bars & restaurants, markets and countless places to get a Thai Massage. And, particularly at the moment, there are far fewer crowds.
How Far is Karon Beach From Phuket Airport
From Phuket international airport to Karon beach it’s just under 50km and will take between 50 minutes to 1 hour and 10 minutes to get there.
There are also a few transport options you can take from the airport to Thavorn Palm Beach Resort, and the one you pick will mainly depend on your budget.
The cheapest option is the local bus which will only cost a few dollars and the closest stop to the resort is Karon Stadium. From the stadium, you’ll walk 10 minutes up the road along the beach and enter the resort from the back.
There are always plenty of taxis outside Phuket airport and it’s very easy to get a fixed price. The prices for a taxi aren’t always the cheapest but they aren’t interested in haggling either! From the airport to Karon Beach will cost around 800Bht, for a car that fits 4 people.
Thavorn Palm Beach Resort also offers airport transfers, usually for additional costs. If you’d prefer the ease of this option when you first make your booking request to include airport transfers & the staff will get it sorted for you.
Things to do Around Karon Beach, Phuket
The area next to Karon is Kata and this area is worth exploring. By exiting Thavorn Palm Beach Resort on the beach side of the resort, turn left and just keep walking down that street.
Eventually, you’ll be in Kata and there’s heaps to do here, plus the main beach is stunning!
Although I, unfortunately, found Kata to be very quiet during this trip to Thailand. I was travelling in May 2022 and this was only days after the Thai government ended testing & quarantine entry requirements. There were heaps of businesses closed and more than a few looked abandoned.
Even the “Kata Walking Street Night Market” was dead, so many stores were empty and nobody was walking around. It was really sad to see, especially compared to how I’m used to seeing night markets in South East Asia.
Hopefully, as tourist numbers increase more of these businesses will open back up.
If you are looking for beachfront accommodation in Karon, I think this resort is a great option and has something for everyone.
And, if you have any further questions about Thavorn Palm Beach Resort or Phuket in general, please comment below and I’ll get back to you.
Thanks for reading,
Happy & safe travels
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Elyse is the author & content creator behind A World To Live. After traveling to over 40 countries, she has a passion for discovering new places. Elyse is a money-conscious traveller who loves writing independent travel guides to help her readers get the most out of their travels.
This looks like such an awesome resort! I would love to spend all day hanging out at the pool and enjoying drinks from the swim-up pool bar. Thanks for putting this gem on my radar 🙂
I was so confused when I started your article! I soon realized it was a Palm Beach Resort in Thailand instead of Florida. Your photos are stunning. This looks like the place to stay when I visit one day.
Wow! I love Karon beach and this accommodation looks absolutely incredible! Thanks for sharing!
Ohh this is totally making me want to book a trip to Bangkok and Phuket! I could see myself in the pool all day!
Thailand hasn’t really been on my radar yet but this place looks great! Beachfront access is a must and the wildlife is always a bonus and I actually would have enjoyed the quiet 🙂