The Old Phuket Karon Beach Resort — a Sino-Portuguese resort a 5-minute walk from Karon Beach
If you want to stay around Karon Beach — wider and quieter than Patong, yet still walkable to the sand, restaurants and convenience stores — The Old Phuket - Karon Beach Resort is a place a lot of guests come back to. Its signature is the two distinct wings: the Sino Wing, dressed in retro Sino-Portuguese style like Phuket Old Town, and the Serene Wing, which looks clean and modern. There are two outdoor pools and a pool bar, 184 rooms in total — all with balconies. From approx. ฿2,000/night · 8.2 from 168 Trip.com reviews.
What sets The Old Phuket apart from the usual Karon resorts is a design that borrows from Phuket Old Town. The resort is split into two wings — the Sino Wing, styled in retro Sino-Portuguese fashion with pastel buildings, arched windows and the shop-house detailing you see on Thalang Road, giving you the feel of staying in the old quarter but right by the beach; and the Serene Wing, designed in a cleaner, more modern style for guests who prefer newer-looking rooms. Two styles within one resort is an unusual touch, and it's a big reason people choose this place.
There are 184 rooms in total — 88 in the Sino Wing and 96 in the Serene Wing. Every room has a balcony, some facing the Andaman Sea, others looking onto the pool or the hills. Most reviews praise the rooms as spacious and comfortable, with real character on the Sino Wing side. A standout option, Deluxe Pool Access, lets you step straight down to the pool from your terrace — handy if you like an easy dip.
"It was under five minutes from our room to Karon Beach. In the evening we'd stroll along the sea and come back for a swim in the pool — exactly the relaxed rhythm we were after."
On the facilities side the highlight is two outdoor pools set in a tropical garden, with a pool bar. Many reviews describe the pools as shady and relaxing, with the pool bar serving food and drinks through the day. There's an on-site restaurant, a fitness room, a mini library, table tennis and a games room. Breakfast is a buffet with fruit, eggs cooked to order, meats and coffee — opinions on it are mixed, with some guests finding the spread varied enough and others saying the choice is limited and restocking is slow when it gets busy.
Location is where it scores highest. The resort sits on Karon Road, about a 5-minute walk from Karon Beach — a long, wide white-sand beach that's noticeably less crowded than Patong. Restaurants, massage shops, convenience stores and a small market are all within walking distance, making it easy to enjoy the beach without relying on a car all the time. Just bear in mind Karon is a quiet, spread-out area, so reaching Patong, the Old Town or other beaches means a Grab or a rental car. The resort scores 8.2 from 168 Trip.com reviews, and 4.1/5 on TripAdvisor (#66 of 169 hotels in Karon).
Now the honest part: the resort has been open for a good while, and some reviews reflect that. Some rooms are starting to show their age — furniture with wear, air-con units awkwardly placed or with a musty smell in certain rooms. Housekeeping can be inconsistent, missing spots on some days, and a few guests felt the pools weren't kept as clean during busy periods. There are also scattered reports of front-desk staff being inflexible about late check-out or house rules. Even so, 8.2 is a solid score for a resort at this price point in Karon — a sign that the location and design outweigh the dated edges for most guests.
To be straight with you, The Old Phuket is not a brand-new luxury beachfront resort, and it doesn't try to be. It's a boutique resort with genuine Sino-Portuguese charm, a walkable Karon location and an affordable price. If you're here for a laid-back Karon trip and want a place with character, good pools and a budget that isn't sky-high, it's great value. But if you expect spotless new rooms, five-star service, or a step-onto-the-sand beachfront, you'll want to look at higher-priced options.
A tip from following the reviews here: pick the Sino Wing if you love the retro look, or ask for the Serene Wing if you want newer-feeling rooms — and specify it when you book. Request a renovated room or a higher floor with a sea view if the view matters. In high season (November–March) prices climb and rooms fill fast, so book ahead and choose a free-cancellation rate to stay safe.
Summary from Booking & Agoda
- ✓ A 5-minute walk to Karon Beach, with restaurants and shops nearby
- ✓ Sino Wing's Sino-Portuguese design has real character and photographs well
- ✓ Two shady outdoor pools with a pool bar
- ✓ Many staff are warm, smiling and helpful
- ! Some rooms are dated, with worn furniture
- ! Breakfast choice is fairly limited and slow to restock when busy
- ! Housekeeping can be inconsistent on some days
- ✓ Great location, walkable to Karon Beach and restaurants
- ✓ Spacious rooms, all with balconies, some with sea views
- ✓ Relaxed, leafy resort atmosphere, good for an easy stay
- ✓ Good value for the location and style at this level
- ! Air-con in some rooms is awkwardly placed or has a musty smell
- ! Pools occasionally not kept clean enough when crowded
- ! Some front-desk staff inflexible on rules and late check-out
- 💡If you expect spotless, brand-new rooms throughout — the resort has been open a while and some rooms show wear → ask for the Serene Wing or a renovated room, and specify it when booking.
- 💡If you want a step-onto-the-sand beachfront resort — this one is on Karon Road, about a 5-minute walk from the beach → if true beachfront is essential, look at a resort directly on Karon Beach instead.
- 💡If you plan to explore all over Phuket — Karon is quiet and spread out, so reaching Patong, the Old Town or other beaches means relying on a car → plan a Grab or rental in advance.