A wonderfully relaxing stay”

The Mandarava was the perfect quiet getaway for my husband and I. The staff was extremely friendly and helpful. The resort itself was pretty and secluded. Best of all, it was quiet, and our room felt like its own private oasis. I really enjoyed relaxing on our balcony with a view of the pool, the ocean, and the morning sunrise. I highly recommend staying in the Karon beach area in general, since it is a beautiful beach, has plenty of shopping, but is not as crazy as nearby Patong. It was very easy to coordinate airport pickup and dropoff with the hotel staff. The cars were clean and safe, and the drivers were polite. The resort is a bit farther away from town than other hotels, but my husband and I really enjoy walking, so it was perfect. 10 minutes takes you to the beach, and 15 will get you to the main shopping and restaurant areas. If you feel too tired, tuktuks are readily available, and the hotel provides a shuttle service to the beach. I would not recommend this hotel to people with mobility issues, since it is set into the side of a hill and you will definitely need to walk up some stairs to get to your room, as well as the walk into town. That being said, it is a perfect getaway for couples who want a private and relaxing place to stay in Phuket. Go for the panoramic deluxe room, since these are on the second story of each two story bungalow, and provide the most privacy and the best view.

Relaxing, peaceful and romantic”

Firstly, I would suggest NOT booking through Agoda but contacting the hotel directly cos I found out after my booking that I indeed paid a higher price through this website. Thankfully, even the higher price was worth it. For those of you who want to be able to bounce into the sea from your hotel lobby then this hotel is not for you because it is a ten minute walk to Karon beach. BUT they do have shuttles and the walk really is quite bearable. Karon beach is the best beach to stay at if you want peace, quiet and cleanliness and Mandarava's location means that even if you miss the buzz of Phatong, you won't be far away. The room was elegantly put together with high ceilings and 2 entire walls of sliding, clear balcony doors. The amenities are what you would expect of a 5star hotel and staff were very friendly and prompt. The beautiful pools and patios give you a stunning alternative to going to the beach for Phuket's famed sunsets. Overall, we thoroughly enjoyed our stay in Mandarava because when I think of Phuket, I think of a tranquil getaway at this hotel provided exactly that and more.

Amazing Mandarava”

Check in: The staff greeted us and promptly helped us with our baggage and check in. They dropped us off in a little buggy and carried our bags to the door and showed us the room and explained the services that they provided and room features. This was very informative and we appreciated how thorough they were. Room: The room that we got (Panoramic Deluxe Room)was spacious,clean and the beds were really comfortable and we probably had the best sleep in Mandarava during our trip to Thailand. While the room was pretty amazing, we realised that housekeeping were not changing our towels which would have been nice - we didn't follow up to ask and it was pretty minor. Dining and drinks: Make sure you get buffet breakfast, it was totally worth it! We also dined mostly at the restaurant and the food and service were really great every time. They usually have a different set banquet every day for dinner that is good value for money and you're bound to be full and satisfied. Spa: They have a very very extensive spa treatment menu and I recommend everyone to have a read of it in your room and book in early to secure a spot. We loved every moment of our treatments and the staff were also very friendly and polite. Service/Staff: The staff were outstanding and they went above and beyond to ensure that we were comfortable, happy and safe when we ventured outside of the resort. Reception staff helped us with bookings for tours that we were interested in and made sure that we were picked up and returned safely. The staff also recognised us and asked us about our previous day and tours that we went on which shows that they really cared and paid attention to their guests. Overall, I would highly recommend anyone to stay here as it was the most relaxing resort and I would most likely come back to Mandarava again if I return to Phuket.

Wonderful atmosphere and comfort”

My husband and I had a hard time choosing from the many resorts available and decided on Mandarava based on reviews, area and amenities. Having never been to Thailand, were not familiar with the region and was not sure what to expect. Best decision we have ever made. The resort is in a wonderful location, perched on a jungle like hillside out of the hustle and bustle of Karon, but still close to the beach , restaurants and main roads to Patong, Kata and Phuket Town. Staff were exceptionally friendly and best breakfast I have had in a very long time. Room was very clean and comfortable, with much needed air conditioning. The Charm Thai restaurant on the resort is a must for authentic Thai cuisine, especially recommend the fish dishes with a refreshing Singha beer. We are already planning our next visit to this wonderful resort and only have great things to say.

A 5 star oasis ”

My family and I could have easily spent more time at this excellent resort. The grounds, people and facilities are wonderful. The rooms open up completely to beautifully manicured grounds. They have many pools of differing levels and have different restaurants, bars and an excellent games and workout room. The breakfast is honestly top notch offering not just a buffet but many made to order stations. I enjoyed being at the resort more than I enjoyed Karon Beach which is nice enough but Phuket and area is a bee hive of activity. The beach isn't paradise but Mandarava just might be. If you want to eat away from the resort Sweet and Sour a very short walk away is an absolute excellent choice.

Upscale Resort (ie leave the kids at home)”

We stayed for one night at the Mandarava on our way back from Phi Phi Island. Location wise, it's about 10 minutes off Karon beach. Overall there is not too much to do in the area and Mandarava has been designed as an all exclusive resort. You could easily spend your trip lounging by the pool, going to the spa and eating at the relatively excellent restaurant. This is not a resort for young kids, if you have a large brood I would recommend more of a Outrigger sort of resort. The rooms are very relaxing with a separate bath tub and shower, the pool bar makes great cocktails (at 120 baht at happy hour it's a great deal for a 5 star hotel), and the overall mood is quiet serenity. We spent our afternoon at the spa and was slightly disappointed. The 1 hour massage was fine, but the only other amenities is a small steam room and a cold Jacuzzi. Go into the steam room then hit the Jacuzzi. Neither are particularly big so if the spa is crowded I imagine space will be tight. Overall, enjoyed our stay a lot here and would come back at the right price point.

Delightful new resort with beautiful architecture ”

Beautifully designed new Thai style resort. The room is spacious, comfortable and clean. Our room is next to the Mango pool, which has a great pool and mountain view. And it's close to the massage building as well. There is only one restaurant though the food is really well made. The spa and massage are awesome. Strongly recommended for anyone. It's not right to the Karon beach but with a short walk. You can rent motor bikes from the resort which I think is fun and the best way in Phuket to get around. All in all, it's definitely one of the best hotel to stay in for the price. The only drawback is that you have to climb a lot of stairs from reception to the room as the resort is build on the mountain so I don't recommend it to people who mind stairs. Other than that it's perfect.

50 and fabulous at the Mandarava”

We really enjoyed our stay at the Mandarava, the staff were welcoming and friendly and couldn't do enough for us. I had a wonderful massage and facial at the Cheeva Spa which was located in the hotel grounds. The breakfast served in the Chom Talay restaurant was fantastic with lots of choice, we also had a couple of evening meals there which were very good. The main pool was lovely and everyday they served half price cocktails at the swim up bar between 4 pm and 6 pm. There were always sunbeds available throughout the day so no need to get up early and reserve a spot. I celebrated my 50th birthday whilst I was there and the staff provided me with a cake which I thought was a lovely gesture. Would recommend trying Sabajai restaurant which was just at the bottom of the hill on the right before you get to the main road - only a small place but authentic Thai cuisine and very reasonably priced, we had a fantastic meal there for under $40. This was our first time in Phuket and we would definitely stay at the Mandarava again.

Precious memories, amazing hotel! ”

Located far from beach, Mandarava is good for those seeking calm and bad – for those who wants to explore (shops, meals, nightlife etc.). We arrived late at night, and it took us some time to find it (lack of information from drivers and taxi, also lack of helping signs). But after that everything went better! Service was excellent - at the reception, room service, meal service – everyone did great. When we wanted some tour, managers at the reception helped us, even when the tour wasn't provided by the hotel. As for meal service - the chef and his team did a great job - breakfast and dinner were always good and tasty (especially, lasagna - most delicious of all!). Great and very unusually shaped swimming pool with 6 Jacuzzi, we liked it a lot. But we expected 2 more pools, but we were said there’re still under construction. All 3 pools differ in shape, design and location – it would be fun to switch between them when all of them are ready. Rooms are very spacious, a lot of natural light - especially in bathrooms (we were happy to discover transparent plastic ceiling). But I would add some more electric lights in the bathroom, cause after the sun goes down 2-3 lamps is hardly enough to see yourself in the mirror). Another unhappy thing are bugs and mosquitoes in the room due to wide gaps in the balcony wooden door. Also due to such “gaps”, you can easily enjoy the “jungle music” (very loud serenade of some insects on the trees) as if there are no doors at all. Should we had aluminum doors, I guess there wouldn’t be any “bug” problem. As for other things, we are completely satisfied and pleased. Should we visit Phuket again, Mandarava is №1 in the list :-)

Short walk to the beach, modern & tasteful setting”

With so many resorts in Phuket to choose from, the average traveler is really spoilt for choice. The Mandarava delivers on pretty much all the things we were looking for - a bar-in-pool, brightly lit and spacious rooms, a good restaurant with local fare and just a short stroll to the beach. Karon is just 5 minutes away, we didn't use the hotel shuttle at all. There are 2 pools and it makes you feel like there are fewer guests than there really are. Feels very new!

Paradise in an untypical area of Phuket”

Upon arrival at the hotel, my boyfriend and I were blown away. The entrance was spectacular! We were greeted by hotel staff with refreshing drinks and cold crisp wet towels. There was a bit of a wait as there were other people in the waiting presumably waiting to check-in or out, but we didn't really mind. The staff then explained to us that we requested a certain room, but that they would provide us with a different room with a better view. We requested to view both, and they were right about their recommendation. Better view! Both the rooms we viewed were equally tasteful, refreshing, beautifully decorated, as with the rest of the hotel. It was so comfortable, gorgeous. It proved difficult to leave everyday, if not for the amazing breakfast buffet spread and 3 large, again beautiful swimming pools. The 2 pools we frequented during our stay both had bars that served drinks and cocktails. 1 even served simple plates. I recommend the banana daiquiris to whoever is reading this. Delicious. The food served at the hotel restaurant was delectable. We especially remember the tom yam soup and duck curry. Best we've had ever. Drinks and food were a bit pricey, as can be expected of any great hotel. Well worth it. Location-wise not near buzzing activity, and the nearest beach isn't fantastic, but that's why we were happy to confine ourselves to Mandarava! To the owner and all the staff at Mandarava, thank you for the wonderful job you have done and keep doing. I will be sharing what a wonderful hotel you have with family and friends. Hope to revisit soon!

Great hotel with friendly staff”

Enjoyed my staff at Mandarava Resort and Spa Karon Beach. although there are parts of the resort still not ready, it was still an enjoyable experience. Room was huge with a lovely bathroom. Staff was friendly and attend to all your needs whenever required.

Fabulous hotel with caring and attentive staff”

We spent 4 days at Mandarava Resort and enjoyed every bit of it. Our room had a great view of the sea and sunset. The staff was very attentive. Upon learning that it was my fiancée's birthday, they sent a birthday cake to our room. While assisting us to book the birthday dinner at "On the rocks", the reception supervisor "Da" went the extra mile by informing the restaurant that it was a birthday dinner, got us good seats with clear view of the sunset, a 20% discount for our dinner and event a fruit platter with candles and birthday song thrown in. It's definitely a hotel that we will return to.

Relaxing Oasis ”

We spent 5 nights here while honeymooning in Phuket. We were truly impressed with the location and style of the resort. Be prepared to walk up a lot of stairs and hills. The resort IS on the side of mountain. We did not mind this at all as it added to the overall experience of being tucked away from town. It felt really private. The breakfast buffet was probably the best we've ever had. We dined at Chom Talay for dinner and were truly impressed with the quality of food. The pools that were closest to our rooms were amazing (Mango and Pomelo pool). Drinks are half off during happy hour at the pool (from 4-6). The walk to Karon town was about 15 minutes - we went at least once per day to stock up on snacks at the 7/11 or grab a cheaper bite to eat at one of the local restaurants. We took advantage of a special the spa was having, my husband got a Thai massage and I opted for a facial. They were both great. The only complaint we had was that tiny ants did invade our suite one day from a tiny hole between the balcony door and our bedroom. The housekeeping staff took care of it right away but the front desk almost made it seem as if it was our fault. We had left some food on the counter and they said that's why the ants came in. Ants shouldn't be able to come into the room in the first place! A small hiccup in our stay, but we'd certainly come back based on all the positives.

Villa on a hill, location not the best but pleasant stay”

Came here with my wife on our honeymoon trip and were pleasantly surprised with a free room upgrade. The resort is located on a hill, a good 15-20mins walk from Karon beach. There are regular shuttle buses to the beach, and the walk uphill might be a little tiring. You would expect to pay about 200Baht for a taxi one way. The resort is huge and is also built on slopes, you get a good view if you in one of the higher villas room 6000 to 9000s. You can get the hotel staff to bring you around on a buggy, but this resort won’t be recommended for the elderly and for people with knee problems. Rooms are spacious and clean, staff are friendly and very responsive but English is mediocre. Room service is really quick, we managed to get meals within 15mins. Breakfast spread is good, but might get too crowded after 9am and you may have to wait to get seated. Overall good stay though alittle pricey for the location.

The staff is the best of this hotel”

Manager Judy, waiter Sam, and cleaning lady Earn made our stay a very enjoyable one. We didn't start well with a not so good transport from the airport, and a very hot room (due to a hot water tank under the floor!!), and a poor service reg gluten free options which were promised but were absent. After arranging a meeting with Mngr. Judy, they made up for the bad start, and we were very happy! It's good to see they want to improve taking into consideration our feedback and critique. Thank you Mandarava. We loved the Papaya pool; didn't like the Mango pool, rather small and crowded; the Pomelo pool is ok. Room, lovely decor, spacious, great bathroom. The bed is very comfy! Location wise, we still prefer Kamala beach. Karon, over rated, sand is kind of artificial and not nice to walk on. The sea is transparent though, nice. So many loose dogs!! Scary!!

Warm Thai Hospitality ”

We stayed 3 nights intentionally to be away from the busy Patong Beach. No regrets. This property is quiet and nicely designed in a green botanic garden. Only thing is it’s hilly and everywhere you go is up hill with 5 pools at different levels of the property. Nothing about this place is usual or normal. ya e were greeted with warm Thai hospitality from the time we checked in. The driver cum property guide was an experience in itself. This service is provided to bring guest to and from their rooms 24/7. The guides are so helpful especially Jaai, he’s one helpful person. Ask him and he will gladly assist without hesitation. Big breakfast spread with a wide variety as well. Only down side is that it’s not near Karon Beach which worked for us as we wanted to be away from the crowd. Anyway, the hotel offers complimentary rides to and from Karon Beach. Overall, we will recommend this property and will be back again next time.

Beautiful Hotel and Friendly Staff”

The Mandarava Hotel is beautiful, we were very lucky and got a room that was right next to the pool and restaurant. Breakfast was amazing, you can get anything from cooked breakfast - thai style, eggs of all sorts cooked infront of you. All the staff are very attentive and would do anything for you. They are always smiling and welcoming The only downfall is that it is a bit pricey for food and drinks, but you can expect that from a 5* They offer a free shuttle to Karon, but it is only a short walk (10mins) although it is down hill. They also offer a shuttle to Patong for 100baht. Overall a fantastic hotel, staff were outstanding.

lovely place for rest and relax”

Very nice place to rest. We stayed in the Grand Deluxe Room for 3 nights in Feb. The room is clean and lovely with a large bathroom with beautiful free-stand bathtub; a walk-in closet where we can open two large luggage. Balcony with the view of Karon beach. There is several pools and poolside bar; the restaurant where we had breakfast and joined the Thai cooking class is nice and price is reasonable. I love the treatment of their Cheeva Spa as well. The staff is nice and friendly, always welcome us with big smiles. they are very helpful in serving us and planning our trip, very appreciated for that.

Amazing Resort and best place to relax”

We never regretted staying at this resort. This is a hidden paradise with a lot of amenities and the food was great. If you want to go Karon beach it's just 5-10 minutes wallk. This resort has its own spa, 3 pools, billiard table, pingpong table, gym and a lot more. If you want to go Island hopping, you can ask the reception and they can arrange for you as well as the transport. Most of the staff can speak english well so it is not a problem at all. You will definitely stay relax and hassle free trip. Will be back again for sure.