Hotels in Mai Kao Beach, Phuket

We booked two Deluxe Rooms (two queen-size beds, with balcony) in February, and in June, we found out the water park was under renovation. We were told there would be extra pools, slides, trampolines, etc., for kids. I had booked for two days before our flight to be closer to the airport, so I didn't cancel the reservation. Plus, I wanted to see the planes take off and land. What I didn't like: The closed water park, constant renovations, fences everywhere, and the noise of drills. The additional facilities for kids didn't compensate for why we booked it in the first place for our 12 and 13-year-olds; they wanted a water park, not an inflatable trampoline for toddlers. The beach was dirty; at least they could have cleaned the trash from the hotel's section of the shore. In the balcony room, it was unbearable to sleep because the balcony door didn't close tightly. Consequently, the noise from the planes taking off made it impossible to sleep, even on the 7th floor of building 9. MINUS: The climate control panel was by the door. In another hotel we stayed at before this one, it was by the bed, so at night, I could turn the AC and lights on and off by feel. PLUSES: Because the water park was closed, upon our request, they upgraded our room category and gave us a large room in building 1. So, we spent our second night there as a family. It had two AC units and a lot of space. The breakfast was good, with plenty of variety! The area was CLEAN and well-maintained, but it didn't have that 'wow' factor. You can't swim at the beach. You have to walk about 2 km towards the 'coral graveyard,' where you can snorkel and see fish, but bottles and trash will accompany you the whole way. Overall, this hotel didn't impress us. Its main advantage is being 20 minutes from the airport.

We had a really great time at the Radisson Blu in Phuket. The room was spotlessly clean, and the hotel is well-equipped with everything we needed for a comfortable trip. The staff were all super friendly and welcoming, which made our stay even better. My only small wish is that they would show a bit more sympathy towards the stray cats around the property. Overall, a fantastic experience!

We stayed at this hotel for one night. The room was clean, the staff was attentive, and we were checked in immediately without any waiting. There's a 7-Eleven, cafes, a currency exchange, and a fruit stand nearby, so everything we needed was close at hand. It's about a 5-7 minute walk to the beach. Breakfast was à la carte, not a buffet, but we only had one breakfast there and it was perfectly fine for us.

Excellent hotel, perfect for those who love a calm getaway or need a quiet spot after a noisy night in Patong before flying home. It’s right near the airport, and you can easily call a taxi to anywhere. The 7-Eleven is a 10-12 minute walk or just 3 minutes by bike (free from reception). Be prepared that after 7 PM, everything quiets down -it’s a super peaceful area with no one on the streets

Very nice accomodation, we arrived late and we were still welcomed without any problem. The location is nice to go around with bikes and relax but if you want to be close to the center it’s a bit far, but that was not a problem for me :)

I did a lot of research before my trip and finally chose JW Marriott and another new Marriott-affiliated hotel. First, let me share my disappointments with JW Marriott: - We arrived at JW Marriott in the afternoon, during heavy rain. After checking in and walking to our room, we had to navigate a long corridor of about 330 meters, encountering countless dripping spots and slippery surfaces. This was a huge challenge for my 80-year-old parents. - Later, for dinner, we chose the Thai buffet based on Marriott's recommendation, only to find it was at a different Marriott hotel a few minutes' drive away. They initially asked us to wait for the shuttle bus at the lobby entrance. After waiting for over ten minutes, a 'songthaew' (local open-air taxi) arrived. My parents couldn't manage to 'climb' onto the high back of the 'songthaew'. After coordinating with the hotel, they arranged a private car to take us to the other Marriott hotel's lobby. From there, to get to the Thai buffet restaurant, we had to walk past a swimming pool. Imagine, at 7 PM, it was already dark and raining, and my 80-year-old parents were precariously navigating, worried about slipping, and bravely making their way to the restaurant. - Around 10 PM that night, returning to my room from the hotel gym, I was shocked to find dozens of small insect corpses lying outside my door! After taking photos, I asked the front desk to send someone to clean and perform pest control. But the next morning at 9:50 AM, I found over twenty more insect corpses outside the door! - The next morning at 8:30 AM, my parents went for breakfast. Unexpectedly, they had to wait in line outside the restaurant for 45 minutes, only getting into the buffet restaurant at 9:15 AM! During this time, because my father couldn't stand steadily, my parents asked the restaurant staff four times for a chair to sit and wait. The staff initially refused, only providing a chair when my father was close to fainting. - The room facilities were a bit dated. The entire JW Marriott is connected to their vacation homes, and walking from my room to the breakfast restaurant took 350 meters, and to the gym, about 500 meters. I didn't really enjoy this type of massive resort that felt a bit overwhelming. - The vegetation outside the room was very dense and seemed untrimmed. Both of our rooms were supposed to have sea views, but they were almost completely blocked by dense foliage. - The beach in front of the hotel was extremely dirty! I've visited many resort beaches around the world, and this was, without a doubt, the dirtiest! The beach at the nearby Anantara was also dirty, though not as bad. Marriott claimed the beach wasn't theirs, but doesn't the hotel still benefit from these scenic sea views? Things I appreciated: - After breakfast, I went to the front desk to report the insect corpses and the breakfast queue situation. The front desk manager, Karen, assisted us. After understanding the situation and reviewing the photos, Karen immediately dispatched a professional team to address the insect problem. That night and the next morning, we didn't find more than three insect corpses. - Given that both my parents are over 80 and couldn't queue for 30-40 minutes for breakfast every morning, Karen suggested room service, which was incredibly thoughtful and meticulous! - Because my father has some mobility issues, after dinner at the Thai buffet on the first night, and after providing feedback to Karen the next day, they arranged wheelchair service for us on both occasions. - The hotel has many service staff from various parts of Southeast Asia and Europe. Whether in the lobby, corridors, dinner restaurant, or by the pool, they would always stop, bow, and greet guests whenever they saw them. - Both of our rooms had a small corner with two bamboo lounge chairs that looked simple but were surprisingly comfortable. That was our favorite spot to relax!

This is a beautiful hotel with 3 swimming pools located directly on the beach. The staff are lovely and helpful. The rooms and grounds are clean. There is a lot on offer for breakfast and the standard varies daily. There are restaurants nearby for variety and also a mini mart. The resort offers a shuttle bus up to the main road 3 times a week. There is an outdoor local massage service on the beach. We loved our stay here. It is remote and feels like being on an island. The beaches are kept very clean and the water is amazing to swim in. This is a very quiet part of Phuket so perfect if that is what you are looking for. 

This hotel is generally decent, but it has its pros and cons. Pros: Recently built; pleasant grounds; 10-minute walk to the sea; table and chairs on the veranda; a good Thai restaurant within a 5-minute walk. Cons: Frequent creaking of the metal roof; laminate flooring in the room that buckles due to humidity; cleaning only every three days; upon check-in, the staff didn't inform us about anything – we had to find out everything ourselves from reviews (like how to get to the sea, the availability of a shared kitchen, bike usage); no foot wash tap (we ended up tracking sand everywhere); some guests smoke ********* in the hotel. And overall, the staff is indifferent to guests.

The room was clean and tidy, with a slight musty smell, which is understandable. After all, it is a house on the seaside. The reception desk was very small. I clicked the navigation button to get there. It was 10 o'clock in the evening and I couldn't recognize it at all. I drove out and called again. It took some effort to find it.

Why are there so many negative reviews? This hotel is excellent in terms of both facilities and service! The environment is very natural and pristine, with a massive garden, lush trees, and modern architecture. The pool is huge, with several shallow play areas, perfect for families with children under 6. The main pool is 1.4 meters deep – imagine relaxing in the water while gazing at the sea! There's also a bar right by the pool. The hotel's private beach, although the waves are too strong for swimming, boasts water the same clear, blue-green color as the pool – absolutely beautiful. The hotel breakfast is incredibly rich, offering not only standard Western options but also many local specialties like curries, pandan cake, sticky rice desserts, and Thai milk tea – all delicious! There's also a wide selection for lunch and dinner. The prices are comparable to outside restaurants, and while there's a service charge, it saves you the time and effort of going out, making it ideal for lazy guests like us who just want to relax at the hotel. The hotel also has a spa and massage services, along with a gym. There are different activities scheduled daily. The staff are friendly, polite, and always willing to help. For payments, credit cards, Alipay, and WeChat Pay are all accepted. Guests come from all over the world, truly a mini United Nations, which is very interesting. However, the hotel's location is a bit remote, which might not suit those who prefer a livelier atmosphere.