I'll start in order:
- in Thailand for the first time, we rested at the end of January, Biblioglobus tour operator (well organized transfer, unobtrusive guides, will always help if necessary), flight by Transaero airline (new plane, excellent food, polite flight attendants, screens in front of the seat with a large collection of films worked , cartoons, audio books, game programs, etc. , the flight went perfectly both there and back)
- from the airport to the hotel to go 1.5 hours. Since we arrived at the hotel at 7 in the morning, and check-in was only from 14-00, without any doubt, after changing clothes in the hotel toilet and leaving our things at the reception, we went to the beach. Fatigue after the road seemed to disappear and all the seemingly inconveniences with a long check-in did not make us worry. I would like to note right away that the polite staff of the hotel is simply amazing with its sincerity and responsiveness!
Kind and hospitable Thais are ready to help with the solution of absolutely any issue.
We had a standard room on the 3rd floor. Very large, clean, comfortable and cozy room. Large double bed, dressing room, free safe, Wi-Fi throughout the hotel, including rooms, refrigerator, TV, hairdryer, kettle with tea / coffee set, 2 bottles of water per day, mirror, clothes dryer, balcony, air conditioning - everything The room had it and worked well. They cleaned and changed towels daily, linen was changed like 1 time during our stay (9 days). In the bathroom: toilet, bidet, large mirror, large sink, towel rack, shower. There was no bathroom itself, but, they say, in some rooms there is, for us it was not important. No living creatures, dampness, mold or unpleasant odors were also found. Everything is very clean!
- breakfast is already included in the price of the tour. From 07:00 until 11:00.
You go down to the reception, there is also a mini-restaurant with a small number of seats. You can choose from American, English, Thai and some 4 more. Everything is very fast, tasty and satisfying. The service is excellent.
- Karon beach is about 900 meters from the hotel. On the map it seems that it’s far away, but you can walk in about 10 minutes. I don’t know how other tourists went through the Movenpick hotel, we didn’t manage to go there even once, because there the guards politely showed us the way around : ) And it didn’t bother me at all, because every time, walking to the beach (minus, of course, that there are no pedestrian roads in Tae, you walk along the edge of the roadside) noticed some interesting things. To get to the beach, you need to leave the hotel, turn left, and go all the way to the Karon ring, through the temple. You can go both along the territory of the temple (it is very beautiful there), and along the road around.
A huge number of cafes, restaurants, bars, shops, pharmacies, massage parlors, fruit shops ...You won’t remember everything and you certainly won’t stop being surprised! The beach is clean, the first two days there were quite strong waves, everyone swam along the coast : ) Small plankton sometimes pinched, but it didn’t hurt and there were no traces left afterwards. The sand is unique "musical", as everyone there calls it, because it crunches underfoot like snow. Sun loungers, deck chairs and umbrellas were officially removed from the beaches at the legislative level, but promised to be returned. We rented a wicker bedspread from the hotel, they are also sold in any store, like umbrellas. The sea is warmest, the sun is hellishly hot, take care of yourself!
- as for restaurant and cafe food, since we had to have lunch and dinner outside the hotel (although they also cook something there), we tried to visit as many establishments as possible.
Always choose places where it is crowded (in the evenings there were huge queues in some cafes! ), where both tourists and Thais themselves eat. Always check the menu on the counters before entering the restaurant. This will allow you to compare prices and choose the most suitable one for you. A huge number of restaurants with Russian cuisine appeared. Personally, I don't understand why go to Thailand, a country with amazing cuisine and eat borscht with dumplings : ) But, they don't argue about tastes. In any case, everyone will find lunch and dinner to their liking, both European and Thai, Indian, even Caucasian cuisine : )
- supermarkets 7/11 and Family Market - you can find EVERYTHING there! An evening market opens on the territory of the temple on Tuesdays and Saturdays, so you can bargain, but we still bought everything in supermarkets and pharmacies (ointments, oils), because it turned out to be cheaper there. In general, do not be lazy and study the prices everywhere, slowly. About prices...
The situation with the rate is sad, it used to be 1/1, now 1/3. For comparison, lunch for two was 300 baht earlier - 300 rubles. Now 900!
- do not take mopeds, it is very dangerous. Tuk-tuk is the best means of transportation! And to Patong, to the epicenter of the nightlife of Bangla Road, and to other beaches (we went to Kata) - everything is relatively budget and fun, with music : )
Look like that's it. Believe me, I have something to compare. Cons are found even in luxury hotels. Are you on holiday or what? The mood must be appropriate! : ) This cute, 2 star hotel was not even close, for example, with 4-5 stars in Egypt or Turkey. It is much better than two stars!
For all questions both about the hotel and Phuket in general, you can contact me, I'm always happy to help