Most websites will tell you the same thing - Karon is Phuket's "second most developed" beach, but is quite spread out with many resorts along the beach road, generally does not feel too crowded, it much cleaner and neater than Patong and the sand is squeaky - I thought this was rubbish, but the dry sand does squeak, it's true. The beach is long and open (if you want a curving bay, then try Kata or Naiharn). In some places there is shade, in other places the beach is hot - but of course you can find beach chairs everywhere in the high season. Karon Beach is more than 3km from end to end.
Unlike parts of Patong, there is virtually no development right on the beach. For much of the length of Karon, there is a road, some greenery and a canal in between the beach and the hotels. Only hotels right on the beach are Karon Beach Resort, Ruam Thep Inn (south end) and a small place called "In On The Beach" at the north end. The beach is quite green, the sand is clean and fine and from most hotels you are no more than a few minutes from the water.
Karon is about an hour from the airport, 15 minutes from Patong or 10 minutes from Chalong Jetty. If you like a quiet beach, but some nightlife, Karon is ideal - you can head into Patong in the night - Karon has a few bars, but nothing serious. It does tend to be more of a family beach, and the accommodation reflects this. Most of the beach road is taken up with resorts - some huge like the Hilton or Thavorn Beach resort, some smaller like Karon Princess or Woraburi. But off the beach road there is a profusion of small hotels and guesthouses like Karon Place, Anan House, Casa Brazil, Pineapple Guesthouse - many, many options and all just a few minutes from the beach. Just about any kind of room you want is here - from 250 Baht fan rooms to 5 star luxury. Some links at the end of this page.
Similarly, there are plenty of eating options. The resorts have some nice restaurants, there are steakhouses like Buffalo Steakhouse or Angus O'Tooles, there is seafood galore and also many small family restaurants for Thai food. If you want good, cheap local food get off the beach road and look along "Patak Road", where you can find where the locals eat.. yes, there are locals here - fishing folk mostly, and you still see fishermen at the beach, or longtails going out fishing. These days, many of the local families now run guesthouses or restaurants rather than relying on fishing for a living.
Karon Circle at the north end of the beach road features a large statue depicting local people involved in the four main traditional industries of Phuket – farming, rubber, fishing and tin mining. Tin made Phuket rich, fishing continues to be important (I suggest you check out the fishing port on the east side of Phuket town on the way to Koh Sirey) and many areas of Phuket are still covered with rubber plantations, including the hills above Karon - you can see some photos on my Phuket weather blog.
Karon has no single "center" really. There is the area near the circle (north end of the beach) which is most developed and has several quieter side streets with lots of small hotels and restaurants, and there is the area around Karon Plaza near the Phuket Orchid resort (south end of the beach) which also has many guesthouses and places to eat and is only 10 minutes walk from Kata beach too. The Aroona Karon area about half way along the beach is nice and features the Old Phuket Hotel.
Karon Beach is a nice place to stay. Developed, yes, but it has been done quite neatly, certainly if compared to Patong. Accommodation for everyone from luxury seekers to backpackers, and a great base for exploring Phuket. Lots of cars and bikes for rent enabling you to go and check out other beaches nearby (Kata, Naiharn, Rawai) or places like Kata Viewpoint (from where you can see Karon - see below), Phromthep Cape, Chalong Temple and much more!
Karon Beach Links
• Karon Beach Hotels @ Agoda.com
• Karon Beach Hotels - Last Minute Deals @ LateStays.com
• Sunrise Divers - PADI Dive Center
• Old Phuket Hotel
• CC Blooms Hotel
• Pineapple Guesthouse
• Karon Temple
• Map of Karon Beach and nearby Hotels
More Recommended Hotels in Karon Beach
• Woraburi Resort and Spa
• Karon Beach Resort
• Hilton Phuket
• Centara Villas
• Thavorn Palm Beach Resort
• Phuket Island View
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