Thavorn Palm Beach Resort

A good hotel on the whole, not quite a 5*. We had an awful check-in experience. Before our holiday, we received an email asking us to make sure we had the original card that we booked with on us when we arrived. We pre-paid last August by booking directly with the hotel. When we got there, we presented the card. We had received a new bank card since last August as the old one expired and the long card number on the front was slightly different. They asked us to the pay for the hotel again with a different card and said they would refund our original payment within 6-8 weeks! They said this was protocol due to scammers, even though they had already received our payment for our stay months ago! We were not willing to pay again and wait 6-8 weeks for our original payment to be refunded. We had to log in to our mobile banking and show them the statement from when the monkey was taken. We had to show them that the account number and sort code on the bank statement was the same as on the card that we had presented. They wouldn’t accept this for a long time due to the long card number on our new card being a couple of digits different. The whole thing got rather unpleasant. We couldn’t see what the issue was given that they had received the payment for our stay back in August. Eventually they accepted what we were showing them but very reluctantly! There was another family having the same issue at the same time as us. The pools are great. Kids loved the slides. The gardens and the grounds are stunning - can’t emphasise this enough! Everywhere was spotless. Location is great. Over the road from the beach. Lots of bars and restaurants a short walk both left and right out of the hotel at the beach side. Food in Ciao restaurant was excellent. Perhaps a bit understaffed at breakfast. Often ran out of bowls, kids plastic cups and plates. Breakfast itself was excellent - there was everything you could ever wish for! Our room was perfect for our family of 4. We had a family room with bunk beds. It was huge so we didn’t feel like we were getting under each other’s feet. Could have done with another set of drawers in there as there weren’t many places to unpack clothes. We had a lovely balcony overlooking the quieter pool. Cleaning was often late in the day and our room got missed one day but it didn’t matter too much to us. A really great hotel on the whole! A solid 4* hotel I would say. Check-in protocol needs to change to avoid a lengthy/stressful check-in process. If your card has expired since booking, check the long card number is the same!

Booked the hotel June 2024 for 1 week for April 2025. We booked interconnecting rooms as travelling as a family of 4. Check in On arrival we had a short wait to be seen by someone in reception to check in. Upon check in we were asked to provide the card we had made the booking with. Unfortunately due to fraud taking place on that card, shortly after paying for the hotel in June, that card had been cancelled. The hotel reception staff then produced the card machine and advised we needed to pay the room rate again and the original would be refunded within 2-4 weeks. We found this absurd so requested to speak with the manager who we hoped would be able to see sense in the situation as we had a bank statement to evidence the payment. Unfortunately the manager was not able to assist and advised the only option we had was to pay again and if we cancelled our stay the rate was non refundable. Again the policy does not make sense. There was no offer of anything to try and appease the situation, just “sorry it is our policy” on repeat. Please ensure if you decide to stay here the card you book with does not expire prior to your arrival otherwise you will have to pay twice and wait. We were told 2-4 weeks for the refund however on receiving the refund paperwork it advises 30-45 business days. I would suggest if this is the policy, a pay on arrival method would be a lot better like at the next hotel we stayed in at The Sands Khao Lak where we had a much better experience. Hotel Hotel gardens are beautiful and the style of the hotel is lovely. Maintenance is required for the hotel as there is paint peeling and the roof looks like it could do with some attention in places. The hotel is definitely not 5 star. It may have been in the 80s but sadly no longer. Rooms Dated, air conditioning is noisy and one room seemed to work at a time which was inconvenient. The bed was very comfortable. TV worked for a short period before the screen turning purple and green. Beach towels Odd concept at changing at reception and this is not advised when checking in. Service Due to Thailand being renowned as the land of smiles I was shocked at the service at this hotel. Especially as it is advertised as 5 star. The service was very slow. I felt like I was putting them out a lot of the time by asking for something as they seemed more interested in their smart phones than actually servicing hotel guests. They was one lady at the Chaba pool bar who was excellent. I cannot recall her name though. Pools Sun loungers were uncomfortable. They appeared to be the ones that would usually have a mattress for the top of them however not at this hotel. The slides were good but 11-6 was odd for opening considering the pool was full of children desperate to use them by 9am. Location The hotel is located opposite the beach. The beach itself is full of rubbish and has a smell to it. So would not recommend a day at the beach. There are lots of shops. bars and restaurants within walking distance. Food and beverages Breakfast was excellent. Lots of variety and changed every day. Some days we were offered tea and coffee some we weren’t. We also ate at Ciao a couple of times. This is located at the front of the hotel. Food here was great however the service again was lacking. Cocktails were ok. Smoothies were good. Check out Please ensure you give yourself enough time at check out as you have to wait for a staff member to check the room to ensure you haven’t used the mini bar prior being able to leave. Again another weird policy. We have stayed in multiple hotels across the world and never had an experience where you feel like a criminal on check out. Overall due to the bad experience on check in it set the tone for the hotel. Having to pay twice is absolutely ridiculous. I would not recommend this hotel and would not stay again. Hopefully the refund does appear in our account soon.

Thavorn Palm initially on arrival ok but no wow factor. Rooms whilst clean are very dated, room towels need replacing. We had an interconnecting room, air conditioning in one room didn’t work and in the other very noisy but needed so whilst disturbed sleep no option but to leave on. Hotel is also very noisy, can hear other guests and staff too. The pool towel system via reception rather inconvenient and again towels old and worn. Music too loud both around the pool and in restaurant areas together with playing unedited versions of songs. Note there are only two restaurants on site. Breakfast was a good selection and lunch at the bars good but dinner disappointing, food was poor and not authentic and very expensive. Venture around the corner onto main road and there is much more choice, better tasting food and drink at a fraction of the cost. Service mediocre, I often cleared away empty glasses and plates and had to order at bar as pool side ordering didn’t work nor does anyone come round to offer. No offer of tea or coffee at breakfast. Water free in room yet charged elsewhere, seems odd when it’s the only source of drinking water. The gym is very limited, two treadmills with one out of order. No tea or coffee available at pool bar, very inconvenient. The free money system is a good offer just choose which option wisely as no refunds, the system is clearly explained on check in. There is no pool attendant or monitoring of slides. Just be aware if travelling with children. The staff are attentive in many ways but miss some of the important details as detailed in this review. And whilst very personal to me, the mugs in the room which are dark ceramic just a complete no no and no decent mugs available at breakfast either to have decent cuppa or coffee. Patio impossible to use as full of dead mosquitos never cleaned. Thavorn was ok but as the week went on did begin to grate. Certainly not 5 star or somewhere to spend full days, luckily we were out and about a lot. It certainly needs an upgrade and I would say 4 star at best. There are some newer looking rooms on the website not sure where these are in the hotel but advisable if considering staying here. Regards Liza, UK

Really bad service and no way 5*. The hotel is very under staffed and this is reflected in service. Have to wait to get a drink for up to 30 mins at bar and waited 20 mins for a menu. So much potential for this hotel but if you want a high level Of service I would not go here.

Lovely hotel, wonderful staff We were so lucky to meet Eddie at the concierge he was one of the nicest people we met in Thailand, went out of his way everyday to make sure me and my family had everything we needed and even brought my son a fresh mango from his home town. Thank you so much Eddie! The pool and slides where lots of fun however can be quite dangerous if not properly monitored.