Mövenpick Resort & Spa Karon Beach Phuket

I had the pleasure of staying at the Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts, up in Phuket, Thailand recently. There were two exclusive and rather gorgeous properties – one on Karon Beach and the other on the Laguna, i.e. Bangtao beach. They were both different and charming in their own way. But one thing’s for sure, both were super luxurious resorts, prime beachfront properties and with terrific service to boot. Not every beach is lovely in Phuket, and it looks like Mövenpick got the cream of the crop.

villas built amidst lush greenery

Located a mere 45 minutes from Phuket International Airport, Mövenpick Resort & Spa Karon Beach Phuket is located on Karon Beach, and you will be surprised at just how lush, this property is.. especially located so close to hot, scorching sand!

Mövenpick Resort & Spa Karon Beach Phuket is like a green lung within the most popular strip of beach on Karon

For those who are unfamiliar, Mövenpick is an international upscale hotel management company that is represented in 25 countries with 71 hotels and resorts currently in operation. A further 30 properties are actually being planned or are already under construction in Ankara -Turkey, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Shanghai and Dharamshala- India.

penthouse villa’s are so beautifully landscaped near meandering lakes

The huge swimming pool – if the beach is not for you, you can always just laze by the pool

Mövenpick hotels are the popular upmarket choice for travelers across Europe, Africa, the Middle East, and Asia, and they specialize in business and conference hotels, as well as holiday resorts. You will inevitably bump into travelers from all corners of the world on this property and most are friendly enough and stop for a chat and to find out where you’re from.

Paksavayupak – mythical thai bird

Of Swiss heritage and headquartered in Zurich, Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts is really all about luxury travel living, enjoying the highest level of service, culinary prowess and state of the art hotel facilities, but still being very eco-friendly and aware of the environment.

the Paksavayupak that flew the coop!

the lobby has daily traditional thai performers playing musical instruments – this adds ambience to the place

Mövenpick Resort & Spa Karon Beach Phuket

Mövenpick Resort & Spa Karon Beach Phuket is pretty huge. The Resort showcases 117 elegant villas ranging from Garden Villas with outdoor rainforest showers to Pool Villas and Penthouse Plunge Pool Villas with rooftop sundecks and plunge pools. The 221 Ocean and Garden View Rooms and Suites feature excellent amenities. The resort has 26 two-bedroom, oceanfront apartments with fully equipped kitchenettes, living rooms, and oversized balconies. All suites, villas and rooms reflect elements and traditions of Thai decor and design, and are homey and spacious. You really feel like you’re living in a tropical rainforest but with the comforts of wifi and flat screen TVs.

garden villas

At the hotel, there are so many different types of rooms to choose from, and I was given the latest Deluxe Garden Villa to stay in. I loved it because I was located very close to the swimming pool as well as the gym and the spa and beach. The Deluxe Garden Villa is cozy and great for couples or the single traveler, and it features a large bathroom with long bath and shower, also an outdoor shower and wet area to dry your swim wear or gym wear and also a chill out terrace with garden view or private courtyard.

here’s me, hitting the gym, after my run on the beach. It’s great for some weights training and for cooling down after running on the sand

the guards are on duty all day, to help you cross the street to get to the beach. safety is paramount at Mövenpick Resort & Spa Karon Beach Phuket

Karon – much less busy than Patong beach and I love it because it is less noisy – fewer touts here and I can read my book and sunbath in peace

With regards to my room, the interior is rather tastefully crafted with touches of traditional Thai-influenced decor and wall paintings. From where I was, I had quick access to the tranquil Coconut Grove Pool. I literally pulled back my sliding doors, walked out to the patio, and into the pool. My type of room is available with 1 king size bed or 2 single beds and it accommodates 2 adults and 1 small child nicely. Amenities include complimentary wifi internet and daily tropical fruit bowls. Actually I got more than just a fruit bowl daily – I got a platter of Thai dessert, called the louk chup and also a platter of hand crafted chocolates that the Executive Chef of Mövenpick, Chef Ameer made himself.

the patio.. everything here is green, green, green!

my room

louk-chup, and sweet mango for tea.. the chef kept surprising me with delectable goodies each new day

outdoor shower – weather’s so hot, sometimes it’s nice to shower outside.

There are many other types of room to choose from but I didn’t get to check them all out. I did however get to see the Penthouse Plunge Pool Villa as well as the beach front property known as The Residence.

the Penthouse Plunge Pool Villa

the Penthouse Plunge Pool Villa is huge. A large bedroom and even an upstairs chill out area with a dipping pool

the larger than life bathroom

going upstairs, this is the added bonus – a chill out area with a small dipping pool to cool off

Taking a walk down to the beach, you will reach, the Residence.

the Residence

the Residence is literally the most beach front of the entire property, as you can see the beach from your room.

The gorgeous infinity pool

Situated in a private area accessible only to Residence guests, these luxurious modern-style accommodations directly face the white sands and clear waters of Karon Beach.

They include separate king size and twin bedrooms and a fully-equipped kitchenette that adjoins the living room and dining area. All these units are available with 1 king size bed and 2 single beds and they accommodate up to 4 persons. A large balcony with retractable glass doors welcomes the cool sea breeze and bathes interiors with natural light – perfectly framing the breathtaking Andaman Sea sunsets.

the kitchen

Living room with retractable glass doors

Other rooms to choose from include the Ocean View Room – Ocean View Rooms are located in the main building and offer nice ocean views, or the Garden View Room (36 sqm) where the gardens are just by your doorstep. The Residence, which you saw earlier, is situated in a private area accessible only to Residence guests, these luxurious modern-style accommodations directly face the white sands and clear waters of Karon Beach. For families, there’s the Family Suite – The Two-Bedroom Family Suite (165 sqm) comfortably accommodates up to 6 people and is situated amid the resort’s lush tropical gardens. In the “villa” range, there’s the Deluxe Garden Villa (53 sqm), the Plunge Pool Villa (68 sqm) and last but not least, the Penthouse Plunge Pool Villa (71 sqm) with 1 bedroom and large bathroom which includes an oversized bathtub, shower cubicle and sliding windows to an interior. As you can tell, the property is huge and they have something for everybody – from the single traveler to the larger families.

So, anyway, what is Phuket if not the beaches, the food, and the spa’s right? And with my room being located so close to one inviting spa, I just had to check it out. The spa, or “Sala” is set within several serenevillas, scenic bathing pools and suites designed for couples as well as individuals and this is the perfect place to relax, unwind and to loosen the knots in your weary body. I suggest keeping your spa treatment till a couple of days into your holiday, after you’ve taken on all those adventure and water sports, so you can really test them and see if they can knead the pain from your body!

single or twin rooms are available for couples

These customized spa treatments include distinctive massages, facials, exfoliations and wraps using natural herbs, aromatic oils and spices. I picked the one which started off with a coffee scrub, then a milk bath and finally an aromatherapy 1 hour long deep tissue massage. Perfectly divine.. felt like a million bucks after.

coffee scrub

milk bath – does that make me Cleopatra? 😛

As for dinner that night, there are several good F & B outlets within the hotel to choose from, but I highly recommend a Thai styled dinner, cooked by Chef Ameer at the Pacifica, or you could opt for a Brazilian churrasco dinner at El Gaucho, where patrons are treated to an array of tender meats by a squadron of skewer-wielding chefs.

thai style dinner at the Pacifica..

..or hearty steaks at El Gaucho

One of the outstanding things about Mövenpick Karon is the Green Globe Certification it holds. This is the worldwide sustainability system certification based on internationally-accepted criteria for sustainable operation and management of travel and tourism businesses. Operating under a worldwide license, Green Globe Certification is based in California, USA, and is represented in over 83 countries. Mövenpick Resort & Spa Karon Beach Phuket has been certified for its sustainable operation and management for a couple of years now. The Phuket-based resort is actually the first Green Globe certified hotel in Phuket.

Tall rainforest trees, older than me.. preserved with great pride at the Mövenpick Resort & Spa Karon Beach Phuket property

This recognition highlights Mövenpick Resort & Spa Karon Beach Phuket’s strong commitment to the principles of environmental protection and most importantly, reflects the company’s determination to implement sustainable practices today to ensure a better tomorrow.

even the spa huts are landscaped beautifully and harmoniously with their surroundings

the penthouse villa’s architecture invite and blend beautifully with trees, creepers, flora and fauna. You can literally hear the heartbeat of the forest while living here

Speaking with Mr. Hansruedi Frutiger, the General Manager of the hotel, he was of the view point that the economic growth and the well-being of society are inextricably tied to the health of the environment. Through collaboration with their own staff, their suppliers, and business partners, they have been actively working to reduce the environmental impact of their business activities, striving to improve and innovate on practices while at the same time meeting the current environmental call to be greener.

it doesn’t get much greener than this

Well I think it’s a great contribution to keeping Phuket as green as possible and ensuring that it remains a top holiday destination, and Mövenpick Karon is definitely setting an example and leading the way on how to operate with the lightest carbon footprint on the environment.

And for the children, Mövenpick Resort & Spa Karon Beach Phuket has one of the largest children’s entertainment centres on the island, making it ideal for small and larger families. An extra bed, breakfast for guests under 13 and access to the ‘Play Zone’ will be free of charge.

Located on the ground floor of the main tower, the sprawling ‘Play Zone’ features Sony PlayStations, a DVD lounge and Internet room, arts and crafts, an outdoor playground and indoor games, such as pool and table tennis.

All in all Mövenpick Resort & Spa Karon Beach Phuket is a great resort on prime beach front property. It is a holiday escape, yet close to nature and with lots of great food and service to boot.