Horizon Beach Resort Hotel

I have just returned from Phuket (2 days ago) and my friend and I stayed at the Horizon Beach Resort. The nightmare begun when we arrived at the hotel very tired from the journey to get there. After photocopying our passports and requesting us to fill out a form, we were informed that the hotel was fully booked. We stated that this was not possible because we booked it several months ago. We requested to speak with the Manager which was the "duty manager". She was quite rude and we noticed staff laughing at our experience which didnt go down too well with us. The duty manager informed us that they wanted to send us to their sister hotel at Karon and even after we explained to her that we didnt want to stay in Karon, we preferred Patong, she acted as though we were being difficult at not accepting their proposal. After some time had passed with us sticking to our guns and stating we wanted them to provide a room in their hotel or in one of the surrounding hotels they said they would show us a room. We discovered that they were offerring us the original rooms we had booked as we had requested 2 rooms next door to each other overlooking the pool, so we had earnt our own rooms back!. They had lied to us about being "fully booked".We felt incredibly exhausted and stressed after this experience however we were determined not to let it spoil our holiday. We did find out though that they tried the scam on a lot of people who were booked to stay at their hotel. We absolutely loved Patong ( once we learnt how to deal with the street sellers)..especially the beach...it was so relaxing but entertaining with all the activities that happen there. We loved the Fantasea show and the trip (by speedboat) to PhiPhi island. The food and nightlife was great..it was only our hotel that let the place down. We would definately go back there but would NEVER stay at that hotel again. We did however meet some great people at the hotel so we are grateful for that.

We just got home today from patong. and we really liked it! before we had booked another hotel which was highly recommended by this homepage but we were really disappointed... we were soo happy to find a peaceful and clean and nice hotel like the horizon!! we stayed for 9 nights and we would stay at any time there again!!!

I am late in writing this review, but I stayed for a few days at the Horizon Beach Resort and Spa in Phuket in January 2006. The reviews on TripAdvisor were mixed, but the problems being raised didn't really bother me initially. Check-in was fine, and the room was a decent size and decently clean. The first night the AC starting making this terrible racket and kept waking us up, so I popped the filter cover off and discovered that it had frozen over completely. I went down to tell the staff and they started blow-drying the fins, and this was clearly a regular occurance (this was a split-system, wall-mounted AC). Annoyed, we rolled with the punches, went back to sleep and had decent AC for the rest of the night. The next morning we asked to be moved to another room and the staff was happy enough to oblige. There were, at the time, two wings to the hotel, the new wing and the old wing, and we were in the old wing. We moved to our new room, and that night the AC acted up a bit again, but made far less noise and kept working mostly throughout the night. The third night the AC in the second room made even more noise and froze over again. By this point I was livid, as it was like 85-90 degrees that night if I remember correctly and we now had 2 out of 3 nights of little to no sleep. I actually recorded the sound with my camcorder so I had a record of the noise. I went down and complained, yet again, and they were basically unable to fix the problem this time (they defrosted the coils but it still made noise all night). I almost slept on the balcony. The next morning, after confirming that the Marriott next door had available rooms (at nearly 2 times the price, but clearly a RESORT hotel), I told the front desk person that I was checking out early. At this point, it was clear that this stay was doomed and I wasn't about to find out if the next room we tried would have a functional AC. We were tired and aggravated. We had to catch a boat to Phi Phi, so I told the front desk I would check out when I came back. I was then informed by the staff members that I would be subject to a penalty of one-night's stay for checking out early. After reasonably discussing the ridiculousness of charging a guest after giving us two bad rooms and ruining the beginning of our stay, and then after threatening to cancel the charges on my card, I was informed that I would then be arrested if I didn't sign the credit card receipt. I didn't feel like getting arrested so I signed the receipt. I have never been told I would be charged by anyone when it is clear that they have provided unacceptable service anywhere in the States. The Thai people are some of the nicest people on the planet, but apparently that doesn't carry over to customer service, or at least not at the Horizon Beach Resort. How would you like to be threated with arrest the next time you're on vacation for asking hotel staff to do the right thing by you? I recommend that you only book this hotel with extreme hesitation. Other reviews reflect poorly as well. There are plenty of other beautiful hotels on this island. The only redeeming qualities were a decent pool and a great little boutique spa on site. Restaurant was lackluster.

Been to Patong many times, stayed at numerous hotels but never with this bad experience. Book through Resort Hotel. Requested for 2 connecting superior rooms. Upon arrival on 7 Dec 10am was told that there is no connecting room available for us. They did not offer apology as they claim they cannot guarantee for connecting room, it depend on room availability. We had to take 2 separate rooms, 1 at each corner of the row. Told us that on 10 Dec we can move 1 room to be next to each other with connecting door. Have no choice but to take this option. Then they told us they are fully book now, we will have to wait till 12pm for the check in. Fine, we went for breakfast and have a look around. At 12pm they told us only 1 room is available we have to wait till 2pm for the other room to be ready. Ok, so we put all our staff inside 1 room and decided to head to the beach first. Return to hotel at 6pm but was told that the room is not ready as the guest has requested for late check out and they need to make up the room now. By this time I am totally disgusted with them. But there is nothing we can do. All 5 of us squeezed into 1 room and have to spend a long time waiting to shower and changed. Finally at 7.30pm we got our other room. Busy with moving staff into the room. On the first night there were many mosquitoes in our room, mind you is real many, you can see them flying here and there before your eyes and they are huge. Too tired to approach counter, decided to sleep with it for 1 night. I wished I have not made this decision, my children were bitten badly by the mosquitoes. Their arms and legs were covered with mosquitoes bite. Next day approached counter request them to do something with the mosquitoes. Surprisingly there isn’t any mosquitoes that night. Quite upset with the hotel on how they treated their guests. They should make sure they spray insecticide or have done something before our check in rather then to wait for us to make the complain. On 10 Dec enquired at counter early morning to make sure they secured the room next to mine for my children to move in. As we are going for snorkeling trip will not be back to hotel till late afternoon. They told us to vacate my childrens’ room so that they can guarantee the room next to mine, failing to do so will result in them staying in the same room (that is the one at the other corner). Fine, did that with rush as we are running late for the snorkeling trip. Reminded them that I want the room to be ready when I returned from my trip. Returned to hotel around 5.30pm. Can you believe it, they actually have the cheek to tell me the guest has just checked out and room is not ready yet. I really blew my top this time. I raised my voice and told them this is unacceptable and I demanded them to have the room ready for me now. Off course I made a scene there and finally got my room at 7pm. What can I say about this hotel???? One more thing to add on. The pool is not children friendly. It is 1.5m deep and without any shallow edge for children to play in. On top of that, the edges of the pool are very rough, totally unsuitable for children. I will never use this hotel again. But is individual, I do realize that for those who have good review of the hotel are staying in the family room. Other then that, this hotel has got a super location.

Stayed at Horizon Patong - it has good points and bad. Good points are the price, far cheaper than anything else we could find in this category of accommodation and in a good location. The pools are not overly large but were perfect for a few drinks around the pool and meeting the other guests. We were upgraded to a family room, however would have preferred one of the smaller rooms around the 1st pool. I do believe they way over book the hotel as they are affiliated with 3 other hotels in Phuket (Karon Horizon, Gracelands & Patong lodge) and once people get there get them to go to other hotels or upgrade. If you have any disabilities mention this prior as were on the 3rd floor up 2 large flights of stairs. The biggest downside to this hotel and the one that may make me not stay there again are the costs for loss or damage to property. There is a price list in the room for lost or damaged goods. They charge huge prices and we spoke to a man who got some ink on his pillowcase and they charged him $30AUD to replace, which is ridiculous when they would just blean it and re-use again. Another good thing - just outside the lane entrance is a massage parlour. These girls were very nice and did a great foot massage for 150 baht.

Second time around at the Horizon Resort and we will never stay again. The rooms had a constant mouldy odour, the bathroom and shower was covered in mould and was cleaned daily. Yer right! The housekeeping was extremely poor, the rooms were not cleaned until late in the afternoon, sometimes as late as 7pm not good if you need clean towels for a shower. The kids club is a room with a lady watching TV, and the pool edges became very sharp as the kids kept cutting their legs on the sharp stones. Had a look at the Holiday Inn and it was BEAUTIFUL and we will stay there next year and every year after. Dont waste your money or time at the Horizon, many many complaints and overbooking guests............

While the hotel looks nice and appears good on the surface, I would not recommend any one stay there in the future. Arrived as per my booking and receieved a free upgrade to a family room, thought it was nice of the hotel. When I was shown my room, I was appalled. The room looked nice, however it had a terrible smell. Smelt like Mould. When I said something to reception all that was done was some room deoderizer was sprayed, on the second morning asked to change rooms and was told I would have to wait another day. The receptionist told me and my partner that no other person had complained. The next room was much better, what I paid for, A pool side room. The hotel really shows it colors at night. One night my partner and I were returning to our rooms, on entry security stopped us and proceeded to ask my partner what she was doing there. The security staff then started talking down to her as if she was a second class citizen, even saying to me that she could be a working girl. I asked to speak to the night manager and requested a apology for her, he just stood there and said nothing. In the morning I once again spoke to reception and nothing has been done by the hotel, no apology at all for my partner. While the hotel looks nice, the staff let the hotel down. I would not recommend this hotel to any person.

The holiday was great, the resort great, bills a few weeks later were not. This was the only place I handed over my credit card on my whole trip. They walked out the back with my credit card and I didn't think anything of it. A couple of weeks after returning home my bank phoned to tell me my card was being used in the U.K. A bit strange considering I was in Queensland, Australia. I know this is the place responsible as cash was always used to pay and credit card never used. $5,000 limit was spent by someone unlawfully. This left me with a sour taste of my experiance to Thailand. Do not trust these people.

Fantastic Resort We stayed here for ten nights booked through Sawadee.Com. but only paid for five. Fantastic Value. We were given a free upgrade to a family room with a kitchen. Excellent Service & Great choice a quality breakfast. Free water in the room every day. Patong is a little manic but the resort hotel is very calm and well run.

I am very happy to recommend this hotel/resort to all people young and old. The two pools were amasing, prehaps could have stayed open longer than 8am-8pm but that is prehaps why it was so quite at night time. The morning breakfast we had included was great- bacon, eggs, toast, fried rice, sausages, fruit, juices and more. I did bring my own vegemite like a true Aussie would!!! When we got there the room we had booked was not available but we were upgraded to a family room on the 3rd level which if you have problems with climbing up/down stairs make sure you request ground floor as they have no lifts. The room we had, had a kingsized bed,sofa lounge, cable tv, microwave oven, stove, large fridge, plenty of cupboard space, safe, two showers (one in the full size bath) and everything was cleaned daily and 2 flowers left on pillow everyday. The staff from security, bellboys,cleaners to front desk staff were all very friendly and helpfull with booking tours and giving hints to what to do. The resort has 2 ways to beach which is only a 10m walk across beach road. You can take resorts own laneway or if feeling like a bit of clothes shopping walk down little street but lots of people wanting you to have a suit made or a message. A 7-11 deli staight across street/laneway. Right next to the guarded laneway is a money changer which was probally the best exchange rate at the time we were there. Also plenty of nice Tuk Tuk drivers based there too. Room service was nice and I recommmend the Horizon Burger about 200baht!!!