Navatara Phuket Resort

The small boutique Navatara Phuket Resort aims for a personal touch, complemented by the intimate size of its low-rise, three-story structure. Contemporary Thai-style decor dominates throughout, from the impressive resort entrance with bright white walls and dark brown pitched roofs to the open-air spaciousness of both the hallways and the lobby. The latter has a pleasant Thai color palette of bright green and deep-rust accents with dark wood furnishings. The beautiful landscaping of the grounds gets positive reviews -- only electricity pylons just outside of the resort’s grounds slightly spoil the view. But most guests focus on the lush grass and shrubbery in the area around the pool and rooms. The resort’s Tara restaurant combines contemporary tanned wood furniture with floor-to-ceiling windows, ceiling fans, and traditional Thai details. Most guests are couples keen on experiencing the local beaches and seafood dining scene, though a smaller number of families also stay here. 

Set on a rural-feeling road, the Navatara has free parking and plenty of greenery nearby, but little else in the immediate area. The Rawai fishing pier and beach is about a five-minute walk away; water here isn’t suitable for swimming, but the neighborhood's seafood restaurants serve inexpensive meals. The pier and other destinations are also connected by the resort’s shuttle service. Laem Promthep Cape and Ya Nui beach are both a three-minute shuttle ride or 25-minute walk away, and it's around 10 and 20 minutes by shuttle to Nai Harn and Karon beaches respectively. Phuket International Airport is around an hour's drive away.

The Navatara’s spacious rooms attract generally positive reviews; their decor stylishly combines bright white walls with pastel accent colors, dark wood furnishings, and white linens, plus elegant Thai ornaments. With plenty of natural light, Deluxe Rooms each come with a desk, a daybed, flat-screen TV, safe, coffee/tea facilities, and basic minibar. A yellow, stained-glass-style window opens onto the large and bright bathroom with pleasant touches like a white vessel sink and ladder-style towel rack, as well as bathtub and spacious walk-in shower. Grand Deluxe Rooms are much the same, but bigger still and with more lounge seating; both room types have thoughtfully designed balconies complete with loungers or small tables and chairs. Pool Access Rooms face directly onto the water and are worth the upgrade, though they don’t have steps down into the pool and also lack privacy. The fitness center opposite the resort can be noisy at times, making it worth opting for a room on the southeastern corner of the property, away from the road. And the resort also lacks any elevators, making ground-floor rooms the best option for those with mobility issues. All rooms are air-conditioned and have separate showers and tubs, as well as balconies or terraces, coffee/tea facilities, minibars, slippers and robes, and work desks. 

The large, saltwater swimming pool at the center of the Navatara feels uncrowded, and it's surrounded by a pleasant deck with attractive umbrellas and loungers. It's open 24/7, as are the hot tub and the small, non-air-conditioned gym; the latter, however, does have modern equipment and plenty of light through floor-to-ceiling windows that are surrounded by shrubs. That said, the unattractive blue mat-like flooring detracts from the overall pleasant ambience. The modern, minimalist Navatara Spa has white walls and is pleasingly decorated with Thai ornaments and teak-style furnishings; it offers a range of Thai treatments and body scrubs using ancient herbs. An Internet and reading corner is made up of two computer terminals and a comprehensive book selection, while other services include room turn-down, laundry, and free bicycle rentals. The resort’s shuttle bus service runs to Rawai and other beaches; it's free at certain scheduled times but otherwise costs a fee. But the resort will loan out beach mats and umbrellas for free. The varied breakfast selection is popular, but other dishes at the Tara restaurant -- which serves Thai and international fusion cuisine -- get mixed reviews. The Wi-Fi connection, though free throughout the resort, is unstable.