Central location, close to Kata Yai Beach and nearby shops
and restaurants
An intimate jungle-like setting with lots of overhanging
trees and gardens
Authentic, stunning Thai decor with statues, gilded artwork, and
traditional architecture
Amazing, ornately decorated lobby with guest computers
Flat-screen TVs with Internet capability
Free hourly shuttle service to Kata Yai Beach
Next door sister property offers a spa and cooking classes
Free Wi-Fi
Rooms are cramped and dark, some with visible signs of
wear and tear
Bathrooms lack tubs
The pool area is shaded, not suitable for sunbathing
Rooms are close to the pool -- and the pool noise
Located along a busy road
No fitness center or spa
Mosquitoes can be a problem in the evenings
With its thick jungle-like setting and array of elephant
statues, gilded artwork, and steeply pitched rooflines, the intimate 40-room
Sawasdee offers plenty of authentic Thai style. Public spaces like the front desk, the lobby, and the gardens are breathtaking with their ornate decorations. Opened in 1999, the upscale hotel is one of the most established in Kata Beach but, unfortunately, has begun to show its age. Rooms are cramped, dark, and some are showing signs of wear. Those seeking larger rooms can
try the hotel's adjacent (pricier) sister property the Baray Villa or head closer
to the beach and check in at the similarly priced Kata Beach Resort and Spa.
Disclaimer: This content was accurate at the time the hotel was reviewed. Please check our partner sites when booking to verify that details are still correct.
Scene
A small, Thai-style hotel set in a lush, jungle-like setting with stunningly ornate decor
One of the most established resorts in Kata
Beach, Sawasdee believes in gilding the lily in filigreed, 24-karat gold. The hotel's entrance, located steps from the street, epitomizes
authentic Thai style with bubbling fountains, stone statues, peaked rooflines,
graceful archways, giant brass urns, and ornate wood carvings. The front desk, tucked inside a little temple-like structure set in a lotus pond, is flanked by ornately carved wooden columns and sits under a pitched ceiling adorned with brass filigreed rivets. Not to be outdone, the separate lobby sits under an undulating checkerboard ceiling sprinkled with gold stars. This shelters
a set of suspended black sofas topped with bright pink, green, and blue accent
pillows, a library of paperbacks, and a long counter with guest computers. Walls are covered in winking gold tiles, and Moroccan-style chandeliers hang in a line from the ceiling.Outside the lobby, the scene shifts from glitzy to green as
guests follow meandering paths through lush, jungle-like gardens decorated with
Thai sculptures, ornate benches, koi ponds, bridges, and pavilions that offer places to pause and drink in the surroundings. The gardens, with ornately carved hanging benches, are particularly inviting. The compact nature of the property gives the Sawasdee a village-like vibe. Also within
easy reach is the hotel's only restaurant, the best and closest spot to sample traditional Thai fare.
Location
In Kata Center, a 15-minute walk to Kata Yai Beach and a 60-minute drive to Phuket International Airport
Steps from Ket Kwan Road, a route that connects to the
beachfront Kata Road and its many hotels, Sawasdee is a 15-minute walk to Kata
Yai Beach and close to various souvenir shops, massage parlors, bars, and
restaurants.- 15-minute walk to Kata Yai Beach
Rooms
Small, dimly lit rooms with Thai decor and terraces that overlook the pool
Compared to the public spaces, guest rooms are less luxurious. At just 194 square feet, Sawasdee's 40 Deluxe Rooms are a
tight squeeze for couples and even more so for families. (Cribs are not allowed.) The king-size bed or two double beds flanked by small side
tables leave little room for navigating or storing luggage. Nearly every
inch of wall space is occupied by furnishings, with a armoire closet,
mini-fridge, and a small vanity along one wall and a long floating console with a flat-screen TV along another.There are some elegant decorative details like tall barrel ceilings with exposed beams, thick
gold window treatments, and ornate carved headboards. Mosquito
netting hangs from a canopy over the bed which is outfitted with basic white
linens and two sets of pillows. Bottled water and a bowl of fruit are stocked atop the mini-fridge, stocked with an assortment of beer, soda, and juice. Robes, slippers, umbrellas, and safes can be found in the closets as well.Like the bedrooms, bathrooms are diminutive in size. Clad in wood from
floor to ceiling, evoking a boat-like atmosphere, they feature single
vanities with stone sink basins, makeup mirrors, showers with rain showerheads, and refillable dispensers of shampoo,
conditioner, and body wash. Notably missing: no bathtubs.
Features
Lush gardens; a beautiful, lagoon-style pool; and a restaurant and bar
At the center of the property is the hotel's pool, a lagoon style body of water with steps and ramped walk-in access. It follows the same ornate style of the hotel grounds, with statues, footbridges, and a swim-up bar beneath a Thai style pavilion. Tiny stone elephants line a shallow wading kiddy pool. And mesh lounge chairs with matching taupe-colored umbrellas border the main pool. In the middle, a curtain of water splashes down to the water below. Another focal point is the giant Thai goddess fountain emptying her urn.While it is possible to walk to Kata Yai Beach in about 15
minutes, regular hourly shuttle service can take guests from the hotel to the
beachfront. On site, Sawasdee's restaurant specializes in traditional Thai
cuisine.The hotel does not have a gym or spa on site, but guests can
walk next door to the sister property, Baray Villa, to access the Baray Spa, sign up
for cooking classes, or try the Fire and Water Grill, which serves international
dishes and seafood.
