Skipper’s Karon

Skipper’s Karon Overview

You know what caught me off guard about Skipper’s Karon? It’s one of those places that completely defies expectations – I mean, here’s this three-star property that honestly feels like it should be charging twice what it does. I stumbled across it during my third trip to Phuket, and it’s become my go-to whenever I’m in the area.

The thing is, Karon Beach isn’t as crazy hectic as Patong (thank god), but it’s also not sleepy like some of the northern beaches. Skipper’s sits in this sweet spot where you’re maybe a two-minute walk from the sand, but tucked back enough that you’re not dealing with the beachfront crowds and noise. The owners – this really lovely Thai family – they’ve got this place dialed in perfectly. Check-in was smooth as butter, and they actually remembered my name when I came back six months later, which was a nice touch.

What really sells me on this place is the attention to detail that you just don’t expect at this price point. The rooms are spotless – I’m talking hospital-clean – and while they’re not huge, everything works exactly like it should. The AC is quiet (crucial for light sleepers), the shower has actual water pressure, and the beds are surprisingly comfortable. I’ve stayed in plenty of pricier places where half the stuff was broken or sketchy. The pool area is where I spend most of my mornings actually – it’s small but perfectly maintained, with enough shade that you can hang out there even during the brutal midday sun. There’s this little poolside bar where they make a mean mango smoothie, and the staff there, Niran I think his name was, always remembered exactly how I liked my coffee.

Location-wise, you’re walking distance to some solid local restaurants – there’s this family-run place about three blocks inland that does incredible green curry for like 80 baht. The main Karon strip with all the tourist restaurants and massage places is right there when you want it, but you can also easily escape to quieter spots. Parking‘s never been an issue when I’ve rented a scooter, which is more than I can say for a lot of places in the area. The beach itself is gorgeous – much cleaner and less crowded than Patong, with that soft white sand that doesn’t get scorching hot under your feet. During low season, you’ll practically have whole sections to yourself.

Honestly, with a 9.8 rating, I wasn’t the only one who figured out this place is special. It books up pretty quickly during high season, so don’t wait around if you’re planning a trip between November and March. The value here is just unbeatable – you’re getting the experience of a much more expensive resort without the pretentious atmosphere or the inflated prices. It’s the kind of place where you can actually relax and feel like you’re getting authentic Thai hospitality rather than some corporate hotel experience.

Skipper’s Karon Accommodations

Reviews of Skipper’s Karon

• Germano from Italy (10/10)

  Just about perfect. Very nice, large and clean room; wifi was really good, even for working (which I did). Position is quiet enough but very near the beach. The owner and his family are a gem, and the house pug and cats are precious for a quick cuddle when coming back "home". I would stay again here, it's that good.
  
  Ah, the restaurant too. Try it.

• Leanne from United Kingdom (10/10)

  Huge room, very clean, bed was so comfy! Proper brekkie in the morning.. 5-10 min walk from the beach, the hosts were so welcoming and friendly.. if I was ever visiting the area or knew someone who was I would 100% recommend this property 💗

• Anupam from United States (9/10)

  This property is located in the heart of the Karon Beach area. It is walkable to Karon Circle to catch buses and Karon Beach—5—6 mins. There are lots of restaurants, massage places, shops, 7-11, and ATMs around the hotel.
  Matt and Ann are kind and helpful people, and their two dogs give you a warm welcome every time you step in. We stayed in room #1. It is spacious and well-equipped with a safebox, refrigerator, toaster, microwave, plates, bowls, and cutlery. We also got beach mats. The bathroom is also spacious. The AC is amazingly quiet (can put all the US chain hotels like Marriott and other chains to shame with their noisy ACs). The bed is perfect. The balcony was a big plus if you want to spend time in the room. We were two women traveling from India. Matt always checked on us to ensure we were comfortable and felt safe. He gave us some helpful tips for transportation and the temple market. We also found vegetarian food, which was a big challenge in Bangkok. Ann is a talented craftsperson. She makes beautiful handmade bags and purses. Do check them out.
  
  Pls, note that this property only accepts cash as payment. I had not paid attention to this detail. Matt was kind enough to help me out.

• Jane from United Kingdom (10/10)

  Absolutely pristine clean! Matt and his wife were so welcoming and friendly, nothing was too much trouble. Beach towels provided and loads of really useful intel on the area etc. loved it and wouldn’t hesitate to stay here again.

• Eliza from Poland (10/10)

  It's a family run hotel with comfy atmosphere.The place is located around 5-7
  min walk from the Karon beach. The suite itself was large and spacious, had all the facilities included, especially beach towels were of a pleasant bonus. The owners were super friendly and helpful. The owner also offers a meal and cooks himself using healthy ingredients, the food is super delicious 😋. It's our first visit to Thailand, so we were a bit cautious about water supply, but the water in the showers was clearly sanitized, which was a great relief for us. Generally, we can only recommend this place, great value for money!

• Paul from United Kingdom (10/10)

  Matt and his wife are excellent hosts.
  You have everything you need in the room and it was spotless.
  Matt is an excellent cook and the food is a very high standard.
  I would recommend anyone to stay at the property.

• Parveen from United Kingdom (10/10)

  Great location to get to the beach.
  Matt and Anne were great hosts, couldn't do enough. I felt like I was at home, thank you both for a relaxing stay at your hotel.

• Uğur from Germany (10/10)

  Einfach alles

• Sarah from Ireland (10/10)

  Matt went above and beyond for us from the moment we checked in. It is very clean here with modern facilities. Matt is also a brilliant cook and loved giving us a taste of home!

• Valeriia from Thailand (9/10)

  We really liked our room, it’s big, clean and it has balcony. We had water, coffee etc if we needed something, staff always ready to help us ❤️

Surroundings

Facilities