"Great beachfront resort with amazing staff, but some drawbacks

We stayed at Centara Grand Beach Resort Phuket as a family and overall had a very good experience.

We paid for a sea view room, which was lovely. The room was spacious and comfortable, with two double beds that worked well for us and our two children (ages 3 and 4). The bathroom was also large and practical, and the sea view was a real highlight.

We enjoyed most aspects of the resort. One of the main reasons we chose this hotel was its direct access to the beach, which is perfect when travelling with small children. Being right on the beach made everything very easy and relaxed.

However, the hotel does feel a bit dated in places. While it is clean and well maintained, some areas could benefit from renovation or updating.

Another downside was the cost of food and drinks. Prices are very high — comparable to European prices — and a service charge is added to every order. We sincerely hope this charge goes to the staff, as otherwise it feels disappointing.

Before arriving, I emailed the hotel to ask about early check-in. I was told it couldn’t be guaranteed, but that we could have breakfast since we would arrive around 9am. Unfortunately, when we arrived, we were charged for that breakfast, which felt misleading and left a slightly negative first impression.

On the positive side, the staff truly stand out. Everyone was friendly and welcoming throughout our stay. A special mention goes to Ida and Ray from the breakfast service — they are absolute stars. Our children, Hollie and Michael, loved them. They were incredibly kind, gave the kids lots of attention, and always helped us find a table. Ida and Ray, thank you for being so wonderful to our family.

Overall, this is a very good resort with a fantastic beachfront location and exceptional staff, especially for families with young children. However, the dated feel in parts, high food and drink prices, and the breakfast charge issue bring the experience down slightly, making this a solid 4.5 out of 5 stay.
Ida & Ray thank you ❤️"

Kasia Borkowska

"My family loved the location, beachfront away from the crowd but close enough to everything. Our room had a Thai feel with well-maintained private pool with jets. Chalin from the Cove restaurant, Fai from the Club Lounge, Peanut from the Gym teaching Muai Thai to my teenage son, Spy from the Spa, David and Por at the front desk, Ann from Tours and the rest of the staff were all very friendly, helpful and courteous. So glad we chose to stay in this wonderful hotel.

Ps- we loved the seafood buffet by the beach and the spectacular fire show! Impressive performance! The bbq buffet at the Cove was great too!"

Mercy

"We recently stayed at the Centara Grand Beach Resort Phuket, and while there are some positives, overall the experience did not meet our expectations for a resort of this category.

The resort feels very dated, and many of the facilities are not up to modern standards. Several areas clearly need refurbishment, and this impacts the overall comfort and experience. We have stayed in better resorts in both Thailand and Phuket, so the difference was noticeable.

We opted for the all-inclusive package, but unfortunately found it to be very restrictive, with limited choices and exclusions that were not clearly communicated upfront. This took away from the “carefree” feeling that all-inclusive stays are meant to provide.

Our kids really liked the kids club and had a great time there - the team there is amazing.

Service at the restaurants could also be quite slow at times, especially during busy periods. That said, the staff are genuinely kind, polite, and clearly trying their best, which we really appreciated. The service challenges seem more related to systems and staffing levels rather than the people themselves.

One disappointing aspect was the lack of thoughtful gestures during the stay - no small freebies, snacks, or simple touches like a cake or welcome treat, which many resorts in Thailand offer as standard and which can really elevate the guest experience.

Overall, while the location and staff are positives, the dated infrastructure, restrictive all-inclusive offering, and inconsistent service mean this resort does not currently offer good value compared to other options in Phuket."

Vivek Sangar