Mandarava Resort Phuket Review 2026: Is This 5-Pool Oasis Worth It?

When you search for accommodations in Phuket, this place often pops up first:

It was Mandarava Resort, located on Karon Beach.

It's famous as a 5-star hotel resort

with no less than five swimming pools!

Honestly, I hesitated at first because it seemed like so many Koreans visit.

I really debated whether to go or not,

but after seeing the stunning pools appear on my Instagram feed, I just couldn't resist!

Once I actually got there,

it turned out to be a place absolutely everyone would love, no matter who you're with!

A relaxing 'hocance' (hotel vacation) with girlfriends

A family trip with children

A leisurely itinerary with your parents

First off, with so many pools, there's a joy in choosing which one to dip into,

you can catch a stunning sunset at the famously beautiful Karon Beach,

and its location is perfect, surrounded by great restaurants, massage spots, supermarkets, and even a market.

Perhaps that's why many people check out, then spend the day hopping between pools,

showering up and catching a late-night flight.

Let me share my fresh review from my trip in October!

It's super popular, so blink and you might miss out on a room!

✍️ LaidBack Travel Writer Nanna

Mandarava Panorama Deluxe Room with Single Beds Review

Since the pools can be enjoyed regardless of room type,

I booked the most basic option, a Panorama Deluxe Room.

I booked quite last minute,

and at the time of booking, the pricier rooms (pool access, pool view)

were already fully booked.

It cost approximately ~$172, including breakfast.

I wanted to book it for a little less if possible,

so I checked various channels,

and Agoda turned out to be the cheapest, as expected.

(If you go in October-November, it's possible to get it for around ~$75!)

👉 Check prices on Agoda, where I booked

Mandarava resort

Two rooms on the first floor, two rooms on the second floor.

So, a total of four guest rooms make up one 'house'.

If you look at the official website, those gray triangular roofs

look a bit like a Smurf village,

and you can understand that there are four rooms beneath each.

The room I booked was 1210,

a garden-view room with glimpses of the distant sea and forest.

Head down one set of stairs and you're at the Pomelo Pool,

turn left and you'll find the breakfast restaurant,

and the lobby is downstairs, opposite that,

so the location was actually pretty great!

Later, I noticed the Pomelo Pool was slightly visible from the room.

The room was neat and tidy, but the 55m² size

wasn't as large as I'd imagined.

I requested two single beds,

and thanks to the plush beds, I slept like a log.

There were plenty of mirrors,

and in front of the bed was a bench-sofa area, a TV, and a table.

There was an attached terrace, and the view and breeze from the armchair were lovely.

(Surprisingly, it didn't get wet even when it rained!)

While slippers are provided, they aren't the comfiest,

so it's a good idea to bring your own comfortable ones from home for wearing indoors.

By the way, the pajamas I'm wearing are from

Snip & Cuddle!

These pajamas are famous among celebrities, you know!

I bought mine here.

(Just in case you were curious...)

Mandarava's Bathroom is the Best! No Shower Filter Needed

You don't even need to pack a travel adapter!

I've been to many resorts in Phuket, but

this is the first time I've experienced such pristine water quality.

First off, the bathroom is incredibly spacious, and it even has a vanity table.

There was even a door with a screen, which is super handy!

But the most important thing? The water quality!

If you're staying at *this* hotel, you can leave your shower filter at home.

The water felt so soft on my skin, and the water pressure was fantastic.

The shampoo and body products were pretty good too.

A 5-star hotel in Phuket...

...this is one of those places where you realize why everyone raves about it!

Seriously, it's genuinely popular and gets booked up super fast,

so you'll want to check for availability right away!

It's a hot spot for Chinese travelers, just as much as for Koreans!

👉 Check Mandarava Resort Live Room Availability

Mandarava Resort Pools

The pools here are named after fruits.

Think Pomelo, Banana, Mango, Coconut – you get the idea!

Operating hours are from 7 AM to 7 PM,

(No late-night swims here! The pool closes a bit early, which is a shame!)

And every single pool has its own bar – perfect for a refreshing drink!.

I explored all five pools, almost like a scavenger hunt,

trying them all out with a swim.

But honestly, I realized that just using the pool closest to your room's building

would be perfectly sufficient.

That's because their designs are pretty similar.

Personally, the Pomelo pool, which was closest to our room and an adults-only pool,

was my favorite.

The most famous and largest one

is the Mango main pool, located near the Thai restaurant.

It even has children's play facilities and a spa!

There are three other pools as well,

and most of them are designed with pool-access rooms.

If you want to swim more comfortably and without feeling self-conscious,

I definitely recommend a pool-access room.

I personally found places like the Banana Pool a bit far and isolated,

which felt a little spooky, to be honest!

Haha!

But on the flip side, apart from the main pool, there were hardly any other guests,

so it felt like we had the whole place to ourselves!

If you're eager to try out all five pools in Phuket,

then right now is the time to act!

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Phuket is heading into its peak season soon,

and January and February are *the* absolute busiest months,

meaning nightly rates can be quite high.

Other places can even be 3-4 times more expensive,

so compared to those, this place isn't bad at all.

Plus, if you just make good use of the pools, you'll definitely get your money's worth!

Here's a price comparison table across major booking channels as of now,

but keep in mind that real-time availability and prices can change,

so it's a good idea to search on your preferred channels.

👆 Click on the booking channel to check real-time prices.

Currently, Agoda and Yeogi Eottae offer good prices,

and both have a best price guarantee in place.

Especially with Yeogi Eottae, applying discount coupons based on the amount can make it even cheaper than Agoda in reality.

After downloading the Yeogi Eottae app,

🔗 I recommend registering your discount coupons and comparing prices.

But, be sure to double-check the refund conditions!

Surely, there are people like me

who are hesitating to book Mandarava

due to the price or other reasons.

However, if you feel like you'll end up going anyway,

I recommend making a reservation with a flexible cancellation policy in advance.

As I mentioned before,

my preferred dates were fully booked, so I could only reserve one night

at the very end of my trip.

The rate was also more expensive than when I first checked.

Honestly, one day wasn't enough.

Phuket hotels, including this one,

are heading into a season where booking will become difficult,

even if you pay 3 or 4 times more.

In such cases, since it's going to be expensive anyway,

it's wise to choose the place you truly want to go to the most.

Here's some good-to-know information:

From Phuket Airport to Mandarava Resort,

it takes about 1 hour.

Also,

this hotel is not directly on Karon Beach.

While you could walk, it's quite a distance,

so it's common to use the hotel shuttle,

or a taxi or motorcycle service.

I used Bolt for a motorbike, and it cost about 30 Baht.

If possible, it's a good idea to stock up on snacks and drinks

before checking into the hotel.

Of course, there's no shortage of food options around the beach.

(Just bring your wallet!)

While this might be a downside,

being located in the forest means

the air is incredibly clear, and it feels less humid – a definite plus!

I'll never forget that cool breeze.

For your information, when going directly from the airport to the hotel,

booking a pickup service through Klook

is cheaper than Grab, Bolt, or inDrive.

(It costs around ~$20)

When going from the hotel to the airport, inDrive is recommended!

🔻 🔻

👉Book airport pickup on Klook

(Discount code: 세시간전2600001)

For more discount codes, click here

Dinner at the Thai restaurant at Mandarava

and breakfast.

I'll also be posting about my trip to Karon Beach by shuttle soon~

Before that, if you have any questions about the hotel, feel free to leave a comment!

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