Why stay at Dara when we were at Phuket?

Dara Hotel is located far from the beach and at a main junction of busy roads. We chose to stay here after 10 nights at Naiyang Beach because we wanted to be closer to some activity for a change but yet not busy Patong beach, hence the choice. Transport to the beach is actually still easy with the public buses or more expensively, taxis.

We were really impressed with the room and the pool. We had a corner room, so the balcony was of good size and the room was well-lit and airy. The bedding was very comfortable and the colours (throughout the entire hotel) just put us in a happy mood everyday!

Shopping and food's easy at Central, Big C, or the night markets nearby. We also had a good time at the pubs in Old Phuket Town which is just a short ride away.

Will we recommend this hotel? Yes, if you are after some creature comfort, and want a little balance between the beach and 'urbanite' activities.

my junior suite room is so big and complete with mini bar, toileteries, balcony, bathtub and a small area for u to put ur luggage and a place to change after bath. We can even swim in the late hour as long as we dont make any noise. Its a good hotel but far from beaches.. Have to pay 700bht for 7 person only 1 way to go to the patong beach.. Have to pay 250bht for 7 person from central festival to dara hotel.. actually we can walk for bout less than 10 minutes but due to our heavy things we bought from the supermarket so we hv no choice but to take taxi..
The staff only few were friendly but the rest take you as invisible.. Their english is limited so hard to communicate,,,, The food is so limited u hv to go somewhere else for more food variety..
The manager look unfriendly maybe cause we are from asia.. Doesn't look like the other preview said he was very friendly.. doesn't even bother to smile at us at all.. That's make me feel very not welcome at the hotel but who care...
Still would recommend for those who dont mind to stay far away from the beaches...

This place is modern and colourful, crisp and clean. The owner has aimed to offer something different on the market and achieved it quite successfully.

I was a little thrown on booking in to have to pay upfront for 3 nights, without even seeing the rooms and also a 1000 baht bond against the mini bar, but paying without seeing the rooms seems to be common in Thailand.

The rooms are spotless, and in vibrant colours. The bed high (you kind step up onto the base first) and the mattress very firm, and the pillows come in giant and enormous. I don't like a high pillow, but I slept very well.

The bathroom is small, but has hot water in the sink and shower, although I found that the shower was warm rather than HOT, and that with it's concrete surfaces it felt like a colourful school gym.

I love the big colourful cushions on the seats by the pool, and the different levels of the pool allow for lounging. The staff were keen to please, and the owner chatted with us one morning and made recommendations for our stay. It is virtually across the road from the largest mall in Phuket, and is on a cross roads for buses.

However it does feel a long way from the beaches, and it's not easy to work out how to get there. A shuttle or information board would be GREAT as the staff's english was't quite good enough to discuss options. It would also be amazing to add a sail cloth across one area/end of the pool, as once it gets passed late morning there is no shade, and the sun is relentless.

We enjoyed Dara the hotel is new and interesting I really like how funky the hotel is for me its like retro-contemporary and I realy liked the funky colours!
What I loved.
1, Jets in the pool
2, look of the overall hotel love the furniture especially big lounging area by the pool
3, look of the rooms fun and colourful great curtains and good shower!
4.Libarary space although they don't promote it much its a great space.

cons and things to work on ...
1. feedback form so they can find out these things
2. English should be worked on the reception staff need to have fluent english.
3. we found the wing were on a little noisy in the evening as there was a bar/club behind the builing and the noise travels until early hours (we didn;t complain as I sleep with earplugs anyway)
4. The beds are very hard like sleeping on a board (we have stayed on hard bed in our last 8weeks in asia but these were by far the hardest!)
5.Although its handy to the main shopping center its not to anything else they may consider offering shuttle service to the beach areas even if its only a couple a day (they could charge a small fee I am sure it would be useful.
6.some sort of cover over the pool or/& lounge area it gets so hot in the afternoon you can't sit there as there is no shade anywhere!

Overall I really loved the place it was lovely and we enjoyed having down days by the pool.