Baan Karon Resort - SHA Extra Plus

It's a good place with friendly staff - if you're not easily grossed out (see the linen, wallpapers and curtains - they're all in stubborn stains). Also, if you're not too shy to go to a bathroom without a door latch and with an opaque window and door to the rest of the room. Make sure you keep the curtains closed - your windows will give out onto passers-by wherever your room is. A tiny thing with only a pool for an area, on a road so noisy you can hardly hear each other at breakfast on the 1st floor with windows open. No currency exchange at reception, go to a place down the street. Pack unwrinklable clothes or go to the laundry next door to get them pressed. Don't be awed by the official-looking taxi price chart - haggle. Don't try to order a taxi in advance - it may be entirely forgotten, just find one outside; they're there 24/7. No picturesque surroundings, a narrow curb walk to the beach (nice and clean one), and far-ish from all the best dining/shopping/bars/markets/reserves. I mean, all the nearby places, from the pizzeria to the smoothie stand, have been tested and found good. But Karon isn't really where it's at.
The hot water on the third floor is tepid.

The restaurant people are friendly and serve okay food. Let me reiterate, the staff are all nice, and you can live with that tepid water in the tropics, etc. etc. - if you think it's a bargain.

The room is not to bad quite big the food is great the pool is nice not far from the beach. 2things that not happy about the music at the pool bar is really noisy and the shower is really poor