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There's something about the On On. Established in 1929, this huge wooden maze of battered rooms was Phuket's first hotel. If not for its starring role in The Beach, where it stood in for a dilapidated guesthouse in Bangkok, and then in the Tsunami mini-series, where it played itself -- a dilapidated hotel in Phuket, the On-On would have either renovated or shut down. Appearances aside, the real problem with the On On is that the rooms are uncomfortable. Fluorescent light from the hallways streams into the rooms all night long, the walls are paper-thin and the corridors noisy, some rooms don't have electrical outlets, and both the mattresses and pillows were very hard. The cheapest rooms share grotty bathrooms that reek of mothballs and, of the en-suite rooms, many of the bathrooms are Asian squat-style. If you can't resist the On On's seedy allure the trick to staying here is to be selective, some rooms are much worse than others. Rooms are dirt cheap but you'll still get a better all-around value somewhere like the Thalang Guesthouse. However, as long as people remember that Leonardo DiCaprio slept here, the On On will be around.
Contact details:
19 Phang Nga Rd, Phuket Town. T: (076) 211 154, (076) 225 740, (076) 225 741
* Travelfish researchers visit and review properties on an anonymous basis. By that we mean they show up, in person, and pretend to be either be a potential guest, or somebody looking for a room for a friend or relative. Where possible the researcher will inspect at least a couple of rooms. The rates you see above are what either the desk staff told us they were, or what were in the brochure when they just told us to quit bugging them and look in the brochure. For mid-range hotels and up, always shop around online for a competitive rate. Click here to find out more about what makes Travelfish different with regards our accommodation reviews.
Added to Travelfish on: 30th July, 2003
Last visited or updated on: 16th August, 2008
One night is enough - 4th August, 2009
This place is so faded it is almost invisible. As a last resort it is adequate, however the walls are very thin, bathrooms look like a prison's and cracks in the floorboards masked up with duct tape did little to limit the noise from reception. It is cheap though...and the beds wer'nt entirely uncomfortable.
On On Hotel reviewed by irvinejamie on 4th August, 2009, rated
Stayed here 7/2009
This is a Travelfish recommended reviewer
Total reviews submitted: 15.
irvinejamie also reviewed: Bamboo Riverside Guesthouse, Dreamland Resort, Golden Temple Villa, Lamphu House, Louise Guesthouse, Mekong Hotel, P.P Casita, Sala Don Khone, SK House, Star Hut, Thalang Guesthouse, Thang Long Hotel, The River-Star Hotel, Thong Ta Kian Villa.
nice place - 30th March, 2009
I was staying at the Phuket backpacker in a dorm, paying thb350/night, but I had to leave due to bed bugs. So I went to the On On, and I got a room with bathroom, Air conditioning, 2 beds for thb400, a much better value than the hostel. And no bed bugs :-). The building is beautiful, centrally located.
On On Hotel reviewed by nathantraveler on 30th March, 2009, rated
Stayed here 3/2009
This is a Travelfish recommended reviewer
Total reviews submitted: 25.
nathantraveler also reviewed: Bamboo House, Ban Jaidee Guesthouse, Chiang Saen Guesthouse, Garden House, Garden Huts, Julie Guest House, Koh Teng Hotel, Lotus Guesthouse, Mai Sai Guesthouse, My Lan, National Park Accommodation, P Guest House, Paradise beach resort, Paradise Lost, Rapala Resort, Ruanthai Sopaphan Resort, Sherwood House, Siripong Guesthouse, Suchanaree, Suchanaree, Tara Inn, Thalang Guesthouse, The Phuket Backpacker, Tip Inn & Forest Lodge.
Good but faded - 11th March, 2007
Faded charm, very cheap double rooms, but basic. Check the door lock. Toilet frequently an Asian squat type, although some rooms have Western style. Bit of a walk from the bus station, and from the centre, but worth it. Has a tour agency in the entrance, had no problems booking with them.
On On Hotel reviewed by bedu on 11th March, 2007, rated
Stayed here 9/2005
This is a Travelfish recommended reviewer
Total reviews submitted: 11.
bedu also reviewed: Jolly Frog Backpackers, Kiwi Orchid Guest House, Mali Namphu, Nirundorn 3 Resort, Nirundorn Resort, Nok Noi (Little Bird) Hotel, Sintavee Hotel, Suta House Bungalows.
An experience... - 12th December, 2008
Travelfish and Lonely Planet describe how it really is: not that comfortable. It has it's charm, but it's really quite ugly. Saggy beds (clean sheets though), very thin walls, no outlets, scary electricity (you can hear it and each time I turned on the light I was afraid to get electrocuted). But for the money, well, it's okay... Had a double room just for me for 180 baht per night, with shared shower and toilets (cleanish...) and my own sink.
On On Hotel reviewed by brenda1980 on 12th December, 2008, rated
Stayed here 11/2008
Total reviews submitted: 4.
brenda1980 also reviewed: Julie Guest House, Lek Guest House, New Joe Guesthouse.
Best Value in Phuket Town! - 16th February, 2008
I recently stayed at the On-On where 400 baht/night got me a room with two beds, private bathroom and air conditioning. The rooms have seen better days asthetically, but are generally quite clean. Just three streets over (near the Backpacker) the public buses wait to take you to any of the many Phuket beaches for just 20-30 baht. For anyone doing Phuket on a budget, look at the On-On. For the money, it probably is the best value on Phuket island!
On On Hotel reviewed by ask03 on 16th February, 2008, rated
Stayed here 2/2008
Total reviews submitted: 5.
ask03 also reviewed: Ao Toh Ko Bungalows, Blue Star Guest House, Chez Sabina Guest House, Green House.
One night is worth it!! - 23rd December, 2007
So cheap, and one night is worth it for the experience. I went in monsoon season so the 'skylight' in the bathroom doubled as a water feature. But if you're not a princess this place os so daggy it's a must do in Phuket town
On On Hotel reviewed by mantahay on 23rd December, 2007, rated
Stayed here 8/2007
Total reviews submitted: 2.
mantahay also reviewed: Diamond Cave Resort.
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