A Day at Karahill Anona (Karahill Anona) on the 1st Floor of Phuket Karon Anona Beachfront Resort Until Midnight

It's my fourth day in Phuket's Karon area. My lower back was sore from riding a long-tail boat in the afternoon and hitting some rough waves. Thai massage shops are everywhere in t…

Phuket · Karahill Anona

It's my fourth day in Phuket's Karon area. My lower back was sore from riding a long-tail boat in the afternoon and hitting some rough waves. Thai massage shops are everywhere in these alleys, and 300-baht signs are common, but this time I went to Karahill Anona on the 1st floor of the Anona Beachfront Phuket Resort where I'm staying. The reason is simple: after getting an oil massage, my hair gets greasy and I don't feel like going anywhere else, but it's just a one-minute walk to my room from here.

A Place with Lights On Past 10 at Night

The first time I went was around 10:30 at night. Following the path inside the resort, you'll see an illuminated white building with the name 'karahill Anona' in gold script, and in front of it stands an artificial cherry blossom tree. You can tell it's artificial up close, but the pink reflects off the koi pond with dark water, making for nice photos. The notice on the glass door reads OPEN DAILY 10:00–24:00. While most Thai massage shops close at 11 p.m., this place stays open until midnight, so you won't be late even if you come after dinner and a drink.

White building illuminated at night with an artificial cherry blossom tree and koi pond in front, gold karahill Anona sign and WELCOME OPEN DAILY 10:00-24:00 notice on the glass door — Entrance at 10:30 p.m. The cherry blossom tree is artificial, but its reflection in the pond water looks convincing.

Check the Price List Before Going In

There's a green price list displayed on a white stand next to the entrance. If you go in without checking it, you'll end up flipping through a menu and using a calculator inside, so it's better to get organized outside first. Here are the prices I saw that day:

Thai massage: 60 min 690 baht / 90 min 950 baht / 120 min 1,200 baht
Foot massage: 60 min 690 baht / 90 min 950 baht / 120 min 1,200 baht, hot stone add-on +150 baht
Neck, shoulder, back, and head massage: 60 min 790 baht / 90 min 1,100 baht / 120 min 1,400 baht
Aroma oil massage: 60 min 790 baht / 90 min 1,100 baht / 120 min 1,400 baht (coconut oil +100 baht, hot oil +200 baht)
Deep tissue: 60 min 890 baht / 90 min 1,250 baht / 120 min 1,600 baht
Thai + herbal ball: 90 min 1,200 baht / 120 min 1,500 baht
Body scrub + aroma: 90 min 1,400 baht / 120 min 1,900 baht
Aloe (after-sun) massage: from 60 min 890 baht, Korean-style facial massage 900 baht
Foot scrub 700 baht, cannabis oil add-on +500 baht

It's definitely more expensive than local shops along Karon Road. You can find 60-minute Thai massage for 300-400 baht on the street, after all. However, since this is attached to the resort, the interior is spacious, the air conditioning is strong, and the linens are clean. The price difference is the value for those three things. Payment stickers for cards (VISA, K-Bank) are also on the glass door, so you can manage even if you run out of cash. Note that prices change by season, so check the stand numbers yourself.

Green massage price list on a white stand next to the glass door with artificial decorations, karahill Anona gold sign and WELCOME notice visible in the background during daytime — Price list at the entrance stand. It shows prices in green with 60/90/120-minute increments.

Located Inside the Resort with Clear Signage

As you walk through the resort corridor, you'll find a section with 'MASSAGE' in gold uppercase letters on the wall. Below it, a window displays a TV showing promotional videos for the interior, and next to it is a banner with massage photos. The floor has a black-and-white pattern tile, giving this section a distinct atmosphere. Once you spot this sign, you won't miss the entrance.

Gold MASSAGE sign on white wall, window below showing promotional video on TV for karahill spa and massage photo banner, black-and-white patterned tile floor — Gold MASSAGE sign and promotional video window. This serves as the entrance marker.

1st Floor Foot Massage Lounge

Upon entering, you'll see a lounge with about six cream-colored leather recliners facing each other. They have green palm leaf cushions with navy ottomans, topped with towels rolled into rose shapes. The ceiling cassette air conditioner blows directly forward, and I got goosebumps on my arms as soon as I sat down. This is the real strength of this place—foot massage is received on this sofa without having to go into a room. While it's partially hidden by curtains, you can sit side by side with your group and chat while getting the massage. For those who prefer to rest quietly, this is actually a drawback. I could clearly hear the phone calls from guests at the next seat.

Multiple cream-colored leather recliners and green palm leaf cushions with navy ottomans topped with towels rolled into rose shapes in the foot massage lounge interior — Foot massage lounge. Towels are rolled into rose shapes on each ottoman.

Oil Massage Rooms and Bed Condition

For oil massage, you go into the inner rooms. Arched indirect lighting glows yellow on the walls, with one side being a full-length mirror and the other a semi-transparent glass sliding door. The bed is covered with dark khaki striped sheets, with towel pants ready for changing at the head. The visible creases in the sheets showed they'd just been freshly laid. However, the mattress is quite firm. If you expect a soft bed for an oil massage, it might feel hard. But since the pressure doesn't dissipate into the floor when pushing on your back, the massage actually worked well.

Massage room with arched yellow indirect lighting on walls, bed with khaki striped sheets, towels and artificial leaves on the bed, full-length mirror on one side and semi-transparent glass sliding door on the other — Oil massage room. The mattress is on the firm side, and the sheets were freshly laid.

If you come as a group, you'll be assigned to the shared rooms divided by curtains. When you push aside the white linen curtains, you'll see four beds with green mats lined up in a row, each with towels and clothes arranged the same way. The curtains are thin, so you can see silhouettes from the adjacent bed. This setup is convenient when family members get massages side by side, but if you prefer a quiet private experience, it's better to request a private room when booking.

Shared massage room with white linen curtains parted to reveal four beds with green mats lined up in a row, folded towels on each bed, ceiling air conditioner visible — Shared room divided by curtains. The thin curtains allow silhouettes from the adjacent bed to show through.

Choose Your Own Oil and Smell It First

Five brown dropper bottles are lined up on the counter: coconut, rice milk, rose, jasmine, and lavender. Next to them are scrub containers with the same scents, and the staff lets you open the lids to smell them. I chose lavender, but the scent was quite strong. Next time, I thought I'd go with coconut. When I tested jasmine on the back of my hand, it smelled sweet, which seemed overwhelming for the evening. The HEALTH REMINDER notice on the back wall says to inform the staff before starting if you're pregnant or have pre-existing conditions. If you have a herniated disc or high blood pressure, this form is not just a formality, so be sure to mention it before you begin. The WiFi name and password are also posted nearby, and the milk candies in the two-tiered tray are something you take one of each after the massage ends.

Five brown oil bottles labeled coconut, Rice milk, Rose, Jasmine, Lavender on a wooden tray with matching scrub containers, two-tiered tray of milk candies and HEALTH REMINDER notice in the background — Five types of oil and scrub with matching scents. The candies in the back tray are taken after the massage ends.

Two Wooden Sauna Booths in the Corner

While looking around the interior, I discovered something unexpected. There are two wooden sauna booths made of pine. They have small glass windows on the doors, and one side has a digital controller showing temperature. Based on their size, each booth can fit two or three people. I didn't operate them that day, and since the price list didn't have a separate sauna item, I couldn't confirm whether it's included in any package or charged separately. It seems like it might be bundled with scrub or body courses, but it's best to ask on-site for accuracy. I made a note to ask about it next time, thinking it would be nice to sit in here for 10 minutes to warm up after getting chilled by the sea breeze.

Two pine wood sauna booths installed side by side indoors, small glass window on the door and digital temperature controller visible — Two wooden sauna booths in the corner of the interior. It's recommended to verify usage terms on-site.

Things I Learned After My Visit

If you've spent all day at the beach, aloe (after-sun) massage is better. Rubbing regular oil on sun-baked skin stings. 60 min 890 baht.
The pressure is on the firm side. If you want it lighter, you need to say "baow baow" right when you start. It's awkward to mention it midway.
Since it's open until midnight, the best flow is to go in around 9 p.m. after dinner. However, it's safer to book the last time slot in advance by phone or in person.
Tipping is not mandatory, but it's customary to leave around 100 baht for a 60-minute session. It's convenient to have small change ready.
Adding cannabis oil is 500 baht, which is hardly cheap. There's no real need to add it unless you're trying it for the first time in Thailand.

Having a massage shop on the 1st floor of your accommodation makes a bigger difference than you'd think. You don't need to take a tuk-tuk with an oiled body, and getting back to your room for a shower only requires one elevator ride. If you're staying at this resort in Karon, I don't see any reason to go outside and compare prices elsewhere.