Phuket has been welcoming new hotels left and right lately, the newest of which is the bold and blocky-looking Hotel Ikon (www.hotel-ikon.com) on Karon Beach.

The design might look oddly functionalist, but where this new hotel stands out from other mid-tier openings is its location: just 15 minutes from the major iconic sites such as Promthep Cape, Nai Harm Beach and Phuket Town, and at the same time, 20 minutes from Patong Beach's happening nightlife.

The hotel boasts 98 rooms equipped with all the mod-cons, from high-speed Wi-Fi to modern rain showers. Room types range from a 34-sq-meter superior to a 43-sq-meter Ikon triple, with rates from B6,860 per night.