We visited the hotel in December 2011 , and it was a really nice experience. The property is nicely maintained , its big and is surrounded by nice greenery. They also have artificial ponds with in the resort which i found was really good. The staff was good and courteous. The only thing which was missing was a private beach. The beach actually is not far but is across the road infront of the hotel. You will also find few good eating shacks on the beach. The breakfast is quiet nice but lacks variety , we found same things both the days we stayed there. Eating your breakfast next to the pond was really a nice experience as you can see lots of fishes wandering for food next to you. Over all a good experience.

A huge complex which is a little isolated from shops, restaurants, etc but perfect for those who want to lay around the pool, walk around huge gardens, read and do nothing.
Breakfast in Sails Restaurant was average. We tried one dinner in Sails and it was mediocre so did not return. Catering is not up to the standard of other Hiltons and needs a lot of work. However, most waiting staff were friendly and efficient.
The closet main shopping area is Patong - about 10-15 minutes by taxi.Unlike in Bangkok, there appears to be a cartel operating in Phuket for both taxis and tuk-tuks. Prices were all fixed and non-negotiable so you don't have much choice. A one way trip by taxi from the Hilton to Patong is THB400. Patong has the main shopping centre, bars, spas and saunas, restaurants, etc. A one way trip to Phuket Town is THB550 (not much here so if you have limited time, don't go there).
Our car from Phuket airport to the Hilton was THB750. However, the return trip cost THB1,000 and this was non-negotiable.
Hotel reception was friendly and efficient. Our main frustration was the overboard security. There are 2 "receptions". One enters the main gate and the vehicle gets the "once over" by security (but I doubt its efficiency - it looked more like going over a process to "tick the box" that it had been done). About 50 metres up the road, you are dropped off at a "Welcome Lobby" and both you and the suitcases get unloaded. This is as far as public transport is allowed. You then have to get on a Hilton vehicle and are driven to the main reception about 3 minutes up the road. Again you have to unload your baggage. When you arrive late at night after a long plane trip, this is the last thing you need.

Overall, a very enjoyable stay at the Hilton Arcadia. Biggest plus -- the staff was exceptionally nice and most importantly to me, very good to my son. Room was very nice (we even got a small upgrade) and the view of the Andaman sea was well worth the price of admission.

Deductions? Most of them have been mentioned in other places. The breakfast rooms are a madhouse and standing in lines for food was common. The beach is across the street and quite dirty (which, of course, is public and Hilton is not responsible for). The buffet selections were hit and miss. Some great, some mediocre. Which is fine, except the prices are super expensive. How expensive? Figure about $100 for two people and one young child. Yeah, that's probably why most people didn't partake in them. Internet was 650 baht (about $25 bucks) for 24 hours. My wife and I are heavy internet users and it lasted us the whole trip (5 days, 4 nights). You just log out when you aren't using it.

The Caffe Cino was a bright spot. I often have difficulty getting a decent cup of coffee at resorts like this. It's no Starbucks (shut up, hipsters) but it is good enough and they have gelato, too. Nice.

Oh, and be sure to stop by the lobby bar and say hi to the Vision Band. Really sweet young ladies and great singers, to boot.

Overall, very pleased and would stay there, again. The staff is human. They make mistakes. But, when they do, they try to fix it and more often than not have a smile on their faces while doing it. That's more than you often get at resorts like this. It's not cheap. But, very nice.