We stayed in the Thani wing. First impressions of the hotel are deceptive. You arrive to a scruffy street which is a bit off putting. Get to reception though & you walk into a different world. Staff are very friendly & efficient, with a good command of English. Our Junior suite was spacious & clean with beautiful views across the gardens to the beach & sea. Loungers are plentiful & there is plenty of full or partial shade for the really hot days. The massages & other treatments in the gardens (they come to you at your lounger) are brilliant & so reasonable (about £7 for just under an hours massage). Its a quiet resort, away from the bustle of the bigger resorts, so the emphasis here is on rest & relaxation. Easy access to the busier resorts by taxi or Tuk Tuk & hotel shuttle bus. As a couple looking for a quiet relaxing retreat after the hectic sightseeing in Bangkok it was very good. The hotel & the beach were spotless & they had a pretty decent gym if you wanted it. Some minor reservations though: Food in the hotel is very expensive for Thailand (breakfast if included is superb with plenty of choice). There are a few really great little restaurants though, 2 mins walk from the hotel. We'd recommend The Kata Noi & The Ta Restaurant. They are down the side street between Mr Topas & Amorn tailors. Dinner for 2 under £10 as long as you don't want loads of alcohol (expensive in Thailand). Beaches in Thailand are public, so the hotel doesn't own the beach, so loungers are extra from local vendors. Obviously anyone can use the beach but you didn't get hassled by local vendors, a polite no thanks is enough. There is no evening entertainment worth talking about at the hotel. Most seeking entertainment go to Kata (5 mins Tuk Tuk) or beyond. There are hundreds of birds in the trees around the hotel, which we found added to the gardens/nature feel of the place BUT if you are a light sleeper, the dawn chorus is deafening (same at dusk) so bring your earplugs. Personally I loved it, but its not for everyone. Kok Chang Elephant Village is only 10 mins away (search Kok Chang for my review) & is a great trip out. They'll come & get you for free if you call them.
