We have just returned from a 9-day stay at the Katathani from 4-12 July. Our last beach holiday was to the Maldives two years ago, which was wonderful, but our stay at the Katathani compared pretty well with it. We booked the Spa Package, which was good as it got us a hassle-free private transfer to and from the airport in an air-conditioned car with cold face flannels and bottles of water - much appreciated when we arrived in Phuket! The transfer took about 45 minutes from the airport, which was fine. The hotel itself was lovely - a really nice peaceful location (apart from the ubiquitous and annoying tailors on the street asking you if you wanted to buy a suit every time you walked past!) and the beach was beautiful. As other reviewers have pointed out the beach isn't private but feels like it. We thought we might not be able to swim in the sea being July, but you could if you wanted to, it was just a bit choppy sometimes. It seemed to be quite a popular location for surfers as a result. Even though it was low season we had very good weather for the most part of it - we just had two overcast days in the middle with a few tropical downpours (usually in the late afternoon/early evening) but otherwise it was glorious hot sunshine for the rest of the time. We were in a Junior Suite, in the Kata Noi wing, on the Thani (beach) side of the resort which was lovely - a very good size, and a really large and comfortable bed (if you like reasonably firm mattresses). Our room was on the first floor really near to a staircase, and overlooking the large Kata Noi pool and beach. The Bhuri wing did look nice too, newer and a bit more modern but overall we were really glad we stayed on the beach side instead. Although we were nearest to the Kata Noi Pool we tended to spend most of our time at the Andaman Pool, the next one along, as this was designated the "Quiet Pool". The Coconut Cooler drinks were lovely! As other reviewers have pointed out the one annoying thing was people reserving poolside loungers by putting their towels out, even though it does say in the hotel rules that this isn't allowed. The problem seemed to be worst at weekends but during the week wasn't so bad. We did spend 200 baht one day to get loungers on the beach, which was nice, plus the drinks from the beach are a lot cheaper. Although we realised we were probably paying a little over the odds we did have several poolside massages/manicures/pedicures - a Thai massage was still only about 300 baht (about ?5) - you'd have to pay at least 5-6 times that price for the same thing in the UK. We also got our free spa treatment as part of our package - mine was the Aromatic Swedish Massage. Again, this was a very nice experience, they give you a cold coconut drink on arrival and then a hot spicy drink after your treatment, and they give you a free gift of some little candles and spa toiletries to take away with you. We only ate at the hotel on our first night there (at Fisherman's Wharf, which came to about 2,500 baht for two including wine) as the prices at the hotel were quite a lot more expensive than eating out in Kata, Karon or the little restaurants across the road from the hotel. If you do eat at Fisherman's Wharf, we'd recommend the FireFish (a whole grouper that you can share, and that they flambe at your table!) We ate at the Orchid restaurant quite a lot, one of the restaurants across the road (I got quite addicted to their pineapple shakes!) You can get a really nice quick lunch there of a stir-fried noodle dish and a beer for about 150-200 baht (about ?2-?3) We also ate at the Dino Bar in Karon (fun for the experience, but not the best Thai curry I had whilst there - there was a lot of chili and not enough other flavour); another little restaurant across the road from the Dino Bar; the Tomato restaurant in Kata (cheap and pretty tasty); and on our last night we went to Mom Tri's Kitchen (as it was low season we took a chance by not booking in advance and they were able to fit us in on the spot.) That was quite nice, but pretty overpriced in my view, and not really worth the money - our 3-course meal came to nearly 4,000 baht and we didn't even have any wine (just 1 beer each). The food was nicely presented, but nothing that made us go "wow" taste-wise (although a nice touch is that they give you a free little appetiser and a sorbet after your first course). Plus we were sat under a tree that kept shedding its berries onto us - which actually landed quite hard if they landed on you as they came from quite high up! So not really worth the money. We just did one day trip - the John Gray Sea Canoe "Hong By Starlight" trip. Although it wasn't one of the tours the hotel was promoting they were happy too book it for us (although as we only booked the day beforehand we didn't get the fax we were supposed to telling us what to bring etc.) It was 3,900 baht each but you got a lot for it - pickup and return to the hotel by minibus, a lovely lunch and evening meal on the main boat (various noodle dishes and curries), your own guide who paddles your canoe for you, and they also teach you how to make a Thai offering that you then light with candles and float on the water at night, which was beautiful. My only slight gripe would be that the "by starlight" bit of the tour really only consisted of about 15 minutes where you get in the canoe to launch your offering in the cave - most of the tour takes place in the daytime. If you do go on this trip, make sure you take plenty of insect repellent with you as the lagoons did seem to attract the insects. We were dropped off back at the hotel at about 10pm (having left at around midday) - so it's a long day. All in all, the Katathani was a lovely place for a chilled-out beach holiday, and we would definitely go back there.

SARA AND MICHAEL PIGGOTT - NEWLY WEDS We stayed for 2 weeks at this hotel on our honeymoon and we couldn't recommend it more. The hotel staff were helpful and very friendly, they couldn't do enough for us. The rooms spotless, if we had any problems, it was seen to immediately. The complimentary breakfast was fabulous with a vast choice of foods from thai to english food. We paid extra for a superior room which was sea facing and it was almost like a small apartment it was so big. We were away from the over populated tourist spots so had plenty of peace and quiet but it was not far from the the noisy resorts if we wanted to explore them. Would recommend this hotel.

We stayed in the Kata Thani in the Thani wing at the end of August 2004. I can honestly say this is one of the best holidays i've been on we always compare all our hotels to this one. The service was out of this world they could not do enough for you and it was the most relaxing holiday we have ever been on. The massage's round the pool were extra special and we took advantage of these most days. The food was really good we loved chom talay the prawns are the biggest things ever and taste so good, also the chocolate mousse in the italian restaurant was also the best dessert and the price was not too steep either. The room was very comfortable and nicely decorated the bathroom was big and the double shower was very nice. Patong was an experience and I would recommend going ,there are lot's of restaurants and at good prices to choose from. The kata BBQ just up from the hotel was really nice however 1st impressions make you think that it is nothing special but the food was really nice you get to choose your own sea food and you guessed it tiger prawns it was. I would recommend this hotel for a relaxing luxury holiday and would be very surprised if anyone did not enjoy their stay here.