Spent 5 nights in a Junior Suite with ocean views in March 06. This hotel has a superb location, occupying virtually the whole beach at Kata Noi - a perfect sweep of white sands and azure sea that offers great swimming and snorknelling. Having travelled around Phuket during our stay I think Kata was the best place to have lodged - perfect mix of nightlife and stunning, peaceful scenery during the day. The hotel's pools were also superb, nicely scupltured and roomy enough to occupy the hotel's many guests.

But there were some really disapointing things about this hotel:

1. Decor in the Ocean-facing wing was tired - the corridors between rooms had all the charm of a multi-storey carpark. By contrast, the newly re-furbished Bhuri wing, although set back from the beach, was far more stylish.
2. Hotel restaurants - really poor, serving expensive, mass produced food. We made the mistake of eating in the main restaurant on the first night where we were promised an international BBQ - I thought we'd get freshly prepared food, grilled to order - instead we were greeted with platters of insipid, uninspiring food that had been been sitting around for hours. Then the entertainment started. Describing the 'caberet' as one step removed from Butlins is too kind - it was completely naff and totally dominated the whole restaurant. We found the beachfront Fisherman's Wharf no better than mediocre, only Cinnamon offered decent nosh - but when the heavens opened the roof leaked so badly all diners had to leave their seats and retreat to the centre of the restaurant. Breakfast, although offering a wide selection of foods, felt like a free for all in a noisy school canteen.
3. The service was the least good we experienced in Thailand, the staff just seemed uninterested - we really objected to being asked to wait at check out while Housekeeping frisked our room. How many other 5* establishments would expect its guests to do this? As others have also commented, it was disappointing to have to pay for use of beach loungers.

To sum up, the Kata Thani just lacks wow factor and sophistication. It's truly average, saved only by the incredible beach it sits on and proximity to other bars and restaurants (if you're happy to do a short cab ride). Disappointing really.

Never in my life had I felt entirely on vacation.

After working for over a year (I'm a waitress) I was in dire need of a vacation. I met up with some friends in Bangkok and we headed to Phuket where the hotel's driver picked us up. (Be aware that there is a pick-up and drop-off charge.) The driver was very nice and couteous. We found out that everything is spread out on the island and that it would take a travel time of 45 minutes to 1 hour to go anywhere, so we prepared ourselves.
Upon arriving the reception prepared our rooms while we went to concierge to find out what to do. The concierge (from Swizerland) recommended the Phi Phi Islands (which was by the way FABULOUS!), and we quickly went to our rooms to change into our bathing suits once we saw the totally beautiful swimming pools. I had read from trip advisor ahead of time that we would have to pay for seats on the beach (US$1), so we made sure to bring it. But at other times we just lounged on the chairs next to the beach was even better because we got the shade from the many palm trees.

Beach and Pool-
The swimming pools are excellent! Kids have there own area so if you're annoyed just move to another. The beach is very beautiful, just remember to rbing US$1 for a chair.

Massage-
You can go to the spa for US$30 or get an hour massage for US$10 around the pool from the staff (very recommended! I did both) The poolside massage was much better and cheaper!

breakfast-
Breakfast is free, tasty and varied. I spent 3 hours there just slowly eating, and waiting for my friends to wake up. It has a great view to read the paper, and enjoy a cup of tea. One day I had dim dum, the next fresh omelettes, and then Pad Thai noodles.

Nightlife-
Not the party scene (thank goodness! I did not need to see drunk people and prostitues.) But patong ( the party area) is nearby ( I think the hotel provides a free shuttle service there). Instead I enjoy the casual drink scene at the Beach Club. It's pretty mellow, but still lots of people there and I totally enjoyed the ocean breeze while having a Kata Sunset.

The room-
I stayed at the Ocean View Suite. it was huge and beautiful! I woke up every morning to the beautiful sunrise. The hotel even provides beach towels and beach bags (which I brought to the Phi Phi Islands with me). There are fresh flowers and fruits every day! The room is very clean, and the bathroom was awsome. My friend's room were also the same. The thing I loved was how they give you two firm and two soft pillow for you to choose from. The bed is firm and I found out that if you fill out the survey on the nightstand asking about the softness/firmness of the bed they will change it to meet your requirements.

I read the other reviews since I last checked before going to Katathani and I would have to say they were very unfair. Complaining about something the hotel can do nothing about is wrong. Who stays at a hotel is not the hotel's choice. Complaining about the staff's English is also wrong! I did not find this a problem, but I think it's rude to expect natives to be fluent in another language. I foudn the staff to always be knowledgable, and they couldn't stop saying hello everytime you pass one. Even the gardner would greet me when I walked out the door.

This place was absolutely great! I totally needed the relaxation Katathani provided me. If you need to be busy and see lots of people milling around this is not for you. This place is for RELAXATION only! The place is very big (look at the map they give you witht he key), go explore it, and utilize everything! They have a Thai cooking class that I keep missing due to trips, but it was something I really wanted to do. Also I wanted to learn Batik painting.

Beware! Our vacation was ruined at this hotel. Some major travel websites still describe all rooms as “ocean-front suites”, even though several room categories are offered. But – and it is a huge ‘but’ – only the original Katathani rooms fit this description. Having taken over the hotel behind and to the side last year, the Katathani is now called the 5-star “Katathani Beach Phuket Resort”. ‘Superior’ and ‘Family Superior’ rooms are all in the back part. Superior are at best 4 star and surround a pool. Family rooms are like a basic, noisy 3-star motel with half having views on to the back of houses. Having doubled in size and made the facilities open to everyone, the hotel now has huge problems. What other 5-star beach hotel has no turn-down service and no change of bath towels in the evening? What other 5-star hotel anywhere in Thailand serves sickly sweet processed juice at breakfast and instead of fresh Thai orange juice? When I discovered it continues to give out two separate brochures (making a mockery of their alleged rebranding under one name), I asked twice to to see the Marketing Manager and was advised it would be arranged. 40 hours later I was told she was not in Thailand! I had two meetings with the aloof GM to voice my extreme dissatisfaction. I was shocked when he told me there had been similar complaints from returning guests – but said it was my fault as I should have checked the hotel’s own website(!) I turned down the dinner he offered. Yes, the beach is lovely, but it is a public beach and unlike other beach hotels we have visited, the Katathani has made no arrangements to have its own hotel section. So you have to carry cash to pay for the beach chairs. There are many delightful 5-star properties in Phuket. Sadly the Katathani is not one of them.

Recently returned from 5 nights at the Katathani. Just read 2 bad reports and have to disagree! We loved it. We have stayed in lots of international hotels and found some of its quirks charming when compared to some soleless resorts. We also found the staff helpful. My only criticism is the pool area - not enough loungers for the number of guests. However the beautiful beach was an excellent alternative and very cheap to hire beds. The locals need to make a living and it is a public beach. Try the great massage on the beach - its only £5 for an hour. We had a ground floor room initially and were moved on day 2 as we always prefer a view. Since the tsunami it seems that most tourists now want to be on higher floors, so they cannot satisfy everyone. We found great cheap local restaurants 10 mins walk over the hill (you get used to it). There is also a small supermarket right opposite to stock up on drinks etc very cheaply. If you want to party every night this is not the place to be but it's only 20 mins to Patong. Would definitely stay again.