just a bit of background - I am of Thai blood and have spent a lot of time traveling throughout the country.

I stayed here with my family several years ago and was completely disappointed.

The grounds are very nice with a stunning entrance. The positives stop there.

1. The rooms are small and cold. The bedding consists of a cheap fleece blanket wrapped in between two sheets. The bathroom is small and non comfortable.

2. The food is terrible - we ate at the italian restaurant - it was expensive compared to US prices and barley edible. The breakfast was OK, but still the worst I have had at a 3 star plus hotel.

3. The stay is unfriendly and arrogant. Most lack english skills.

4. The location is far from anything in the city - you need to take their shuttle to the airport that costs $50 per person.

5. The cost is far higher than the value. I would not come back to this place - even if it was less than $100.

I hope Sheraton fixes this place b/c the grounds have so much potential.

Stayed at Hotel during the Xmas Period. First i must say the hotel is right next to the ocean and is in a great location but unfortunately this Sheraton has simply missed the boat when it comes to customer service and real 5 star service. I booked online and payed $US280 per night for a Zen room and excpected to get a big room and some type of asian influence as the name stated. The room is no more than a standard room with a hyped up name. Food is very poor and the breakfast is usually cold and been sitting for some time. No decent coffee in hotel if your a real coffee drinker. Next door on the beach there is a bar that sells cheap beer and food. Most of the people are heading over there instead of using the hotel. There is also tonnes of kids running around without there parents. Most of the people staying are from germany and france and even they cant believe the costs associated with this hotel. I spoke to around 20-30 people during my stay and nobody had anything decent to say about this place. The mandara spa is a complete waste of time and money. They want 2700 baht for a 1 hour massage when i got the same for 250 baht next door. Please Sheraton if you read this do something about it. I stay in hotel rooms around 100 times a year, you may be able to fool the odd traveller but the majority of well travelled people will look at this place and never go to a Sheraton again.

We stayed here two years ago at the time of the tsunami, and came back for a second visit. The place is still great. Staff friendly and helpfull. Food in the restaurants is also good.

What is disapointing is the price of the massages in the Spa, 30 to 50 percent more than we paid at our other hotels we stayed during this trip.

Rooms are very comfortable, perhaps a bit small. All have balconies, get a top floor. The hotel grounds are huge and really beautifully maintained. Great to walk or jog around. Kids seem to be taken good care of.

The pool area is not the greatest, a bit cramped considering the space they have. The area at the beach is spacious with lots of trees for shade so this makes up for the space at the pool.

Great fitness centre.

I would certainly go back as the hotel is good value.

We paid the same price for local Thai five stars hotels and got a lot more then what Sheraton offered. Firstly the rooms are small; secondly, there is no wireless connection; thirdly we had to rent a DVD player where in all other hotels we got that complimentary; Fourthly the beach is not clean and their pool is smaller then any other we have seen in a Thai hotel; last but not least a cab to town, ordered by hotel staff, would cost differently depending on the staff personnel available at time of request.

Breakfast is good but the staff makes you feel unwelcomed when you turn up half an hour before they close the buffet. The sports activities offered are exactly double the price we got from town.