After all the great reviews I read,...
After all the great reviews I read, I didn't think we could go wrong with this hotel, and I was right. What a perfect escape. Initially I was a little worried that I didn't book the more luxurious thani wing, but after checking in, I realised with kids the bhuri wing is where we wanted to be. Steps away from the pool, restaurant and kids club. Even with two kids under 5, we managed to relax and be pampered over.
We stayed in a double deluxe and was plenty big enough for 2 adults and 2 children. Initially we were shown to a room with just one king size bed and pull out bed that looked like it wouldn't hold much weight. We said that we had booked two double beds and were promptly moved to another room across the corridor. If you get a room on the bottom floor there is some space outside for the kids to run around on the grass, and you just sit on the balcony and take five.
I was impressed with the kids club. My three year old son was allowed in with my daughter for a couple of hours a day (great to beat the midday sun), even though he was a year under the recommended age. The staff were very helpful and friendly. You do have to pay for the activities they do at set times, but it's peanuts.
The pool is great for kids, one baby pool, and a main pool that my five year old (tall) daughter could stand up in for a long way out. Unfortunately, there isn't a lot of shade in the big pool, which was our main problem.
The restaurant staff were very friendly, and I was impressed with them helping us out on night to pull two chairs together to make a bed for my son, it meant we could enjoy our meal, and they wouldn't have a crying toddler on their hand! Although we ate at the restaurants minutes away outside the hotel, great seafood.
Just one word of advice for the staff at Katathani. We asked about the airport tax and how much it would be, the receptionist said 700 baht each. We took out the money at the end of the last day to cover this, only to find when we got to the airport that there was no airport tax to pay! Just one quibble, but all in all a fantastic holiday, would definitely recommend to anyone.
