Travel with Angela Lansbury: Paradise in Phuket - Idyllic Thai Hotel in Phuket, Katathani Phuket Beach Resort

The spacious, luurious, perfect hotel in Phuket was wonderful. What was the name of the hotel?

Katathani was a word I found hard to remember. Then I was told that thani is Thai for town. Think of it at cat town, starting with a K. Kata thani. Kat-a-thani.

Why is it called a resort and not a hotel? Because it is a resort, like a long beach with more than one hotel. It has two lobbies where you sign in for different bedroom buildings. It has half a dozen pools, one outside every building set in the wide grassy area in front of the low three level buildings. there are lifts at the end of each block, but you can walk up the stairs.

Double height open front lockers outside the bedroom door allow you to leave your sandy or dirty shoes outside on the shelf so they are tidy and do not trip up others or get trodden on. Above go your wet towels, or beach toys equipment..

Location

Behind the hotel is the road and across the road are shops selling souvenirs, including a pharmacy, the ubiquitous thai massage parlours, and restaurants separate from those run by the hotel

Restaurants serve coconut juice or milk in coconuts, with a straw. (You also get these elsewhere in Asia, such as in Singapore.).

Paradise.

Reception

Reception at Katathani. Photo by Angela Lansbury. Copyright.

Your taxi driver will ask you which lobby, A or B. Have your details handy or memorised.Our taxi driver was a woman.

Our son and daughter in law checked in midweek when the hotel was quiet. They checked in straight away. The hotel was not full so they could change bedrooms. They complained that their room smelled musty (mouldy) and were transferred from a ground floor room to a third floor room.

We arrived on Saturday and had to stand around waiting for our turn to sit at the check in desk. (They need more seats and a ticket system for busy times.) When you check in you are given a small glass of juice. This is a welcome way to cool down and perk up after the 30 minute drive from the airport. We wanted to change to a room in the same block as the rest of the family, instead of a five minute walk away, but the receptionists, on day one and day two of our three day stay, told us that the giant hotel was fully booked.

Rooms vary.

I recommend a seaview room overlooking public areas, though the garden rooms at the back are quiet and offer privacy. Our room at the far end was a long walk from the lobby, two shop, and breakfast bugget restaurants, which was a nuisance.

You can get a lift from the lobby on an electric cart, with a uniformed driver called by the receptionist. But might have to wait for it at busy times.

Oddly, our son's room had power sockets for phones. But our room, which was marginally larger and more expensive, had no plug in point for charging a phone. When I phoned down, the receptionist told me,"You can buy a connector from our shop." (At our bedtime,which was closed in the late evening, the shop was closed. It was a ten minute walk. And one should not have to pay.) Most hotels worlwide, from one star to five star, will have a box of adapters, their own or items left behind by guests, and helpfully lend you one. (I have had help from hotel receptions in the USA and in Albania.)

Otherwise, just wonderful. I liked the see views. The varied swimming pools. The fairy lights on the trees at night.

Restaurant Choices

The Thai restaurant was full on Friday but we were able to book for the next day, Saturday. The decor was elaborate, exotic, colourful, original.

The dishes were a dlight to behold. The flavours were original, distinctive, different to the usual, tasty.

Fisherman's Wharf restaurant is huge and we had no trouble getting a table. We had wonderful main courses, super views.

Any downside? Disappointing dessert. Thai restaurant super and surprising.

Onsite shop had great clothes and gifts.

Phuket

The hotel in famous Phuket is luxurious and has everything for families as well as romantic couples.

The location is half an hour by taxi south of the airport. You can save money by not taking a taxi from the booths but phoning for a car.

You can see sunset over the sea if you book a se view room, which I recommend. My family was in two rooms. The sea view room was better, and nearer the centre of the resort.

My room was a long walk to the end after dinner and a long walk back after breakfast. my husband was glad to get the exercise. I was not. On a couple of occasions I took the electric golf buggy from reception, which is free. On a third occasion they said it would be a five minute wait, so I walked.

The Pools

The pools are amazing. Half a dozen of them, one by each building. One has lots of kiddie slides and so on and a tipping bucket of water overhead. Another is the peace pool, no children, but too deep for me to stand.