The Sands Khao Lak by Katathani — Hotel in Phang-nga Province

My wife and I holidayed with my sister and her partner, as they had previously stayed at the Sands a couple of times before and recommended it to us.| We were pleased with our room and the facilities at the Sands. However, we did have some issues that marred our overall enjoyment.||From the beginning our air conditioning was not working properly resulting in us feeling hot during the night.|I reported the matter to reception on three separate days, even asking for an upright fan as a temporary measure, but no action was taking other than a plate of fruit being sent to our room.|We also had a blockage in our toilet which we reported to reception, but again nothing was done and we eventually managed to clear the blockage ourselves. |We did ask to speak to a member of the management team to resolve these issues but again nothing happened. This was especially disappointing to us and needs addressing.||Our a/c problem was only resolved when Chita, Guest Services, returned from a four day break and, after speaking with her, she immediately ensured that the a/c unit was inspected and cleaned, thereafter it worked perfectly.||We were aware that the hotel was family friendly and that therefore there would be a lot of children staying.|For that reason we chose a junior suite with pool, lagoon access on the wing away from the children's water park.|We were assured, according to the hotel's website, that the Lagoon Wing was 'To rest - centred on a lovely lagoon Wing that offers a quiet space perfect for serenity seekers'.|The reality though was that most of our neighbours had children of various ages and the noise level in the lagoon was certainly not peaceful - we even had a group of teenagers playing water polo!|There were signs on everybody's patio saying that jumping, diving, etc. was not allowed but sadly nobody took any notice and the area was never checked by any staff members.|This was a great shame and definitely impacted on our enjoyment.||We did appreciate that Chita, when she was aware of our concerns, communicated with us both via phone and in person in an attempt to move us to a potentially quieter seaside view room, but unfortunately there were not two available as we would have wished to relocate with my sister and her partner.|My wife and I found Chita to be charming as well as helpful and this went some way to restoring our confidence in the management.||The hotel did have a good size adults only swimming pool which we used to escape to when the noise was really bad , although from time to time children ( sometimes with their parents) would ignore the notice which was frustrating especially as nearby staff members did nothing to enforce the rules.||On the plus side we found the hotel staff to be unfailingly polite and our room was kept spotless by the tireless Kam.|The hotel grounds were immaculately kept and we loved the Sands close proximity to the wonderful beaches of Khao Lak.|The hotel also scored well with the standard of catering and service at the restaurants that we dined in, Manta Ray and Talay.|The resort has a shop, which we used on several occasions, selling a range of items from beachwear to sweets, drinks, snacks and souvenirs all at reasonable prices.||The Sands is well positioned being only a ten minutes walk to the town of Khao Lak with its many restaurants , bars and shops and Bang Niang with its lively market and bars is only a short taxi ride away.||Overall we felt that communication between management and guests certainly needs to be improved to deal with issues that arise and a more honest description conveyed on the hotel's website.|If there are no adult only rooms/areas this should be made clear to prevent misunderstandings,( this has been noted by other guests reviews).|| The Sands needs to think about what exactly it is they are offering, if it is to be solely for kids and their parents please do not mislead those seeking a peaceful break.|For this reason alone we could only rate the Sands as three star average.||It is to be hoped that feedback will be addressed. |The Sands certainly has a lot going for it and the potential to meet all guest's needs....|…. but is...

A relaxing stay after a bad start

Myself and a friend stayed 10 nights in Room 6320 (Seaside Wing, 2nd/top floor, twin beds) during the monsoon season in July 2024. Our rate included breakfast.

Pros: -Free WiFi (login required) throughout the resort. -Located down private driveway, off main street (Phet Kasem Road). -Parking for motorbikes and cars. -Immaculately clean and well-maintained premises. -Spacious Lobby with check-in desks and chairs. -Tourist information desk for half/full day tours (Khaolak Vista Tours & Travel, Khaolak Planner) and hire car (Budget). We used it to book a full day Khao Sok Lake Safari tour and to book a 2 day car hire (driving licence/passport required). -Taxi service desk. We used it for the 5 minute ride to the Tsunami Museum and Bang Niang Market. -Melon mini mart - well-stocked shop selling snacks, soft drinks, alcohol (lager, expensive wine), ice cream, souvenirs, hats, buoyancy aids, swimming attire. -3x desktop PCs with Internet access plus a printer. -ATM cash machine. -First Aid Center - open 10am-6pm. -Tennis court - hard court surface (chargeable). -Lagoon, containing koi carp. Fish feeding 8:30am & 4pm. -3 accommodation wings: Lagoon Wing (face Lagoon), Aqua Wing (face Aqua Play Zone, all family rooms), Seaside Wing (face adults only pool & gardens and nearest to beach). -3 restaurants: Floating Market (live music - a talented duo - each evening), Manta Ray Bistro, Talay. We ate breakfast (6-10:30am) most mornings at the Manta Ray Bistro as it’s an ‘adult zone’ (13+) at that time of the day. In my opinion it would be more useful if the paper placemats contained a map of the resort, rather than generic information about Thai herbs. -3 bars: Pineapple Bar (with TV showing live sport), Jellyfish Bar, Coconut Bar (swim-up pool bar). -3 main pool areas: family, adults only, and beachfront (with non swimmer & jacuzzi sections), plus the majority of ground floor (1st floor) rooms have a shared long plunge pool. Aqua Play Zone family pool - water play (9am-5:30pm), water slides (open 9-10:30am, 1-2:30pm, 4-5:20pm), Lazy River (10:30am-12pm, 2:30-4pm, 1/2 person rubber rings provided). Inflatable toys only permitted in family pool. -Sands Castle Kid's Club. -Massage Sala, Spa. -Gym with aerobic exercise equipment, table tennis table. -Beautifully maintained gardens - featuring palm trees, grass areas, giant chess, boules, pathways. -Stepped access, between the anti-erosion walls, directly down onto a sandy beach. Sea was under Red Flag conditions (high hazard) during my stay, meaning swimmers are discouraged from entering the water. -Golf buggy luggage transfer from Lobby to/from room. -Room 6320 twin bed room (Seaside Junior Suite, 2nd floor). -Checkout 12pm.

Cons: -Check-in member of staff - Sunuttha - was sour-faced and surly and rushed through the hotel information in a matter of seconds and quickly dismissed us. Luckily I took a quick photo of the hotel map, containing a QR Code for more information, when they weren’t looking. We were not made to feel welcome, an appalling first impression! Not a good start to our stay! The vast number of other staff were excellent, it’s a shame that one bad apple spoils it...

We stayed at the hotel for one week with our 10-year-old and 6-year-old sons. At check-in, it’s important to confirm your room details. We had booked a room in a specific area with a view of the water park, but initially, they tried to place us in a different part of the hotel. The first room we received had an unpleasant moldy smell, so we requested a change, which was promptly accommodated. When we extended our stay by two nights, we had to move rooms again. Despite these issues, the staff was very accommodating and consistently fulfilled our requests.

The hotel itself is beautiful and perfect for families. For children around our sons’ ages, it was ideal—safe, entertaining, and lots of fun. The kids’ club offers daily activities for different ages, and there are several pools, including a dedicated adult pool. We found the separation of pools and even the breakfast area for adults without children to be very thoughtful. It allows those traveling without kids to enjoy a quieter, more relaxing atmosphere.

The rooms were comfortable and well-equipped. There’s plenty of charging space for devices, including USB ports, and the two TVs in the room can be connected with AirPlay, which is great for streaming movies if needed. For families, we recommend a room with pool access—it’s perfect for quick swims in the morning or evening. If you prefer a better view, opt for a room on a higher floor, though you’ll miss the pool access. One note of caution: the bathtub in our room was placed in a lowered section with an awkward edge, making it easy to trip. We resolved this by moving the bathtub slightly, but it’s something to be aware of.

The hotel never felt overly crowded, even during a busy weekend, except for breakfast, which was manageable. The food was good, with plenty of options to suit all tastes. If you’re looking to explore outside the hotel, the main street offers excellent dining options. We enjoyed a Thai/German place called Tiffy and Fabian and a great Italian restaurant. These local spots are more affordable and offer a nice change from the hotel’s dining options.

A great sized Gym. Billard and Table Tennis in AC rooms. Washing machines for self service which is ideal with families. Small store for all kinds of items.

Transport around the area is aprox 200thb per trip

Traffic: Be very careful when crossing the street! Always look in both directions!!! It’s super dangerous- better safe than sorry!!

The facilities do show some minor wear and tear, but nothing that affected our stay. It’s expected given the high number of guests over time. Overall, it was a very relaxing and enjoyable stay for our family, and we will ...