The Sands Khao Lak by Katathani

2nd time staying here in 12 months. Even though wet season had set in it was still great. Kids club up and running. All bars cured my thirst and massages perfect. Only disappointment was breakfast being the same every day. Got bored with that. 1st world issues. Every staff memeber friendly and went over and above to accommodate. Had a family pool access room on the lagoon wing side. Quieter than the kids pool side. Already planning the next trip.

We have stayed at The Sands many times over the last few years. The location is perfect, a beautiful beach located on one side and a 2 minute walk from the front of the hotel brings you onto the Main Street of Khao Lak centre. Plenty of shops, restaurants and bars along with local food sellers and pharmacies. The hotel is in 2 halves, one side is the family wing where the water park is and the other side has a large beach front pool and an adults only pool set further back. As I have kids we stay In the family wing In a pool access room which is absolutely amazing. The pools are all so clean, the rooms are cleaned daily to a really good standard, never had any issues whatsoever. The water park is great, the pool guys are very attentive making sure the kids are safe. Kids club is perfect for little one up around the age of 5 I would say. They do have computers for older kids and a separate area with older kids activities over the adults side. The staff make this place what it is, all so friendly and can’t do enough to help. We’ll be back again soon.

We retuned for the 10th time ! Fantastic value at the resort : fantastic breakfasts and great because it by the beach and the pool. Would be great for kids with pools and shows They are getting a new Gym which is great Then it’s just so easy to walk up the street for meal or massage or coffee. This place is just the right pace for a holiday The staff are very helpful , even helping me with a private taxi to the airport.

We stayed in a Family Pool Access room during our visit, and while it was comfortable overall, there were a few areas that could be improved. The room felt a bit limited in terms of luggage storage, which can be inconvenient for a family stay. There was a wardrobe with glass doors and glass shelves, which looked nice aesthetically, but didn’t feel particularly practical for regular guest use. One of the highlights was the pool access directly from the room. This was especially enjoyable for kids, as they could easily move in and out of the pool. It also felt more private and less crowded compared to common pool areas, which we really appreciated. In terms of amenities, the property is quite well-equipped. There are separate waterparks for kids and adults, a kids’ club, spa facilities, multiple restaurants and bars, and private beach access. They also offer beach-view candlelight dinner arrangements at one of the restaurants, which adds a nice touch for special occasions. The premises even feature a man-made pond, although it appeared to be under renovation during our stay. On the downside, in-room dining options for vegetarian children were quite limited. Additionally, housekeeping requests took multiple follow-ups—our concerns were addressed only after the third request. This may have been an isolated incident, but it did impact our experience. The property feels more like a hotel than a resort, with rooms sharing at least one wall with adjacent rooms, which may affect the sense of privacy. The room itself also seemed a bit worn and could benefit from some renovation. We also faced an issue with the AC unit leaking water overnight—again, possibly a one-off situation, but worth noting. That said, the management was responsive to our feedback. As a gesture of apology for the inconvenience caused, they waived our in-room dining charges, which we appreciated. Overall, while there were some shortcomings, the stay had its positives—particularly the amenities and pool access—and with a few improvements, the experience could be significantly better.

We chose this hotel because it is managed by the Katathani Group. I had been considering this property for a long time and finally decided to celebrate birthday there. The location is good. The hotel is set on a black sand beach, which is quite unique and especially beautiful at night. The water park at the hotel is fun, but you have to be careful as there are many children around. The room is nice, spacious, and very clean. The air conditioning is very quiet, and the bed is comfortable. However, I would not stay here again. The main issue is the reception team. They were unfriendly and unwelcoming—no greeting, no smile. During check-in, the staff member avoided eye contact (she looked everywhere around but not at us) and seemed distracted. From arrival to receiving our key, we only heard two phrases: “This way” and “Your passport.”When she escorted us to the bellman, she just left without waiting for us to return to the sofa to collect and carry our luggage. It ruined the whole mood. There are two restaurants for breakfast. One is located near a small lake and has a bad smell. The second one is next to the water park, which is noisy because of the kids. We had breakfast at the second restaurant and arrived around 9:40, but many of the food trays were already empty. The next day, we didn’t even go for breakfast. The room service menu was marked with pen, with items crossed out or adjusted by hand. This felt very unprofessional—seriously? Housekeeping and the F&B team are very nice..All of them are smiling and have a good service mindset, unlike the reception staff.