Will be in Phuket this April (first time). Want to stay in Kata (we're not nightlife people and prefer smaller, more intimate towns).

Narrowed it down to Katathani, Kata Beach Hotel and Mom Tri's Boathouse. Leaning towards the Katathani, but the intimacy and location of Mom Tri's is also tempting.

Read many negative reviews about Katathani and Kata Beach on Tripadvisor.com. Many say the rooms at Mom Tri's are tired and small.

Really relying on feedback from this board and websites to decide. A few questions:

1)What are the pros/cons of staying in Kata vs. Kata Noi? (We don't mind a short walk to Kata if it's worth it)
2) Any of these hotels luxurious?
3) Why is Mom Tri's popular if people complain about the rooms? Do all have ocean views?
4) I thought Kata Beach was less crowded than Karon/Patong. How does it compare to Kata Noi?

Thanks in advance.

Kimberly, have you done a search on this board for those hotels? I know there have been reports about all of them.

Yes, I've done a few searches. None really talk about differences btwn Kata and Kata Noi beaches or hotel specifics - other than different types of rooms offered.

I think it's truly btwn the Katathani and Mom Tri's and both seem different.

I was especially curious as to why Mom Tri's is so popular since everyone seems to say the rooms are not that nice. Couldn't find any relatively recent threads on this, but I will double check again.

Thanks Kathie.

Mom Tri's is a small place right on the beach. The Katathani is a large resort hotel also on a beach, but south of Kata proper. Which type of hotel o you want? Both have gotten good reviews. In any case, make sure you eat at the Boathouse. The food is really good.

I understand that you want to stay in a small town, but I would make a recommendation anyway.... My family and I stayed in the Busakorn Wing of the Holiday Inn in Patong Beach. May be it sounds strange but the Busakorn Wing is excellent -- you won't see /hear noise or any other sign of hussle and bustle of Patong. The rooms are great, the Thai restaurants in the hotel are really good as well...We stayed there in February 2006. We have some info / pictures from that stay on our blog and have also posted on Trip Advisor....
http://site.chinafinds.com/blog/2006...atong-beach-2/