The Leaf on The Sands by Katathani - SHA Extra Plus

I had high hopes for The Leaf By Katathani, but unfortunately, my stay left me feeling disappointed and unappreciated. Having traveled to many hotels, both in Thailand and abroad, I’ve come to expect a certain level of hospitality—especially from a well-known brand. Sadly, this was not the case here.

We arrived for check-in at 5:00 PM, much later than the standard check-in time, so naturally, we hoped for a little flexibility with check-out. A simple request for a 1-hour late check-out was immediately denied, with no consideration given. I understand hotel policies, but in my experience, most hotels strive to accommodate their guests whenever possible. Given that it was also my birthday, I had hoped for at least a small gesture of understanding, but instead, it felt like a cold, rule-based response rather than genuine hospitality.

Another issue was the room assignment. We had clearly requested a twin bed in advance, yet we were given a king bed instead. We didn’t make a fuss—we accepted the room. However, when we asked if there were any twin rooms available, we were told there were none left. Strangely enough, when we checked online, twin rooms were still available for booking. It was frustrating to see such a lack of effort in even considering a room switch.

I’ve stayed at countless hotels, from small boutique resorts to five-star chains, and the best ones always focus on guest satisfaction over rigid policies. They find ways to accommodate reasonable requests, making guests feel valued rather than just another reservation number. Here, however, everything felt inflexible and transactional.

This hotel may have great facilities, but hospitality is about going the extra mile—or at least meeting guests halfway. Unfortunately, The Leaf By Katathani fell short in that regard. If you’re looking for a place that treats guests with warmth and flexibility, you might be better off elsewhere.