The Shore is a spectacular hotel, without question.
The hotel grounds is beautifully kept with plants and well cleaned and maintaned.The hotel is located on a steep hillside, and in the heat you need to get driven to your room in electrical buggies. The wait time was always short, so this was no problem at all.
The villas are huge, well maintained, clean, with lovely design. They've thought about everything here. The views are unbeatable, the privacy is excellent, the pools are great and the tech in the rooms and everything is just top notch. Nothing to fault on the rooms.
The staff is very friendly and helpful. We would like to particularly mention Ronnie on the buggies and Aommie in the restaurant for spectacular service.
The gym is well equipped. The pool and beach area is beautiful, with plenty of sunbeds and cabanas if you don't want to stay in your villa. The only negative we experienced in the hotel was that the pool area staff could be more proactive in walking around and taking drink orders. The beach is beautiful.
The breakfast and food is excellent. Focused on buffet, but possible to order some other options. Try to order the Thai noodles with crab curry, spectacular (but spicy).
When you are at the Shore you don't spend time sightseeing, you stay at the hotel, which makes the lack of "local" spots in the area less important. It's not far from Kata beach and more life if this is what you crave, however.
Fantastic hotel, but it needs to be for the price.