Kim:As it's the first time that I am going there I'm not quite sure exactly where it is - Karon beach - but I'm going onto a liveaboard almost immediately. I'll ask about Le Meridian but you might even get better answers already from people on SB who actually live there. I'm leaving Japan on the 20th March and I'll post a detailed trip report when I get back - about 2 weeks later.
The Thai people sound wonderful!
Karon Beach is just down the road from Patong (about 20mins to 30 mins drive via a tuk-tuk - their version of a taxi).
Le Meridian is on the road into Patong, so you pass it on the way.
Hilton arcadia is on Karon Beach (just off the main shopping road), if you have a chance pop in and see the lobby - its huge!
Also try one of the club sandwiches from the "lost horizon" pool - come very highly recommended indeed.
Hilton Arcadia also has a good dive centre, one of the guys that runs it is an ex military diver and has lots of good advice on sorting out problems like equalizing your ears, and how to do and buy things in Thailand without paying tourist pricing.
Yeah the Thai people really are a great people - Like I said before, it was seriously humbling during the disaster on how they helped us.
You can buy lots of great stuff in Karon too (like DVD's, clothes - or general touristy stuff), and there is a great resteraunt there too which is incredibly cheap (literally, just a few bucks). I have a feeling though, that alot of the shop keepers have now closed their shops as the tourist season is over, and they arnt expecting a great deal of trade.