We normally stay at Le Meridien Beach resort -last staying there in August last year - it is a very nice 4 star hotel - I can particularly recommend the ocean view rooms. The beach is good and the pools are great. As SPG gold we were invited to have breakfast in a separate restaurant and it was better than the general breakfast buffet which is also good. Transportation isn't a problem as there is generally a string of tuk-tuks bringing guests back to the hotel in the afternoon and evening.
We have also stayed at the Dusit Laguna but that is quite a bit further away from Patong although there are local restaurants on the beach and in the nearby town which we used. Another hotel I like is the Karon Beach Resort although it is much smaller. It is the only hotel actually on the beach at Karon. BTW we always go to the restaurant next door to the KBR - the Ruam Thep Inn (it also has rooms but they are quite basic!)- the food is good and very cheap given it's position right on Karon Beach.