This was the first time that our son showed any interest in playing in the sand, and once he started, he was delightedly kicking sand around the beach. He also met a friendly dog that belonged to one of the stall holders, but he wasn't very interested in the baby elephants. We loved Bang Tao beach, because it was clean and you're pretty much guaranteed a deck chair to relax on. There's a few hawkers selling drinks, tablecloths, and a few clothes, but when you say,"No, thank you" they are respectful and leave you alone. There is also a non-disturbance area where you can sleep in peace.
Also the coconuts at the beach were amongst the freshest we've had anywhere. You could really taste the difference.
There were some motorised jet skis about, but we were warned that they were not licensed by the hotel, but people seemed to enjoy using them.
And last but not least, there were clean toilets close by, which was a Godsend.
I am not sure if you can get on the beach, except through the heavily guarded resort, but you can buy day passes. So if you want a hassle-free day, this is definitely the place. Its also a good reason to book this resort.