100,000miler

Any experience at this hotel [Pattaya Beach Resort] in Thailand??

R&R

The former Royal Gardens Resort in the middle of the town and connected to a shopping mall with restaurants, etc. Convenient to the beach.

Have stayed there for several years and before Marriott took over.
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100,000miler

Thanks R&R, I will be there later this week. Are you giving it a 3 star rating only? Is that what you meant? Are the beach side rooms worth the extra or as a Silver member might I get upgraded?

R&R

They are usually generous with upgraded rooms. Nice palm gardens surround the pool which is between the hotel and a main road along the beach. I don't consider it a beach view unless from the top of the hotel. Not really necessary. Pool view is fine with me.

No that was not a 3 star. I did it without thinking! But in thinking about it, it was close!

I have stayed at a lot of different hotel and it is still my preference. The SPA is nice for a facial. A thai massage is HIGHLY recommended to recover from the flight or to get ready for one! Much less expensive on the beach.

klakhav

We are planning a stay at Marriott, Pattaya, Thailand in the near future. Any advice as to the lounge, restaurants, clubs would be greatly apprecaited.

Thanks

circletheplanet

The hotel is OK. It is centrally located and is an island in the middle of commercial activity. Considering this, the walled off hotel grounds are an oasis with trees, flowers, a pond and plenty of grass. There are entrances both from the street which is parallel to the beach as well as from the city side (where the parking is). The hotel is in the middle of the strip and plenty of restaurants, etc options on both sides.

The common areas of the hotel (like check-in and hallways) are not air-conditioned. The check-in area makes a kind of seamless transition to the pool area. The hotel is attached to a mall which contains the usual run of the mill shops and a movie theater. I did not try the restaurants in the hotel but food service at the pool seemed fairly efficient.

As a gold, I was given a ‘sea view’ room and access to a special little lounge on the first floor off the lobby for breakfast and snacks. In both cases the food was light (fruit, juice, coffee and I think yogurt for breakfast) and I would not call it a full breakfast but it was adequate. The sea view room was on the top floor (5th?) and overlooked the pool and the sea. Considering the options, in terms of views it was probably one of the better rooms.

The beach in Pattaya is not worth a positive comment (IMHO). The pollution issues have been discussed before and even though I will swim almost everywhere, I passed this time. There are much better options available (such as Hua Hin) near Bangkok.

The service in the hotel was good but I did not stress them with any special requests. I would consider the overall level of the hotel acceptable but would advise that you be cautious as to the location.

classy

Down the road to Jomtein beach is a little better, but for the more adventurous. A short tuktuk ride.

It was a R&R beach town for the Viet Nam vets, so it has a history, that it might be trying to live up to.

But still a nice get away from BKK!

^ ^ ^

dloren1

IMO, the best club is XZyte. Big, modern, air conditioned with a great sound system and lighting. 200 baht admission and you can buy beer inside or bring your own bottle of that Thai staple, whiskey (uggghh) and buy mixers inside. The club alternates show sets with sets of music. The shows are really well done with about 5 singers, a band and about 20 dancers. Its a great way to spend a night.

Also, there's Hollywood Disco which is similar but IMO second best.

Chris26WI

I was successful to get a 144US$ rate (PKG) for 3 nights in a terrace room in Marriott Pattaya for Jan9-12th. However, this rate is not anymore available for that room type. Terrace rooms are sold now for 190$++/night INCLUDING LOUNGE BENEFITS. My rate for a terrace room is still 144US$ incl. breakfast only. Seems I was lucky to make this booking before they apparently decided to make the terrace rooms to club rooms.... - however I cannot change my booking now (extend or change dates) as I would loose my good rate (though it doesn't allow me club benefits, I think I might have good chances to get lounge access anyway..).

Did anyone stay at a terrace room lately and is the club lounge worth the surcharge? (So I will maybe add some nights at the 190$ rate - otherwise I will change to the Sheraton)

bdschobel

It's a pretty nice hotel, but that rate is really too high for Pattaya. You can easily do better.

Bruce

Chris26WI

Yes, I know, I 've been there already two times(at cheaper rates, but not during peak season, and January is peak season!)... , but never in a terrace room; the Sheraton is not much cheaper in the same period, by the way!

Could't find any much cheaper rates on other travel sites, especially not for the terrace room.

zakami

Then I would just go for the Sheraton. Besides, that Sheraton is new. It may not have opened yet or very recently opened.

Chris26WI

It is open already and can be booked via the Starwood site.

rebadc

I just completed a 4 nights at this property.

This was without a doubt the best stay I have had at a Marriott property.

I was meet by the properties GM at checkin and given a warm welcome.

I received room 845 which is the properties 2nd best room, a deluxe suite overlooking the pool and ocean with a "huge" private outdoor terrace.

Only room 945 could be better.

The thing is, Asian properties lead in customer service hands down. If you add Marriott's Spirit to Serve and you simply cannot loose.

I am a Plat Premier and stay at the GOV rate. it simply blows my mind that this hotel treats its guests this well.

Well Done!

Chris26WI

I just came back from another stay in this Marriott, and was really impressed by the improvements which had been done in this hotel since my last stay before. The new garden and pool area is just impressive now, especially at night, looks quite similar to the Marriott Bangkok Resort's gardens now. The rooms are however still in some need of upgrade in terms of the furniture which looks really a bit outdated nowadays. The TV reception quality is still really bad with the TV being tiny.

I booked a Terrace room this time which is really nice as you can just walk to the pool - with the terrace giving a private feeling however (thanks to the nice plants around), and it looks a little bit larger with a couch instead of only chairs. I was escorted to the room upon check-in, a welcome letter and fruits were already waiting in the room and the staff was really great in every concern. I thought it was already before a nice hotel but now it really improved their service to 5-star-level, and this in high season when the hotel was fully booked - great.