Renaissance Pattaya Resort & Spa - Thailand [Master Thread]
#31
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Dulles, VA
Programs: UA Life Gold, Marriott Life Titanium
Posts: 2,757
The Holiday Inn is hella expensive. I've checked prices there a few times and they're usually well north of US$100 a night - closer to $200. The place looks nice though, but it's overpriced for what you get.
#32
Join Date: Aug 2005
Programs: AA Platinum for Life (2MM), BR Gold, AS MVP Gold, Marriott Lifetime Gold
Posts: 976
With no Marriott properties in range of the center of the action in Pattaya my wife and I simply stopped going. To tell you the truth I don’t miss it... the overpriced hotels, miserable traffic, etc. had been starting to become more and more annoying and so I was happy to have an excuse to remove Pattaya from our list.
#33
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: Taiwan
Programs: IHG Diamond, Marriott Platinum, Hilton Gold, oneworld Emerald
Posts: 1,164
I agree this HI is not cheap, but it's pretty much in line with IHG prices in Bangkok. What is ridiculously overpriced is IC Pattaya. Their rates are usually insane for what you get (and basic rooms there are worse than in HI, not to mention horrible location of IC in a middle of nowhere).
#34
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: Taiwan
Programs: IHG Diamond, Marriott Platinum, Hilton Gold, oneworld Emerald
Posts: 1,164
With no Marriott properties in range of the center of the action in Pattaya my wife and I simply stopped going. To tell you the truth I don’t miss it... the overpriced hotels, miserable traffic, etc. had been starting to become more and more annoying and so I was happy to have an excuse to remove Pattaya from our list.
#36
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: Taiwan
Programs: IHG Diamond, Marriott Platinum, Hilton Gold, oneworld Emerald
Posts: 1,164
#37
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: BDU
Programs: DL:MM, Marriott:LTT
Posts: 8,779
All of this points to why I asked the question above several months ago. The old Marriott seems to have been a unique property. It appears any other property would require a change of expectations.
One more piece... the old Marriott staff was one of the best group of hotel employees anywhere.
#39
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: Taiwan
Programs: IHG Diamond, Marriott Platinum, Hilton Gold, oneworld Emerald
Posts: 1,164
#41
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: Taiwan
Programs: IHG Diamond, Marriott Platinum, Hilton Gold, oneworld Emerald
Posts: 1,164
There is Grab in Pattaya – only car (no bike) and very expensive if compared to Bangkok, but at least you don't need to deal with cash and know the fare upfront in the app.
#42
Join Date: Dec 2013
Location: Homeless
Programs: Hyatt Glob; Hilton Dia; Marriott AMB; Accor Dia; IHG Dia Amb; GHA Tit
Posts: 4,835
I thought exactly the same as you. We were both wrong!
I contacted Ren Pattaya in advance (before booking a stay) mostly to ask which facilities are open/closed during covid, but at the same time I asked how high occupancy is at this point in time and what kind of upgrades I could expect as a Marriott Ambassador Elite.
I can count on one hand the number of Marriott properties which did NOT upgrade me to a suite in the last couple of years when suites are available online, and that's in normal conditions, let alone in times of low occupancy such as now. Their response is that if I book the entry level room I will get an upgrade to a deluxe balcony seaview which is two categories below the suites. I expressed my surprise and explained why (terms & conditions for suite upgrades, low occupancy, my recent upgrades at other properties, etc.) and they responded that if I want suite upgrade then I must book the room type deluxe balcony seaview.
It seems to be a blatant disregard for the terms & conditions... If I really wanted to go there and if I did not care all that much about a suite, maybe I could overlook this issue. But in the current conditions, my upgrades are as generous as they have ever been, so this property stands out in contrast and not in a good way. It's a buyer's market at the moment so I can afford to be picky... So I guess I will vote with my feet and I will book somewhere else, unfortunately. Not that reviews of this resort were fantastic to begin with anyway.
I thought I would relay this info in case anybody wants to go there in the future : temper your expectations for upgrades
I contacted Ren Pattaya in advance (before booking a stay) mostly to ask which facilities are open/closed during covid, but at the same time I asked how high occupancy is at this point in time and what kind of upgrades I could expect as a Marriott Ambassador Elite.
I can count on one hand the number of Marriott properties which did NOT upgrade me to a suite in the last couple of years when suites are available online, and that's in normal conditions, let alone in times of low occupancy such as now. Their response is that if I book the entry level room I will get an upgrade to a deluxe balcony seaview which is two categories below the suites. I expressed my surprise and explained why (terms & conditions for suite upgrades, low occupancy, my recent upgrades at other properties, etc.) and they responded that if I want suite upgrade then I must book the room type deluxe balcony seaview.
It seems to be a blatant disregard for the terms & conditions... If I really wanted to go there and if I did not care all that much about a suite, maybe I could overlook this issue. But in the current conditions, my upgrades are as generous as they have ever been, so this property stands out in contrast and not in a good way. It's a buyer's market at the moment so I can afford to be picky... So I guess I will vote with my feet and I will book somewhere else, unfortunately. Not that reviews of this resort were fantastic to begin with anyway.
I thought I would relay this info in case anybody wants to go there in the future : temper your expectations for upgrades
#43
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Seat 1L these days :)
Programs: AF Platinum/AY LUMO/SK EBG/baEC S/HYATT Globalist/MR LTP/A3 *G/HH Dia/IHG plat
Posts: 7,944
if you use bell transport they offer a bus from BKK and City to Pattaya and it includes The minibus trip from pattaya bus depot to your hotel in pattaya. very decent quality
#44
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: IAH
Programs: Delta Platinum & 2MM, Marriott Lifetime TIT, Hertz Pres Club, IHG Gold, *A Gold
Posts: 1,253
#45
 
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: Upcountry Maui, HI
Posts: 13,303
Used certs on two rooms here, both upgraded, mine (titanium) upgraded to 1BR Ocean View Balcony, the other (silver) to Ocean View Balcony. Great breakfast, they serve you everything so nobody else is touching things or reaching in for things, Breakfast was busy on Sunday morning, dead on Monday morning, so on Monday, all items made to order. Nice location for a family oriented resort.
-David
-David