TotallyOz Posted July 7, 2012 Posted July 7, 2012 I have stayed at this hotel well over 200 nights over the past 10 years and I never hesitate to stay there when I am in Thailand. The staff is simply incredible. From the time you walk onto their property you are treated like you are respected and appreciated. The staff goes out of its way to make customers welcome and to make sure they have a fabulous experience. I am a Platinum member with Marriott and the VIP staff always welcomes me and takes great care to be sure I have a good room and everything I need to have a successful stay. The swimming pool is the best that Pattaya has to offer and would give most hotels in Asia a run for their money. The pool bar has happy hour every day at 4PM and it is always fun to hear the drums and the gongs to let everyone know it is happy hour and 1/2 price drinks. The gardens are a delight. The rooms are nothing special but they are very well maintained and always cleaned to perfection. The Internet is high speed and when there is a problem with anything, they do whatever they can to make it right fast. My stay on this trip was for 2 1/2 weeks. Every day I stayed there, I was treated like an A-list celebrity and I knew I would wake up the next day to another wonderful day. Breakfast every morning is amazing and they have a large variety of offerings. The GM walks the hotel constantly to make sure everything is going great with all guests. Most who see this man do not know he is the Manager but as I have been staying at this hotel for over 10 years, I have met him and always enjoy talking to him. But, more importantly, a day does not go by that I don't see him walking and inspecting the hotel at least 3-4 times. That is not something I ever seen anyone do at other hotels and it is in my opinion why this hotel keeps in the terrific shape it is in. I know many are interested in whether or not you can bring guests into the hotel and I have never had a problem with this. It is not going to be an issue for them as long as your guest is over 18 and has an ID card. They leave that with security when they get to the hotel and they pick it up on exit. I have no problem with doing this. However, my long term boys stayed with me the entire trip and I just checked them into my room so they had a hotel key and could come and go as they wanted. This also means they could charge anything they want to the bill. As we all had happy hour every day at the hotel pool bar, I was not surprised to see my bill on exit was 50 percent food and beverage as the boys would have friends over for swimming and even with discounts, it adds up quick! I had food poisoning before I got to the hotel and was a bit under the weather for the entire trip and ended up only going out of the hotel 2-3 times over the entire trip. So, I spent the vast majority of the trip inside the hotel grounds and I could not have asked for a nicer experience. If you are going to be in Thailand and want a fabulous place to stay, you can't go wrong with this hotel. They will treat you well and you will understand what makes Thailand so amazing! KYTOP and flipao 2 Quote
Guest Hoover42 Posted July 7, 2012 Posted July 7, 2012 Wow, such a great review! Wish I had the patience for the loooong flights to Asia from the east coast. I can barely stand the flights to Europe. Quote
TotallyOz Posted July 7, 2012 Author Posted July 7, 2012 Hoover, take the trip to EU and relax a few days and then do the EU to Bangkok leg. It is not so bad that way. I know many from the East Coast that are now using the Arab airlines. The rates are low and the services is excellent and the flight time is manageable. Honestly, I am really tired after this flight but it is so worth it. The guys that are available in Thailand are 10 times that you find anywhere else on earth. (10 times is a modest estimate) flipao 1 Quote
Members KYTOP Posted July 7, 2012 Members Posted July 7, 2012 I must agree with your comments on the Pattaya Marriott. I am a Lifetime Marriott Platinum Elite and stayed at this hotel for every trip I made to Pattaya. This hotel always treated me like a king. I went into their membership lounge each morning for a light breakfast while reading an English paper and watching CNN headlines. Was always greeted by name as I passed the reception desk and in the lounge. One trip I was there on my birthday. While eating breakfast the manager and several hotel staff slipped up behind me with a birthday cake with candles and my name on it. The staff then sang Happy Birthday to me. One of the biggest surprises of my life. I think my smile was almost as big as my Thai friends that morning. flipao and TotallyOz 2 Quote
Members axiom2001 Posted July 7, 2012 Members Posted July 7, 2012 I truly enjoyed this read and the photos and am here at my computer thinking: do I return to Thailand during 2013! Quote
Members TampaYankee Posted July 8, 2012 Members Posted July 8, 2012 Oz, nice review. I'd definitely stay if I were a member of Mariott's hoy poloy club or just had deep pockets Are there any Motel 6 establishments in Thailand? Clean but cheap? Quote
Members lookin Posted July 8, 2012 Members Posted July 8, 2012 Oz, nice review. I'd definitely stay if I were a member of Mariott's hoy poloy club or just had deep pockets Are there any Motel 6 establishments in Thailand? Clean but cheap? Hell, I'll even bend a little on the 'clean' part. I really enjoy places where locals would stay. Anyone ever try anything like this? Quote
Members axiom2001 Posted July 8, 2012 Members Posted July 8, 2012 Hell, I'll even bend a little on the 'clean' part. I really enjoy places where locals would stay. Anyone ever try anything like this? On my first visit to Bangkok back in the 70s, I stayed at a place like this. DID NOT like at all! Since then I have truly been particular as to lodging and would definitely opt out and stay at the Marriott or like property! Quote
Members lookin Posted July 9, 2012 Members Posted July 9, 2012 On my first visit to Bangkok back in the 70s, I stayed at a place like this. DID NOT like at all! Axiom, could you, or others, give some more detail on specifically what you didn't like about such a place. I have a pretty high tolerance for imperfection, so maybe it would work for me. I also have a pretty high tolerance for saving money. This place looks like it goes for about twenty bucks a night, leaving a bit more left in the entertainment budget. Thanks. TotallyOz 1 Quote
TotallyOz Posted July 9, 2012 Author Posted July 9, 2012 I had a nice room with full breakfast for less than 125 a night at the Marriott. Yes, I know expensive for Thailand but I love the hotel. Lookin, you can get rooms in the gay area for around 50 USD a night. see: http://www.ambiancehotel.com/ http://www.caferoyale-pattaya.com/ http://www.copapattaya.com/ If you wish your own apartment, firecat stays at condos for around 50 USD a night I think. He loves it as total privacy and your own room near the big mall. He uses a service to book. Let me know if interested and I'll get info. Also, there are tons of cheap hotels for 25 USD a night. But, the ones listed above I know and would have no problem staying in any of them. flipao and lookin 2 Quote
Guest EXPAT Posted July 9, 2012 Posted July 9, 2012 Oz thanks for the review. Sounds like a beautiful place. I wonder if I stayed there on my first visit to that country years ago. I can't remember now. I was there on business so it wouldn't have been for long. Quote
Members lookin Posted July 10, 2012 Members Posted July 10, 2012 Oz, thanks for your insight and suggestions. I don't have any immediate plans to head to Thailand but you've brought me one step closer. Quote
Members Lucky Posted July 12, 2012 Members Posted July 12, 2012 The most important thing for a hotel in Thailand is to have working air-conditioning! I have stayed at the Ambiance for as little as $28. It was clean, comfortable, allowed young guests over the age of 18, and it was quite cool. However, last time I stayed there I shared the room with hundreds of little creatures. The air-conditioning filters in these cheaper hotels probably never get changed, so if you have sensitive sinuses, you might prefer to spend more money. I once rented a room at the Ambiance but slept a couple of nights at the Royal Garden- now the Marriott- to protect my sinuses.. (I have never had Oz's luck on bringing boys back to the room in a big hotel.) Quote
Members firecat691614502759 Posted July 14, 2012 Members Posted July 14, 2012 . (I have never had Oz's luck on bringing boys back to the room in a big hotel.) With the nick name Lucky , I can't understand how you have ever had trouble bringing boys back to Big Hotels in Thailand. Maybe we should change your name to Unlucky? LOL I have brought boys back to every Marriott, Sheraton and Hilton in Bangkok. as well as many other large Hotels. I have never been bothered by anyone except for an occasional request for an ID to be left at Reception. Never been asked for a Joiners fee and if I was I would laugh at them. I always reserve a room for 2 people and who I bring in is my own business. I will say I have heard that the new Hilton in Pattaya has been a pain in the ass about guests but I have no personal experience. flipao and KYTOP 2 Quote
