Pattaya Hotels

[Mogwai]

I noticed the Haven Hotel & Restaurant building was demolished, probably the noise from Hooters drove them out of business. I used to really like getting breakfast in the Haven but now it's gone!

It's not gone. They have moved to Soi Lengkee. Just google it.

[Banana Boi]

Can you explain why the 200 for this one Hotel? I don't fully understand. Is that by a proper taxi that has a meter? Why is the reverse trip so different?

Pattaya taxis do not use meters. You have to negotiate a rate before the ride. It's my biggest pet peeve about Pattaya. The trip from Mera Mare to WS is a convenient one on the baht bus at 10 baht per person.

I have not been to Pattaya for over 20 years, you can probably tell. Perhaps I will go next week for a look.

Likely not the best week to go. Girls are still with their families after working all of high season. However, if it's the only time you can get away go for it.

[Syzygies]

You definitely won't be disappointed at Mera Mare or Baraquda as a hotel. The taxi mafia will charge you 200+ baht from Walking Street to Mera Mare for you and your girl. Baraquda will be 20 baht for 2 of you. Getting to walking street will be 10 baht from Mera Mare. As a tourist staying 1 or 2 weeks I am sure that will not matter one bit.

Glad you have budgeted 4-5 k per day. This may or may not be enough for LT for a top gogo girl on WS. Depends how much she wants to be with you.

Can you explain why the 200 for this one Hotel? I don't fully understand. Is that by a proper taxi that has a meter? Why is the reverse trip so different?

Obviously 10 and 20 Baht fees are not what we call taxis in Bangkok, since taxis have a minimum charge and a meter. I assume they are actually "Song Thaews" (means "two rows" of bench seating) right? With two rows of seats on the back of covered pickup truck? Do people actually call them taxis? In other parts of Thailand I have never heard them referred to as taxis. I thought they were normally euphemistically referred to by tourists in Pattaya as the "Baht bus"? Even though not actually a bus either.

The Thai word for proper taxi (taxicab) is "thaek-see" same as English (but emphasis shifted to last syllable), but not normally used for other types of vehicles. Thais would not understand the short word Cab in general unless have excellent English, and certainly not "Cabbie". For Thais, each different style of transport vehicle has its own particular name, usually, e.g. Motor Cy(cle), Tuk Tuk, Samlor, Rot Dtuu, etc.

I have not been to Pattaya for over 20 years, you can probably tell. Perhaps I will go next week for a look.

[Blanquiceleste]

Being a noob in Thailand I'm figuring on 4 to 5 thousand a day on top of hotel / flight,

4-5 K a day will be tight if that includes drinking, eating and mongering. Remember you are going during peak season.

[Banana Boi]

You definitely won't be disappointed at Mera Mare or Baraquda as a hotel. The taxi mafia will charge you 200+ baht from Walking Street to Mera Mare for you and your girl. Baraquda will be 20 baht for 2 of you. Getting to walking street will be 10 baht from Mera Mare. As a tourist staying 1 or 2 weeks I am sure that will not matter one bit.

Glad you have budgeted 4-5 k per day. This may or may not be enough for LT for a top gogo girl on WS. Depends how much she wants to be with you.

[Savethe7]

Thanks guys, I booked through Agoda and they were showing a fair amount of places were near booked up. 2 main reasons I went with Mera Mare were that it looked new and higher end in the pictures, since I haven't been on a holiday in ages I like the sea view idea and something a bit out of the way so I can just relax in the hotel for a day and recharge if needed, and they also had a no charge cancellation that you don't pay until just before you go. I thought best to grab something to make sure I have a nice spot and it's easy enough to change later if needed / wanted.

Is it really that inconvenient just to hop a cab back to the hotel with a girl? I am not going with limitless funds but at the same time I don't really care about a 100 baht here and there either. Being a noob in Thailand I'm figuring on 4 to 5 thousand a day on top of hotel / flight, I have traveled a lot and know enough to avoid most scams and not to get overly attached. That being said if I find one I really like I have no problem hanging on to her for a few days, going to be fierce competition for all you guys that time of year for the hot ones LOL.

[WildHawk]

Would agree 100% about Baraquda. Fab hotel with great staff and close to action. Funky rooms and totally GF friendly.

Happy Hunting.

I stayed five nights in late February-March, and I've praised this hotel here before. Great location, great staff (girl-friendly; be sure to book a double as per SOP, and they uniformly will call after you toss the girl back into to sea to ensure that all is well in the world with you and your security), nice buffet breakfast, and the pool area is an oasis a minute away from the action on Soi 13. Fantastic locale for catching the baht bus north to Soi 6 and the major soapies. Baht bus return along Beach Road to the McD's on 13; Walking Street is a quick hop. If I have any regrets it would be that I didn't find something in this area sooner, having stayed previously at the Hard Rock and at the former Furama (now called the DVaree or somesuch; now the haven of Russians and Chinese and it has slipped, and hard) in Jomtien (it's a calmer scene, yes, but just too far removed) before. If you think the Barraquda fits, book it on the Accor site directly (versus Expedia, which I had done) and you will save significantly.

[Banana Boi]

Maybe it's just me but I thought Mera Mare rooms were every bit as nice as Baraquda. A different style for sure. Mera Mare is a newer hotel. If you're really looking for a high end room try Wave Hotel on Beach Road.

[Axiata]

Do you need a sea view room? If not why not look at Baraquda on Second Road? I stayed there and loved it. Service is fantastic, girl friendly, modern rooms, great walk-in shower, Accor hotel chain, outstanding location--closer to the action than Mera Mare. Price looks to be equal to or lower than Mera Mare. I like staying on Second Road. It is convenient for you and your girl to take a baht bus down Second Road very late at night from Walking Street.

Would agree 100% about Baraquda. Fab hotel with great staff and close to action. Funky rooms and totally GF friendly.

Happy Hunting.

[Allover]

Hi all,

I read back about 15 pages but I can't find any mention of this place http://www.meramarehotel.com/.

It's right next to the Hard Rock not sure if it's a good spot or not but the main question is if I'm ok bringing girls back? I am going for Christmas and New Years and I want a nice place, most are pretty booked up already but this place not only has a no charge cancellation policy, you don't have to pay until December 21 which is nice. It's about $110 USD for a sea view rooms which seems reasonable?

Any advice is welcome if this place isn't GF.

TIA.

Do you need a sea view room? If not why not look at Baraquda on Second Road? I stayed there and loved it. Service is fantastic, girl friendly, modern rooms, great walk-in shower, Accor hotel chain, outstanding location--closer to the action than Mera Mare. Price looks to be equal to or lower than Mera Mare. I like staying on Second Road. It is convenient for you and your girl to take a baht bus down Second Road very late at night from Walking Street.

[Banana Boi]

Mera Mare is a first class hotel and it is indeed guest friendly.

[Crazy4Thai]

Hi all,

I read back about 15 pages but I can't find any mention of this place http://www.meramarehotel.com/.

It's right next to the Hard Rock not sure if it's a good spot or not but the main question is if I'm ok bringing girls back? I am going for Christmas and New Years and I want a nice place, most are pretty booked up already but this place not only has a no charge cancellation policy, you don't have to pay until December 21 which is nice. It's about $110 USD for a sea view rooms which seems reasonable?

Any advice is welcome if this place isn't GF.

TIA.

There are so many to choose from it makes me wonder what led you to this one. I guess it is the "already booked up" aspect. I often get a very good room closer to Soi 6 for about half that price at Centara Pattaya or Nova Gold for example. They are not on BR but suit me fine for the comfort level, price point and ease of mongering. Then I scout Soi 6 on foot and continue via baht bus on beach road if I'm still exploring. I have no interest in a sea view room but I know that some do for their holiday. You will have to inquire directly with the hotel to know for sure. If they are not GF they will certainly be unusual. Basically all hotels there are GF especially if you book for 2 guests. The unknown is the policy if you want to do a threesome. Before you book there I would recommend that you find a "monger map" online and decide what area you want. Then use a site like google maps to see your hotel choices, then go to hotels, com to find good review info, pricing, booking etc. You stay 10 nights through them and you get 1 night free. I also wonder what booking site you used that showed so many already booked up. I'd check that on another site to be sure or if you follow my listed technique for locating a hotel try to make your booking directly with the hotel and you might find that they have not shared all of their inventory with the booking site that you searched with.

[Savethe7]

Hi all,

I read back about 15 pages but I can't find any mention of this place http://www.meramarehotel.com/.

It's right next to the Hard Rock not sure if it's a good spot or not but the main question is if I'm ok bringing girls back? I am going for Christmas and New Years and I want a nice place, most are pretty booked up already but this place not only has a no charge cancellation policy, you don't have to pay until December 21 which is nice. It's about $110 USD for a sea view rooms which seems reasonable?

Any advice is welcome if this place isn't GF.

TIA.

[Altered Ego]

Has anybody stayed at the KTK Royal (not to confused with KTK Regent), and if so what did you think of it?

I've searched this thread and couldn't find any mention of it. Location is not exactly ideal but I don't mind that too much. I have searched the net and it's supposed to be guest-friendly. The reviews sound OK but I wondered if anybody was aware of anything detrimental?

Many thanks in advance.

[Jack Of Spades]

First time in Pattaya with friends so I'm going to have to visit some short time hotels. Anyone know if I have to bring my passport with me to open the rooms? Thanks for the help.

Technically you are required by law to carry your identification with you in Thailand. I never do.

No, you don't need to bring a passport with you to stay in a short time hotel. Just money. They don't care who you are. LOL.