Pattaya Hotels

Gypsie King,

don't worry, at least all middle class hotel and up have security who will have a look at the bikes as well. But buy a strong chain and a lock, don't only use the one which was provided - if any at all - by the guy who rented it out to you.

Also only use it if you want to move to Wat Yan, Nong Nooch, Khao Kiauw or other places out of town. If you aren't used to the traffic it might be a dangerous game and a taxi is usually more convienient anyway.

I usually use my bike during daytime to move through the town or for sightseeing and cruising to Sattahip, Rayong or Chonburi, but at night I often use taxis for a simple reason : only two persons allowed on a bike (late at night no prob), so you got to hire a taxi for the "additional" girls anyway :)

Thanx for all the informations guys. I still plan to rent a bike for my daylight visits around pattaya. I am an experienced bike driver (europe, africa and south east asia). The proof that I am experienced is that I don't plan to ever drive a bike in India (I thought I was a tough driver, changed my mind after having visited India).

Also I am used to drive on the right AND left side of the road, with enough traveling you have to anyway.

Anf finally, when I drive I don't drink alcohol, but I will keep in mind your advices about buying a good lock. I read a lot about the scams and that's what worry me the most in fact.

Gypsie King out

[QUOTE=The Traveler]Freeler,

agree, but you forgot to mention rain.
It can be a huge pain in the ass to have to ride back to your hotel in a thunderstorm.

I also heard that some people who rent out motorbikes will "steal" them to collect some extra income. They have the keys and that stolen motorbike can easily be sold upcountry where many bikes are driven without a licence. It's also no big deal to change the number at the frame and engine block.

Many people also never drove a motorbike and even if it's a small 150cc, the traffic is the same. And those who aren't used to drive at the "wrong side" (British and Singaporean, you too :D) are definitely looking for trouble.

There is absolutely no need to rent a motorbike in Pattaya, except for the purpose of moving out of town. I own one there, but often use the taxis because they are more convienient. Think about it.[/QUOTE]

[QUOTE=Gypsie King]Hello,

I am thinking about renting a moped when I will be in pattaya next month (one week stay ...). Should allow me to visit a little bit better the city and its surroundings for the daylight activities.

My question though is about parking the moped at night. I assume that it will be cheaper to rent for the whole week but where do you park safely the moped at night ? Last time I stayed at the Dynasty Inn and they had a roped area to park the moped, this time, I am planning to try the Diamond Beach or the Vault ...

Any advices?

Thanx

Gypsie King[/QUOTE]My hotel, Eastiny Inn, has parking for bikes. Most appear to have parking. But I wouldn't even want to try and drive here. I just take the baht bus in town. But haven't got out of town yet.

RMW

Anyone stayed at the Residence Garden Hotel which is promoted in the Pattaya Pages. That is the only place I see any reviews on it as most of the other hotel booking services don't list it.

capt jb,

yes i stayed there once and i didn't like it.
you have a iving room with small balcony and a bedroom. the latter is quite small and facing the street, so you hear the traffic which runs from pattaya to jomtien and vice versa. remember, motorbikes aren't muted in los and people like to speed there. furniture is quite basic and a bit worn down, bathroom quite small too. better stick to the marriott, it's ten times better than the residence garden. location can also be a prob late at night because not many taxis drive that way en route past dawn.

JB I will respectfully disagree with Traveler since I prefer to stay at RG. The rooms are suites with a living room/dining room/kitchen combo and a bedroom. All of the bedrooms I have had have faced away from the street.

Each room has my favorite accessory, an in-room safe. You also get a good size refrigerator and stove in the kitchen area. There is a TV in both the living room and bedroom. The shower is a walk-in shower (no tub) that is easily big enough for two. The staff is friendly and the 1350 Pattaya Pages special rate makes it an excellent value.

Location is a slight problem. You'll need to take a baht bus to and from town to get there. But the ride is less than 5 minutes to a drop off point where you can walk one minute to Walking Street. At night I never waited more than 5 minutes for a bus to return to RG. I think its a great value with far more space than most other Pattaya rooms. I've never been to the Marriott but I'm sure Marriott is nicer. But the Marriott probably costs 5 times more.

Gypsie,

When police put a chain around your bike, don't get mad, just proceed to Soi 9, Beach Road end, pay the fine and return to your bike. If the policeman with the key is in the right mood, he will then unlock the bike for you.

There is a nice hospital just off Second and Central (Sai Song and Klang).

ATMs give out B20,000 max. So keep your credit card handy when your bike is 'gone'...

[size=-2]PS Havrum thought he was experienced too. Welcome to Pattaya![/size]

I agree with Allover: RG is a deal by Pattya standards. It is a bit away from the fray -- and, even at its worst, quieter and more sane than many of the "closer in" places. [Nice pool and handy drink-and-food adjacent]. Walking Street is, as AO said, only 5 mins away [I didn't mind the walk - 10 at max. ]. The far end of the main drag in town is only 10 away. Jomtien is 5-10 the other direction. There are some less-attractive [older] rooms at RG -- the building farthest away from Reception; don't accept those lodginbs. So, too, ground level. The newer addition [above reception] and upstairs is what they usually put you in if you reserve online at the special rate. Staff is helpful and totally non-judgemental, as are the savvy guests [many Germans and spouses]. No walk of shame. One night last winter with I returned with my guest for the evening, I needed ice and the night watchman fetched me a LARGE bucket- -and some sort of tea that my lady friend wanted. If you want center-of-action stay on or near Walking Street [Eastiny is a good buy]. But, if you want a little distance and a lot quietude, the inconvenience of to-and-fro jittney [I can never remember what they're called in LOL] is very, very marginal. Finally, do the numbers: For the difference of what you would pay between RG and Marriott, you can have an entire day of pleasure [on those your cake and eat it to sort of arrangements. ] Have fun!

Gypsie,

as long as you park your motorbike according to the rules, police won't lock your bike. Have a close look at the traffic signs, in some streets it's only allowed to park at one side on even days and at the other side on odd days.

In case you have an accident, try to avoid the Memorial Hospital which Freeler just mentioned. The PIC in soi 4 or the Bangkok/Pattaya at Sukhumvit highway are much better. I have heard that the Memorial rejected even an emergency case because that guy had not enough cash or a credit card on his body.

And ALWAYS wear a crash helmet and long pants !

Allover,

taste differs and everybody has different needs and expectations. I know some people like the Residence Garden, but of course not all.
I have the great advantage of having met Capt JB in person. We have spent some time together and I believe to know what he expects from a hotel room.

Residence Garden is far below his standards.
The pics on their website don't show the current state of the rooms, furniture is a bit worn down or maybe I was just unlucky with the run of the house.

[url]http://pattaya-hotelrooms.com/TheResidenceGarden/i_Hotel.htm[/url]

I think it would be of great help if anybody would provide up-to-date pics. I have been staying at the Residence Garden about 3-4yrs ago, so my info might be outdated in case they have renewed the furniture and renovated/refurbished the rooms.

Handing out MIS information again, huh?!

You know damn well that Thai police chain up your bike after any finable mishap. And then it's the walk to Soi 9.
You know damn well that the Soi 4 Hospital is on the NO GO list of all major travel insurers. They are a fraud.
I've seen people getting very good treatment at Memorial, even when they couldn't walk out and get the cash to pay the bills.

Freeler,

why so aggressive ?
Do you believe that flaming me makes any of YOUR info more valid ?
Or do you believe to have final wisdom ? Why not let the reader decide ?

Police doesn't always lock your bike up, that's complete nonsense !
How do you know, due to your own posts you don't drive there but I do !!!
I have been caught several times for not wearing a helmet or having more than one chick on my bike. They either order you to park the bike close to them or if you give them anything as a guarantee (e.g. the girl :)), let you drive with that bike to soi 9 to pay the fine there (usually 200 baht). Have done that everytime, no big deal.

I have been to the PIC several times, it's a private hospital and my favourite, clean and professional. It might not be the cheapest one but I don't care a few extra baht when I am sick or want a good checkup. I want to get the best treatment possible.

Regarding the Memorial : I have heard what I said, that they rejected to treat a foreigner who had an accident because he hadn't enough cash or a credit card with him. The emergency finally brought him to the Bangkok Pattaya Hospital. As far as I remember it was even printed in one of the local farang newspapers.

Just returned from Pattaya. Strong recommendation for the Areca Lodge at Soi Diana Inn near Pattaya Sai Song Road. Girl friendly, but don't know about 2 or more. Rooms start at 1090 baht. I stayed in the deluxe room at 1290. This was during the Lunar (Chinese) New Year, which is a high-season week, and finding rooms at nice mid-level hotels was tough. Rooms are good size w/ balcony. Excellent pressure hot shower. In-room safe & also security boxes at front desk--bring your own lock. This is a no-smoking-in-the-room hotel (500 baht fine), but you can smoke on the balcony. Two nice pools; the back one has sun all day. Also has small but decent exercise room and sauna. Good buffet breakfast for 2 included. Prices for food & bev are fair. Very short walk to the Kiss Restaurant, which is one of the best cheapie places in Pattaya. Good location as it's a short walk to Beach Road at Soi 12. I will stay here again. I don't know if I can put a URL for the place in the report, but you can google it.

Also stayed at J.A. Villa, Pattaya 3rd Road between Central & North Pattaya Road--much closer to North Pattaya Rd. This was an overpriced disappointment that I booked in Bangkok when I heard from a friend the Pattaya hotels were booked. Rooms at 1500 baht, but have varying discount rates through the year. Room was large, but shower pressure was weak. In-room safe. House keeping service was very poor. Small pool only has sun until 10 AM and after 3 PM during this time of year. Breakfast was crap. Hotel guests seemed mostly to be Chinese package tourists. Hotel is far from the action, and a lot of the bus/taxi drivers didn't seem familiar w/ the place. It is beside a driving range w/ PGA pro at 700 baht for 30-minute lesson, which may be desired by golfers. The Tesco on North Pattaya Rd is about a 10-minute walk.

About golfing. Hooked up w/ the Fun Pub at Soi 7 and Beach Road. Golf outing at approx. 1500 baht. Includes proper English breakfast at 10 AM, minibus to course at 11 AM, green fee, cart fee, caddy fee, return to bar and free beer at bar upon return. Does NOT include tip to caddy, which is typically 300 baht. Many cash prizes given upon return. The typical outing is 16 to 24 golfers. It's much easier to golf through a bar that arranges everything rather than doing so yourself because courses tend to be far away and the taxi is expensive. Ask for Peter to arrange.

I was for a few days in pattaya late July, good discounts in hotels 650 bt insteas of 950 bt for example, no need to book a room many are available, wheather is quite ok but not many people, anyway!

I am planning on staying in Pattaya for one week during the last week in March '06.

In the past years in the March time period I have been offered discounts on weekly rates. The Sunshine used to offer pay 5 and stay 7 days but they are not offering such discounts this year. How much success have people had in negotiating rates lower for longer stays during non peak times?

I've read that the Dynasty Hotel may offer lower rates for even 5 days of stay. I wrote the Hotel an Email but there was no response from them.

How much success have people had negotiating lower rates in person? I really don't want to do to much of this unless I know what I should be able to get.

I noticed that the Sabai Lodge offers lower rates starting April 1. My feeling is that unless you show up, and they have empty rooms, the hotels may not have any incentive to lower their rates.

It seems that most of the Pattaya hotels are quoting about 20 percent or more from rates a couple years ago? Any recent deals on popular hotels which are not advertised? I just would like to know what price I might be able to get.