Good Hotels in Pattaya Thailand

Choosing from the various good hotels in Pattaya Thailand takes some research, critically sifting through information and deep thinking about what is important to you.

I was nervous about booking my first trip to Pattaya.  Would it be a dump?  Would it be so noisy I could not sleep? Would the bed be unbearable?  Would I be so far from the nightlife, I'd need to hire a taxi to get around?  What if I hated it?  Was it inexpensive because it was in high crime area?

Yes.  A lot of worry.

How I Chose from the Good Hotels in Pattaya Thailand on My First Trip

To mitigate some of that worry, I only booked the first 4 nights from my booking App prior to my trip.  From my research, it seemed like it would be fairly easy to find and book a hotel once I was in Pattaya. 

Summary of Hotel Booking on My First Trip:

• Booked first 4 nights at the D Hotel (Sunday - Wednesday) through a booking App in my home country.
• After a few days of exploring I booked the next 4 nights at the Adelphi Hotel.
• After I spent a few nights, I found I really like the Adelphi and tried to extend my stay my last 4 nights in the same room.  Because it was a better room and already booked, I had to move to a different room the last 4 nights.

On my last 4 trips I booked all my nights at the Adelphi Pattaya Hotel, preferring to get to my hotel, set it up that way I want, live there all my trip, and not have to deal with the hassle of moving to a different hotel.  I do not even touch my suitcase until I start packing on the day before I leave.

What the Staff is Like in the Good Hotels in Pattaya Thailand

Good hotels in Pattaya Thailand have a nice welcoming, uncluttered, efficient front desk, a smiling clerk, an extra clerk in the office for extra capacity when there are more guests at the desk. The balloons and red dress was for the Chinese New Year the Thais were helping the Chinese celebrate

Thai hotel staff are awesome.

When you walk through the front door, they'll greet you with a big smile (Saw wad de kaa). You hand them your passport.  If you booked through an App, they will look you up in their computer and start preparing your pass card or key.  

They will tell you (in English) the room number and any other details (location of the pool and other amenities, if they provide breakfast, when they typically clean the room, etc.).

You will be getting on the elevator to your room within 5 minutes of walking through the hotels front door.

Quick, easy, businesslike, friendly.

Throughout your stay, all the staff will be friendly and smiling.  When you leave to the pool in the morning, the Thai ladies who clean, will give you a big smile and say "Sa wad dee kaa."  Clean you?  You'll say, yes please, I'm going to the pool for a little while.  When you return from the pool 45  minutes later, your room will be perfectly clean and ready for you.

When you drop off your pass card when you leave each time, another Sa wad de kaa, and they will say your room number (I think they do this to memorize you and your room).

When you come back - Another "Saw Wad De Kaa, room ___: and hand you your pass card.

You will notice more Thai staff busy around the hotel than would be in western hotel.  Two or 3 people at the front desk to avoid large ques when checking in or out.  A bellboy near the door to open it when your arms are full and help you to your room with your luggage.

Multiple cleaning ladies making their way around the rooms each morning, preparing the rooms for new guests and keeping the pool, hallways and common areas spotless.

An older, experienced looking maintenance man with an assistant roaming around repairing issues as they arise and anticipating before things become an issue.

If you have an issue (plugged toilet, ran out of toilet paper, how do I work the AC, etc.), you call the desk or stop by.  Someone will be knocking at your door in a few minutes to help you.

Good Hotels in Pattaya Thailand -
Room Minimums to Look For

Good hotels in Pattaya Thailand have a king size bed, plenty of space, a refrigerator and storage

Quiet Air Conditioning

You will be running this AC all the time when you're in your room.

Big, Comfortable Bed

I have a queen sized bed at home in my (near enough for me) luxury one bedroom apartment in a midwestern college (with expensive rents) city.  My bedroom could accommodate a king sized bed, but that would take up most of the space.  So, a queen sized is better.

On vacation, when I'm living it up, spending money at a pretty good rate anyway, I want a king-sized bed for sleeping, napping and entertaining. 

Room Safe

Keep your passport, home country money, credit cards and Thai Baht all locked up.  Most safes seem to work by entering a 4 digit number that you enter.  There will be instructions right on the safe.  Try it a handful of times before inserting your valuables.  The hotel will be able to access it if you forget, but remember the code to avoid the hassle.

I keep my wallet in the safe when I go up to the pool or I am expecting the cleaning crew.  

I am normally in and out of the safe multiple times day, exchanging USD for ThB, ThB for my daily needs and more ThB for fun evenings out.

Big mirror, space around the sink for your personal needs and a big shower with a shower head that can be removed from it's track

Nice, Big, Well Lit Bathroom

I want a big-enough bathroom with well-lit, countertop space around the sink. I'm living there for a week or 2.  I want to set up the bathroom countertop to easily get ready when I leave the room, nicely set up, like I do at home.  I don't want getting ready to leave my room on to be an ordeal.

I love a nice big shower with a handheld shower head.  I don't want to bang my elbows on the shower door or wall.  With the heat, you will be taking many showers a day.

As an aging, large man from a western country, I especially need a big, elongated bowl toilet. I am not willing to rough it, perching on a tiny toilet and wonder if I am going to break it or fall off or fill it. 

I recommend you look for a picture of the toilet on the booking App and pass on a place if they don't show it.

Refrigerator

I load my hotel refrigerator with a case of bottled water from the mini-mart down my soi and milk for my coffee.  Sometimes I buy a 6 pack of beer or keep some leftovers.

Chair, desk with drawers, electric kettle on the desk and some storage cabinets around the corner towards the door

Large Enough Space & Storage

Once I’m in Pattaya, I don’t want to live out of my suitcase or backpack, I put all my things away in a logical place. 

• Hang up my button-down short sleeve shirts and nice shorts in the closet.
• Stow away my tennis shoes and sandals in the closet so I don't stumble over them.  
• Put away my socks, boxer shorts, t-shirts and loungewear in the drawers or on the shelves.
• Set out my personal needs on the bathroom counter.
• Hang up my swimsuit on the bathroom hook.
• Set up my computer/cord/mouse and Planner book on the desk.
• Put all the miscellaneous stuff from my backpack and small luggage pockets in the desk drawers.
• Tuck my empty suitcase and backpack out of the way until I pack to go home.
• Set my hat and sunglasses by the door.

I want the room to look picked up, put away, and neat for my convenience and for the hotel staff to clean around.  I want it easy for me to get ready for the day and the night.

Desk & Chair

I only lay in bed, I don’t find sitting or lounging in bed to be comfortable at all.  I need a good chair to work on my computer, write in my Journal book, make notes, drink coffee and eat a snack. 

Sometimes I have upgraded to a larger room with an even more comfortable chair and couch. That type of room is not always available.

Way to Make Coffee

Most hotels will provide a few packets of instant coffee each day and an electric kettle big enough for 2 or 3 cups of coffee.

I get the kettle going first thing in the morning.  After swallowing my vitamins and supplements with a bottle of water, the water is boiling and ready to make coffee.

Balcony with table and chairs

Balcony

I like to sit outside in the morning enjoying my coffee, reflecting on the fun I had the night before and planning my day. 

I sit out in the late afternoon too, planning my night. 

It's even more of a bonus if you can get some sun on your balcony, but many will be mostly shade.  Unless it is a driving rain, most balcony's will give you some shelter so you can sit outside in the rain.

Good Hotels in Pattaya Thailand -
Study the Map for the Location Minimums 

Close to Conveniences

There are several things you need to do or places to go repeatedly over the course of your trip - 7-11, money exchange, laundry, pharmacy, barber shop, restaurants, coffee shops, bars, store to buy bottled water or junk food, and massage shops.  

I like to easily get to these places without the effort exhausting me.

I try to chain multiple things when I go out.   For example on my first day in Pattaya I stop at the:

1. Pharmacy for Sidegra.
2. Laundry to drop off the clothes I wore on the plane.
3. Money exchange to convert $500 USD for ThB.
4. Barbershop for shave, wax ears, wax nose hairs, manicure and pedicure.
5. 7-11 for initial supplies.
6. Mini-mart closest to my hotel for a case of bottled water.

All these stops are either right on my hotels street or within a half block on the next street.  I measured this out to be 1,100 feet one way, so 2,200 feet of total walking or a little less than a half mile.

Close to Fun

I like my hotel to be close to some bars and restaurants, especially for those end of the evening drinks with just a short walk back to the hotel.

Guest Friendly

Many of the Central Pattaya hotels are guest friendly, meaning you should be able to escort a guest up to your hotel room and you will not be charged extra and the hotel staff will not give you a hard time about it. 

Most hotels will hold your guest's ID card and have them sign for it before you both go up to your room.  This is to protect you.  If there is a problem (dispute about money, something gets stolen, etc.) the hotel has the ID card and can help you sort this out.  

I have not had anything like this happen.

After the hotel verifies with you that everything is ok, they give your guest their ID back.  It's a nice, safe system.

Good Hotels in Pattaya Thailand -
Nice to Have's

Rooftop pool. Relax on the lounge chairs, enjoy the water, chat with other guests and get some sun

Pool

On a tropical trip I enjoy hanging out at the pool.  I get some sun, paddle around in the water trying to work out injured areas, chat with other guests and just enjoy it as an inexpensive diversion. 

Comfortable Lobby Chairs

Maybe not a huge consideration, but on a rainy day or while waiting for your room to be cleaned or available, or waiting for you ride, it is nice to hang out here in comfort.

Coffee Shop

An on-site coffee shop or restaurant would be great during a rainier time of the year trip or when you're too rundown or exhausted to go out.

Good Hotels in Pattaya Thailand Wrap Up

There are hundreds of good hotels to choose from all waiting to efficiently serve you with a smile, provide you a comfortable, enjoyable stay and help you have a great time on your well deserved Pattaya vacation.