Pattaya & Phuket hotel recommendations

[SharperCarper]

Hi gents,

Heading to Thailand for 5 weeks in January. I’ve got Bangkok and the rest of the trip sorted, but I’m still trying to decide on hotels in Pattaya and Phuket, where I’ll be spending about a week in each.

I’ve done plenty of research on Agoda and read loads of reviews, so I’m mainly after advice on location and getting around before I book.

Pattaya

I’m currently looking at either Sandy Spring Hotel or the Holiday Inn Express on Soi Buakhao.

The Holiday Inn is tempting because I get a massive staff discount through work, so it’d only cost me around £20/night in high season compared to about £60/night at Sandy Spring.

My plan in Pattaya is:

* Nights: Walking Street, LK Metro and Soi 6.
* Days: Mainly the GCs.

My only concern is transport. From what I can see, the baht buses mainly run up and down Soi Buakhao, whereas staying near Beach Road/Second Road (like Sandy Spring) seems to give easier access to the main baht bus loop.

That said, Soi Buakhao looks like it’s got plenty of action, good food and bars right on the doorstep.

Anyone stayed at either? Which would you recommend?

Phuket

I’ll be in Phuket for a few nights mainly to do Phi Phi, sightseeing and the usual tourist stuff during the day.

Hotel prices in January are crazy. Anything within about a 10-minute walk of Bangla Road that doesn’t have terrible reviews seems to be around £100-150/night.

At the moment I’m looking at:

* Bloc Hotel
* Patong Beach Hotel

Both are about £100/night and seem decent.

Can anyone recommend any other guest-friendly hotels within walking distance of Bangla Road?

[Doormatt]

Pattaya . I would take advantage of your discount. Soi buakhao, soi pothole, soi boomerang, soi made in Thailand and lk metro (upstairs at Kink is wild) are all you need. All are on your doorstep/5mins walk. Soi 6 is fun to see, as is walking street, but honestly once you've seen them you probably won't return to either. Not been to Phuket. I hear it's more pricey than Pattaya. Enjoy. 

[Steely Dan]

I have stayed at Sandy Spring 4 times.  It is a nothing minute walk to the Holiday Inn anyway - these two hotels are same part of town.  Pattaya has a slow pace - there is pussy everywhere so no hurry. 

I like the beach view and the friendly staff.  Only punters there. Very quiet at night.

Also the best baht busses are on beach road (south, to Walking street) and on second road (north, to Soi 6).  Soi Buakhao is shit traffic (in high season) so walking is almost faster than the baht bus there.

Anyway, both of these hotels are fine, as are 50 more. When I go back I will stay at Sandy again for the quiet and the beach. 

[southcoastpunter]

I have stayed at Sandy Springs a few times! I like it’s location- it’s easy walk (2 minutes) to beach rd and of course the beach and 2 minutes walk to Pattaya sai song rd ( also
Known as “second road “) - and you are right in that the baht bus comes down beach road to walking st then bends back along sai song road!  So sandy springs is ideally located for that! Motorbike taxi via bolt are also easy and quick to get around Pattaya!
Sandy springs is def girl friendly and it’s quiet at night so you get a good nights sleep! When I return to Pattaya I will probably go back there!

Re Phuket- I stayed in Patong Beach - can’t remember the hotel name but within about 6 or 7 minutes walk from Bangla rd - their equivalent of walking street/soi 6 in Pattaya! The rest of Phuket is a bit tame ( in respect of girls and punting) compared to Patong!

[billybob69]

It depends on how comfortable you will be using the motorbike taxi's. If you are happy to ride on the back of a motorbike with no helmet, drunk or sober (that it is you, not the rider), then location in Pattaya doesn't matter so much.

Soi Buakhao on a baht bus can be slow going especially during the day. You are stopping every 100m or so because somebody on your bus is getting on / off or another up front. Then likely have to get least one more baht bus on South Pattaya Road to get to Walking Street.
To get to Soi 6 you will get to Central Pattaya Road and then have to take one or two to get to Soi 6 or get on one at the Walking Street / 2nd Road junction. Otherwise you walk 300m - 400m to 2nd Road and catch one up to Soi 6 from there.
This might be too much of a ball ache for you. But that £40 saving per night can buy some really good experiences in Pattaya......

Getting to LK Metro and Treetown would be super easy from the Holiday Inn.
Sandy Springs would be much quieter than the Holiday Inn Express.
Have a look at the wiki for other hotel recommendations. My personal favourite is 'The Stay' Hotel, but there are numerous good 3 to 4 star guest friendly hotels in Pattaya.