The Empress, Baraquda,Pattaya Blue Sky

[slalom]

I have provisionally booked the above mentioned hotels for forthcoming 6 night stay.

All can be cancelled free of charge

Can anyone help in deciding on the one to actually choose

 

The Empress

Beach Front room 40sq metres with breakfast £440

Stayed here previously about 2 years ago but only in Studio Room city view

fantastic location.

Concerned about some reports on rooms now looking a little shabby.

Can anyone who has stayed there recently confirm this?

 

Baraquda

Haven't stayed there previously but it certainly looks WOW!!

Deluxe King room no breakfast £419

 

Pattaya Blue Sky

Heard positive reviews on this newish hotel, not the same class as Empress or Baraquda but a bargain at £164, Standard Double room 32 sq metres without breakfast

 

Any of you guys any pointers, recommendation's or better hotels for prices quoted?

Thanks in advance Slalom

[nixonsbest]

How have you provisionally booked these hotels?

[matrix123]

I stayed in LK Empress (sea view room) and Baraquda before. LK Empress, the view was nice. The furniture in the room was just some cheap one which painted in gold color. It is right on the beach road. The traffic woke me up everyday as early as 8 in the morning. Services were no good.

 

I just stayed in Baraquuda last month. The rooms are being renovated. Some like the room design but some don't.

 

If you go for Baraquda, please let us know if they renovated the rooms well or not.

[ShaneFalco]

Sorry, cant help you on this one. People in my paygrade are not even allowed to look at these hotels

 

Your 6-day budget get me 3-4 weeks in a junior suite in Jomtien....so of course i am not jealous

[patman]

Never heard of Baraquda before.  I just looked it up.  Looks nice.  Is it guest friendly?

 

I usually stay at the LK Empress.  I like the hotel. Good pool, great location, I usually get a beach front room.   As someone already mentioned, the furniture is cheapo with gold paint, the beach front rooms get noise from the traffic, but not close to any bars so no bar noise.  Breakfast is OK, but could be better.  The rooms are a good size.

[matrix123]

Never heard of Baraquda before. I just looked it up. Looks nice. Is it guest friendly?

 

I usually stay at the LK Empress. I like the hotel. Good pool, great location, I usually get a beach front room. As someone already mentioned, the furniture is cheapo with gold paint, the beach front rooms get noise from the traffic, but not close to any bars so no bar noise. Breakfast is OK, but could be better. The rooms are a good size.

It is girl friendly. Before, the hotel was called Dusit D2 (under Dusit chain). You might heard that name before. A few months ago, the hotel has a new management (Accor).

[boxershrimp]

It's girl friendly, all right. Be aware that the cutest girl in reception sometimes works night shift, so she can be the one to take ID. I'm not really bothered by the so called walk of shame normally, but that I thought was a little against the rules. They should put a grumpy older guy behind the desk instead, like it's supposed to be

 

Out of your choices, I only have experience with LK The Empress and Baraquda, and out of those I'd go with Baraquda. The Empress is a little too tacky for my taste. All that gold paint everywhere hurts my oh so delicate sensibilities.

[slalom]

Thanks for your feedback guys, Looks like it's going to be Baraquda, I quite like the idea of turning up with my TG for the evening and her checking in with her ID to the cute girl on reception. I'll have a broad smile on my face and give her a cheeky wink

[CPC]

I've stayed at The Empress plenty of times now.  In fact I was there again just before Christmas.  I'm now considering finding an alternate hotel for my trips.  I booked a jacuzzi suite for the bit of extra space and comfort.  When I arrived I got a "jacuzzi" suite near the room service rooms.  It was tiny and terrible.  It was the smallest room I've ever stayed in.  Smaller than the average rooms and it cost extra.  When I complained they said they were full and couldn't move me.  They wouldn't even "downgrade" me to a larger standard room.  I was pissed.  Then I found out my room didn't have wifi.  It was in a black spot.  The paint was coming off some of the walls in the bathroom and the shower head was fucked.  Then there was the usual issues with no hot water etc.

 

I'd love to find a 5 star hotel in a similar spot on Beach Rd.  Preferably closer to WS.  Baraquda on 2nd road is too far out for me lol.

[boxershrimp]

I'd love to find a 5 star hotel in a similar spot on Beach Rd.  Preferably closer to WS.  Baraquda on 2nd road is too far out for me lol.

Have you looked at a map of Pattaya recently? The distance to WS is pretty much identical for Baraquda and The Empress.

 

As for 5 star and slightly closer, that would be the Marriott. (You might not like the prices there much, though.)

[Bitchslap]

Stayed at LK Empress several times and it depends on the room and the cost.

 

First time was in a Pool side jacuzzi and was not to worth the money. Last time was in absolute beach front in room 1502. No jacuzzi but a massive balcony which was a great way to start the night seeing beach road come alive. Would invite several BM's to start the night there before going heading out. I got the room for 3200 bath per night which would get me the cheapest room at the Marriott with no view. 

 

If I could get it again I would stay again but that was in September. Next trip I am staying in VT6 as I like many girl to rub me down in oil and cover me with hot chillies...

[thinkingallowed]

How have you provisionally booked these hotels?

All are available on booking.com to do this.

[LOTTELLEE WINNA]

Of the three, only ever stayed at the Empress. Stayed there twice and really enjoyed it. Best room in terms of value and lack of noise is the standard room - request overlooking side soi (11 or 12/1?)...the standard rooms at the rear of the building have a view over wasteland, the ones overlooking soi 11 or 12/1 have a "side-sea view' and little traffic noise.

 

A really good hotel, nice pool good rooms, super clean, handy for WS and very customer friendly staff - would thoroughly recommend it.

[QuotaMan]

It is girl friendly. Before, the hotel was called Dusit D2 (under Dusit chain). You might heard that name before. A few months ago, the hotel has a new management (Accor).

 

Ahh, I was wondering what happened to the D2 name.

[boxershrimp]

One thing one maybe should mention about Baraquda is that the pool (which is quite nice) only has direct sunlight early in the day. So if you're the kind who likes to lie around and fry like an egg, and you don't get up until way into the afternoon, then Baraquda would be a bad choice.

[mercutio]

Staying at the Empress right now in a seaview room.Good and bad in equal measure i guess.

I wouldnt say the room is shabby,but the term "tacky"would describe it best.Not at all to my taste,but maybe the predominantly russian guest here like it?But other than that the rooms are ok,maybe not 4 star ok,but ok.Good pressure in the shower,toilet that needs to be flushed twice and a balcony that you have to share with a large air con unit blowing hot air at you unless you turn it off before you go out there.

The pool also has its pros and cons.It has decent sun loungers and a gym right by it,but alas it doesnt get any sun until about 1:30 in the afternoon.

The buffet breakfast is ok and cant complain about it at all.But the room service in one respect could be improved by not delivering everything tightly wrapped in cling wrap.It just seems once again not quite 4 star.

The front desk staff and actually everybody who works front of house could not only use some training in customer relations,but for the most part could use personality implants.I have never so much as got a smile from anybody who works near reception and they are more often than not engaged with their phones.

The guy that somtimes stands near the door seems to do just that.I returned yesterday with both hands full of shopping bags and he just stood their as i utilised my ass to open the door.

The glaring exception to this rule is both the restaurant staff and the cleaners.They both are always cheerful and helpful,

Would i stay here again?Well it is positioned well,and i guess most of my complaints are just nit picking.But then again their are quite a few nits.I guess it will depend on what deals are on offer when i return each month(doing the dental thing,so i will be spending one week out of 5 here for the next six months or so...yeh,SHITLOADS of that dental thing!)

Oh and whilst i am on the subject just a quick little mention here for Hollywood smile.Not only pain free so far,and that includes a couple of extractions,but also pain free on the wallet ...oh and not to mention one of the cutest dentist ive ever had the pleasure of recieving a needle from )