Pattaya Holiday Inn

[phenixr]

A brief review. Staying here because it is an IHG (International hotel Group) facility. The only other one, I believe is the Intercontinental. The Holiday Inn Pattaya is two self contained towers that could easily become two separate hotels if they wanted in future. As  a matter of fact, the actual buildings being managed as the hotel by Holiday Inn may well be separately owned. I'm intimately familiar with the Executive Tower which is the tower further away from Beach road but has one side facing the beach. On the higher floors the view is quite impressive. It is a modern hotel with well presented rooms and facilities. It is most certainly a 5 star hotel that would compete very well in North America. The room I have is the standard facing the bay on the 17th floor with a clear view of the beach. Very well furnished and presented with a large bathroom. The A/C, I find most pleasing as it has a very low pitched hiss even at the highest fan speed. I have always found loud A/C units most annoying. It cools the room rapidly. They will let you control your A/C fully: meaning you could be out of the room with your key and leave the A/C on. They have 24 hr room service, a large infinity pool on the 6th floor and a gym to name a few. Another impressive feature is that it is located on the north end of Beach Rd. in a quiet enclave of hotels with hardly any foot traffic and hence secluded. I can hardly sleep in noisy neighborhoods.

I'm visiting alone but chose to book a double occupancy. They respect this and ask that I register any overnight guests. I have chosen to avoid the walk of shame on several occasions by using an alternate entrance when it is not locked. The side entrance is locked at some late hour but when I return to the hotel with a friend and it is open I choose to use that entrance as I can walk up to the elevators and not have to register my guest. Come to think of it, I suspect you could walk right past the front desk with your guest and they wouldn't ask. Can't explain this one in a short discussion but I have concluded thus. In any case, the elevators are access controlled by your room key which gives you access to just your floor and certain common areas. No one would wonder to the guest areas uninvited. Now, the other tower does not have such a discreet entrance. So I'd ask for this tower if this were important. If booking as an IHG member you're likely to end up in the Executive Tower anyway.

At this point, I must say I have an issue with the star rating system that seems not to be truly standard after all. There are other Pattaya hotels rated on lots of review sites similar to the Holiday Inn. I have stayed at one, that may actually be rated higher but is, in my opinion, inferior. So, if it helps my 5 star rating, is based on the generally accepted system in North America. At the same time there are hotels within the 5 star rating that are ultra luxury posh hotels such as the Marriott Marquee in Washington DC and similar such hotels around the world that are a world above other 5 star hotels. The Holiday Inn Pattaya is not one of them.

[elmo12]

This is great info thank you. I decided to book here partly based on this review. I did decide to book the other tower. Although I am an IHG member, I have no real status with them. Any other pointers you wish to share. Which pool did you prefer. I assume you can use either regardless of which tower you are in. I agree with your comment on 5 stars. They are a bit looser than in the  US 

[Doublefun]

I am going to Pattaya early next month and I'm considering Holiday Inn as an option.

How difficult is it to get to the centre of action?

Did you ever take more than 1 guest to your room? Do you know what the deal is in that case? 

[Luv2Phuket]

I was always very happy at the Holiday Inn, although I was bummed when they bumped the annual points required per night from 15,000 to 25,000.  Just not a great "value" at 25,000 points per night (even though I have a buttload of IHG points).

It is a bit of haul from Walking Street, since it is at the far end of the Second Road/Beach Road "loop," so it can take a little while to get home on the baht bus (I don't do moto-taxis).  That said, it's not TOO hard to catch a baht bus from there, as some swing around and come back down Beach Road right by it.  Still, not near as busy as say the Hilton, which always seems to have baht buses.

If you are staying in the back tower (Executive Tower), I think it is just as easy, if not easier, to get off of the baht bus by the 7-11 on Second Road by the Ibis Hotel and walk down the driveway to the back tower.

I have brought back multiple girls on multiple occasions with no hassles.

If you live in the USA and have decent (not necessarily great) credit, strongly consider getting the Chase IHG credit card BEFORE you go.  Lots of bonus points for using it to pay (no foreign transaction fees) and it gets you immediate Platinum status with IHG.  On occasion, that has gotten me an upgraded room, but not always.  I think it does score you free breakfast and I think you're supposed to get lounge access (but not certain). 

Best "perk" is you get a free night certificate (good at ANY IHG property) that more than offsets the $49 annual fee. 

I used my free night certificate from last year for a room at the InterContinental in Century City and got upgraded to a suite.  While I wouldn't have stayed there without the certificate, it would've set me back about $350 if I had paid (and it gave me a nice spot for a meeting with my ATF, partially "retired" escort).  If I go back to Pattaya anytime soon, I may use my certificate for this year at the InterContinental.  It's isolated, but I freakin' love the place.  I have used it in past years at the InterContinental in Bangkok, too, which is another beautiful hotel.

Hope all of that helps!

[yugot]

55 minutes ago, Luv2Phuket said:

On occasion, that has gotten me an upgraded room, but not always.  I think it does score you free breakfast and I think you're supposed to get lounge access (but not certain). 

I'm Spire elite and booking on points the last couple years I've gotten the "upgrade" to a front corner suite in the executive tower. No free breakfast or lounge offered though. Is the executive building supposed to be better? Because a few years ago it'd get me a high room in the front tower and the view was way nicer, even if not a corner. Annoying check-in process also because on points it's not clear at all which tower you're booking for, and I guess with my naive hope I continue to first visit the front tower only to be redirected to the back for my "upgrade".

[slashlarue]

Is the Executive Tower the one with the. “Private entrance?” 

[Morganz187]

Booked for 8 nights at Xmas ocean view not sure what building though .....


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[KingMidas]

Thanks for the review but I almost fell on the floor laughing so hard when I read Holiday Inn 5 star LOL.

Don't get out much eh?

[Candy77]

Thanks for the review. This is very helpful. I'm a Platinum member but will be moving to Spire pretty soon, only 10000 points away. I am staying here in my next trip and booked with points. I wasn't sure how girl friendly they are and they have a early departure penalty so instead of booking all the nights together I booked in theee blocks of a few nights each. That way I can cancel subsequent stats and change hotels if I'm not happy after the first few nights.

The room I've got in King Room with Ocean view. Which tower is this in? If I don't get an upgrade and stay in this room is it worth it at 25000 points a night?

[Luv2Phuket]

7 hours ago, Candy77 said:

Thanks for the review. This is very helpful. I'm a Platinum member but will be moving to Spire pretty soon, only 10000 points away. I am staying here in my next trip and booked with points. I wasn't sure how girl friendly they are and they have a early departure penalty so instead of booking all the nights together I booked in theee blocks of a few nights each. That way I can cancel subsequent stats and change hotels if I'm not happy after the first few nights.

The room I've got in King Room with Ocean view. Which tower is this in? If I don't get an upgrade and stay in this room is it worth it at 25000 points a night?

That's a call that only you can answer.

Because I read (TOO many!) frequent flier blogs, I have come to value IHG points at about .5 or .6 cents each (so .005 or .006).  You can often acquire them for that amount, so tough to value them for more.

At .005, the 25,000 points would equate to a rate of $125 per night, while the rate is $150 at .006.  You can probably beat that rate online (must be fully refundable rate to compare apples to apples).

BUT you can get a 10% rebate on redemptions if you have the Chase IHG card (or are an IHG Ambassador - I have the card and am an IHG Ambassador).  That takes it down to 22,500 points per night or an effective rate of $112.50 to $135, depending on where you value IHG points.  At THOSE rates, I think they are DEFINITELY competitive with (if not a far better deal than) a fully refundable rate, especially during high season.

I have been going back to the InterContinental in PhraTamnak time and again, because I really love it and I get a guaranteed upgrade due to Ambassador status.  If I planned it right this time (no telling until I arrive!), I should get upgraded to a room that costs about $100 more per night.  VERY inconvenient location, but I'm starting to figure out how to work around it. 

Now that I have realized I get the 10% rebate, the HI may start to come back into play for me.

[Candy77]

8 hours ago, Luv2Phuket said:

That's a call that only you can answer.

Because I read (TOO many!) frequent flier blogs, I have come to value IHG points at about .5 or .6 cents each (so .005 or .006).  You can often acquire them for that amount, so tough to value them for more.

At .005, the 25,000 points would equate to a rate of $125 per night, while the rate is $150 at .006.  You can probably beat that rate online (must be fully refundable rate to compare apples to apples).

BUT you can get a 10% rebate on redemptions if you have the Chase IHG card (or are an IHG Ambassador - I have the card and am an IHG Ambassador).  That takes it down to 22,500 points per night or an effective rate of $112.50 to $135, depending on where you value IHG points.  At THOSE rates, I think they are DEFINITELY competitive with (if not a far better deal than) a fully refundable rate, especially during high season.

I have been going back to the InterContinental in PhraTamnak time and again, because I really love it and I get a guaranteed upgrade due to Ambassador status.  If I planned it right this time (no telling until I arrive!), I should get upgraded to a room that costs about $100 more per night.  VERY inconvenient location, but I'm starting to figure out how to work around it. 

Now that I have realized I get the 10% rebate, the HI may start to come back into play for me.

Let me rephrase the question based on your insights. Can anyone who stayed in this Kings Room with Ocean View confirm if it's good enough for $125-$150 per night?

I guess you only benefit from the Ambassador status in InterContinental hotels and not in other IHG hotels like Holiday Inn. Is that true? How is Ambassador more beneficial than Spire? Spire offers a guaranteed room upgrade as well.

[Luv2Phuket]

3 hours ago, Candy77 said:

Let me rephrase the question based on your insights. Can anyone who stayed in this Kings Room with Ocean View confirm if it's good enough for $125-$150 per night?

I guess you only benefit from the Ambassador status in InterContinental hotels and not in other IHG hotels like Holiday Inn. Is that true? How is Ambassador more beneficial than Spire? Spire offers a guaranteed room upgrade as well.

I would think Spire is better if it gets you auto upgrades at all IHG properties.  My understanding is that Ambassador status only gets me guaranteed upgrades at InterContinental hotels.

That said, Ambassador status is simply a purchased option -- no minimum # of stays required.  You get a buy one/get one free certificate good for any InterContinental, the auto upgrades and some points (I think 10,000?).  

If you have Spire, I would think that Ambassador is redundant and not worth the $$$, although the BOGO certificate saved me nice coin on a Venetian stay last year, and typically more than covers the annual fee. 

As for the Holiday Inn, I haven't stayed there since Feb. 2016, but I was always very happy with the King room, ocean view.  As I recall, they upgraded me to the Executive (back) Tower, but I never got upgraded to a corner room, suite, etc. (while I was IHG Platinum, I was NOT Ambassador during any of those stays).  I always got lounge access IIRC, and enjoyed it -- some nice appetizers in the evenings and breakfast in the a.m., as I recall.  Pattaya offers some good breakfast deals, but I've never found one that beats "free"!  555

I should add that the staff at the Holiday Inn was always GREAT when I stayed there, too.  I was staying there when I split my head open in an accident.  They kept bringing me fruit plates and arranged for the hotel limo to take me to follow-up Dr. visits free of charge.  Literally every employee seemed to know my name and what had happened, and they always asked how I was doing.  I wrote Holiday Inn here in the USA when I got back and told them that they should send employees over there to learn how to take care of guests.

If the Sheraton hadn't re-branded as an InterContinental, I am certain that I would spend far more of my trips at the Holiday Inn.  

[Candy77]

1 hour ago, Luv2Phuket said:

I should add that the staff at the Holiday Inn was always GREAT when I stayed there, to.  I wrote Holiday Inn here in the USA when I got back and told them that they should send employees over there to learn how to take care of guests.

Couldn't agree more on the US part. They are so pathetic. Most don't even smile properly when they greet you. Despite the fact that they expect a tip for every thing.

[AsiaSmiles]

Wish I had seen this post sooner. Been staying at this fine hotel for a few years when in Pattya, but skipped it in fall of 2017 because my feelings are there is good value for money spent elsewhere.

 

But I've posted some reviews with pictures of the King Suite at the Holiday Inn Pattaya and also the Intercontinental. Both are top notch hotels and especially nice if part of the free annual night or with points.

 

Personally prefer the older building high floors because the views are awesome.

 

I'm leaning towards using my IHG points elsewhere like Bangkok since the properties are more conveniently located and the value seems to be reasonable. Look for some of my posts for more details.

 

http:// http://www.pattaya-addicts.com/forum/applications/tapatalk/index.php?/topic/293385-Holiday-Inn-Pattaya---King-Suite#entry3575953

 

 

http://www.pattaya-addicts.com/forum/applications/tapatalk/index.php?/topic/315511-Intercontinental-Hotel-Pattaya&do=findComment&comment=4101137

 

 

 

 

Sent from my SM-T580 using Tapatalk

 

 

 

 

[soi16]

Op. Could you try the rooftop bar when there are happy hours. At the Hilton, it is between 5pm and 7pm about 370b for two specific drinks.

Times and drink menus was appreciated.

Thanks!

 

[Luv2Phuket]

Just a little follow-up on the InterContinental, since I stayed there in November.  It IS a bit of a pain in the ass because it's so far from everything, but this was -- by far -- the nicest room that I have ever had in Pattaya.  Photo of the view from my windows below - it was a massive room, with private "sala".

I was so happy with my room there in November that I just booked my February trip and booked all 9 nights there (4 will be free using points, Ambassador annual free night and rebate from my credit card).  I could have set it up so that it was 5 free nights out of 9, but, because of jacked up rates for Chinese New Year, the difference in the total cost would have saved me only about $110 total -- didn't seem worth it to use another 35,000 IHG points to save that little.

I usually split my time between 2 hotels, but finally figured out how to use their shuttle bus schedule to my advantage, so it wasn't that bad.  I don't think I'll get bumped up to this same level room, but should get at least a poolside room that has a large deck (and I LOVE the pools there).  Plus, I have a crappy 11:30 p.m. departure from BKK, so my guaranteed 4 p.m. checkout will help (gonna beg and plead with them to give me until at least 6 p.m. though! 555)

 

 

[Candy77]

2 hours ago, AsiaSmiles said:

Wish I had seen this post sooner. Been staying at this fine hotel for a few years when in Pattya, but skipped it in fall of 2017 because my feelings are there is good value for money spent elsewhere.

 

But I've posted some reviews with pictures of the King Suite at the Holiday Inn Pattaya and also the Intercontinental. Both are top notch hotels and especially nice if part of the free annual night or with points.

 

Personally prefer the older building high floors because the views are awesome.

 

I'm leaning towards using my IHG points elsewhere like Bangkok since the properties are more conveniently located and the value seems to be reasonable. Look for some of my posts for more details.

 

http:// http://www.pattaya-addicts.com/forum/applications/tapatalk/index.php?/topic/293385-Holiday-Inn-Pattaya---King-Suite#entry3575953

 

 

http://www.pattaya-addicts.com/forum/applications/tapatalk/index.php?/topic/315511-Intercontinental-Hotel-Pattaya&do=findComment&comment=4101137

 

 

 

 

Sent from my SM-T580 using Tapatalk

 

 

 

 

Did you book the King suite with reward points? I've booked an Ocean view Kings Room for my next trip. Costs me 25000 points per night.

[AsiaSmiles]

11 hours ago, Candy77 said:

Did you book the King suite with reward points? I've booked an Ocean view Kings Room for my next trip. Costs me 25000 points per night.

No. Can't book the King's Suite with points. Not that I am aware of.

The room you get with points is usually the most economical room the hotel chain is willing to give up as they would prefer to sell the more desirable rooms to paying customers.

That is why I recommend using the points and cash option, for a little more leverage perhaps, and choice of better rooms.

What happened in this particular visit was that I complained that my request to NOT be in the Executive Tower was not honored. As mentioned before the rooms in the front and older building has better views.

I think I just got lucky as this particular visit the hotel was packed with guests, Songkran week. I don't think anyone had booked that pricey 1 bedroom suite, so the management found an opportunity to make a Platinum, 5 year repeat guest, high point accumulation year guest happy. I had been doing a lot of traveling and using IHG primarily the previous year.  So they gave me that fancy room, and likely sold the economy room to the next requesting guest.

The Holiday Inn Pattaya is definitely in line with most Holiday Inns in Asia. They are usually well maintained and staff attentive and accommodating.

Very few if any Holiday Inns in North America come even close to this level of service.

 

 

 

 

 

[Luv2Phuket]

3 hours ago, AsiaSmiles said:

No. Can't book the King's Suite with points. Not that I am aware of.

The room you get with points is usually the most economical room the hotel chain is willing to give up as they would prefer to sell the more desirable rooms to paying customers.

That is why I recommend using the points and cash option, for a little more leverage perhaps, and choice of better rooms.

What happened in this particular visit was that I complained that my request to NOT be in the Executive Tower was not honored. As mentioned before the rooms in the front and older building has better views.

I think I just got lucky as this particular visit the hotel was packed with guests, Songkran week. I don't think anyone had booked that pricey 1 bedroom suite, so the management found an opportunity to make a Platinum, 5 year repeat guest, high point accumulation year guest happy. I had been doing a lot of traveling and using IHG primarily the previous year.  So they gave me that fancy room, and likely sold the economy room to the next requesting guest.

The Holiday Inn Pattaya is definitely in line with most Holiday Inns in Asia. They are usually well maintained and staff attentive and accommodating.

Very few if any Holiday Inns in North America come even close to this level of service.

 

"Points and cash" doesn't work like that.  Basically, with points and cash, the additional amount that you kick in is used to "buy" points, and your account is then debited for the full number of points.

By way of example, the Holiday Inn in Pattaya is 25,000 IHG points per night.  If you opt for points and cash and use 20,000 points + $40 USD, it would use the $40 to buy 5,000 IHG points, add the 5,000 IHG points to your account, then deduct 25,000 IHG points for the booking.

I just went through this exercise here, as I was trying to find a way to knock out multiple things for my "Accelerate" bonus.  I realized after I saw how it was applied that the points and cash would not qualify as a stay under that program, because it just shows as an award night.

In the example above, if you cancel the reservation, you do NOT get the $40 back -- it is a non-refundable purchase of the points -- but you DO get the full 25,000 points deposited back into your account.

The "workaround" that I am trying on my next trip at the InterContinental -- and that worked with my annual night certificate on my last trip -- is to pay for a room at the level that you want and hope that they will go ahead and link the reservations and not make you change rooms when the award night comes up (so the reward night gets you an upgraded room). 

On my last trip, the free night (which generally is not entitled to an upgrade, but instead must be booked at the lowest level room, as you noted) was my last night of a 5 night stay.  This trip, I have 4 paid nights, followed by 2 reward nights, followed by 3 nights using an Ambassador certificate (2nd night comped).  The paid nights and the Ambassador cert nights are booked as higher level rooms and should upgrade to poolside room or possibly sala room.  My hope is that the hotel leaves me in the same room for all 9 nights.

I think there are limits to this -- don't think they would let me do it if I paid for just one night, then used 8 reward nights...but it's worth a shot!

Also, because the rates at the Pattaya Holdiay Inn generally are pretty low (I think the 25,000 points per night is a poor "value"), points and cash can be a very poor "return" on your IHG points.  Again, by way of example, I pulled up a few random dates in January.  The best flexible rate (i.e., fully refundable) is around $142 USD.  Points and cash starts at 10,000 points + $99, so your 10,000 points only "saves" you $43, which is a "return" of .0043 (.43 cents) per point.  By comparison, you're spending $99 to effectively purchase 15,000 points, so you're paying .0066 (.66 cents) per point.  At 20,000 points + $40, you're paying .008 per point ($40 for 5,000 points), but you're "return" is only .0051 ($102 saved divided by the 20,000 points spent).  The 25,000 IHG points for the $142 room works out to .0057, which isn't that bad of a "return,' but still not great.  I try not to dwell on the math TOO much, though, as saving my cash for the girls while using points for my room works better for me mentally! 555

As for the comparison to Holiday Inns in North America, I called IHG here after a stay at the Pattaya Holiday Inn.  I had an accident (busted my head open), and they were incredibly accommodating - helped me to get to/from Dr. appts without any charge, sent fruit baskets to my room, EVERYONE seemed to know who I was and asked how I was doing, etc.  Just am AMAZING level of service -- like you would get at a place that the Waldorf Astoria here.  Back to my call - I told the IHG telephone customer service rep just how great the service was and said "you guys should send ALL of your trainees there to learn how to run a hotel!"

[Candy77]

11 hours ago, AsiaSmiles said:

No. Can't book the King's Suite with points. Not that I am aware of.

The room you get with points is usually the most economical room the hotel chain is willing to give up as they would prefer to sell the more desirable rooms to paying customers.

That is why I recommend using the points and cash option, for a little more leverage perhaps, and choice of better rooms.

What happened in this particular visit was that I complained that my request to NOT be in the Executive Tower was not honored. As mentioned before the rooms in the front and older building has better views.

I think I just got lucky as this particular visit the hotel was packed with guests, Songkran week. I don't think anyone had booked that pricey 1 bedroom suite, so the management found an opportunity to make a Platinum, 5 year repeat guest, high point accumulation year guest happy. I had been doing a lot of traveling and using IHG primarily the previous year.  So they gave me that fancy room, and likely sold the economy room to the next requesting guest.

The Holiday Inn Pattaya is definitely in line with most Holiday Inns in Asia. They are usually well maintained and staff attentive and accommodating.

Very few if any Holiday Inns in North America come even close to this level of service.

 

 

 

 

 

Thanks for all the info. I check all those boxes and a Spire Elite too so hoping against hope to get lucky like you.

[AsiaSmiles]

Agree, with all the post from Luv2Phuket, as learned this the hard way on one of my trips. The cash portion was not refunded on a cancellation I had due to a change in itinerary.

 

Also agree, perhaps the best Holiday Inn in Asia. Top notch attention.

 

On that note, I would encourage members not to be afraid of the walk of shame and take a girl to the front desk for an ID check. It is for your own protection and the staff is well aware of what town you are in.

 

Of course you may not want the girl to be wearing high heels and a school girl mini-skirt in the lobby.

 

[Luv2Phuket]

On 12/15/2017 at 06:28, AsiaSmiles said:

Of course you may not want the girl to be wearing high heels and a school girl mini-skirt in the lobby.

 

Agreed....however I would LOVE for her to be wearing that in my room! 5555

[Candy77]

So I dropped an email to HI Pattaya and these are some of the responses I'd like to share.

Regarding Access to Executive Lounge

"All members who purchase the Executive Club Access Rooms have access to the Executive Lounge, located at the Executive Tower. As a Platinum or Spire member, you will be upgraded to the next room category subject to availability. This would be a Superior Room that is also located at the Bay Tower. The programme does not include complimentary Executive Club Access for any level of members. Note that complimentary upgrades to the Executive Club Access Rooms also do not include club benefits. 

However, at our property we provide a special price of THB1000++ for club access (for 2 persons). This includes Breakfast (6-10.30am) and Cocktails (6-8pm) daily. There is also complimentary coffee/tea and selected non-alcoholic beverages available throughout the day."

Question is, is it worth 1000 Baht/ day

On Joiner Policy

"We do not have a joiner fee, however, we register all room sharers in all instances. 

We absolutely recommend that you register your joiner for your own safety and security. During this registration process, the ID of the joiner will be collected. The joiner can collect it from our security personnel as they leave."

[AsiaSmiles]

In my humble opinion access to the Executive Lounge at this property is NOT worth the additional 1000 Baht.

I don't even think they have an "Executive Lounge" but instead categorize "Executive Club" privilege as breakfast and free drinks at the pool bar. You probably will end up tipping the waiter or bartender during the free drinks.

That is approximately $30 USD for the privilege of having breakfast and getting cocktails for a few hours.

But this opinion is based on not really being a breakfast person, and not wanting to be focused on being in the Executive Tower between 6-8 PM. At that time in the evening I'm ether at the gym or hunting pussy.

If you really fancy the view from the Executive Tower, just buy a drink at the bar or hang out by the pool with water.

You can use the facilities at both building no matter what room you get, you just don't get "executive" privileges. 

There is nothing really spectacular about the Lounge at this property. Nothing you could not find elsewhere and Pattaya has just so many other options.

For a spectacular view, paying for cocktails at the Hilton may be a better option. 

Now at Holiday Inns at other locations, after a long day doing business, that may be a different story. But while in Pattaya, I don't see the value. My 2 cents.

 

[AsiaSmiles]

Oh, and I think they give you coupons for a free drink and discount at the lobby or street level bar. This is actually a nice perk.