Acqua Hotel "Big Room" Executive Deluxe

[Garzan]

Acqua hotel, Executive Deluxe
http://www.acquahotelpattaya.com/index.php
 

Overview:
Now that I've been here a couple of nights, I really like this hotel. The room, the staff, the amenities are all quite good. But, there is an associated cost with that. At 2600b, this is also the most expensive room I've stayed at in Pattaya. My normal rooms are in the 1000b-1500b range. However, since I am making a short trip, the expense has been worthwhile to me.

 

Location:
It's easier to say the hotel is on Soi Honey / Soi 11, but it's actually on Second Rd-Soi 10. Access on Soi Honey is via the Honey Body massage parking lot. If you were to draw a box from the beach to Third Road, and from Pattaya Tai (south) to Pattaya Klang (central), the hotel would be pretty well centered. Easy access to almost anywhere in Central Pattaya via Baht Bus, and when I walked to Walking Street, it only took a few minutes.

Soi Honey is a sort of specialist area for 'sexy massage', so while it's fine for solo or adventurous couples, I personally would not consider it a family friendly location. There are better areas to stay if you're on holiday with the family.

 

Room:
For the hotels I stay in, I'd call the Executive Deluxe room 'spacious'. For someone who ends up spending a fair amount of time actually in the room, I found it a very comfortable room. I don't think I'd have enjoyed the standard room, and at 2200b, even as nice as the hotel is, it would not be worth it to me. 2600b for the bigger room was entirely worth it to me, though sadly, my holiday budget won't allow me to enjoy this level of luxury all that often.

As has been mentioned in other reviews, besides the two free waters, a free juice, Coke, Sprite, and soda water are also included. A large size hot water pot comes with the room for making your own coffee or tea.

The bathroom includes a solo glass walled shower stall, and there is a seperate bathtub with a huge window to the outside world. Not being much of a handsome man, I kept the window shade closed. I'm sure there were people in the InTown hotel directly across the alleyway who appreciated the consideration.

While the room is a no smoking / no vaping room, there is an outside balcony with a table and single chair. The sign on the inside door labels it as a smoking area.
I found the room to be amazingly quiet for Pattaya. The Exec Deluxe room is on the far end from the elevator, and there is a stairwell across the hallway from the room, meaning foot traffic by your door is almost non-existant. The head of the bed is on the external wall, so you have the full length of the room, plus the bathroom (with closable door) to isolate you from the next room. About the only sounds are normal daytime noises, and since the hotel is really on Soi 10, a deadend Soi, there's not a lot of daytime noise either.

One bonus to the Exec Suite, due in part to the extra floor space, there's a big comfortable "man chair" in front of the large flat screen TV. The TV has easily accessible USB and HDMI ports in case you bring your own programming on a USB stick, or some HDMI TV device. The pillow-top cushion on the foot stool is removable (can easily go on the floor in front of the chair). Your imagination can wander about the possibilities of that.

I normally just use the data plan on my phone for any internet needs, but this time I connected to the hotel wifi for my laptop. I did not run a speed test on the connection, but it was plenty fast to torrent a US television show in a reasonably short time, and play my online computer game. Normal web browsing was equally responsive.

Cleanliness:
Absolutely spotless. It's a brand new, just opened hotel. Everything is sparkling clean and shiny new. 

 

Facilities:
There are two buildings to the Acqua hotel, and sadly they are not connected by a sky bridge. The West Building (Second Road side) has the restaurant, fitness room, sauna, sun deck, swimming pool, and bar. Room numbers for the West wing start with "1" and even number rooms are on the north side.

The East Building (Soi Buakhao side) is where the rooftop lounge, Internet Cafe, and off street scooter parking are. Room numbers in the East wing start with "2". If you have a room on the East side, you'll probably find yourself walking across to the West building at least for breakfast if not for all the other facilities that are all in the West side.

Breakfast:
So far, this hotel has the best breakfast buffet I've been to in Pattaya. There's a good selection of but Thai and Western breakfast selections. There is a chef doing fresh cooked eggs to order. As a special treat, rather than the typical coffee urn, or pot, there was a single serving coffee machine. Latte, cappucino, Americano, hot chocolate are all just a button push away.  

Customer Service:
Staff were all very attentive and efficient. I even got recognised and welcomed from all my stays at their sister hotel. 

Cost:
The Executive Deluxe is 2600b, the Standard is 2200b. I was told the current promotion is 10% off for over three nights, and 15% off for over seven nights. Breakfast for two is included in the cost of the room.

Overview:
I really like this hotel. While I can easily afford it, and wouldn't think twice about a similar cost in an American hotel (with half the quality), staying here will probably only be a special treat. For big rooms, I prefer the layout of Acqua over 247. For standard rooms, I'd stick with 247. It's a shame not to be able to get the Acqua breakfast with a 247 stay. That would really be the best of both. If you're closely watching your holiday budget, and you only use the room to sleep, this may not be the right place. But if you're the type to say 'screw it, I'm on holiday', or you spend some time relaxing in the room, this place is definately a treat. Not thinking about the room rate, this place is easily my most enjoyable stay so far in Pattaya.

Facilities 360 Photos - https://photos.app.goo.gl/M8CYinvkkHUnh1ul2 (and a surprise to me, an included "selfie".)
Room 360 Photos - https://photos.app.goo.gl/mILkDhHPYHE6UCOh1

 

From the parking area of Honey Body massage, the parking lot signage, and hotel main lobby.

 

The view from my breakfast table. Thankfully the food is far superior to the view. :-)

 

The bonus chair in the Executive Deluxe. Directly in front of that chair is a large flat screen TV, and the cushion on the foot stool is removable. All sorts of thoughts popped into my head when I first viewed the room. 555

[neilri2001]

With luck you might be able to get the executive room at a better rate in quieter periods as the standard rooms have been as low as 1600 at times. At 2000 it would probably be my first choice but its the wrong side of second Rd for 2600.

Thanks for the review by the way

[LOTTELLEE WINNA]

Quality review Mr G, first class, you have absolutely nailed it. Glad you metion the breakfasts...simply outstanding.

[Stefano88]

Great review! So much so that I will stay there on my next trip.

[chirockr]

Great review! Worth a look most definitley. Thanks for the heads up.

[sadisfied]

Wow, what a super review! The room looks great and I'm always looking for a quiet place.

How many floors does the hotel have and on which floor was your room?

[Garzan]

3 hours ago, sadisfied said:

Wow, what a super review! The room looks great and I'm always looking for a quiet place.

How many floors does the hotel have and on which floor was your room?

I'm American, so the ground floor and first floor are the same for me*. Floors 2-6 are guest rooms. Floor 7 is the rooftop. The room I stayed on is on floor 5.

*It always takes me a minute or so when an English friend talks about the first floor verses the ground floor. :-)

[Fufu308]

great review, especially the 360 photos as the hotel 'stock' photos i find can be a little misleading.  You have definately provided me with some food for thought.

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[Ek77fl]

Thanks for the great review and info!! 

[peleblanco]

Hi

Great review. It seems to be a great hotel with good services. 

One further question: wifi and ethernet available in your room? only wifi? @Garzan just wrote that speed is good, but enough to work remotely?

About the room, you reserved an executive deluxe, but there are only 5 available in the hotel. How did you reserve it? It says that in oct there is no executive deluxe left... Is it possible?

Thanks

[Garzan]

There was only wifi that I saw, but to be honest, I was not looking for an ethernet cable. The East Building says on signage that it has an Internet Café, perhaps there are ethernet outlets there. 

If rooms don't show up on booking agent sites, I'd go directly to the hotel webpage. I think the most sure route would be to send an email directly to the hotel and ask about the dates you are looking for.

And with only five rooms, yes, it's certainly possible that at some point during your planned stay, they had no E.Deluxe available, which would cause them to say the entire trip was unavailable. Best to ask directly. Good luck!

 

[Expediter]

Thank you so much for the review.  I was looking for something a bit nicer than areca in the same area.  Main issue was the showers in areca and the lack of a standing shower.   Seeing this room clicks all the boxes and the hotel seems very modern and now I'm really thinking areca is dated.    So happy for this review thank you so much.    For the review. 

 

 

[peleblanco]

Thanks for the reply! Surely I will ask directly to the hotel for executive rooms available.

Thx!!!

[striderman]

[railroadme]

Great review thanks - I am guessing it goes without saying, but guest friendly and no issues?

[toonboy]

Yep.

[Garzan]

8 hours ago, railroadme said:

Great review thanks - I am guessing it goes without saying, but guest friendly and no issues?

I can't really think of anywhere that isn't. :-) I did not test having multiple guests at the same time, but for single guests there were zero issues. If you're not waiting in the lobby for your guest, they will call up and pre-approve your guest getting into the elevator/lift. When your guest leaves, if you don't walk them to the lobby, they will call up to the room to verify everything is alright before releasing your guest's ID. 

[j_d66]

Stayed here for 5 nights the end of April beginning of May.

Very impressed with the place and little to no complaints

I was in their smallest rooms and while there is not alot of free space I did not find them to cramped for my tastes.

The brown chair pictured above is also in the small rooms and it really is to big for the space

Great walk in shower

The bed was super soft and comfortable which is probably the most important part of a room for me.

You get the standard 2 bottles of water daily but they also give you a can of coke and a can of sprite, OJ and soda water daily as well for free.

Wifi worked great for me and was probably the best of any hotel i have stayed at in Pattaya

The staff was super friendly and courteous and the breakfast buffet was above average.

I was in the front building on the 5th floor facing honey massage and did not notice any noise at all

Since it is on the dead end side of soi 10/1 there is very little traffic

I would stay here again for sure as long as pricing remains reasonable

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Thaifix]

Thanks Garzan for a great review. I can't say i was even aware of Acqua but will put it on the consideration list now.

[wildhorse]

Speed test at Aqua in the Executive room was 142 Mbps. Probably the fastest that I’ve ever seen, even back in my home country. Stayed for 14 days, rate was 2210 per day. Very nice place.

[wildhorse]

Just some comments about their rooftop pool.

Just a bit of a rant I guess.

It seems to me that a lot of pools at Thailand hotels always seem to have either a black or dark border around the pool itself. I’m sure many a person has gotten their feet burnt walking to the pool or arms burnt climbing out.

Myself, I bought pool shoes years back because of a pool that had sharp gravel around the perimeter of their pool. I just wonder if there is such little thought that goes into planning, how structurally sound these pools are? At times I wonder if the pool walls will give way and someone will be swept off a building.

im not sure what their building codes are for the pool areas, but at this one, the unshaded sitting area can only be got to by either going through a jetted tub area and then down a hot aluminum ladder or walk along some tile 10” wide, being careful not to fall 10’ below onto concrete stairs.

Even the stairs to climb out of the pool seem like a hazard. The pool is 4 to 5 ft. deep and they put  2 stairs spaced about 4” apart , the first step being over 3 ft up. I can see a larger person climbing out and the stairs giving away causing significant injury.

sorry for the rant, it just seems weird, this being a new hotel and all. Back in Canada, this pool would have never passed inspection and would not be open.

It is a nice hotel though, just be a little weary of the rooftop area.

[LOTTELLEE WINNA]

4 hours ago, wildhorse said:

Just some comments about their rooftop pool.

Just a bit of a rant I guess.

It seems to me that a lot of pools at Thailand hotels always seem to have either a black or dark border around the pool itself. I’m sure many a person has gotten their feet burnt walking to the pool or arms burnt climbing out.

Myself, I bought pool shoes years back because of a pool that had sharp gravel around the perimeter of their pool. I just wonder if there is such little thought that goes into planning, how structurally sound these pools are? At times I wonder if the pool walls will give way and someone will be swept off a building.

im not sure what their building codes are for the pool areas, but at this one, the unshaded sitting area can only be got to by either going through a jetted tub area and then down a hot aluminum ladder or walk along some tile 10” wide, being careful not to fall 10’ below onto concrete stairs.

Even the stairs to climb out of the pool seem like a hazard. The pool is 4 to 5 ft. deep and they put  2 stairs spaced about 4” apart , the first step being over 3 ft up. I can see a larger person climbing out and the stairs giving away causing significant injury.

sorry for the rant, it just seems weird, this being a new hotel and all. Back in Canada, this pool would have never passed inspection and would not be open.

It is a nice hotel though, just be a little weary of the rooftop area.

Have you been to the bar area on the adjoining part of the Acqua hotel? Wowww, I went up to this very chic and trendily/dimly lit bar area for the first time one evening. Guess what,  I almost walked straight into this (switched off) fountain/water area...the waiter pulled me back. He said, 'happen all the time'...WTF?

[wildhorse]

2 hours ago, LOTTELLEE WINNA said:

Have you been to the bar area on the adjoining part of the Acqua Hotel? Wowww, I went up to this very chic and trendily/dimly lit bar area for the first time one evening. Guess what,  I almost walked straight into this (switched off) fountain/water area...the waiter pulled me back. He said, 'happen all the time'...WTF?

I assume you’re talking about the bar on the roof of the second building. No I never did go there but I’m sure there are a few hazards over on that roof as well. Almost seems like the roof areas were an afterthought and thrown together haphazardly.

[6853395]

On 02/04/2018 at 21:10, Garzan said:

the Executive Deluxe room 'spacious'.

I'm on hotels.com - it seems to only list the Superior Room as booking options.

I'm thinking of just booking the Superior Room, but with a Special Request for the Executive Deluxe, or upgrading with cash once there.

[j_d66]

4 hours ago, 6853395 said:

I'm on hotels.com - it seems to only list the Superior Room as booking options.

I'm thinking of just booking the Superior Room, but with a Special Request for the Executive Deluxe, or upgrading with cash once there.

You might want to check on their website directly as well.

They have a pretty good promotion going on right now that might work out better than hotels.com depending on when you are staying