Areca Lodge or somewhere else

[tobeornottobe]

Ive booked Areca Lodge for 10 nights end of feb/ start of march . Its 50 a night and I made sure I got a room with shower . I am just wondering if there are better options available. My other considerations are

 

1. Amethyst( looks like its too expensive now)

 

2. De bua ( cheaper tha Areca)

3. Blackwoods (more modern than Areca)

4. Arbour hotel(prob the best hotel on the list but location isnt as good)

[LeoTex]

What type of better options are you looking for to help answer your question?

[PGSTC776]

1.  Amethyst is much newer, nicer overall, better breakfast.  Areca is closer to LK, Tree Town, Central, etc (better location). 

2.  De Bua is newer, but the rooms are more spartan, and honestly I don't think it's as nice overall as Areca.  Not as well located as Areca.

3.  Blackwoods is similar to Amethyst quality wise.  Super fast wifi, awesome staff; the problem is the location at the top of Soi 7 isn't really very good for frequent trips to LK/Tree Town etc.

4. Arbour is indeed a nice hotel, but you're right the location is atrocious if you're looking to spend time where the action is.

 

For as much as I gripe about how bad the wifi is at Areca it is in fact one of my favorite places to stay at when I'm in town.  The location is absolutely perfect for most of what I tend to do in Pattaya.  It really comes down to the areas and eateries that you like to fequent; being able to walk to everything is really convenient. 

[mark joseph123]

amethyst would be my first choice  but areca is a good all rounder can’t go wrong 

[wallywest]

11 hours ago, tobeornottobe said:

Ive booked Areca Lodge for 10 nights end of feb/ start of march . It’s 50 a night and I made sure I got a room with shower . 

Do some of their rooms not have showers???
 

[rizzle]

Debua and Amethyst are way better IMHO! Why not book a few nights at each place? Then you’ll know for next time. 

[kd_traveller]

1 hour ago, wallywest said:

Do some of their rooms not have showers???

Until their recent refurbishment all the rooms in the Areca and Corona building only had showers over the baths. I am not sure about the Corona building, but they left one floor in the Areca building post refurbishment with baths over the showers as they have some clients who prefer a bath to a shower. So all have showers some are and were just located over a bath tub as opposed to a walk in shower!

[wallywest]

29 minutes ago, kd_traveller said:

Until their recent refurbishment all the rooms in the Areca and Corona building only had showers over the baths. I am not sure about the Corona building, but they left one floor in the Areca building post refurbishment with baths over the showers as they have some clients who prefer a bath to a shower. So all have showers some are and were just located over a bath tub as opposed to a walk in shower!

Ok that makes more sense.i think it was just the way it was worded in the op haha.

Edited January 29, 2024 by wallywest

[DanFrank]

is there one central check-in reception at the Areca or does building have its own ? 

[LeoTex]

24 minutes ago, DanFrank said:

is there one central check-in reception at the Areca or does building have its own ? 

Yes they only have one check in reception lobby in use. It is in the front (Areca) building on Soi Diana.

You check in here for all three, Areca, Corona and the Evergreen buildings. 

They also have a lobby in the back Evergreen Building, but it has not been in use post covid. 

[david_vr]

Cant really beat the location for Areca as a short walk to a lot of the action areas or to the Bhat bus routes.  As mentioned above there is also the back entrance to the Evergreen block from Soi 15.

Only downside i had from my stay there was the local mosquito population enjoyed my time by the pool more than i did.. but i do seem to attract them no matter where i am for some reason... 😆

 

[Bonkabit]

14 hours ago, wallywest said:

Do some of their rooms not have showers???
 

Areca

Feb 2022. Stayed executive room, floor 4. Bathroom had shower over the bath. Room itself was spacious, good. Balcony small; had aircon unit blowing our hot air.

Feb-March 2023. Renovated room on floor 5. Walk-in shower. Better overall than the executive room of year before.

Both rooms were in the main building. Lift up from lobby/reception area.

[wallywest]

FWIW I’m finding some decent prices for Blackwoods (for May when I’m visiting) but still sticking with my booking for Areca (for now at least)…Blackwoods looks like the type of hotel Id prefer and I can currently get it for a cheaper rate (than Areca)…but Areca wins out for me mainly due to location. Blackwoods is just slightly further away from areas I’d like to go to, whereas Areca is close enough to second road (and the baht bus route) while still being close enough to other  areas as well, that everything seems more easily accessible from there…but then I’m lazy.

Edited January 30, 2024 by wallywest

[Greg_B]

I've been visiting for 24 years and I've tried many a hotel.

The past few years I finally picked one and made it my base of operations.

I picked The Areca Lodge because of the location (I like Soi Metro)

Of course, it was @LeoTex and his recommendation that finally got me to stay there in 2022

[gmonte]

Stayed at amethyst in November and it was amazing just booked there again for my trip in April 

[SoiDog24]

Booked in to Areca Lodge end of October.

Heard a rumour that they won't accept pick ups or drop offs by anyone using Mr T taxi. Is this true? And if so, why?

[LeoTex]

39 minutes ago, SoiDog24 said:

Booked in to Areca Lodge end of October.

Heard a rumour that they won't accept pick ups or drop offs by anyone using Mr T taxi. Is this true? And if so, why?

Didn't hear that, however once before covid I had a pickup arranged with them and they didn't show that night to go back to the airport.

This is after I went to their office across from the Areca that morning to even reconfirm my pick up. After calling them I was told I had never made a pick up reservation. 

The staff at the Areca hurried and got me transportation to the airport. 

[SoiDog24]

1 minute ago, LeoTex said:

Didn't hear that, however once before covid I had a pickup arranged with them and they didn't show that night to go back to the airport.

This is after I went to their office across from the Areca that morning to even reconfirm my pick up. After calling them I was told I had never made a pick up reservation. 

The staff at the Areca hurried and got me transportation to the airport. 

One of my mates stayed there recently and said that it states no Mr T taxi pick ups in the booklet in the hotel room.

No big issue really as I'll just make other arrangements.

[SoiDog24]

5 minutes ago, LeoTex said:

Didn't hear that, however once before covid I had a pickup arranged with them and they didn't show that night to go back to the airport.

This is after I went to their office across from the Areca that morning to even reconfirm my pick up. After calling them I was told I had never made a pick up reservation. 

The staff at the Areca hurried and got me transportation to the airport. 

I've never stayed there before but it appears ill be staying in the Corona block is this an inconvenient walk from the main entrance?

[wallywest]

25 minutes ago, SoiDog24 said:

I've never stayed there before but it appears ill be staying in the Corona block is this an inconvenient walk from the main entrance?

It’s not too bad…corona is the middle section of the hotel’s 3 main blocks, so its just right imo (I stayed in corona myself for the first time in May and was satisfied enough to return in August)…there’s a back entrance/exit too which is convenient.

Edited July 2, 2024 by wallywest

[SoiDog24]

2 minutes ago, wallywest said:

It’s not too bad…it’s sort of the middle section of the hotel’s 3 main blocks, so its just right imo (I stayed in corona myself for the first time in May and was satisfied enough to return in August)…

Is the main entrance the only way in and out of the hotel or is there another way?

[LeoTex]

16 minutes ago, SoiDog24 said:

Is the main entrance the only way in and out of the hotel or is there another way?

Yes, you can exit to the back (Evergreen Building) on Soi 15 right behind the Avenue Shopping Mall.

You can also head out from your building (Corona) and take the alley up to Soi Diana and bypass the main entrance in the lobby. 

[kd_traveller]

2 hours ago, SoiDog24 said:

Heard a rumour that they won't accept pick ups or drop offs by anyone using Mr T taxi. Is this true? And if so, why?

There was always a notice in the room about not allowing Mr T, I am talking going back maybe 10 years or more, but I have never seen it implemented.  In the past I use Mr T to and from the hotels until I decided I preferred a less rally cross ride to and from the airport and frequent gas refill stops!

I heard years ago there was some issue between the hotel and Mr T, maybe not picking up customers Leo Tex mentioned and Areca got fed up trying to sort out last minute transfers!

But if you want to use Mr T, you are unlikely to have any issues with hotel, more likely to have them with the quality of the driving and frequent gas refill stops!

[neo1011]

4 hours ago, LeoTex said:

 

You can also head out from your building (Corona) and take the alley up to Soi Diana and bypass the main entrance in the lobby. 

Is that the alley that goes through the car park?

[LeoTex]

12 minutes ago, neo1011 said:

Is that the alley that goes through the car park?

It the alley between the Areca Lodge and the new Las Vegas Beer Garden which is on the Areca property.

It winds back between the Areca building and the Corona building then turns left to back to the Evergreen building.

There isn't much of a car park there with only 5 parking places, however there is a car park under the hotel room in the Evergreen building. 

The alley would then head out to Soi 15 in the back which is now blocked with a gate with a door opening to let foot traffic to enter and exit.