Metro Apartments

[kuranda_bagman]

THE VACANCY

 

Having spent the whole of March staying at the Metro Apartments, I thought of doing an independent review of the hotel on my return to Australia, but then selfish interests got the better of me as I was hoping to return in June for a three month stay and didn't want to enhance it's already good reputation, thus lessening my chance of getting a booking !!!

 

So a couple of weeks ago I made a successful booking and then last Friday everything turned to shit and I've had to cancel my trip and my booking - It's not only in Thailand that things don't go according to plan

 

Dennis the owner, has been most gracious in allowing me to cancel the booking and therefore some other lucky board member now has the opportunity of staying at what, IMHO, is one of the best guesthouses in Pattaya and represents exceptional value for money.

 

The booking was from mid June to mid September, so for anyone interested, get in quickly and send Dennis an e-mail at [email protected] as I'm sure this vacancy wont last long.

 

THE REVIEW

 

As a long time Pattaya monger, previously I have always stayed in 1k to 2k hotels from soi 8 to soi 13, but after checking out the LK Metro area on my last trip I decided to give the soi a go and to be completely honest, I was very pleased with the decision. I had read a couple of very positive reviews about Metro Apartments and was fortunate to secure a booking.

 

The establishment is a four story building, with reception and bar on street level and three floors of accommodation. The bar and reception area is now air-conditioned (done towards the end of my stay) and with 3 free pool tables, TV's everywhere and all the sports channels you could wish for, it's a great place to spend many an hour playing pool and catching up with friends. Dennis also has a great bunch of ladies working in the bar, who are more than happy to play pool with you if you're on your own, but watch out, some of them are pretty bloody good

 

Accommodation wise, all rooms are air-conditioned and have ceiling fans as well. There are 3 superior rooms and 9 standard rooms, which are all well maintained, cleaned daily, towels changed daily and bed linen every second day. They are well furnished, have a mini bar, large fridge, an in-room safe, DVD player, cable TV, cups and saucers, electric jug and plenty of storage space. The bathroom is the basic Thai style with a wall mounted hot water heater and shower, but they are big enough to ensure the toilet doesn't get wet when you use the shower.

 

Free broadband WiFi internet is also available throughout the building and there is a terminal in the bar downstairs for guest use. The mini bar prices are very reasonable and they have an excellent laundry service. You just put your laundry in the net bag provided and the housemaid takes it when she cleans the room. The next evening your laundry is available at reception for collection and the prices are not much more than taking it to the laundry yourself - really brilliant service. Electricity to the room is turned on by inserting your key card into the slot provided, however for those wanting to charge electronic items when absent from the room, there is now a separate power point which is isolated from the key card slot - The fridge also runs from this circuit, so your beer will always be cold On the first floor there is also a good selection of DVD's and paperbacks, which are available free of charge for guests to use.

 

I found the staff genuinely friendly and Dennis, the owner very approachable. Any minor problems were addressed immediately and although he doesn't live on the premises, he certainly spends a lot of time there - must be something to do with his liking for a drink But then again, show me an Irishman who doesn't The establishment doesn't serve food but within 20 yards in any direction there were enough food establishments to satisfy most guests tastes and I found the Drunken Duck next door to be good quality and fair value - In fact my TGF for the last few weeks also commented on how good the Thai meals were.

 

The bar and reception officially close at 2:00 am but on numerous occasions when staggering home around 3:00 am the place was still open. However, when closed you have a key to the side door to let yourself in, so 24 hour access isn't a problem, unless you forget your key and then you'll have to wait until the place opens around 9 am. The establishment is extremely girl friendly and ID's are not required, however reception will take a copy for you if they are open. The only rule with ladies is that you are responsible for their behavior whilst on the premises and if they are leaving before the bar and reception is open you should escort them downstairs and ensure the door is closed behind them. However, something to keep in mind is that access to the accommodation is at the back of the bar, so when you are bringing a guest home and the bar is open, just remember every lady in the bar will see you .

 

As with any accommodation establishment, there were a few things some might class as negatives, although I must be honest, none of them caused me any hassles and after discussing them with Dennis he said he was also aware of them and where possible they were on the improvement planning schedule. I might add that mentioning these things is by no means a criticism of the establishment, but more as a guide to board members, as if they would annoy you, look somewhere else instead of making a booking and then complaining. Specifically they were:

 

1: Like many places in Pattaya, water pressure is not the greatest in the shower, but I found it sufficient to have a reasonable shower and none of my companions complained.

 

2: The curtains, whilst adequate are by no means blackout ones and the room does tend to lighten as the sun comes up, however for me this was no great drama as I tend to wake up early, or I'm knackered from the night before and sleep like a log.

 

3: The mattresses are firm and the older style inner spring type. For me this wasn't a problem as I have a hard one at home, but if you like a nice soft bed then this probably wouldn't be the place for you.

 

4: Finally, and probably the most important thing, anybody with a walking type disability or very unfit may find the stairs an inconvenience, as there is no lift. Once again, I didn't find this a problem and as I was on the the top floor (3rd) the three sets of stairs certainly kept me fit, although I must say there were a few nights when I crawled up them in a drunken haze and wished there was a lift

 

As far as the location is concerned, I found it to be really convenient. Transport wise it’s still easy to get around. Baht busses will take you to Walking Street via soi bukhow without the traffic chaos of beach road and it’s only a short walk down soi Diana to 2nd Road. Facility wise everything you could possibly want from currency exchanges, 7/11 and pharmacies to eating places, laundries and travel agents is genuinely just a stones throw away.

 

The soi is not a busy traffic thoroughfare and you can casually walk through it without having to watch your back all the time for speeding vehicles or side step the hordes of holiday makers. Most of the business in the soi have rooms for rent, many providing free wireless internet and restaurants are plentiful. Noise wise I didn’t encountered any problems late at night or early morning and sleeping was not a problem, even though I had a room that fronts the soi.

 

I’ve had a drink in a number of bars and have to say the ladies are great. Whilst I concede you don’t see many 9 & 10’s there is an ample supply of 6 to 8’s, with all tastes being catered for. I must say however, the one exception is the Hell club ladies who I watched every day from my balcony across the road – They are HOT!

 

In conclusion, all I can say is that at 500bt a night (for a one month stay), IMHO Metro Apartments is without a doubt the best value accommodation establishment in Pattaya, particularly when you consider all the extras you get for no additional charge. I concede it may not be everybody's cup of tea, particularly if you want a swimming pool, however the solid occupancy rates and consistently good reviews really do speak for themselves.

 

Finally, I might also add that all the ladies I took back to the room commented on how nice it was - More details and current rates are available on their web site at www.metro-apartments-pattaya.com

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[glynbuk]

Thanks for your report and it looks great, for the price who could moan at that,

 

Bar area looks good too, must visit when i stay at the lk metropole in december and watch

whats going on in that area

[sexy beast]

Thats a very good hotel review, I wish every member would take the time to do that

[cage]

Thats a very good hotel review, I wish every member would take the time to do that

 

Thank you for the pictures. It is always handy to see what the rooms look like from a guest.

[striderman]

I am staying there at the moment. Not an easy place to find a vacancy unless u book in advance. the downstairs bar is now enclosed and air con. I usually enjoy a few games of pool most early evenings before heading off out for the night. the evening shift roll up about 16 30 hrs. All the girls are friendly and happy to play pool (3 tables) which is free as long as u are buying drinks (fair enough). only the fact that I am a resident has prevented me from bar fining a couple of them as I prefer to keep my hotel free of such complications............but it was a close call last night!

A very nice bar and a pleasure to have such friendly company.

[shyguy904]

Bagman, Thanks for taking the time to tell us about Metro Apts. This place comes well recommended, and I can see why. Cheers, SG

[kuranda_bagman]

Back at the Metro for the next 3 months and can now confirm that all the rooms have been fitted with blackout curtains, which work very well.

 

In addition, Dennis now has about 15 ladies working in the bar downstairs

[Tatanka]

Back at the Metro for the next 3 months and can now confirm that all the rooms have been fitted with blackout curtains, which work very well.

 

In addition, Dennis now has about 15 ladies working in the bar downstairs

 

 

For sure will see you in october as i am staying there for 3 weeks.

 

How are the new girls ?? some gems ??

 

 

 

 

 

Some pics of room no. 1 a superior room

Edited September 13, 2007 by Jozef555

[kuranda_bagman]

Hi Tatanka

 

There’s a couple of gems amongst them but none that I would class as stunners. However, they are all very friendly and it’s always a pleasure to have a drink with them before heading out in the evening. I also love the smiles they give you when you return later with another lady if the bar is still open.

 

Nice pics of room 1 by the way

 

John

[Tatanka]

There’s a couple of gems amongst them but none that I would class as stunners. However, they are all very friendly and it’s always a pleasure to have a drink with them before heading out in the evening. I also love the smiles they give you when you return later with another lady if the bar is still open.

 

That's also what i love about them. They tell me " oh you lucky man, you got sexy lady".

They also warned me for a girl I brought home one day as she made some denegrating comments to the Metro-girls.

My knowledge of the thai language is minimum but i could sense that the metro-girls were not pleased with my girl that night.

Guess what, they were right. My girl changed in a very strange and scary mood and i kicked her out once in my room.

When i went back to the bar the metro-girls all cheered and said "good for her, you kicked her out"

 

I also like to play a little pool before i leave to go out at night. I'm not that great at playing pool and there is one girl that beats me everytime. It's beautiful Wat that won't allow me to beat her at the game.

She is also a girl that i fancy very much and i thought of barfining her. But i think it might be not wise to get something going with a girl that works there.

It's a shame because i think she is one sexy girl

[Kadafi]

Cheers for the review, i have never stayed at the Metro Apartments but i did try getting a room in June but they were fully booked up. I play pool there on a regular basis and did get chance to see the rooms as manggaawn was staying there for a month.

 

I might get in contact to see if they have any rooms at the moment as me and three mates will be in Pattaya in week or so time.

 

I do like the look of the superior room....

[LBJ]

Metro is a great place and value for the money.

 

Wat is very sexy as well and a good pool player.

 

 

[Murphy]

Metro is a great place and value for the money.

 

Wat is very sexy as well and a good pool player.

 

 

 

 

Wat is very sexy young lady. It will be hard not to BF her while I am staying in the Metro-apt. I wonder if she would be willing to wager double or nothing on a game of pool? She goes to the room with me and either gets double or nothing depending on her our game came out? LOL Just kidding I would not do that to her that would be like stealing for me. But it is a funny thought!!!!!!

[ABADI]

thanx alot for this review.....

;)

[Dennis M]

Thanks for the comments, fellas. Stunners ---- na, probably not - well maybe 1 or 2. Anyway, we try to cater for different tastes! also, we try to keep a team of pleasant lasses here who will remember you on your next trip and won't try to screw a drink out of you when myu back is turned!

[tiger.1400]

She's got very hairy legs in the photo.

[oxy]

THE VACANCY

 

Having spent the whole of March staying at the Metro Apartments, I thought of doing an independent review of the hotel on my return to Australia, but then selfish interests got the better of me as I was hoping to return in June for a three month stay and didn't want to enhance it's already good reputation, thus lessening my chance of getting a booking !!!

 

Hey - this place looks great, can't wait to see it and play some pool - nice tables...how far from LK Metropole is it? Can you give directions?

 

thanks again...

 

oxy

[soldiermick]

Metro is always my first choice of accommodation in Pattaya.

 

book early though cos he does get full.

 

The big rooms are excelent value for moner when available and the smaller rooms are good too.

 

Dennis must be doing something right as many of the girls have been there for ages now.

 

The cleaner has stayed too and I reacon that she is about the most eficiant hotel cleaner that i have ever known.

[Montydog]

Hey - this place looks great, can't wait to see it and play some pool - nice tables...how far from LK Metropole is it? Can you give directions?

 

thanks again...

 

oxy

 

Either turn left and left or right and right. The back of the Metro looks onto the back of the Metropole

[oxy]

Either turn left and left or right and right. The back of the Metro looks onto the back of the Metropole

 

 

he he he...thanks, will be there playing pool - and i hope i can do a "double or nothing" with them, i am pretty good.

[horiguchi]

Great review. Still planning my first trip, but Metro has been recomeneded by many others who have been to Pattaya.

 

One recommendation to improve water pressure. Low flow shower heads from Oxygenics. Used by major hotels in Las Vegas and Holiday Inn chain in US. They work so well, I installed them in my condo in the US. Makes all the difference in the world.

 

http://www.oxygenics.com/showers.html

 

I know this site is about Pattaya not plumbing fixtures, and I am not associated with Oxygenics except as a satisfied customer.

[izifaddag]

I played pool in that place. I like that whole area it is Izi sized. There are great places to eat either Thai or falang and lots of nice bars.

[Tatanka]

I am staying there right at this moment and the place looks even better than back in march.

De aircon is a big plus for me and i like to play pool there before heading out for the night (even if i stink at the game)

I like the girls' attitude over there, they all seem to live up to the " it's nice to be nice" moral

[Dennis M]

I am staying there right at this moment and the place looks even better than back in march.

De aircon is a big plus for me and i like to play pool there before heading out for the night (even if i stink at the game)

I like the girls' attitude over there, they all seem to live up to the " it's nice to be nice" moral

 

 

Thanks for all the positive comments. However, just in case anyone out there is looking - the fuel surcharge has bitten a bit - so we have some availability in September. There is a distinct dip in numbers over last September.

[davsmi33]

hi do the rooms have wi/fi and safes ? thanks