The Sanctuary Resort Pattaya, BW Signature Collection

The pool was a real treat, and having a Starbucks in the hotel was a handy bonus. I’m satisfied with my stay, even though I had to book at the last minute because of unexpected circumstances and paid almost twice the usual price. I still felt it was worth it. My room was on the side that didn’t get direct sun, so it stayed cool enough that I didn’t need the air conditioning at night. The room was clean enough, and the sheets and towels were clean too, though the toilet and bathroom could have been cleaned better. The bed was comfortable, breakfast was sufficient, and while the restaurant wasn’t anything special, I didn’t feel I needed to eat elsewhere. Lobby staff were very helpful. I’m especially grateful to the woman at the lobby, though I’m sorry I forgot her name. When I lost my phone at the beach, she contacted the person who had found it and arranged for a security officer to take me by motorbike so I could get it back safely. Her help saved my holiday from being ruined.

The location, views, and comfortable rooms are all lovely, but the service is what would bring me back. Every staff member I met was great, from the receptionist and bellboy to the manager and bartenders. They were friendly and courteous throughout. They’re also happy to adjust food orders or help when you need something. I always say the look of a place might bring people in, but hospitality is what makes them return. The Sanctuary understands that, and I love this hotel.

The rooms are in pretty poor shape. The floors clearly hadn’t been mopped in a while, and the carpet looked really dirty and worn. I had to keep the balcony door open because of the mildew smell. I wouldn’t come back. For a place called the sanctuary, keeping 2 sharks in such an uncomfortably small tank is upsetting. You can see them swimming in the same circles in the lobby all day and night, and they look quite stressed.

The hotel itself is beautiful, and the staff are consistently polite and friendly. The cleaning staff are lovely and work very hard. We were on the 8th floor and had a lovely sea view. The rooftop pool is attractive, but its handrail wobbles and doesn’t feel secure. With my bad back, I didn’t trust myself to get in safely and worried I might slip and hurt myself further, so I didn’t use it. Breakfast was average. The shower barely reached room temperature, and the pressure was minimal. I needed hot, or at least warm, water to help with my back pain.