Dusit Thani Pattaya

The hotel grounds were a highlight, with the lagoon pool, outdoor waterfall, cool spa area with power jets, and a terraced path down to the semi-private beach. There were plenty of pool chairs, and we had great views throughout our time there. The Cascade Restaurant and Conseratory were fantastic. Breakfast on the 9th floor was lovely and, on one morning, exquisite. The staff made us feel welcome and gave us time to plan our day. Kim and I loved the luxury, resort feel of the Dusit Hotel. We arrived from Don Moueng Airport from Chang Mai after a fantastic stay at the Dusit Princess. Our driver and sedan were met by the Concierge and Security, a fantastic crew. A large bus was unloading conference guests, so they showed us a side entrance away from the crowd. At the main desk, we gave our names, and the fun began. The desk person greeted us with, "King William you have arrived was the trip here nice today". We were then escorted to the 8 floor Executive Reception, where our room with Executive access on the 7th floor was ready. From the balcony we could see all the Islands, the Hotel Property, and the whole Pattaya beach area. Morning coffee with that view was wonderful, and the late-night colony of Fox bats in the Hotel trees was fabulous. Afternoon tea in the Executive Lounge was superb, and we enjoyed meeting people from around the world, with cold drinks available all day. The evening social with cocktails and heavy snacks felt like a 5 Star Ship, like NCL Haven or MSC Yacht Club. The staff were friendly and attentive. We also enjoyed chatting one evening with the Hotel Director from Denmark during the cocktail event. For us, there were 100 percent positives about the Dusit Hotel and all the staff. I took lots of pictures of the different areas this review asks about.

The room was clean and a good size, with a spacious, well-equipped bathroom. We booked for three adults and reconfirmed the extra bed, but it wasn't there, and the amenities were set up for only two. Service had dropped sharply since my last visit. We arrived at 6pm and there was no doorman or greeting at the door. Check-in wasn't available in the lounge, and nobody escorted us to the room. It felt like checking in at a 4-star hotel. At the lounge, staff looked at us as if they wondered why we were there. The food and drinks seemed cheap and low quality, perhaps because it was one night on our rate and they were saving costs. We had to queue for drinks like in a cafeteria. No service was offered.

It's a quiet resort between a mall and the busy beach road, with truly magnificent views. The hotel is beautiful and in a prime spot, with one of the best designs I've seen, waterfalls and lovely views from every angle, plus wonderful pools and seating everywhere. Breakfast was great and the staff were friendly. As a member, I politely asked if my garden-view room could be upgraded to an ocean view for free. She said I'd have to pay for an upgrade. The room was large and had all the generic facilities, with a beautiful balcony view, but it was below average, poorly maintained, and didn't feel like 5-star quality. It needs updating. I was shocked by the old-fashioned bathroom, where I had to climb into the bath to use the shower. The carpets in the room and corridor were very dirty and smelly; I think they should remove them and put in hardwood floors. WiFi was a big problem in the room.

The location worked really well for us. It's about 3 kilometres from Walking Street, but Terminal 21 shopping mall and the outdoor market are a five-minute walk away. The back door by the main swimming pool is also about five minutes from 7-11, very convenient. Service was very good, at a full five-star hotel standard. There are three nice pools, a pool bar, and two ways to access the beach. We enjoyed the seafood and meat buffet on Fridays and Saturdays, good value for money. Water is free, while soft drinks and alcohol cost extra. Breakfast was very good too. The indoor restaurant has no sea view, though there is an indoor garden with a waterfall beside it. This is a very good five-star hotel in Pattaya. To be honest, it's old, and the rooms look tired. Even in the better refurbished room we got, you can tell both the room and the hotel are old.