Jomtien Beach Penthouses

I paid a month’s deposit to leave four weeks early, and it was money well spent. The staff are rude, though the handymen and evening security were very nice. The daytime guard was nasty unless you paid him, and everything had to be paid in cash. The office girl also lied about cleaning and laundry prices. You can get laundry done with fabric softener and bottled water about 100 metres away, or at Wombat bar for 100 baht. I stayed for six months. The man in the office was a bully. I’m 68 and still recovering from a critical illness last year, and he stood in my room screaming at me about WiFi. He told me to buy my own or use the internet shop, even though the listing said there was high speed WiFi. Stress is my main trigger, and if I get seriously unwell again, I could die. He was in his fifties and very large. There were safety problems too. A newly fitted wardrobe toppled onto my head after a safe was put in front of it, leaving me with a cut. The office seemed amused. A table collapsed because someone hadn’t attached its legs properly, and I got a hairline fracture in my foot. See photos. I never saw a first aid kit or appointed first aider, and nobody told me about RPoint for emergencies. The rooms are 52 square metres, but the furniture is as old as the building. I bought all the flowers, bedding and TV myself, and left the place clean and respectfully cared for. It was certainly nicer than when I found it. I was offered a studio in the block opposite, but it was far too small for me.

The location is great, just metres from the beach on a quiet street. Our high floor room had a large balcony, an excellent WiFi connection and a safe. It was spotless, and the staff service was faultless. The room itself was huge, though a little tired, and had basic kitchen equipment. With the night market right outside, we hardly needed that anyway. The pool was spotless and we always seemed to have it to ourselves. The gym is dated but usable.

I arrived on 20 Oct. and stayed until 11 Nov. 2021, while Thailand and especially Pattaya were reopening to fully vaccinated visitors. I was looking for a place to lease when I returned on my long-term Retirement Visa. The owner, Paulina, the office team, security and housekeeping all did more than expected to make my stay pleasant and productive. I had several unusual needs and requests, and they did everything they could to accommodate them. There were still some limits because of covid precautions, but management and staff did a first-class job helping things run as normally as possible. The condos and apartments are spacious and equipped for either a short or longer stay, with things like a coffee kettle, plates, dishes, bowls and a full-size refrigerator with an ice maker in the freezer.

At 1900 baht, this felt overpriced. There are plenty of cheaper local places, though I didn’t check how they compare. I do know you can get much better value in central Bangkok. The location at the north end of Jomtien Beach is very good, a two-minute walk from the beach and baht bus, and the pool is lovely. Our large studio had dated but good fittings, and everything worked. The bed, though, was only five feet wide, the smallest we’ve had anywhere in Thailand after many extended trips. Reception said all studios had small beds and suites had larger ones. I saw a garden-view studio with a big bed, but its window faced a wall, so we stayed in our room. When I pointed out the larger bed, the receptionist insisted it was the same type as ours. I gave up on that frustrating conversation and put up with the small bed.