Mandarin Eastville, Pattaya

Getting around may call for a car, but choosing the classic western-style side was the right move for us. That's where the sauna and gym are. The shady pool is nice and stays open late. Our room was spacious and clean, with a comfortable bed. The sound carries from the hallways, though, and the shower is over the bathtub with no screen or curtain. That could make slipping a concern for older people. Breakfast buffet was okay, and the service staff were very nice. No barista coffee at the hotel, but there's a very nice coffee shop with in-house dessert across the road.

It's good value, though there are a few things that could be better. The room is spacious, but the light could be brighter. The hotel is somewhat removed from most major tourist attractions, which does make it very quiet. Breakfast buffet was okay, not great. Service was polite, but could have felt more welcoming and cheerful.

We came for a trip that mixed business and holiday. The room was great, but the air conditioning struggled to cool it. Since the room faces south, the sun is strong. Lighting was awkward too, too dim for working but too bright for resting. The internet connection kept dropping, though luckily our phone plan had better data.

Really affordable, with a nice breakfast buffet and super soft beds. This was the only one of the four places we stayed that actually had a bathtub. I loved it.