Seaphere Pattaya Hotel

This was a last-minute booking, and it turned out to be a real surprise. The room had plenty of space, a nice seating area, a fitted kitchen, two TVs, a perfect shower and a comfortable bed. The pool was nice, though cold, and there was lots of seating up on the roof. As soon as we arrived, someone took our bags from the cab and brought them to the room. Check-in was excellent, and the bright reception area felt cool and breezy. I’ll definitely put this among my top hotel stays.

We only had two days here, but they were great. It’s a small, intimate hotel with plenty of charm. There’s a little pool upstairs and a lovely patio for relaxing in the evening. The beach is close by, with lots of places to eat along the shore, as you’d expect in Thailand. The hotel’s own food is very tasty too.

The units were fairly spacious and the accommodation was reasonable. Staff were pleasant and helpful, though the manager seemed under pressure to bring in money and charge for every little thing. Our hot water didn’t work very well, but it wasn’t a big issue. I chose to stay in this area for an ocean swim at the local beach, and there weren’t many other places to stay nearby. The rooftop restaurant had limited enclosed or shaded seating, and the food was very average at best. It was okay overall.

There are some good points here, but the room had a few problems. We found a cockroach, and they asked if we wanted someone to come kill it. I had to specifically ask for spray to deal with it properly. The shower curtain over the window had visible black mould, and the handheld shower head didn’t work, so only the rain shower was usable. Housekeeping leaves one roll of toilet paper per day and refills two water bottles daily. The security team deserves a special mention. We saw them every day, and they were consistently warm, professional and welcoming. They really add to the guest experience. Breakfast is very good, with a buffet as well as a menu you can order from at no extra charge, which is a nice value. Lunch, dinner and drinks, though, are significantly more expensive than at similar places nearby. At the front desk, I was asked to write a review during our stay. Phalo and Breeze stood right beside me watching over my shoulder while I typed and submitted it. I left a positive review then, but the situation felt pressured and uncomfortable. I’ve since edited it to reflect my honest opinion, rather than one shaped by feeling I had to say only positive things while I still had 3 days left in my stay. There are clear positives, but the operational and maintenance issues need attention.