Pattaya Thailand Essentials

I’ve been traveling to Thailand for the past 3 years.  It is something I can say I truly enjoy.  I’ve fallen in love with the country, the culture, and the people.  People back in the U.S. don’t quite understand it.  All they know is what they’ve seen on some tv show like dateline or 20/20.  There is much more to the country than that.  This November will be my 5th trip in four years.  I usually try and get there for two weeks every November, and one year I was lucky enough to squeeze in a second trip. Though it was to short and not that enjoyable – but that is a story for another time.

I really look forward to my trip every year, and this time it is no different.  But I’ve come under some financial strain the last couple months that make me wonder if I should cancel or proceed as planned.  I’ve had to buy a new car and do some home repairs that have put my debt levels at an uncomfortable position that I’m not sure I’ve really ever been at before.  But I’ve purchased my tickets and hotel rooms already, so the only outstanding item I need to worry about is cash for those two weeks.  I can manage, but it still leaves me with an uncomfortable feel with the trip only 6 weeks away.

It kind of sucks having to worry about money, and if you are doing the right thing when you are taking a vacation.  But to me, I work to live, I don’t live to work and my vacations are almost a sacred thing to me.  Those two weeks helps me recharge and refocus myself so that I can make it another year.  One day I hope to be free from the chains of working for someone else.  I’m working on a few projects now that I hope will benefit me in the future, but for now this is my reality.  So debt be dammed, I’m heading to Thailand.

I usually spread myself around on my two week adventures.  Some time in Bangkok, Phuket, and Pattaya.  This trip it is straight on to Pattaya.  I’ve booked in at a fabulous hotel on Soi Diana called the LK Renaissance.  It is a great hotel and well worth a look if you are going to be staying in Pattaya.  Their are cheaper places out there, but this is one of the nicer hotels I’ve stayed at which is so close to downtown.

I’ll be traveling alone, as I often do these days.  But to me that is a misnomer.  I get there by myself, but I meet plenty of great people, and hook up with some friends, so I am far from alone.  I actually enjoy  getting the chance to meet new people, and I can tell you this, Pattaya is full of interesting characters.

I can now only sit and wait for the next 6 weeks to fly by, and I know they will.  Time to take myself to the gym for a last minute tune up and clean up my eating and drinking habits.  That is long overdue anyway.  The cash maybe tight, but I’m looking forward to this trip more and more.

One of a group of new hotels in Pattaya, the LK Renaissance is positioned near the center of things.  Located on Soi Diana, about halfway between Second Road and Soi Buakhaow, it provides convenient access to all areas of Pattaya.  You will a have a short walk or Baht bus ride to bars, dining, shopping, and entertainment.

As one of the newer hotels in Pattaya as well as in the LK Hotel group, it is well appointed in style, a bit of luxury, and all things modern.  Plus the price is very reasonable for what you are getting.  It is one of the top hotels in it’s price range.

There are many restaurants and bars on Soi Diana, in fact there is a beer bar complex directly across from the hotel. ATM’s, Family Marts or 7-Eleven’s are not far in either direction from the hotel.

Check Current Rates And Availability

The Avenue shopping mall is a short walk away on Second Road.  There you will find a grocery store, restaurants, shops, movie theater, pharmacy, bowling alley, and the ubiquitous ATM’s that are all over Pattaya.  Convenience and luxury are too of the top selling points of this hotel.

Room Accommodations

The LK Renaissance Hotel has multiple room types available for your holiday; each is well appointed and comfortable.  You can book yourself into a studio, superior, deluxe or the one bedroom suite.  The rooms are decorated in a modern style and have a real high end look to them.  The linens and decorations make you really feel that you are in an exceptional hotel, which you are.

The rooms are quite spacious and come with a minimum of a queen size bed.  The bathrooms are new and modern with western style fixtures.  The only draw back we have heard is that the Studio and Standard rooms lack a stand up shower, and feature a tub only shower.  This isn’t a draw back to most of us, but the tub only shower has a handheld shower head that isn’t all that user friendly.  However if that is the only drawback to those two room types, it is pretty minor.

Non-smoking rooms are available.

Hotel Amenities
The hotel provides free wifi service that you can access in you room.  It is fast and quite reliable.  It makes for a convenient way to check emails and stay in touch will on your vacation.

The hotel has a very nice pool, complete with a lion fountain.  The pool and the area around it is fairly small, but very nice and well laid out.  We’ve found that most hotels that are not a full resort seem to have similar small pool areas, so this is not a detracting factor.

There are a limited number of sun chairs, so depending on the time of year you go, availability may be hit or miss.  We’ve found that there is usually a few open thru out the day.  The beach being such a short walk away, most holiday goers would rather spend their sun tan time at the beach.

The hotel has an onsite restaurant, the Siam Bistro.  It serves a variety of western pub food as well as traditional Thai Fair.  Food is available to be delivered by room service if you like.  The food is quite good, and the price is reasonable.

The hotel also has a steam room and sauna available, as well as limousine and valet services.  These items have not been used by anyone at Pattaya Essentials, but if they live up to the standard of rest of the hotel, I’m sure they are equally as good.

• The rooms are outfitted with large LCD T.V.’s (32”+) with a selection of local and satellite channels.
• High Speed Internet Access
• International direct dial service (IDD)
• Voice Mail System
• In room safe
• Bathrobe and Slipper
• Complimentary Toiletries
• Hair Dryer
• Coffee Maker

Service

The LK Renaissance Hotel is clean and well maintained all day long.  The hotel itself is well kept up, and they do the maintenance necessary to make it continue to look like the new hotel it is.  The security is good, though unobtrusive, which is nice.  You are safe and secure without an overshadowing presence.

There is laundry service on site, which is standard in most hotels.  You fill out a slip, put your laundry in a bag and it goes off to the cleaners with you house keeping staff.  Pretty standard stuff if you have been to a hotel in Pattaya before.

Although the LK Renaissance lists that it has limousine service, it does not seem to be easy to book a ride from the airport like some other hotels.  It is probably best to book your own taxi from Bangkok to Pattaya.  You can take a taxi from the stand outside Suvarnabhumi, or we have a couple of reputable car services that we can refer you to.

Room Rates

As with most hotels in Pattaya, room rates vary depending on the time of year you wish to go.  Below are the average prices you can expect to pay.  The range is based on room type, from Studio to Suite.  Current Rates and Booking Information.

Low Season:  1500 – 2700  THB
High Season:  2000 – 3600  THB
Peak Season:  2250 – 4050  THB

The LK Renaissance Hotel is guest friendly (LB friendly) and does not charge a joiner fee for the first guest.

Summary

The LK Renaissance Hotel should definitely be on you list of hotels to stay at during your trip to Pattaya.  The prices are not for the budget minded, however they are reasonable for the Mid tier to High End clientele.  The accommodations, service, and location are all top shelf.