Hotel: Bay Breeze Hotel
Website: http://www.baybreezepattaya.com/
Dates of stay: Oct 12 - 16, 2010

This was my first stay at the Bay Breeze. I reserved a “standard room with balcony” for 800 baht (US$27) per night. This was a low season rate.

I liked the location. It’s down Sai Song Soi 11 off of Pattaya 2nd Road. When I got off the BKK to Pattaya bus, the baht driver said he was familiar with the Bay Breeze. I even gave him the map that I had printed off the Bay Breeze’s website. I soon learned that he didn’t know where the Bay Breeze was located. He kept stopping at every hotel that had the name “Bay” in it and insisted that it was the Bay Breeze and I kept telling him “NO, WRONG HOTEL.” After the third time he stopped at the wrong hotel, I realized that Bay Breeze was only a block away so I gave him 20 Baht and decided to walk the distance since it would be quicker than having him drive down Beach Road and back up 2nd Road.

The hotel is in a fairly quiet location, i.e., no nearby go-go or beer bars blaring loud music. Soi LK with the Devil’s Den, Billabong and a number of other similar clubs is a short distance away. There are other go-go clubs and beer bars nearby, and the Walking Street is within walking distance. Across the 2nd Road, there’s Mike Shopping Mall and the modern Central Shopping Mall. Trying to walk across 2nd Road while dodging traffic can be a life and death adventure.

The street that the Bay Breeze Hotel is located (Soi 11) turns into Soi Honey and about 1/2 block down the street from the hotel is the Honey Body Massage Parlor. About three blocks away, Dream Teen Massage is on Soi 21 which runs between 3rd Road and Soi Buakaow. A little further down Soi 21 is P.P. Body Massage Parlor which is touted by taxi drivers since they pay a commission for customers.

My hotel room was small, but clean and comfortable. There’s 9 floors. I was on the 8th floor. The hotel has only one small elevator so it can be slow at times. If the elevator ever breaks down, there’s no alternative except to hoof it up and down the stairs.

The hotel does not offer free breakfast, but there is a restaurant in the hotel. I never ate there. Breakfast is also offered at a small restaurant across the street on Soi 11. If you want the all-you-can-eat breakfast buffet, the Apex Hotel and Diana Inn are a block or so away. Further down 2nd Road, the Lek Hotel has a breakfast buffet.

The hotel is girl-friendly.

There’s a dick-head who wears a baseball hat with “security” on it. When I checked-in, he grabbed my one bag to take it to my room. I tipped him 15 baht and he pissed and moaned that it wasn’t enough so I gave him 20 baht. He still pissed and moaned so I took 10 baht away. I told him that I needed the 10 baht. He grabbed my bag as I checked out to load it into the van, but I ignored him when he had his hand out for a tip.

The room had free Wi-Fi and I had no problem with access.

My only significant complaint is that the room had a safe, but it didn’t work (why I don’t know). I was told that I had to use the safe deposit box at the front desk. I saw other guests using them so I guess I wasn’t the only one who had a room safe that didn’t work.

The hotel has a swimming pool, but it’s located under an overhang so there is very little sun exposure if you want to sun bath.

The hotel has cable TV with limited English channels. Instead of CNN, it had FOX (or faux) News.

My room’s air conditioner got my room too cold at nights so I turned it off and opened the window. Since I was on the 8th floor, there was a breeze and the street noise didn’t keep me awake.

The hotel took my reservation without any pre-payment or credit card hold.

For the low season rate, I would stay here again. If you’re looking for a place that’s more expensive, cheaper, has better amenities or different location, your choices of hotels in Pattaya seems endless. This hotel is an option that is worth considering.