1) You can eat there everywhere, it all depends on your attitude to the appearance of the institution, the kitchen and, sorry, the toilet. Regardless of the appearance, rest assured that all dishes will be of high quality and fresh. Several times we had dinner at the hotel, excellent cuisine, a couple of times we had a snack at the grill bar near the pool, but mostly we ate in the center - there are a lot of cafes, bars, restaurants, for every taste and with any cuisine and music. At the hotel, the average bill for dinner is 700-1500 baht without alcohol (alcohol is expensive in any catering establishment there, even the local Singha beer is 25-30 baht in the store, 60-200 in other places), prices in the city are about the same. My wife absolutely rejects street cooking (even just open bars), although I myself have had a few snacks in macaroons and on the city beach and survived.
2) We personally bought excursions from the tour operator, this was due to the peculiarities of insurance (due to health problems, we paid for special insurance, which is very expensive). I advise you to buy from local organizers of excursions - it will be much cheaper and, according to the reviews of hotel neighbors, sometimes more diverse. Olga works at the reception at the hotel, you can ask her to help (but in no case not your hotel guide, buy at least one of the cheapest excursions from him, for example, an oceanarium, so to speak, to maintain friendly relations). I know that not far from the hotel there is a bureau "Dynamik-tour", with Russian employees. Friends also praised the "River Tour", but this bureau is near the Cozy Beach Hotel. Chat with Russian tourists at the hotel, who went where and how much. Personally, we have the most expensive 2-day overnight excursion to the River Kwai cost 10.000 baht .
3) Take more money, as there are a lot of temptations, you want to try everything. It took us 3.000 euros, but apparently this is a manifestation of our mentality with my wife: we spent a lot during excursions, a lot when visiting traditional medicine pharmacies, buying souvenirs, part was spent on buying branded items that are still cheaper than ours, and so the same for food in expensive restaurants, well, we moved exclusively by taxi. If you have euros in cash, take them better, on 03/03/2011 the exchange rate in bank exchange offices in the city center was 41.50 baht per euro, and 30.80 baht per dollar. At the airport, exchange 20-30 dollars no more, it will come in handy! The rate is extortionate in the hotel!
3) You can buy fruits everywhere, in the markets and from vendors on the street, and in shops, the goods are of excellent quality everywhere, in addition, peeled and packaged fruits are sold everywhere, as well as fresh juices and cocktails from them. Very tasty and perfectly quenches thirst. Be careful - take care of your throat, Thais put a lot of ice everywhere! I do not advise buying durian, after 10 minutes a characteristic disgusting smell appears. Yes, and the taste was not impressive - the same banana was only of a different consistency, as a result, 95% of the product had to be thrown away urgently!
4) You can sunbathe in the hotel, swim too, I even advise you not to swim to the islands for the first few days, the sun is very active there - you burn out in just half an hour or an hour. But then from the pier on the ferries to the nearest islands (be sure to check the time of the return sailing), or you can independently from the pier or the city beach on boats, negotiate the price, bargain, but don’t pay money in advance. Renting a small boat for two for a day on the farthest uninhabited island of Ko-Rin is 5000 baht, although it takes about 1-1.5 hours to sail to it. Take money for nearby inhabited islands, for small uninhabited necessarily beach umbrellas, food and drinks.
5) In the hotel itself there is a SPA-salon, where massage is done, at the level of the second pool there are gazebos, where the employees of the salon also do massage. The price is expensive, in the morning after arrival we did a foot massage there: 15 minutes of sauna, aromatic jacuzzi, shower, then the masseuse will wash your feet again with a scrub, and the massage itself is 30 minutes for each leg. Simply amazing, but 1 hour - 720 baht with a discount - is too much. Traditional Thai massage is done everywhere there, but I don’t advise you to do it on the city beach, in small salons and on the street - it’s only a massage in appearance, and besides, inexperienced “masseurs” can hurt you! We ourselves, on the advice of friends, went to the salon of blind massage therapists Susiripon. 1 hour regular massage - 120 baht, massage with herbal compresses - 240 baht per hour. Although it is far away (from the hotel by taxi 200-250 baht), but it's worth it - just amazing! For the first time, take it for 1 hour, you still won’t feel the effect, and then combine, but I don’t advise more than 2 hours! Thai massage can be done 2-3 times a week, depending on the condition, although the receptionist will persuade you to come to them every day.
If there's anything else you'd like to ask!
Country: the most developed and prosperous kingdom in Southeast Asia, without external debt, but, in my opinion, poor and dirty. The average salary in the capital is 15.000-20.000 baht, in smaller cities and in the provinces even less.
Thais are very hardworking and good-natured, they do not cheat or steal, they will always help if they can.
Do not believe the negative reviews, it's just that migrant workers from Burma, Cambodia, Laos, etc. work in simpler hotels, and they cause problems!
The main principle of staying in this country: Smile, bargain, and leave a tip!
Hotel: Stayed at the Garden Cliff Resort and Spa. The hotel is good, quiet, calm, with excellent staff (only Thais - this is important), corresponds to the declared 4 stars.
Upon check-in, a deposit is charged - $ 100 per person, which is returned in full upon check-out, if you did not use the mini-bar, did not break anything or accidentally put it in your suitcase - the rooms are checked upon check-out!
A huge plus for us who do not speak any language other than the great and mighty - a wonderful girl Olga works at the reception, who will always help you in any matter. Unfortunately, the term of her contract will soon end, and she will leave for her homeland - to Ukraine.
The deluxe rooms are clean and comfortable, although small. Mosquitoes, ants and other living creatures were not noticed. The rooms have everything you need except toothpaste and brushes. Just remind the staff to change bed linen daily if you need it. Television, among other things, broadcasts the Planet RTR channel, as well as three local Russian-language channels. There is no safe at the reception. Each room has its own safe with an electronic lock, from which nothing is missing.
Breakfast - buffet - no frills, but quite edible and satisfying. In addition, if you pay for the hotel without food at all, you can order several types of breakfast yourself for a small (250-320 baht) payment.
The beach, or rather a piece of the coast near the hotel, is not very well-maintained, but without garbage and without sunbeds, the water in the sea, although muddy (like the Sea of u200bu200bAzov or the Caspian Sea), but also without garbage. But there are no annoying beach-fights, they are usually located nearby behind the invisible border of the hotel territory.
P. S. The most important thing that travel companies are silent about:
1) there is construction going on next to the hotel (if you look at the hotel from the side of the beach - on the left, and if your windows do not overlook the pool, but the street, then you are probably out of luck!
2) all rooms really have a sea view, but it is problematic to see it from some rooms even from the balcony!
3) walking around the hotel will not work, because she just doesn't exist. There is a large area in front of the hotel - it is rather intended for transport, and there is a territory, so to speak, in the yard, near the pools, sunbeds, massage pavilions, artificial and natural beach!
P. S. S. 1) The frequently heard statement that you should not buy local SIM cards on the way to the hotel is complete nonsense! We bought two DTAC Happy SIM cards on the bus from the accompanying guide for 150 baht each (50 baht on the account) - no problems!
2) Exchange at least 20-30 (no more) dollars at the airport - it will be very useful!
3) Photos posted those that are not usually found!