Не так страшен черт, как его малюют... The devil is not as scary as he is painted ...

It was the second time in Pattaya. Last year there was a tour of 9 nights / 10 days, of which we spent 6 days on excursions. Everything was very cool, but it seemed a little sea. So we decided to do it again this year. The hotel was chosen from the criterion to be budget and closer to the sea. Of the proposed Cozy Beach, Golden Sea and Grand Sale chose Grand Sale. Since, according to reviews on the Internet, bugs lived in Cozy Beach, but I didn’t want to spend 2 weeks in the company of bugs. And Golden Sea is located on the 3rd line, but I wanted to be closer to the sea. Reading the reviews prepared for the worst. But it turned out not everything is so scary, you can live. The hotel itself is not in a noisy place, although the center. Hall is pretty decent. The room had everything you need for life. In addition to the set of furniture standard for all hotels, there was a TV, a mini fridge, el. safe, kettle with tea mugs, coffee, tea, milk, sugar in bags, 2 bottles every day, two glasses (do not throw away empty bottles), hairdryer in the bathroom, adapter. Our room was deluxe. Went to see friends in the Standard all the same. The difference in price is one and a half thousand per person. Deluxe is more expensive than Standard. Been trying to figure out what the difference is. The only difference was that they did not have mugs with a set of coffee, etc. , and in the bathroom there were 2 bottles of shampoo and shower gel, we had a third with body cream. But I use only my own, brought and loved, so we took a set with us instead of a souvenir, we didn’t use it there. There are no balconies in the rooms and the windows do not open (although some rooms did). But with 29 degrees of heat at night and 36 during the day, there was absolutely no need for this. You will not feel the morning or evening coolness, but let the mosquitoes in. Last year, at the Avolon Hotel in Jomtien, we got a room with a huge balcony, on which, upon returning from the center, we drank beer (and not only) with friends. But this time we knew about the lack of balconies. The air conditioning in our room worked automatically, if it froze, it was turned off. In the corridors of the hotel, indeed, the carpets are worn almost to holes and there is a smell of dampness. There was no smell in the room, the carpet was a little better. For my taste, I would remove the carpet altogether, I don’t understand why it is needed in a hot, humid climate (of course it’s a smell), it would be much more pleasant to walk on a cool tile. Breakfast is not ice, especially after last year's 4 stars. Buffet. But you can throw it in the stomach in the morning. I ate the main course with vegetable slices, drank coffee with pancakes and ate fruit slices, even managed to overeat. In the hotel, in addition to Russians, there were enough Indians, either Chinese or Koreans (for the Chinese, they seem to be too decent) and very few Americans. The hotel has no territory. At the entrance there is a smoking area (information for those who smoke), the rooms are non-smoking. And hardly anyone wants to smoke in rooms with non-opening windows. There is also a playground with tables, they say there in the season, something like a cafe with a disco. It didn't work during our visit. People just drank themselves at the tables. There is a pool. There are a few sunbeds nearby. The area around the pool is surrounded by a stone fence, along the perimeter there are plucked palm trees in tubs. Everyone wanted to swim there at least once for the sake of sports interest, but they did not have time. The weather was good and the sea is a five minute walk away. In the same building, only the entrance is a separate massage parlor: 200 baht Thai massage, 300 with oil. We only went there, because we rinsed comfortably, changed clothes and for a massage. Sea. Cross the road, empty lot, cross the road again. To the sea 5 minutes walk. It will take longer to cross the road. Since no one is going to let you through. If the cars can still slow down, then there are no bikes. But after seeing how the locals dart between the cars, we also learned. There is a large intersection near the hotel, so when there is a visible red light, there are gaps in traffic on the roads. Therefore, if you are very afraid to move, you can wait. Don't be alarmed, a wasteland is not a wasteland, but a gap between two hotels. The sea and the beach are relatively clean, we swam mostly there. True, in the first half of the day there was a strong ebb. But at that time we took sun baths, and when the water arrived, we enjoyed swimming. The hotel is within walking distance of everything. Next to the hotel is the Seven Eleven shop, where you will find, in addition to groceries, everything you need (from threads with needles, hangers, creams for and from sunburn). Go right until you reach Big C. This is a mall that sells everything from groceries to clothes and shoes. Plus a cafe and a beauty salon. If you go to the left, you will reach such large shopping centers as Festival and Royal Garden. Even Walking Street can be reached on foot if desired. We went to the centers on foot, and back tired or with purchases we returned by tuk tuk (10 baht per person). We ate everywhere and on the beach, and in open Thai cafes, and shopping centers. And the hotel ordered (already for a fee). Bought kuksu in Seven Eleven. By the way, next to Seven Eleven, a Thai woman cooks very tasty noodles or rice (your choice) with chicken, pork or beef with broth, just make sure that she does not put their favorite Thai weed, which smells very strong (for an amateur). It costs only 40 baht to eat. You can live in Pattaya on any amount of money. But no matter how much you take, then most likely you will leave everything there. Since everything is temptingly cheap. Exchangers on every corner. But the best course we came across in the middle of the way from the hotel to the Festival. Closer to shopping centers and in the centers themselves, the exchange rate is the lowest. Well, everything seems to be. In conclusion about the hotel. The hotel is well located and if your goal is not to sit in the room, but to actively relax. That I recommend.