Centara Grand Mirage Beach Resort Pattaya

This is a beautiful hotel. We booked a room for two adults, even though we had two adults and one child (8 years old). They didn't charge extra for the child for the room or breakfast, which is good to know – we just showed all three passports at check-in. We arrived at 11 AM and were able to check in early. After downloading the hotel app, we headed straight to the waterpark. Around 3 PM, the official check-in time, we received a notification that our room key was ready. I highly recommend checking in early if you can; when I went to collect the key at 3 PM, the lobby was packed, and the check-in line was incredibly long. The front desk staff was very friendly; when I asked for a high floor, they readily agreed. However, I soon realized that the floor level doesn't really matter here – every room offers stunning views of the pool and the ocean, even those on the sides. I had booked a non-cancellable room three months in advance, and later found out the price dropped by 800. To my surprise, after contacting Trip.com, they actually refunded the difference after our stay – what a pleasant surprise! There aren't many dining options right outside the hotel. On our first day, we ate pizza and other things at the hotel, which was a bit pricey. Getting tired of that, on the second day, we tried a street food stall right outside the main gate. They made some incredibly delicious stir-fried dishes – highly recommended! It's just one stall by the entrance, easy to find. The service wasn't the best, but the food was fantastic. There's a 7-Eleven about a 5-10 minute walk away. This hotel is definitely the best choice if you're traveling with kids.

The rooms have all been renovated and feel very new. However, some rooms have minor issues (gaps in the curtains letting light through after closing, a shower switch that isn't very responsive), but they were quickly addressed. The 4th floor was indeed very humid, with the room floors feeling damp, but this wasn't an issue on the 15th floor. The breakfast was plentiful with a good variety of choices. Housekeeping provided extra toiletries and bath sets when requested. However, when I asked to borrow a thermometer, I was told I'd have to go to the hotel clinic myself. Nearby restaurants and massage places are all within walking distance. During my stay, a security guard notified me of a flat tire on my car and helped me arrange for someone to come and repair it. The roadside stir-fry stall right outside the hotel is incredibly delicious and cheap. I can personally attest that their raw shrimp won't upset your stomach, and you can even take it back to the hotel to enjoy in the air conditioning. Just note that it only opens at 7 PM.

I wouldn't recommend this place. My experience was really negative, mainly due to the front desk staff's terrible attitude. The hotel barely offers any free activities or amenities for children; everything costs extra. There's no such thing as a private beach here, and the beach itself is filthy with murky water. My daughter and I even cut our feet on sharp objects in the water. Pattaya really isn't suitable for kids.

The hotel facilities include a private beach with a children's water park and an on-land play center, which are very child-friendly for children under 14. You can stay and play at the hotel for several days without having to go out. We stayed in a family room with bunk beds, which added a lot of fun for families traveling with older children and alleviated concerns about young children sleeping alone. The hotel provides children's toiletries (see picture). We had a room at the very end of the left wing. It had two balconies, and the 180-degree sea view from one balcony was absolutely stunning. Please note that smoking is not allowed on the balcony, and violators will be fined. It's worth mentioning that perhaps because the hotel is a bit old, the shower water quality was very poor. Fortunately, I brought a filtered shower head; you can see from the picture what the filter looked like after two days of use. I suspect it's due to old pipes. Also, on the first day of check-in, the front desk informed me that the Ctrip price only included two people, even though I had confirmed that the bunk bed room type could accommodate four people. I had to pay an additional surcharge of over 5000🐷 for two nights at the front desk. After I confirmed that the fee included all breakfasts and services, the next day at breakfast, the staff again said that the room only included breakfast for two. This experience was very disappointing. For dining, the hotel has two buffet breakfast areas, one in each wing, on the Ba*****t floor, and you need to swipe your card to enter. They offer bread, salads, fruits, various egg dishes, congee, and hot dishes. Service will end after 10:30 AM, and food is usually cleared promptly at 11:00 AM. You can serve yourself ice cream. Directly across the road from the hotel entrance is a Tops supermarket where you can buy various snacks, milk, drinks, and beer, and it's open 24 hours. In the evening at 7:00 PM, there are food stalls in the alley across the road. I tried a highly recommended one for everyone; with about seven or eight dishes plus beer for 1800🐷, I think I can give an informed opinion. The fried chicken wings were delicious, and the stir-fried noodles were good, though not comparable to those in China. The curry squid was okay. Don't order shrimp or sweet and sour pork, as the shrimp were not fresh, and the pork ribs were very mediocre. Overall, just think of it as a night market street stall by a school, good for a quick fried rice or stir-fried noodles.

The rooms have a distinct Southeast Asian charm and are very clean. The service is excellent, and there are many large pools with slides, basketball, and diving boards, which kept the kids very happy. The hotel also has direct access to the beach. We'll definitely stay for more nights next time!

This is our second stay at Centara Grand Mirage. The pool is fantastic, and the kids absolutely love it. We had a minor issue which was promptly resolved. Special shout-out to the M,YIN restaurant; their service is excellent! The only downside is that the air conditioning in the room is a bit noisy.