We stayed for the last week of February.

As has been mentioned in previous posts, they did try it on with the trick of getting us to stay in another hotel for ‘just one night’. We were a party of five, and so had two rooms. Having read about their little scam previously (thanks to those who posted this!), I had e-mailed them in advance and asked for confirmation of the booking, then took the printed e-mail with me. When they sprung the ‘surprise’ on me, I simply refused point blank and made a point of telling them about the confirmation of the booking plus the fact that they were getting a reputation for doing this. They soon miraculously had two rooms available, though did make sure that they were on opposite ends of the block! Punishment…? They also take a little too long with the check in (two young kids desperate to get to the pool doesn’t help) but I’m sure that if they didn’t try the scam it would be a quarter of the time.

As far as we were concerned, there was only one other significant complaint we have about the BanThai. This was the infuriating practice of people reserving the sun loungers by the pool at 7:30, then only appearing at the pool hours later, and more to the point the hotel not policing this. We have two young children, and it takes a while to corral them through breakfast etc., and by the time we arrive at the pool we found no free loungers. Having to sit on a hard tiled floor by the pool while there were at least ten loungers totally unused was not nice.

The beds are firm, as they are in Asia , but not uncomfortable. The (superior) rooms we stayed in are (in our opinion) perfectly adequately clean and well decorated. Our rooms were on the first floor above ground level, and had small balconies that overlooked the pool and the rooms on the other side. The ground floor rooms give directly onto the pool area, and if you were to keep the sliding blinds open, then yes you would have privacy issues. However there would be enough privacy for us if we were in them. The staff were courteous, and while there was some difficulty in getting some things understood, a little patience goes a long way.

It is quiet enough that you will not be bothered by the wild life that makes up Patong’s night life, yet five minutes pushing and shoving through the crowds on the poorly made, poorly maintained, narrow path (sidewalk) past the hawkers, tuk-tuk drivers, people offering to make you a suit (and trying to grab your hand – why do they do that?) will get you to Soi Bangla and as much noise, music, booze, bars and women you could ever wish for. And maybe quite a few you wouldn’t wish for either…

The breakfast has a good spread, with a great diversity of foods and drinks available. It’s a bit noisy if you sit inside, but that’s because so many people are there.

The two street bars, Port and Starboard, are either side of the beginning of the short entrance road on the corner with the main beach road. They are nice to sit at, being quite relaxed and not very noisy, street noise aside. The Hotel and its entrance road area are all well maintained, a far cry from the street mentioned above.

There are three separate blocks of rooms, with three pools. You are free to use whichever you wish, and the two that we tried had wet bars plus a large shallow (0.9M) area kids could safely play in. Space around the pools is not generous, so the number of loungers available is limited and you end up having to weave around those that are there. That aside, they are nicely maintained pools.

We didn’t have time or chance to try the Spa, or either of the restaurants. The ‘lobby bar’ is small, but then there are so many bars around that there is no need for any more.

One last word of advice. Two days during our stay had dry law – no alcohol on sale, even in the supermarkets. Some hotel bars and restaurants do sell alcohol, but essentially a Saturday night when ALL the bars are closed is not what most people go on holiday for. The reasons can be varied – the kings birthday, a royal funeral, election days…. Check before you go to see if you will get hit by this, or at lease ask the hotel once there – you can buy beer and wine the day before, or at lease arrange to do something to ensure you don’t have a washed out evening.

Liked : Location, cleanliness and well maintained

Disliked: That well documented check in scam and the lax attitude to people hogging the loungers

My husband and I stayed at the Banthai for 14 nights in February. The Banthai is situated close to all the action but once you are in the hotel grounds, you would not know. My sister and boyfriend were staying there at the same time and their room was closest to the road and they did not find it too noisy.

The Banthai is minimalist in style and not traditional Thai. There are three blocks of accommodation all of which have their own pool with swim up bar. We stayed in a Deluxe Room which is on the ground level, 3 metres from the pool. If you like to sit in the sun around the pool all day, beware, as due to the layout of the blocks, you only get sun on each side for roughly half a day. We did not get sun on our side until noon. Also, although there are sun loungers outside your room, anyone can use them, they are not reserved for you.

The rooms are pleasant enough although I would not recommend them for the frail or elderly as the only shower is in the bath and it is quite a step over into the bath. The wash basin is not in the bathroom which actually I found great because I could take off my makeup, brush my teeth etc., whilst my husband was in the bathroom. Also, it enabled me to blow dry my hair in the air conditioned room, without the moisture from the shower (what a girl!) We had problems with our TV a couple of times but the technician was there in 5 minutes. We also ordered buckets of ice a couple of times and they came promptly also. The room was cleaned very well and beds made up very nicely, each day turned down differently with orchids on the pillow. We also had 3 littles vases of flowers in our room and one outside which was rather nice. There was a few mosquitos in and around our room so I just made sure we sprayed with repellent. A complimentary Bangkok Post was also delivered daily and a fruit plate on arrival.

The breakfast was as good as any other 4 Star with all the usual options: juices, smoothies, cereals, yoghurts, hot Western and Asian, omelette and waffle station, salads, cold meats, sushi, fresh fruits, toast and pastries, coffee and tea. Only comment here it that there was only one toaster and when it was busy, they could really have done with one more. It is also self serve tea and coffee.

We had a couple of snacks, satays, hamburger, steak sandwich, by the pool which was good and reasonably priced. The mini bar is also very well priced although we get our own supplies from the mini mart or 7 11 stores.

The gym has a good range of fairly new equipment: 1 treadmill, 1 cross trainer and 2 bikes, fit balls, mats, free weights and a variety of weight machines. It is opened from 10am to 10pm which if you want to get your workout over before you have a yummy breakfast, 10am is a little late to open.

We ate at the The Savooey quite a few times, and also Sweet Restaurant which is really good value, they serve Italian wine at a reasonable price and it is not too bad and we also had the best Massamun curry at a little Dutch restauran/bar down one of the side streets. Also, wine use to be so expensive in Asia but I have found that the Italian 2 litre bottles for $18 is quaffable if you are a wine drinker, and not beer drinker like me.

Overall, I could not complain about this hotel. If you want to be in the middle of Patong and not have to catch tuk tuks all the time, the location of the Banthai is great and probably the best thing about it. Close to absolutely everything. For me, it probably lacked atmosphere. Having stayed at the Amari and Merlin Beach Resort also, the Amari would have to be my favourite.

First the good

- it is in a great location. Right in the centre of Patong, just across from the beach, you are really in amongst all the action. It is very easy to pop out for some shopping, to the beach or a walk and return to the hotel to drop stuff off or have a siesta.

- the pool is nice, however given the standard of some of the others in the area i would still only consider it just above average.

- the hotel is quite presentable although it is an unusual style...a bit of a mish mash of styles.

The Bad

- the staff here are very unhelpful. For what is supposed to be a 4 or 5 star hotel, even the most basic request is met with a arogance and attitude. I requested an extra sheet (my wife likes to hog the sheet so i get my own). I asked three seperate managers and was told that they could not give me another sheet. One per room was all that was allowed and i might steal it if i got another! In the end i just took one off the housemaids trolley each morning as they went past.

- The safe didnt work, and each time it was 'fixed' it would break again

- on the last day our belongings were gone through and shoes and clothing was stolen. As the doors were all locked i can only presume it was housekeeping.

- Few of the staff, besides the managers, speak english enough to help you with anything beyond the basics. They try for a few minutes looking confused and then get the manager...not such a bad thing when its not there language so i don't hold that against them.

- The wireless internet did not reach our room

- a request for a late check out was met with a ridiculously high charge. We simply used the showers at the pool instead.

- The noise from the front bar/restaurant can be very loud and keep you up if you are in the front part of the hotel...although i think due to the nature of Patong many hotels would have this problem.

Overall, nice (interesting) hotel in a great location, but the staff and service let it down horribly. I would not go back there especially considering the price. I would considr the holiday inn busorkan wing or amari instead (although i only walked theough them).

Stayed here during new year celebration for one week. Nice groundfloor room with terace and about 3 meters from a big pool.
Breakfast in this hotel is realy above average, great smoothies/sushi and pastries. First time we went for breakfast every morning even when we got in verry verry late.
Staff is very friendly and property clean. Nice hotel bar at the beach road in front of hotel, good cocktails.