336/20 M. 9 Pattaya Klang Road, Nongprue, Banglamung, Chonburi, Pattaya, Thailand | (618) 248-8274
Central Pattaya, surrounded by shops and restaurants
Walk to beach in seven minutes
Spacious and contemporary rooms with quirky decor and balconies
Modern fitness center plus spa and sauna
Rooftop swimming pool and ground-level pool with waterslide
Two on-site restaurants and an outdoor bar area
Coin-operated laundry facilities
24-hour concierge
Free Wi-Fi throughout
Rampant service issues
Music around pool can be loud and heard in rooms
Breakfast not included with all room rates
The mid-range, 360-room Grand Bella Hotel is in the center of Pattaya, within a reasonable walk of the beach and major shopping malls. Rooms are colorful and modern, with furnished balconies and some playful design quirks, but they are simple overall. There are two swimming pools -- one with a waterslide that's popular for families -- as well as a fitness center, spa, and sauna. A good breakfast is included in most room rates, and offers international or Indian options, as the hotel caters to a good number of South Asian guests. Guests looking for a more intimate stay in the same area should consider the Nova Gold Hotel Pattaya.
Scene
Contemporary hotel with bright design quirks, but rampant service issues
The Grand Bella Hotel
comprises three hotel buildings and is geared to a wide
range of guests including families, couples, and
tour groups, many from South and Southeast Asia. The hotel lobby is a quirky cluster of furnishings, from leather
circular seating benches, astro-turf style rugs, hand-painted sea life murals,
and lime green ceiling panels. There are two on-site restaurants with a generically contemporary look -- think bright colors and furniture. The hotel has two swimming pools; one with a large slide to keep the kids occupied and
the second on the hotel rooftop, complete with views across Pattaya. There are plenty of fold out sun beds and outdoor tables located
conveniently close to the hotel's outdoor pool bar. It's worth mentioning that service here gets consistently terrible reviews, an odd anomaly in tourist-mad Thailand.
Location
Within walking distance of beach and shopping in central Pattaya
The hotel is located in central
Pattaya, a seven-minute walk to the city's main beach. There are a host of tourist-ready, kitschy attractions in the area, including the Ripley's Believe It or Not Museum, which is a five-minute walk from the hotel. The Central Festival shopping mall is a 10-minute walk from the hotel, and there are plenty of restaurants, shops, massage parlors, and bars in the area as well. It's a 13-minute tuk-tuk or taxi ride to
Walking Street, a vibrant and somewhat notorious are of the city famous for its bars and nightlife. The Pattaya Elephant Sanctuary
and the Sanctuary of Truth, a striking temple that's fashioned entirely of wood, are both about 15 minutes away by taxi, depending on traffic. For gifts, the Pattaya Floating Market has plenty tourist souvenirs and crafts, and is an 18-minute drive from the hotel. The closest airport is Utapao-Rayong-Pattaya Airport, about 50 minutes from the hotel by road.
Rooms
Bright, spacious, simple rooms with balconies
There are 360 rooms available, with
several configurations to accommodate for all guest types, including Deluxe and Superior Rooms, as well as Junior and Grand Suites. Accommodations are bright and spacious, and style varies between rooms and suites. Traditional rooms have tile floors with tile half-panel walls, along with bright yellow accent walls and glass mosaic tile borders. There is a childish hot air balloon mural painted on the wall above the beds. The furniture in these rooms is contemporary, but cheap, with plenty of bright plastic that's been molded into wild shapes for seating. The look is a bit future-mod. Suites are more sophisticated, but still simple, with contemporary dark wood veneer furniture, handsome orange padded headboards in bedrooms, and gray tile floors. Bathrooms are spacious and modern across the board, with floor-to-ceiling tiling and colorful mosaic accents. They have shower/tub combos or wet room-style showers. All rooms include free Wi-Fi, coffee- and tea-making facilities,
air-conditioning, minibars, flat-screen TVs,
ironing facilities, and safes. Some guests have reported hearing noise from inside the hotel and neighboring rooms.
Features
Two on-site swimming pools, sauna, spa, and fitness facilities
The hotel's features are fairly standard for mid-range properties in Pattaya. There are two pools -- the main pool in the courtyard between the hotel's buildings and one on the roof. The main pool has a waterslide, a shallow area, and an island in the center. There's also a pool bar. It's surrounded by a terrace with contemporary lounge chairs and seating, and the hotel plays loud music all day long. The rooftop pool is long and narrow, and a bit more tranquil. Most rooms include breakfast, but not all, and the buffets offer international selections as well as Indian options. The hotel's spa is small, but stylish, and offers a range of treatments and massages. There is also a modern fitness center with cardio and weight equipment, along with a sauna. The hotel has conference space, and 24-hour concierge services. Wi-Fi is free throughout the hotel.