Mercure Hotel, Pattaya

Advantages: Palm trees, close to the beach and comfortable
Disadvantages: Can be a bit busy

...This is one of those hotels where, the longer you stay, the longer you want to stay. I stayed here in May 05. The pool and facilities are second to none and you meet a wide variety of people. It is worth getting up a bit early to grab a sun lounger but you will find yourself in the pool more than on it. The food was gorgeous and room service is extremly quick. It is in an ideal location (close enough to walking street but far enough from it if you wish to avoid it), there is a shopping centre less than three minutes away with everything you need and great bargains. It will take you about 2 minutes to get to the beach and to other restaurants. There is a great restaurant across the street which hosts live traditional thai dancing! The hotel can arrange all excursions that you may like and their English is very good. I would... Read review

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Advantages: The fast pace, shopping, abundance of activities available, ability to book day-trips
Disadvantages: Sex trade, smell, polluted waters, dirty beach, not safe to go into town alone

...' at dinner. It is uncomfortable and actually quite scary. I wouldn't have wanted to be out there on my own. Please note that Pattaya is not all sex, smell and pollution. If you search hard enough you can find traditional Thailand - a huge gold buddah was just a short walk from our hotel and there are still temples here. But it may be a good idea to stay at the nearby Jomtien beach - a 10 minute songtheow ride. It is a much quieter, cleaner resort than Pattaya and allows you to experience the busy, thrill-seeking pace of Pattaya whilst retreating far enough way to have some breathing space. Day trips are also easy to find in travel centres around central Pattaya - try a day trip to Bangkok or (I would especially recommend) an overnight stay on little island just off Pattaya. This is where you'll really find the classic Thai beaches that Leonardo... Read review

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Advantages: Reasonable cost, attractive architecture
Disadvantages: Service could have been better

...Bergen Op Zoom is a small town not far from Rotterdam. I visited it recently whilst doing business in the nearby petrochemical area. The town is quaintly Dutch with lots of nice bars and restaurants. I stopped at The Hotel de Draak operated under the Mercure name. Like the town the hotel is old and it occupies a good position in the corner of the main square the Grote Markt. Parking is available either outside the hotel in the square of for Nfl 14.50 a night they have a private secure parking area nearby. The hotel has only 34 rooms but they are spread on 6 floors. There is a lift which is also very old but seemed up to the job each time I used it. The building itself is a typical town centre town house much loved and seen in the Netherlands. It all seemed quaintly untouched by time with old beams and doors and chandeliers. Sadly some... Read review

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