Avani Pattaya Resort

Rooms and decor

Avani Pattaya Resort was formerly the Pattaya Marriott Resort, until Minor Hotels (which owns Avani) bought and rebranded it in 2017. It sits at 218/2-4 Beach Road in the heart of Central Pattaya, on a 4-rai plot that hides a tropical garden in the middle of the building. The trick of the place: you walk in off Beach Road and the traffic noise vanishes. The resort has 296 rooms across two buildings, from the entry Deluxe Garden View at 36 sqm up to a 72 sqm Pool Access Suite. The look is contemporary tropical in green, brown and cream, with Avani Comfort beds, cotton linens, and a balcony in every room over the pool, the garden, or the city. Pool Access rooms let you step straight down to the water, and the marble bathrooms have a rain shower and 0 Discoveries amenities. Real reviews on Trip.com (9.2/10) and Booking (8.6) mostly praise the rooms as spacious and good value.

Food and amenities

The heart of Avani is that 4-rai tropical garden mid-building, with a pond, a small waterfall, and a mix of tropical planting. The 600 sqm pool is ringed by trees, rates 9.2/10 for cleanliness, and comes with a jacuzzi and a separate kids pool. There are four restaurants, including Tamarind for a Thai-international breakfast and dinner buffet, the Latitude Pool Bar for poolside cocktails with a 16:00 to 18:00 buy-one-get-one happy hour, Mantra Restaurant & Bar serving Korean and Japanese with a sushi bar, and Bay Yard, a Lao-style bar. AvaniSpa runs Thai-inspired treatments from about $63 to $129, there's a 24-hour fitness center, and a Kids Pool with a small Kids Club. Overall it scores 9.0/10.

Location and getting there

Avani sits at 218/2-4 Beach Road in the heart of Central Pattaya. Pattaya Beach is a 5-to-7-minute walk cutting through Royal Garden Plaza. Royal Garden Plaza itself is 5 minutes away, a three-floor mall with Ripley's Believe It or Not. CentralFestival Pattaya Beach is 12 minutes on foot or a $0.60 songthaew, Walking Street is 10 minutes along the sand, the Bali Hai pier is 12 minutes, and Mike Shopping Mall is just 3 minutes. U-Tapao Airport (UTP) is 30 km out, a 45-minute drive, with a Bolt running about $20 to $26. Suvarnabhumi (BKK) is 130 km away, a 2-hour drive, with Bell Travel at about $7 per person.

Things to know before booking

Straight talk: first, it's not beachfront. You'll walk 5 to 7 minutes to Pattaya Beach, so if you want to open your door to the sea, look at the Holiday Inn or Hard Rock across the road from the water. Second, Wi-Fi runs slow in some far rooms because the building is large and sprawling, so ask for floors 3 to 5 near the lobby where it's faster. Third, breakfast isn't in the entry rate, adding about $19 per person (kids under 12 free), so if you want it included, grab the Bed & Breakfast package when booking, which works out cheaper than buying it separately. Fourth, prices jump in high season (November to February), potentially past $286, topping $343 over New Year.

Our take

Avani Pattaya Resort is the best fit for couples and small families who want a garden-resort feel in the city center, close to the shops and the beach but off the loud main road. From about $129, it's the best value in the 5-star Central Pattaya group: a 4-rai tropical garden, a big pool, rooms from 36 sqm with a balcony, and a spot you can walk from to Pattaya Beach, Walking Street and Royal Garden Plaza. If the trip in your head is a couple unwinding somewhere quiet, with a small child along and the shops nearby, this is the most complete answer. But if you want sea views or beachfront, the Hilton or Holiday Inn will suit you better. Overall we give it 9.0/10, best for couples, small families, and anyone who wants a bit of nature in the middle of the city.