Pattaya has been a leading destination for thrill-seekers and solo travellers searching for rest and relaxation for what seems like an eternity. With the recent arrival of Cartoon Network Amazone and Ramayana Water Park, the seaside city has become a family retreat, too. But now more than ever Pattaya is proving it has just as many privileges for couples.
One place in Pattaya, in particular, has all the elements for a perfect - and perfectly accessible - romantic getaway: the Hilton Pattaya.
Located at the centre of Pattaya Beach, linked to Central Festival, the Hilton Pattaya provides unrivalled access to the mayhem below while feeling remarkably detached from it. That has a lot to do with the hotel’s height - 34 floors rising discreetly above the shoreline - but all the other elements, from design to amenities, play bigger parts in building a sense of exclusivity.
Start with the rooms. All feature sea views, but couples are perhaps best catered to with the King Hilton Executive Plus Seaview Room. The 65-square-metre room comes with utterly unobstructed views of the water, an especially fancy feature at night, when the fishing boats bathe the bay in luminous green light and the iconic “Pattaya City” sign flickers to life.
The best place in the room to soak up this scenery is the private outdoor bathtub, big enough for two. Wood panelling, as well as the fact that the 31st-floor room is higher than all buildings in the vicinity, means you enjoy total privacy. But you also have the option of an oversized rainfall shower, which likewise looks out toward the open sea, if you would rather stay indoors.
Beyond these features, the room comes with touches such as sound docks and the option of in-room breakfast that allow you to customise your experience. Not to mention it has a king-sized bed and a unique “live-in-live-out” area on the extended private balcony. Open the curtains in the morning to see the sunlight playing on the water and you may not want to leave your room.
But the hotel offers plenty of reasons for couples to get up and out, too.
The eforea Spa boasts 880 square metres in which to carve out your own private sanctuary. Winner of “Best Luxury Urban Escape Spa” in Asia and “Best Luxury Hotel Spa” in Thailand at the 2017 World Luxury Spa Awards, the eforea Spa offers an outstanding range of treatments, including Thai massage, hot stone massage, aromatherapy and full-body replenishing therapy.
Couples can enjoy a signature treatment in a private treatment room for two. While this room does present a beautiful view of the sea and the hotel’s jungle-like greenery, you will most likely be so lost in the soothing movement of your massage that the view will not mean much to you anyway. But it is nevertheless a quaint and calming touch before and after treatments.
As night falls, the Hilton Pattaya becomes even more atmospheric. The hotel’s rooftop bar and restaurant, Horizon, should be a requisite stop for every guest. From 5-7pm. [TP1] , the open-air patio, accented by blue light and brought to life by a DJ, offers happy hour deals. Two-for-one cocktails make for an ideal start to an evening out with your other half, watching the fading sun light up the boats in the bay, the buildings on the periphery and Koh Larn in the distance.
After a sundowner or two, retreat to Flare on the tucked-away 15th floor. The design of the restaurant represents being under the sea — dark drapes dividing tables, sleek ceiling accents that resemble coral — to a menu that incorporates the brightest flavours from across Asia into impeccably plated dishes.
Flare’s low lighting, small size and smart spacing between tables make it the perfect place to enjoy a romantic dinner. Smooth service and an extensive list of wines to pair with Calm Cove and Fine de Claire oysters, tangy Vietnamese-inspired noodles and fresh platters of tuna, octopus, salmon and scallop sashimi add another dimension of excitement to the experience.
Beyond the many luxurious touches that make the Hilton Pattaya such an attractive destination for a weekend escape, its distance from Bangkok — two hours by car — brings it over the top. If you are looking for a convenient place for you and your loved one to get away from it all without truly getting away, look no further.
Room rates at the Hilton Pattaya start at around Baht 6,500 per night, with King Hilton Executive Plus Seaview Rooms priced at Baht 11,500. Hilton Honors members enjoy special discounts on rooms, on top of many other benefits.
Hilton Pattaya 333/101 Moo 9, Nong Prue, Banglamung. Tel. 038 253 000. www.facebook.com/pattayahilton. www.pattaya.hilton.com.
