TrongpaiExpat
July 2nd, 2009, 02:14
I recently stayed at the Venue and here are my impressions for what it's worth. This is a review of the hotel only.
I booked on-line for a standard room and quite promptly received a call from Ray telling me that they have extended the 999 baht special discount with upgrades to next available room.
I walked by a few times when the Venue was under construction otherwise it would have been quite a shock seeing how the old Bondi was converted to this modern structure. I am not a big fan of modern decor. I can tolerate it but would not go modern in anyplace that I lived. So, as far as modern goes, it was nicely done. We approached the desk and a nice polite Thai guy efficiently checked me in. I noticed a sign for Jointers, they check ID, keep it and then check on you when the joiner leaves, some farangs like this. The guy checking me did not say anything about what sort of an upgrade I got, if any, but I got a room on the 3rd floor whatever room class that is, I suspect it was either the Superior or the Deluxe. I know it was not a suite and I am guessing that the standard rooms are on floor 2.
There's something askew with the room's feng shui. There's a sofa with a high back that's positioned at the foot of the bed. You can't see the TV from the bed. There's a nice glass table but too small for the coffee/tea set up and a lap top. Overall there's not a lot of shelf/table space and I ended up with stuff on the floor. I know it all part of the modern design but that's one of the reasons I don't like this design. The TV is nice but the stand is too low. The lighting system is the only design feature that is near perfect. AC works well, good adjustment/thermostat but an in room fan would be a nice extra. There's only one chair in the room and it's the same modern design chairs in the bar, with this funny wrap around chrome tubing for upper back support with a firm seat, not comfortable.
One of the most important features of any hotel room for me is the bed. That's were you spend most of your time. There's four good pillows, every hotel should have four pillows. The bed was on the firm side but not rock hard, it had some give but not what I like. The beds that are featured in Westin hotels called the "Heavenly bed" are my favorite. That could be remedied a little with a good foam padded cover. If you sleep on your side you might not like the beds, there's no give unless you really press down hard. The choice to go with these low cost mattress was a mistake. If I was paying high season rates, I would have expected better beds.
The web page does not tell you much about the room categories except the prices.There are three room categories but besides a suite being one there's no details (sq meter or whatever) on the web page on what rooms are what. Still no good photos of the rooms and how hard can that be to get updated?
There's a lift next to reception and a spiral stair case, a little narrow on the treads and tedious for big footed farangs, take the lift. We got a room facing the street but noise from outside was not a problem. Noise does make it in from the downstairs show and if for some reason you have to sleep at 10pm, forget it. After midnight it's quiet. I don't know if I had neighbors or not but the walls between rooms are solid and your not hearing anything from a noisy neighbor.
They went with room keys and double turn locks rather than card locks. There's an easy to use safe in the closet wardrobe. I would not worry too much about security, seems quite safe and secure.
The room phone charges are overpriced. 10B a min local, 20B /min Bangkok and 100B /min international and add 15B for calls to cell phone. Then if your stupid enough to pay those rates you can book a car and driver to Bangkok for 2,500B, Airport for 2,400B.
There's Wifi but I could not get connected, week signal. There also a LAN connection and they lend you a cable if you don't have one. I did not bother The Venue's internet because I have a air modem and that was working fine.
The bathroom continued with the modern design with a fixed glass door and half open shower. Some water splashes on the floor outside the shower. These open designs are popular now but you need a bigger shower area to prevent water getting outside the shower area.
Overall, the price I paid for the quality of the room was excellent. It's not a 5 star resort. In fact calling it a resort is a stretch. Not pulling out a tape measure but I would say that you get a little more space for the same price as Poseidon but your not getting anything more that what Poseidon has to offer, other than the pool which is too small, poorly located and is not getting much use. So, would I stay here again? Not really unless there was another 999 special price/upgrade offer. I don't mind spending baht for a quality room but this is Pattaya, Shitsville, The brothel by the sea not Phuket, Karab or some nice island. It's not on the beach and the view is that of an ugly street in the deteriorating complex. It's a hotel above a Pattaya show bar. The place just did not give me a warm fuzzy feeling.
I see the price structure between the Venue and the Poseidon is pretty much the same for the standard room. The Venue Standard Room: Low Season - Baht 1290 High Season - Baht 1690. The Poseidon called their lowest category a Superior Room Low Season - Baht 1,360 High Season- Baht 1600. I would rather go with the Poseidon if I am paying these rates. I am sure there will be a following for the Venue. The place is run well, spotless, and the staff excellent. It's just not the place for me but do give it a try and make your own decisions.
I booked on-line for a standard room and quite promptly received a call from Ray telling me that they have extended the 999 baht special discount with upgrades to next available room.
I walked by a few times when the Venue was under construction otherwise it would have been quite a shock seeing how the old Bondi was converted to this modern structure. I am not a big fan of modern decor. I can tolerate it but would not go modern in anyplace that I lived. So, as far as modern goes, it was nicely done. We approached the desk and a nice polite Thai guy efficiently checked me in. I noticed a sign for Jointers, they check ID, keep it and then check on you when the joiner leaves, some farangs like this. The guy checking me did not say anything about what sort of an upgrade I got, if any, but I got a room on the 3rd floor whatever room class that is, I suspect it was either the Superior or the Deluxe. I know it was not a suite and I am guessing that the standard rooms are on floor 2.
There's something askew with the room's feng shui. There's a sofa with a high back that's positioned at the foot of the bed. You can't see the TV from the bed. There's a nice glass table but too small for the coffee/tea set up and a lap top. Overall there's not a lot of shelf/table space and I ended up with stuff on the floor. I know it all part of the modern design but that's one of the reasons I don't like this design. The TV is nice but the stand is too low. The lighting system is the only design feature that is near perfect. AC works well, good adjustment/thermostat but an in room fan would be a nice extra. There's only one chair in the room and it's the same modern design chairs in the bar, with this funny wrap around chrome tubing for upper back support with a firm seat, not comfortable.
One of the most important features of any hotel room for me is the bed. That's were you spend most of your time. There's four good pillows, every hotel should have four pillows. The bed was on the firm side but not rock hard, it had some give but not what I like. The beds that are featured in Westin hotels called the "Heavenly bed" are my favorite. That could be remedied a little with a good foam padded cover. If you sleep on your side you might not like the beds, there's no give unless you really press down hard. The choice to go with these low cost mattress was a mistake. If I was paying high season rates, I would have expected better beds.
The web page does not tell you much about the room categories except the prices.There are three room categories but besides a suite being one there's no details (sq meter or whatever) on the web page on what rooms are what. Still no good photos of the rooms and how hard can that be to get updated?
There's a lift next to reception and a spiral stair case, a little narrow on the treads and tedious for big footed farangs, take the lift. We got a room facing the street but noise from outside was not a problem. Noise does make it in from the downstairs show and if for some reason you have to sleep at 10pm, forget it. After midnight it's quiet. I don't know if I had neighbors or not but the walls between rooms are solid and your not hearing anything from a noisy neighbor.
They went with room keys and double turn locks rather than card locks. There's an easy to use safe in the closet wardrobe. I would not worry too much about security, seems quite safe and secure.
The room phone charges are overpriced. 10B a min local, 20B /min Bangkok and 100B /min international and add 15B for calls to cell phone. Then if your stupid enough to pay those rates you can book a car and driver to Bangkok for 2,500B, Airport for 2,400B.
There's Wifi but I could not get connected, week signal. There also a LAN connection and they lend you a cable if you don't have one. I did not bother The Venue's internet because I have a air modem and that was working fine.
The bathroom continued with the modern design with a fixed glass door and half open shower. Some water splashes on the floor outside the shower. These open designs are popular now but you need a bigger shower area to prevent water getting outside the shower area.
Overall, the price I paid for the quality of the room was excellent. It's not a 5 star resort. In fact calling it a resort is a stretch. Not pulling out a tape measure but I would say that you get a little more space for the same price as Poseidon but your not getting anything more that what Poseidon has to offer, other than the pool which is too small, poorly located and is not getting much use. So, would I stay here again? Not really unless there was another 999 special price/upgrade offer. I don't mind spending baht for a quality room but this is Pattaya, Shitsville, The brothel by the sea not Phuket, Karab or some nice island. It's not on the beach and the view is that of an ugly street in the deteriorating complex. It's a hotel above a Pattaya show bar. The place just did not give me a warm fuzzy feeling.
I see the price structure between the Venue and the Poseidon is pretty much the same for the standard room. The Venue Standard Room: Low Season - Baht 1290 High Season - Baht 1690. The Poseidon called their lowest category a Superior Room Low Season - Baht 1,360 High Season- Baht 1600. I would rather go with the Poseidon if I am paying these rates. I am sure there will be a following for the Venue. The place is run well, spotless, and the staff excellent. It's just not the place for me but do give it a try and make your own decisions.