Regent Cha Am no more? (Regent Hotel ChaAm)

Member Name: jayjolynn

Product:	Regent Hotel ChaAm
Date:	01/11/06 (255 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Nice grounds, nice location

Disadvantages: needing re-furbished when I was there!

The Regent Cha Am is overall a nice complex, but on arrival we were shown to our rooms (2 x couples) and within minutes of seeing them, we were not happy!

There was paint peeling off the doors and the valances on the beds had not even been cleaned. Now, to explain, we booked this trip last minute and got a good deal, so we did not expect anything too classy (as we knew we were geting a basic room), but never expected anything so basic as that! I can put up with basic rooms, but not dirt!

We never even unpacked, we just went right back downstairs to reception and asked for a manger. We didn't get one, but instead a supervisor of some sort, who we showed the stained valances to, and the general run down condition of the rooms. She agreed to show us another 2 rooms, but unfortunately, they were no better! I said I wasn't very happy to stay in these, and she offered me the explanation that they were reburbishing half of the rooms, so had to place guests in the older rooms while this was being done! We eventually had to agree to stay in these rooms, but I was so disapointed, as having been to Thailand a few times (and my family), none of us had ever seen anything so basic anywhere in Thailand on previous visits!
I asked this very polite lady if I could speak to the Manager on his return, and she agreed she would let him know of our need to speak to him. Still waiting to hear from him!
Anyway, we settled down into our worn out rooms, and tried not to let it spoil our stay there.
The Cha Am, once refurbished will be a fine Hotel, we just happened to pick a bad time!

Hmmmmmm.....Now, after writing all this, I have just found out it has changed hands.....so perhaps all this was in the process when we went. I believe it is now

The Holiday Inn Resort
Rooms: 720 rooms and suites in three design concepts

The Holiday Inn Resort, Main Wing , a 4 star rating by The Thai Hotels Standard Foundation , is a five storey hotel comprising of 367 rooms .

The Regency Wing & Anavana Villa 160 Regency rooms and suites. and swimming pool, gardens,

The Regent Chalet and Regent Rimsone , Consist of 161 rooms and suites, Restaurants:

I think some of the Restaurant names have changed since I last visited in October 2005 too, so I apologise, I have to take these details from a web site


Rim Talay - Al fresco beachside dining with a range of snacks throughout the day.
Chalet Cafe - With an international menu in a large open-air pavilion.
Sakuna - A 24 hour restaurant with a range of Western and Thai specialities.
Tapien Tong Grill - French cuisine in an intimate atmosphere.
Bua Chompoo - Fusion food served in an open kitchen.
Lom Fong - This lakeside sala restaurant offers a range of Thai specialities.
Sanuk Sanuk Pub - The resorts primary bar with regular entertainment.

Overall, I enjoyed the lovely gardens of the Hotel, and the staff were excellent, and the few times we ate in one of the Restaurants. it wasn't expensive, and was really nice food! You get a lovely buffet style breakfast there too! It has plenty to offer, though a bit off the beaten track, so you need taxi's, not expensive at all, to get you into Cha Am or Hua Hin (the hotel is situated somewhere in the middle of these).
The pool was nice, and the waiters and waitresses were excellent and willing to serve you anytime!

Not the nicest beach I have seen, as the Thai beaches are normally beautiful, but someone mentioned to me it's because it is the main shipping route from Bangkok? I won't say they were dirty, but not as clear looking sand as you might expect on a Thai beach! The sellers on the beach will supply you all your Thai silk household goods and sarongs, and they are not too pushy, in fact they are all so pleasant (as are all Thai people) and it makes you want to buy something from each of them!

Right at the gates of the Hotel there are shops (mainly all tailors shops) and just walk along a few yards to the little village which is lovely! There, you can get your clothes laundered for next to nothing, and you can get a full slap up English breakfast at Dee Dee's! (Better than what you can get in our Breakfast cafes back home!!) Too tempting to resist this, and he makes a good old cup of tea too! All for about £3.00! Many visitors of the past have gave him football scarfs, photos etc,...and all this memorabelia adorns his walls!

Also, in the village, you can get a massage, manicure, pedicure at Gina's, who just happens to be a tailoress too!
Further along in one of the restaurants you can buy beautiful hand made jewellry!

Walk through this village and you will get lovely little restaurants, and a lovely atmosphere, what with their little lights on the outdoor eating places....really pretty place, so no need to eat in the Cha Am if you don't want to! Not expensive at all, and drinks are cheap, and the hopitality of the residents is so charming, to the extent that one owner of a restaurant watered the concrete floor round our table so we would feel cooler, much to the amusement of everyone else!

So, after learning the Regent Cha Am has since changed names and has been fully re-furbished, I might sometime give it another go, (even just to see our friends again from the village)!

I think maybe we just picked a bad time, overall!

Summary: Worth another go?!