La Miniera Pool Villas Pattaya — Hotel in Chon Buri Province

Despite my late wife and I having visited Thailand frequently since the late 90's, this was my first time visiting Pattaya. I was drawn to La Miniera, as it was a new SLH partner property under the Hilton portfolio, and the villas featured indoor pools within the units themselves. Diamond recognition was excellent. I received an upgraded villa with direct access to the outdoor pool in addition to the aforementioned indoor pool. I also was allowed access to the entire breakfast buffet spread instead of the usual continental breakfast that is the standard. I found this was most generous.

Although the complex is not located by the beach or even in central Pattaya, the property was beautifully landscaped with shrubbery and pathways shaded by mature trees. Electric carts were available to transport guests to all parts of the compound. A complimentary shuttle service was available to drop off and pick up at the mega shopping mall, Terminal 21. It was reliable and punctual whenever I used it.

The villa that I was assigned was magnificent. I loved the tonal palette in shades of taupe and brown. The decor was bold, modern, and sophisticated. A large sofa and table made it convenient to enjoy room service meals while enjoying the privacy and elegance of the oversized space. The high ceiling and attractive chandelier added a dramatic effect to the room, while the indoor jacuzzi pool, with its music and light show, provided a bit of theatre. A large television was visible from both the bed or pool.

The outdoor terrace was ample furnished with a double wide chaise lounge and table as well as other seating and table options. It was great being able to just jump into the pool from your terrace. While the indoor pool was perfect as an oversized jacuzzi, swimming laps was a bit awkward given the shallow depth.

The bathroom was enormous. Double vanities, a shower stall, and a washlet bidet toilet in a space the size of a changing room felt extravagant. Balmain branded toiletries were provided in addition to a scale, both bedroom and pool slippers and bathrobes.

Room service meals I sampled were usually excellent. The one exception was the second time I ordered the beef tenderloin. The filet was a bit overdone, and the portion size and presentation was inferior to the first time I had it. The pork chop, which I also ordered twice, was flavourful, tender, and attractively presented.

The buffet reakfast was good, and selections changed on a daily basis. One could get eggs to order as well as custom pressed juices. The food quality was very good, but given the smaller size of the property, the selection was not as varied as one gets in, say,  the larger Bangkok hotels.

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed my stay at La Miniera. The staff were so warm and welcoming , and the pool villas so attractive, it would be difficult to go...

Response to the property's Google review reply

Firstly, please respect my personal data rights (PDPA applies in Thailand) by removing my actual name from your response. What happened at the hotel is vivid in my head but I intentionally did not name names; out of etiquette. I hope that you can consider returning the courtesy.

In my previous email (sent on 18/12/2024; which has yet to be responded by anyone from the property), I have made it clear that the GM's replies thus far showed that my feedback was not taken seriously. As a matter of fact, the more we corresponded, the further we were let down.

Initial Review What we experienced upon arrival at the hotel was so horrible that despite fully paying for the room in advance and enduring a 2-hour drive, we declined to check in.

For pet parents who are looking forward to a memorable stay, we have been there. We would reconsider, if we were you.

Despite having requested to speak to the manager repeatedly, the hotel made us wait for approximately two hours in the car to speak to a manager. In fact, we were on the car for the entire time that we were at the property, because our pet Golden Retriever, was not allowed on the hotel’s public grounds. Our pet was not allowed in the lobby, not allowed in the parking lot.

After the two-hour wait, a front desk manager showed up with an insulting demeanour, which was shown in her attitude, tone of voice, volume of speech, body language, word choice, and ultimately the refusal to meet us even upon multiple requests. This was what we consider “the rudest most inhospitable action in the history of hospitality”. After the front desk manager finished wreaking havoc on our trip, the GM appeared but it was too late to make us stay.

Out of courtesy to the GM, we have reported all of the issues that we faced directly to the GM through a detailed feedback email after the event. Unfortunately, none of our issues were adequately addressed. Unfortunately, none of our questions were answered.

We hope this review helps.

P.S.

Date of attempted check-in: 12/12/2024

Date of feedback email sent to the GM: 14/12/2024

Date of posted...

La Miniera Pool Villas Pattaya deserves a 5-star rating overall, though there are some considerations future guests should note.

The hotel excels in providing quality accommodations, with excellent facilities and standout service from their friendly staff. The property clearly maintains high standards in terms of comfort and general amenities.

However, potential guests should be aware of two specific limitations. The pool area has restricted access - guests without pool villas will find themselves without loungers or space to enjoy the pool area. This setup might disappoint those expecting traditional hotel pool access.

The breakfast service, while generally good, offers limited options for vegetarian guests. This restricted selection could be challenging for those following a plant-based diet.

Despite these limitations, the overall excellence of the accommodation and service quality maintains the hotel's 5-star rating. The staff's friendly approach and the general comfort level of the property provide a premium experience.

For future guests, these points are worth considering when booking - those wanting pool access might prefer to book a pool villa, and vegetarian guests might want to plan for alternative breakfast options. The hotel could enhance its offering by addressing these specific areas while maintaining its current high standards in other...