Cape Dara Resort Pattaya — Hotel in Pattaya City

Disappointing Experience – Far from a 5-Star Hotel!

My wife and I chose this hotel for our honeymoon, expecting a luxurious and relaxing stay. Unfortunately, our experience was far from what we anticipated. The hotel markets itself as a 5-star establishment, but in reality, it falls drastically short in terms of service, room quality, and overall maintenance.

Service – Cold and Unprofessional

From the moment we arrived, the service was unwelcoming and indifferent. The staff at the entrance did not even greet us, and the reception desk treated us in a dismissive and condescending manner. Given the amount we invested in our stay, we expected professional hospitality, but instead, we encountered a lack of care and a completely unhelpful attitude.

Rooms – Below Acceptable Standards

We specifically booked a sea-view room with a balcony, as I am a smoker and wanted to enjoy the view in comfort. However, upon arrival, we were informed that smoking was not allowed, even on the balcony, which was never mentioned during booking.

Moreover, our “sea-view” room had only a side balcony with a very limited view of the ocean, and to make matters worse, there was a massive construction project directly below the hotel. The noise was unbearable from early morning until late afternoon, making it impossible to relax. Instead of addressing the issue, the hotel merely provided earplugs, which only emphasized the problem rather than solving it.

The condition of the room itself was completely unacceptable: • The air conditioning unit was covered in mold and fungus. • There was visible dampness on the walls and a strong musty odor. • The mattress was extremely hard and uncomfortable. • Despite booking a king-sized bed, we were given two single beds pushed together, creating an awkward and uncomfortable sleeping experience.

Upgrade Attempt – Overpriced and Unjustified

When we complained to the reception about these issues, we were told we could upgrade to a better room – for an additional 10,000 THB for four nights. We agreed to consider it but insisted on seeing the room first.

To our disappointment, the “better” room was exactly the same as the one we had, with the only difference being that it was located in a quieter part of the hotel, away from the construction noise. Despite this, the hotel refused to offer any further compensation or assistance.

Facilities & Surroundings – Not Luxurious at All

The hotel itself is very old and poorly maintained. One of the key reasons we chose this hotel was for its beachfront location, but the reality was a major letdown. The beach is full of rocks, making it uncomfortable to walk or swim, and it is far from the pristine, tropical setting the hotel advertises.

Final Verdict – We Are Leaving This Hotel

The experience was so unacceptable and disappointing that my wife and I have decided to leave the hotel early and find another place to stay, despite losing the money we already paid. The service, rooms, noise, and overall poor standards make this hotel completely unworthy of its 5-star rating.

If you value your money, time, and vacation experience – do not...

I booked a Junior Family Suite with Sea Views at the Cape Dara resort. Based on the photos on the website, the hotel’s five-star rating, and the reviews I read, I had higher expectations. However, at over $400 USD per night, I did not feel the room offered good value for the price.

The pool, grounds, and common areas were well maintained and attractive. This was the one part of the hotel that truly felt like a five-star experience, and I give credit to the hotel for keeping these areas in excellent condition.

Unfortunately, the room itself was disappointing. It felt more like a budget corporate hotel than a luxury resort, with very little thought given to the decor or layout. For example:

The second half bathroom did not have a towel rack.

The balcony had a wall that was so high, you could not see the water when seated - just the wall itself.

The so-called “sea view” was actually a partial side view of Pattaya beach and the city. It was not a direct or expansive ocean view. For what is supposed to be the most expensive room type in the hotel, I expected better.

The room also felt a bit dated. We experienced several issues, including:

A leaky shower door that flooded the bathroom anytime one took a shower.

Toilets that only flushed properly if you held down the handle the entire time.

Noticeable wear and tear both inside the room and on the balcony.

Another drawback was the construction noise from a nearby high-rise building. Work was ongoing every day, making it unpleasant to spend time on the balcony due to the constant noise.

The breakfast buffet was decent, with a good variety and fair quality, but nothing exceptional.

A few more observations:

There is no sandy beach at this property. You can walk down to the water, but it is rocky and covered in algae and sea gunk - not the kind of setting you would describe as scenic.

One should also note, the location is somewhat isolated. Terminal 21 and the main street with shops, cafes, and massage places are about a 20 minute walk away. Although the hotel offers a shuttle every 30 minutes, it is not as convenient as the on-demand shuttles I have experienced at other luxury hotels in Thailand.

If you plan to stay on the property and enjoy the facilities, this hotel may meet your needs. But if you are looking to explore the city, shop, get a Thai massage, or experience the energy of Pattaya’s main strip, this location is not ideal.

Overall, it was a decent place but I would rate it more of a 4-star hotel and believe the room rate - at least for a suite (which I had booked far in advance) was not...

This hotel claims itself as a 5 star hotel, but.... i must be unlucky.

I have the opportunity to stay with family with young children during the Songkran Festival for 2 nights with Thai government tourism support campaign.

Pros. Friendly and smiling staff The restaurant uses good ingredients. Big quantity, good taste Room service available 24 hours a day There is a baby cot, a bathtub and a sterilizer service for baby bottle.

Cons.

Very little parking .There is a building with parking spaces, but there only a little per floor, and the parking lot outside the building is far away.

-Check in process is very long queue. Had to stand in line for almost 15 minutes. Should have managed better during the festival.

In-room wifi speed is very slow, as my test only 0.4Mbps.

-The open air restaurant is very hot. not managing social distancing well enough.

the terrible experience for our family and need the serious improvement from hotel is the "room readiness". The room I stayed in encountered many problems The air conditioner is broken. can not adjust the temperature It seems that the temperature will hold at 18-20 degrees. Call a technician to fix it for 2 time and it's still not fixed yet. My solution is have to "walk" to turn off the air conditioner almost every hour. Once warm, turn it on again. because they will suffocate and have to let the child wear a sweater and bring a towel to cover the child more because i afraid that my child will be sick . (btw hotel team by the assistant manager offered me to check out "until 2pm" and offered to upgrade the room if i come to stay next time by giving her "business card")

the sanitary ware in toilet issue, the water is constantly flowing loudly. I solved by Repair the float measure tools by myself. The water from the shower stall is not completely closed, causing water splash out to the toilet floor. Not very safe

Comment when accompanied by young children

-Appliances and furniture in the room have sharp corners, be careful.

light switch around the bed at the level of a child's hand reach. Be...