LK The Empress — Hotel in Pattaya City

I booked for location and because rooms looked good on Agoda. I made the mistake of booking on Agoda too, because it wasn't available on booking.com... and somehow overlooked that it was prepayment. That was my bad... I never prepay a hotel room and almost never book without cancellation possibility because you just create problems for yourself.||Like this time.||||Upon arrival, it almost felt like a building site outside reception. When entering, it was extremely hot, as bad as outside, even though the reception was in a closed off lobby (all doors etc were closed). The lift and halls in the upper floors also had no air-con.||I checked in to my room which was a superior sea view room. It looked elegant but cheesy in the photos... I was happy to live with that for 3 nights. I had paid something in the order of 350 EUR for the 3 nights.||The hotel sells itself on Agoda as 4.5 star.||||Well... the room. What can I say? The balcony was a tiny thing with a large split-system air-con unit sitting on it. Yes, the room had a split system air-con that was absolutely not capable of cooling it down.||Furniture was all broken, cupboard doors couldn't close, sinks and baths had been replaced and had terrible grouting work.||The toilet was a bit dirty but I just cleaned it then went... as you do. However, when I washed my hands, I noticed several hairs on the vanity... not mine. Looked in the bath, more hairs... made a closer inspection of the room... just dirty. Floors, vanity, walls all had water stains that could have easily been removed with a fairly generic cleaning. It was clear that these rooms were not properly cleaned in years.||||I went to reception and asked to check out. They made all the motions of surprise that the room was not up to standard yet you can see in other reviews that many guests have had these issues. That became even more apparent a short while later.||First, they asked to show me another room. They did, it was also dirty. Then they showed me one in their other building, same result. On the way back to the reception I commented that I was surprised they had 4 stars based on what I had seen. The concierge revealed they do not have any official star-rating, just their own!!||Finally, they suggested they would move me to one of the other LK hotels, the LK Emerald Beach - an even higher self-proclaimed star rating. But that hotel was 3km out of town. I booked here because I wanted to be in the centre of Pattaya.||So I told them I have no faith that their company can offer a room that is satisfactory and that I would leave.||||Then the revelation moment - they handed me a pre-printed form that I had to fill out saying the dates and times of reservation and check-in and that I was checking out on my choice and would not get any refund! And I had to sign that, of course.||||I took my suitcase and pack and trotted off down the street to the Wave Hotel where a wonderful concierge showed me a room in that hotel and then in the Bayview Hotel behind it. I chose to stay at the Bayview in a seaview room and had a superb stay with great staff, good breakfasts and a much more attractive environment that LK The Empress. Oh, and it was clean.||||I have since lodged a complaint with Agoda and receive an e-mail every day saying they have heard nothing from LK. I also wrote to LK and they made it very clear they were never going to give a refund.||Naturally, a charge-back claim has been made with MasterCard. The hotel and/or chain are advertising a service that is not fit for purpose and fraudulently claiming a 4-star rating that they do not have.||They are only bookable with non-refundable prepayment. Call me a fool, because only a fool would book under these conditions.||||Most Thai would deal with this with humility, a lot of Wai (bowing) and aplogies. Not here. Perhaps they have become used to all of their sex-tourist guests being satisfied with the low standard. ||||Do yourself a favour, go down the road a couple of hundred metres to the Bayview - it is far superior to what LK...

"From the moment I stepped into LK The Empress, I was greeted with a royal touch. The hotel exudes a sense of elegance and grandeur, making me feel like I had stepped into a palace. The attention to detail in the design and decor is truly impressive.

One of the highlights of my stay was the exceptional customer service. The staff went above and beyond to ensure that my needs were met. They were friendly, professional, and always ready to assist with any requests or questions I had. It was clear that they take great pride in providing top-notch service.

The location of the hotel is excellent, with the Central Festival Mall just a stone's throw away. I loved the convenience of having a direct entrance to the mall from the hotel. The mall itself offers a plethora of branded shops, allowing for a delightful shopping experience. And if that wasn't enough, there is also a fantastic food park area downstairs, offering a wide variety of culinary options.

Another advantage of staying at LK The Empress is its proximity to Pattaya Beach. Just a short walk from the hotel, you can find yourself relaxing on the sandy shores and enjoying the beautiful ocean views. Additionally, the famous Walking Street is also nearby, providing an exciting nightlife scene.

Now, let's talk about the breakfast. It's safe to say that you won't find a better breakfast spread in Pattaya. The food is not only visually appealing but also incredibly tasty. The range of options is impressive, catering to various palates. What's even more impressive is that even guests staying in other hotels can enjoy this fantastic breakfast by paying a nominal fee of only 300 Thai Baht. It's no wonder that I saw many people from outside the hotel coming to experience it themselves.

While the stay at LK The Empress may come with a slightly higher price tag, it is undeniably worth every penny. The hotel places a strong emphasis on hygiene, ensuring a clean and safe environment for guests. This attention to detail and commitment to cleanliness is commendable.

My experience at LK The Empress was nothing short of exceptional. The royal ambiance, excellent customer service, unbeatable breakfast, and convenient location make it a standout choice among hotels in Pattaya. Whether you're looking for a luxurious getaway or a memorable staycation, LK The Empress is definitely a hotel that delivers on all fronts. I highly recommend it to anyone seeking a truly regal...

I have been here as a breakfast guest a few years back and when my ordinary hotel was fully booked I choose the LK Empress. It's a 4-star hotel and I was surprised over the room size and standard. Soft beds instead of the common Thai concreate ones you find in many other hotel. Our room was on the third floor and just a few meters to the gym & pool. Towels for pool or beach use was found in the cupboard where the safebox is. Refrigerator and microwave ironing board and a central controlbox for all the lights and air-con was found in our standard king-size bed room. Handhold and fixed shower with two front outlets in a well cleaned restroom and good water pressure both warm and cold makes the 5-star rating for the room. The window view was at a demolition site but it did not bother me thou I had a good view from the pool to the beach and Siam bay. Everyone of the staf are friendly and serviceminded they give you the standard Thai smile but also genuine ones. The chef in the breakfast room makes fresh eggs at you chosing, I prefer scrambled with chili and onions and he did it perfect. Lots of hot food, fruit, soup and premade sandwich, toast, croissants. Three types of jam and deserts makes a good breakfast for everyone's taste.

The location on beachroad soi 12 Pattaya gives you short distance to bar's and restaurant. I do like the 10 thb fare ride on the beach & secondroad wich will take you easy around in the center of Pattaya.

My wife and I comes to Pattaya once a year and this will be our new favourite hotel. I will not comment on the pricing because it will depends on how and when you make your reservation. I did mine more then a month before arrival and paid it at...