Holiday Inn Pattaya
by the TopOfHotel team
Holiday Inn Pattaya is the most affordable beachfront 5-star in town, leaning on its cross-the-road location and a real Kids Club for Thai families rather than the infinity-pool view Hilton chases.
Holiday Inn Pattaya is the most affordable beachfront 5-star in town, leaning on its cross-the-road location and a real Kids Club for Thai families rather than the infinity-pool view Hilton chases.
In-Depth Review
Rooms and decor
Holiday Inn Pattaya opened in 2009 at 463/68 Moo 9, Beach Road on North Pattaya Beach — it's the family-focused Holiday Inn brand under IHG (InterContinental Hotels Group). The resort splits into two towers: the Executive Tower (newer, last renovated in 2024) and the original Tower Wing, for 531 rooms in total. Executive Tower rooms start at 40 sqm with a large balcony and a sea view in every one; Tower Wing rooms are 32 sqm and some face the city. The look is contemporary tropical in blue, cream and gold, with Holiday Inn Comfort beds, cotton sheets, a 49-inch Smart TV, and a marble bathroom with a rain shower and Bath & Body Works products. Real guest reviews on Trip.com (9.2/10) and Booking (8.7) mostly praise the fresh renovated rooms and the value of the location.
Food and amenities
The heart of this place is being family-friendly. The Kids Club covers ages 4 to 12, opens 09:00 to 21:00, is free for guests and staffed throughout. There's a 500-square-metre beachfront pool, a separate shallow children's pool at 30 cm, and a jacuzzi. East Coast Kitchen runs the breakfast and dinner buffets, with a separate kids zone serving ice cream and made-to-order pancakes. Up on floor 24, the Sky 24 Rooftop Bar pours signature cocktails at $8 to $11, runs a 17:00 to 19:00 buy-one-get-one happy hour, and looks straight out over the Pattaya bay sunset. Coral Cafe opens at 06:30 for coffee and pastries, Fit Spa does Thai-inspired treatments at $51 to $100, the gym is open 24 hours, and there's a 100-square-metre Kids Splash Zone. The overall score is 9.0/10.
Location and getting there
Holiday Inn Pattaya sits at 463/68 Moo 9, Beach Road on North Pattaya Beach. Pattaya Beach is a 1-minute walk across the road, CentralFestival Pattaya Beach is 5 minutes on foot, and Mike Shopping Mall is about 8 minutes. Walking Street is an 8-minute drive (3 km) — a songthaew runs under a dollar or a Bolt about $2. Bali Hai pier and The Sanctuary of Truth are each a 10-minute drive. U-Tapao Airport (UTP) is 30 km / 45 minutes by car, around $20 to $26 by Bolt, and Suvarnabhumi (BKK) is 130 km / 2 hours, with a Bell Travel coach at about $7 a person.
Things to know before booking
Straight talk. First, Tower Wing rooms are 6 to 8 sqm smaller than the Executive Tower's, so if you want more space ask for the Executive Tower at booking — it's only about $23 to $34 more a night. Second, the lifts back up at peak hours (08:00 to 10:00 for breakfast, 16:00 to 18:00 on the way back from the day) with 5 to 10 minute waits; check out very early (07:00) or late (11:00) to skip it. Third, breakfast gets crowded with 531 rooms — arrive at 06:30 or 09:30 for the fewest people. Fourth, Walking Street is not within walking distance at 3 km; if you want nightlife every night, the Hard Rock or Hilton are within reach on foot.
Our take
Holiday Inn Pattaya is the best-value beachfront 5-star in town — 2024 renovated rooms, a free Kids Club, a separate children's pool, balcony rooms with sea views, and a cross-the-road location with CentralFestival 5 minutes away, all from about $97 a night. If your trip is a Thai family holiday on a budget that still wants the luxury feel, or a couple who wants to be close to town, this is the most sensible answer in Pattaya. If you're after a free water park or a quiet resort mood, look at Centara Mirage or Cape Dara instead. Overall we give it 9.0/10, best suited to Thai families, budget-minded couples, and travelers who want to be near the centre.
Score Breakdown
Assessed by our editorial team from data and real guest reviews
The Honest Verdict — pros & what to know
- Genuinely good value for a beachfront 5-star, with rates starting around $97 a night — well below what the comparable Hilton runs in the same stretch.
- The breakfast buffet at East Coast Kitchen is wide-ranging and has a separate kids section with made-to-order pancakes and ice cream, so children eat happily.
- The Kids Club covers ages 4 to 12, opens 09:00 to 21:00, is free for guests and properly staffed — and the shallow 30-cm children's pool sits apart from the main 500-square-metre beachfront pool.
- Location is the headline: cross Beach Road and you're on North Pattaya sand in a minute, with CentralFestival a 5-minute walk and Mike Shopping Mall about 8 minutes.
- The staff are friendly and speak Thai in a relaxed, easy way, which makes the whole stay smoother for Thai families.
- The Tower Wing is the older building and its rooms run 6 to 8 sqm smaller than the Executive Tower's, with smaller balconies and some facing the city. If you want the bigger room and a sea view, ask for the Executive Tower at booking — it's only about $23 to $34 more a night.
- Lifts back up during peak hours — roughly 08:00 to 10:00 for breakfast and 16:00 to 18:00 as people return — with waits of 5 to 10 minutes. Time your checkout very early (07:00) or late (11:00) to dodge it.
- With 531 rooms, breakfast gets busy; arrive at 06:30 or after 09:30 for the thinnest crowd. And Walking Street is not walkable from here — it's 3 km away, so this is a city-edge family base rather than a nightlife one.
Who It’s For
Match Score by travel style
Amenities
Location & Nearby Spots
Things to do near Pattaya
Day tours, attraction tickets and experiences around Pattaya — book ahead on Klook with mobile e-tickets.
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Insider Tips
- Ask for the Executive Tower — its rooms run 6 to 8 sqm larger than the Tower Wing.
- The Sky 24 rooftop bar runs a 17:00 to 19:00 happy hour with buy-one-get-one cocktails.
- Beach Road has bike rentals at about $3 a day, an easy ride down to Walking Street.