InterContinental Pattaya Resort
by the TopOfHotel team
The InterContinental Pattaya is a hilltop resort that hides its villas in tropical forest, with a three-level infinity pool stepping straight down to the sea — it leans on calm, upscale quiet and the Club Lounge rather than the central-strip location Hilton goes for.
The InterContinental Pattaya is a hilltop resort that hides its villas in tropical forest, with a three-level infinity pool stepping straight down to the sea — it leans on calm, upscale quiet and the Club Lounge rather than the central-strip location Hilton goes for.
In-Depth Review
Rooms and decor
The InterContinental Pattaya Resort opened in 2007 at 437 Phra Tamnak Road, on Pratamnak Hill in the south of Pattaya, and it's IHG's flagship in the city. The resort splits into a five-floor Main Building and a Hilltop Pool Villa Collection of 28 villas, for 156 rooms and villas in total. Even the entry-level Classic Room runs 52 sqm — bigger than the 5-star norm — and it scales up to the 200 sqm Royal Pool Villa. The look is contemporary Thai-Mediterranean in cream, blue and gold, with some buildings renovated in 2022. Beds use IC Comfort mattresses and 250-thread cotton sheets, and every room has a balcony or private garden facing the garden, the pool, or the sea. The Pool Villas add a private pool of 20 to 60 sqm, an outdoor pavilion, and a private butler, with marble bathrooms, rain showers, separate tubs, and Pañpuri amenities. Real reviews on Trip.com (8.8) and Booking (8.6) mostly praise the plush villas and the careful service.
Food and amenities
The heart of the resort is the three-level infinity pool that steps down toward the sea — 800 sqm in all, with a jacuzzi and poolside cabanas. The Club InterContinental Lounge on the 4th floor folds in breakfast, afternoon tea, pre-dinner cocktails, and all-day snacks. There are 4 restaurants: Infiniti Restaurant for breakfast-to-dinner buffets with a show kitchen, Aqua for seafood by the beach, Pala Cliff Bar, a rooftop bar with a 180-degree view over Pattaya Bay, and a Pool Bar for cocktails at the water's edge. The Tea Lounge Spa, singled out on TripAdvisor, runs Thai-inspired treatments from $80 to $185 plus a signature Tea Ritual. The resort's private beach stretches about 150 meters, with sand mixed with a little fine gravel. The Planet Trekkers Kids Club is free and open 09:00 to 21:00, and the gym runs 24 hours. The overall score lands at 8.9/10.
Location and getting there
The resort sits at 437 Phra Tamnak Road on Pratamnak Hill. The Pratamnak viewpoint, a 180-degree lookout over Pattaya Bay, is a 5-minute drive. Walking Street is a 10-minute drive (4 km), about $3 to $4 by Bolt, and CentralFestival Pattaya Beach is 12 minutes, roughly $3.50 to $5. Bali Hai pier is 8 minutes and Jomtien beach just 5 minutes away. U-Tapao Airport (UTP) is 27 km out, a 40-minute drive at $17 to $23 by Bolt, while Suvarnabhumi (BKK) is 132 km, a 2-hour drive; a Bell Travel coach runs about $7 per person.
Things to know before booking
Straight talk: first, parts of the buildings and some rooms are starting to feel their age — the resort is 18 years old now and some Main Building rooms still haven't been redone. Ask for a Pool Villa or a renovated Classic Sea View at booking to land a newer room. Second, it's 4 km from Walking Street — a 10-minute, $3-to-$4 Bolt, so not as close as the Central-area hotels. Third, moving around the resort means slopes, since it's on a hill, and getting from your room to the pool can be an uphill or downhill walk; if that's a hassle, the concierge runs a free buggy you can call any time. Fourth, Pool Villa rates climb hard in high season (December to February, plus New Year), touching $715+, so book about three months ahead.
Our take
The InterContinental Pattaya Resort is the right fit for honeymooners, couples, and business travellers who want calm, upscale quiet up on the hill — Pool Villas, a Club Lounge, the three-level infinity pool, and the Tea Lounge Spa, from $160. If the trip in your head is a honeymoon in a Pool Villa with a private butler, or a couple chasing peace away from the chaos, this is the most complete answer here. If you'd rather be in the centre of town, or you're a family with kids set on a water park, look at the Hilton or Centara Mirage instead. Overall we give it 8.9/10, best for honeymoons, upscale couples, and business travellers.
Score Breakdown
Assessed by our editorial team from data and real guest reviews
The Honest Verdict — pros & what to know
- A genuinely calm hilltop setting, well back from the traffic and the late-night party noise of central Pattaya, so you actually sleep.
- The Club InterContinental Lounge on the 4th floor is the real draw — breakfast, afternoon tea, and free pre-dinner cocktails included, which pays for itself fast if you're travelling as a couple.
- The Tea Lounge Spa is a standout, singled out on TripAdvisor, with Thai-inspired treatments running $80 to $185 plus a signature Tea Ritual.
- A quiet private beach of about 150 meters belongs to the resort, so you're not fighting for space the way you would on the public Pattaya sand.
- The three-level infinity pool totals 800 sqm with a jacuzzi and poolside cabanas, and the lowest level looks straight out to sea — it photographs best at sunset.
- The resort opened in 2007 and is now 18 years old, so parts of the Main Building still haven't been renovated. Ask for a Pool Villa or a Classic Sea View that's been renovated when you book to get a newer room.
- It sits 4 km from Walking Street, roughly a 10-minute Bolt at $3 to $4 — handy, but not as close as the in-town Central-area hotels.
- Because it's built on a hill, getting from your room to the pool can mean walking up and down slopes. If that's awkward for you, the concierge runs a free buggy you can call any time.
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
- For a honeymoon, ask for a Hilltop Sea View Pool Villa at around $515 — you get a 30 sqm private pool and sea views.
- Book the Tea Lounge afternoon tea, served 14:00 to 17:00, at about $50 for two — better value than ordering items separately.
- Shoot the lowest level of the infinity pool at sunset; that's when it looks its best.