Avani Pattaya Resort

A big, family-friendly garden resort on Beach Road, part of the Royal Garden Plaza complex in central Pattaya.

Avani Pattaya Resort is one of the few true resorts in the middle of Pattaya: a garden-wrapped property of 300 rooms and suites set back from Beach Road, with the sand about 50 metres away across the road. It is owned by Minor Hotels and was the Pattaya Marriott Resort & Spa until November 2016, when it was refurbished and reopened under the Avani brand. It forms part of the Royal Garden Plaza development, so the shopping mall is right on the doorstep.

Every room and suite has a private balcony or terrace, most looking over the tropical gardens and pool, with sea views from the upper floors. The core Deluxe rooms are all around 38 square metres; the difference between them is mainly the view, with Garden View rooms facing the grounds, Garden Plus on floors two to five and Sea View on floors six and seven. Ground-floor Terrace Junior Suites open onto the gardens, and families can book themed rooms (Underwater, Galaxy, Sweet Dream and Car Racing) that tend to delight younger children.

For eating and drinking, the best known outlet is Benihana, the Japanese teppanyaki chain, where chefs cook at the table and kids can join a be-the-chef session. Dicey Reilly's is the resort's Irish pub, with Guinness on tap, pub food and an outdoor terrace, and a poolside bar handles cocktails through the day. Breakfast is served at the Garden Cafe, and in-room dining runs 24 hours.

The heart of the resort is the tropical pool garden, with a separate children's pool, an AvaniKids club, the AvaniFit gym and AvaniSpa for massages, including the Avani Signature Touch, and facials. The resort also runs a small hydroponic farm, which hosts its cooking classes. Weddings are held on the beach, in the gardens or on a rooftop with sea views.

The location is about as central as Pattaya gets. Central Festival is a short walk north along Beach Road, Walking Street is an easy stroll to the south, and baht buses run constantly along Beach Road. By car, U-Tapao airport is around 45 minutes away and Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi roughly 90 minutes, traffic permitting.

It suits families and couples who want a pool-centred resort stay with the city's restaurants and nightlife within walking distance. It is less suited to anyone looking for a quiet, secluded beach: Pattaya Beach is busy and the water is not the clearest, so most guests spend their days by the pool rather than in the sea.

A few practical tips: if you want a sea view, ask specifically for the Sea View category on the top floors rather than hoping for an upgrade; book Benihana ahead on weekends and holidays; and accessible Deluxe Garden View rooms are located on the lobby level for guests who need step-free access.