Есть чудеса на свете! There are miracles in the world!

We rested with my husband at the Botany Beach Hotel in Pattaya from January 9 to 20.2010. We flew with Transaero. The flight takes about 8 hours. In principle, the flight is comfortable - they fed me 2 times (I basically eat little, because I had enough portions), they gave me blankets, warm socks and blindfolds for the night. Upon arrival at Bangkok airport, you must fill out migration cards. Therefore, I advise you to keep a pen in your purse, a lot of people ran around the airport looking for pens. And of course, translation difficulties happen. Although there is nothing complicated in filling out the cards, look over your neighbor's shoulder and write off everything like his.
In general, Thais are very leisurely people, so we went through customs control for a long time (taking into account that the number of our Boeing alone was about 350 people, and at first only 3-4 control desks worked). Well, these are all trifles))) We flew from the Lantatur travel agency. We were met, put on the bus, the guide even gave a short tour, talking about the customs and customs of the country. We drove into Pattaya in about an hour and a half or two. To be honest, the experience of the hotel turned out to be much better than described on the Internet. Botani is located on Jomtien Beach, a place far from the center of Pattaya. Many in the reviews are dissatisfied with this location... But, it depends on who is going for what... If you need clubs, parties, shopping without interruption, a beach where you can sunbathe only while sitting in a sun lounger (not lying), then you are in Pattaya itself. We wanted a purely beach holiday, fewer people and more nature. We felt good together, we enjoyed such solitude and remoteness from the hustle and bustle.
Meals at the hotel for the first 2-3 days pleased us (until we tried all the dishes offered). But apparently Botani chefs do not have culinary imagination. The proposed dishes are sausages of 3 types, fried bacon, eggs in three types (boiled, scrambled eggs, scrambled eggs), toast, rice, pasta, stewed vegetables. Of the fruits, only watermelons, pineapples and papaya. We didn't really complain though. At home, breakfasts also do not differ in variety. But to be honest, at the end of my vacation, I personally wanted terribly meat and cheese.

Although, the husband did not seem to complain about the food. It is most important.
The promised free WI-FI Internet let us down. He worked only the first 2 days of our vacation (and then he caught only at the reception, and barely in the rooms). Then he finally "rotted". For the Internet, we went in the evenings to the neighboring hotel Dor-shad. Fortunately, it is freely possible to enter other people's hotels and wander around the territory. And, lo and behold, on the day of departure, the Internet worked again. But we didn't care!
Room service is a separate issue. You leave a tip of 20 baht - the sheets are whole and clean. No 20 baht - you will definitely find a hole in the sheets. Here is such a service))))) But we did not particularly bother about this.
The beach at the hotel is quite good. A wide strip of sand, enough sunbeds. The only downside is the following. If you go to the beach before 08.15, then there are no beach towels yet. I had to get up at 7.30 and go to the beach, put clothes on sunbeds, take a little air and sunbaths. And only at 8.15 brought towels.
My husband and I took a chance and rented a motorcycle for 6 days for 1200 baht. Very comfortably. Although the guides will dissuade you from such entertainment. Maybe they are right, quite a dangerous thing with the driving style and crazy chaotic traffic there. But I somehow trust my husband and I was calm, sitting behind him on a motorcycle. Riding is mandatory in helmets. Keep in mind that the traffic there is on the left side. Driving in the opposite direction is normal, there are no speed limits either. In general, it is very convenient to rent, as it is not tied to these tuk-tuks, which are often crowded. Although the trip to the city itself is a terrible stress. Therefore, we most often drove to Lotus or Big C, bought food, walked there and calmly returned home.

As for the prices..... the baht to ruble exchange rate is about 1 to 1. Judge for yourself about the price level. Dinner for two (2 bowls of rice with seafood, 2 soups, a plate of huge grilled shrimp, 4 bottles of beer) about 1000 baht. You can barely get up from the table, you should restrain your impulses to try everything))) Fruits in the range from 20 to 40 baht. Juices, drinks from 15 to 30 baht. At the same time, fruits with pieces of fruit are very tasty. Our "Orchards" do not even compare. Clothing..... we didn’t really care about this topic. But we bought: a bag for my husband for 600 baht, T-shirts, shirts from 99 to 270 baht, tops, sundresses - 200-600 baht. For 11 days we spent about 1200 dollars. At the same time, we did not deny ourselves anything: neither entertainment, nor food, nor shopping. So maybe even more modest.
In general, I can rate our vacation at 8 points out of 10. I will say one thing, I already want to return to magnificent Thailand. Already saving up for a summer tour there))))