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Good day to all. Reading the reviews about the Botany Beach Resort, and sometimes even commenting on them, I came to the conclusion that it is necessary to leave some information from myself.

The flight was on 04.01 from Almaty to Utapao by SCAT airline. The flight went remarkably well, despite the one-hour delay at departure. We had pre-filled questionnaires with pasted photos and migration cards for obtaining a Thai visa upon arrival. While everyone was filling out these documents, we exchanged $200 in the exchange office and were the first on the border control line. After 15 min. we were met by the guide of the host, handed over a backpack, and local sim cards. I bought a couple of cans of Singha from a shop opposite the arrivals hall, and comfortably seated in the minibus seats, we set off for Bangkok, looking at the local scenery. After about one and a half to two hours, we were already at the reception of the hotel in Bangkok.

The driver took our suitcase to the counter, and after receiving a 50 baht tip, told us how lucky we were that we didn't get stuck in traffic jams. I attributed this to the fact that we arrived on Wednesday, and Wednesday in Thailand is, approximately, like Saturday in Israel.

So Bangkok:

On the first evening, we swam in the pool on the twentieth floor of the Baiyoke Sky Hotel and dined at the grill bar on the eighty-second floor, the choice of dishes there is simply huge and everything is very tasty. Gorgeous view from the window - romance and nothing more! ! ! After dinner, we visited the rotating observation deck. It is best to look at the city from it in the evening or at night, as during the day it could spoil the impression. Then we walked around the shopping centers within walking distance from the hotel, and when they closed, the streets turned into a kind of night market, selling cheap T-shirts, shorts, exotic vegetables, fruits, seafood and more.

Second day.

At 9:00 am, after breakfast at the hotel, we set out on a tour of the City of Angels.
Our plans included visiting the Royal Palace (Grand Palace), Temple of the Emerald Buddha (Wat Phra Keo), Temple of Dawn (Wat Arun), Temple of the Reclining Buddha (Wat Pho), Temple of the Standing Buddha (Wat Indravihan). By taxi, for one hundred and fifty baht, for 20 minutes. , we got to the palace, bought tickets, entered the territory. We finished the tour of the Palace and Wat Phra Keo only by one o'clock in the afternoon. I’ll explain right away that we didn’t have a guide, and we listened to all the information on the sights from a cell phone where mp3 files with an audio guide were recorded in the correct Russian literary language. This is much more informative than listening to the broken speech of a Thai transvestite guide. The files can be downloaded from the web.

On the ferry for three, it seems, baht per person moved to the other side, fed the catfish at the pier and walked to the Temple of the Morning Dawn.

There are no package tours, as organized groups of tourists are called, there are no very steep steps, very high, my wife was really dizzy when we went up there, and going down from there is scary for some. Not a children's attraction. But this complex is unique in its architecture and finishing materials. Worth a look, especially worth the view from above across the river to the Royal Palace. Near this Temple, you can rent Thai royal clothes for 200 baht and arrange a magnificent photo session against its background. By the way, souvenirs near Wat Arun are very cheap. In general, there were more impressions than from the Temple of the Reclining Buddha, to which we again moved by ferry. When we left the territory of Wat Pho, we no longer felt our feet under us.

Toward evening, having caught a tuk-tuk, and pointing a finger at the map of Bangkok, for 20 baht from all three of us we got to the thirty-two-meter standing Buddha.
Here we took a few shots on duty and on the same tuk-tuk we drove to the nearest boat station. For 20 baht per person, we flew to Baiyoke Sky in 15-20 minutes. Here we grabbed extreme sports, here we saw Bangkok as it is - without the gloss of advertising brochures. Traveling by local transport along Klong is something with something. I immediately remembered the phrase from the film: "Bangkok took him. " However, the day ended quite calmly - dinner at a nearby food court.

Day three.

From the host, we purchased one single tour - Safari World. And after breakfast and check-out from the hotel, at about 8-30, when traffic jams are only at the entrance to the city, we leave the metropolis in the direction of this park. Shows are held in Thai, but everything is clear and without words. You ride a bus among animals that are not in cages, but “conditionally” free, you feed cute giraffes from the hands.
Huge territory, many very interesting places for photo shoots. Quite a decent lunch, which is included in the ticket price. Safari World must be dedicated to at least five hours and this is without a road. Therefore, it is better to take this tour on the road from Bangkok to Pattaya, or, in a small group of your own, by minibus from PTT, but still three hours will be killed by the road. The tour is magnificent, worth the money, not only children, but also adults are delighted.

After the Safari Park, the minibus takes us to Pattaya, and we experience and comprehend the avalanche of first impressions of this country.

I foresee the question: What does Botany Beach have to do with it?

Answer: Excursions to Bangkok and Safari Park are included in the price lists of all travel agencies in Pattaya. These excursions will be offered to you when you stay at Botany Beach.

Of course, it's up to you whether you want to spend 2-3 hours on the road, half of which are in traffic jams, then gallop through Europe to skip the excursion program and on the way back through the same traffic jams. That is, in 7-8 hours of excursion time, to see what it took us, practically, two and a half days.

So the evening of the third day, we arrived at the Botany Beach Resort. The check-in went without problems, they received the keys to room 117. They immediately removed the key fob from the key and put it back in place, turned on the air conditioning, changed clothes, valuables in the safe at the reception and on the sea, and then into the well-known in narrow circles Razvalyuha. I won’t write much about this cafe - a lot has been written. Our favorites are simply fried and grilled shrimp and grilled river fish. However, beef in all forms is also very good, pork has a sweetish aftertaste, but this is the case everywhere. Dined there almost always.
After dinner, we bought mangoes and pineapples, walked around the territory, took various soft and strong drinks in Seven Eleven, returned to the room, and the room was cool, you remember that the key fob was in its regular place and, as a result, the air conditioning worked . So we always returned to the cool room.

Fourth day.

After breakfast massage. We did massage every day. Prices for various types of massage according to the price list 200-300 baht. If you leave a tip, the massage will be of better quality, but if, like me on the last day, you pay with a trifle, they will give him such a look that, well, what the hell. Then there was a sightseeing tour of Pattaya. The usual sightseeing tour, like everywhere else. The usual divorce for grandmas, as everywhere. After visiting the Jewelry Factory, they asked for a transfer to the Central Festival.
Good scenery, good costumes, good sound, but sometimes disgusting choreography and mouth opening to the soundtrack. After the show, for a couple of bucks, you can take a picture with the participants (participants) and even hold on to silicone.


On the way back from the PTT, we got off near the Ambassador, walked around the hotel, through the souvenir market, the prices for which practically do not differ from the prices in the city, and walked along the coast in the direction of Botany Beach in order to dine in Razvalyukha. When we went ashore, we discovered that there was no water. Or rather, there was water, but it was fifty or sixty meters farther than we are used to seeing it. People walked around with flashlights and looked for shells. There was such a low tide for a couple of evenings, the next morning, after high tide, there really was garbage on the surf line, but believe me, this is nothing compared to what is happening on the city beach in Pattaya itself. This garbage was removed, but not immediately, but on the third morning, when the tides were over.
By the way, about the garbage on the beach itself, I would like to note that it is not taken from nowhere, but it is organized by the vacationers themselves who eat, drink, smoke, and do not even load themselves with something to put in a bag and take it to the trash can. And this is not done by some frenzied youth, but quite, at first glance, decent ladies and no less decent gentlemen.

Day six.

"Sea travel". On a small two-deck ship with a couple of islands. Russian-speaking guides entertain to the best of their ability. The program includes fishing or, alternatively, swimming near a desert island. There was fishing, everyone caught three or four small colorful fish of various sizes. However, those who went to the island to swim on the second ship could also go fishing, but they could also take a mask and see the underwater world of this island.
After fishing, the "fishermen's" ship moored to the second ship, and the tourists were sent ashore to look at the absolutely white sand and swim in the absolutely clear water. The sand is so bright white that it hurts the eyes and so fine that in the evening we had to clean the photo and video equipment. Here, on ships moored to each other, there was a lunch of fish soup, fried chicken, mashed potatoes and vegetables. After lunch, everyone on the same ship went to the island of monkeys, where those who wished were brought to the shore by boats. Monkeys there are really wild and arrogant, they can take away everything they lay eyes on from a procrastinating tourist. The mandarin duck was torn out of the wife’s hands, so that she didn’t even have time to get scared.

Day seven.

From morning until noon, a beach holiday, then lunch at the "Ruined" and a trip to Pattaya for shopping.

Take a white tuk tuk to Lotus, Outlet Mall, then follow South Street on a blue tuk tuk to the TukCom Electronics Center, which is within walking distance of Walking Street. There everyone will find entertainment for themselves. It’s interesting, it’s worth a visit, there no one pulls anyone’s hand and doesn’t drag anyone anywhere. Keep in mind that tuk tuks can operate in two modes, like a fixed-route taxi and just a taxi, the price of the trip also depends on this. Therefore, if a tuk-tuk stops near you and signals a tuk-tuk, it is better to ask “Tuk-tuk? ”, if the answer is yes, then the price is 20 baht, if the driver says that a taxi, then you decide with him the price and route of the trip. For example, from the pier on Walking Street to Botany Beach, tuk-tuk taxi drivers charge 500 baht in the evening, but agree to 300 baht.

Day eight.

We decided to go to Koh Lan on our own. The decision was made the night before. Therefore, we went right after breakfast, at eight o'clock, as they say, at random Lazarus.
On a white tuk-tuk to South Street (20 baht), on a blue tuk-tuk to Pedestrian Street (15 baht), along it in a straight line 400 meters to the pier. Ships go to the island, according to the schedule attached there from 6-00 to 18-00 every hour, but, depending on the season, it may change. We made it to nine o'clock. The issue price is 30 baht. Travel time is 30-40 minutes. Also, speed boats run to the islands, if the company is large, then the boat is faster and more profitable. The island has a beach map, local tuk-tuks and bike rentals. The sand on the beaches of this island is lighter than on the beach in Botany Beach, so the water seems more transparent and blue, but it's still not that compared to the sand and water that were on the island in "Sea Voyages". All Pattaya goes to the islands to swim, there are a lot of people. I would not argue that the water and beaches on this island are much better than in Botani Beach, so the game is not worth the candle. IMHO.

Day nine.
Breakfast, massage, beach, lunch, a trip to Pattaya to buy a mobile phone and an extra battery for the camera as we have a two-day trip to Kwai. And we went to the city on a free transfer from the Lukdod souvenir shop. Called and made an appointment for a specific time. Phones of this kind of shops are on the card that is handed out upon arrival, and the card is also on the table near the reception. Shop advertisements are constantly played on the TV channel "Welcome to Pattaya". And no one is forcing anyone to buy anything.

We were taken to the store, where we spent a little money, and then, using the city map and tuk-tuks, we drove to all the places of interest to us.

It should be noted that TukCom prices for popular phone models are quite affordable. The choice is large, but the question of the guarantee is open.

If you buy a thing in a branded department, then ask them for documents on the return of VAT upon departure (VAT Refund). The main thing is not to take Chinese replicas of famous brands.

In the evening, they removed everything that was possible in the safe at the reception, by the way, they have boxes for different

volume, you can even ask for a second cell - it's free, they just make a mark on your card. They also showed a voucher for an excursion, asked to be woken up and prepared breakfast to go.

Day ten. Trip to Kwai.

The rise was at three in the morning. We received breakfast boxes at the reception. There were a couple of eggs, sandwiches and a can of cold coffee. Everything. The breakfast boxes from other hotels of our neighbors on the bus were much more diverse.

The tour program included:

-Visit to the ancient capital of Ayutthaya.
An ancient temple complex destroyed by the Burmese, a functioning ancient temple and a functioning recently built temple complex with a huge dragon.

- Erawan waterfall.

- Dinner

- Elephant Village, where they watched shows and rode elephants along the river and the jungle.

- River rafting in vests

- Hotel accommodation on the River Kwai

- Dinner

The hotel was called Paradise on the River Kwai. There are, let's say, two buildings, one is an old, floating hotel, and the second is a new building built on the shore. The restaurant where we had dinner and breakfast is located on the river, on rafts. In my opinion, the new building is more comfortable, the rooms are larger, the furniture is better, the household appliances are new and accommodation in a 2 + 1 room on huge beds is possible. A couple of newlyweds were indignant that they were not placed on the river and they were immediately taken to the floating hull, but after fifteen minutes they returned back - they did not like it. Massage was done at the hotel.
The session was 50 baht more expensive than at Botany Beach, but it was worth it. Recommend.

The next day

- Breakfast

- Bathing in a radon source.

- Monkey feeding

- Tea shop

- Shop of traditional Thai medicine

- Dinner

- The legendary bridge over the River Kwai


The tour is very educational and informative, but it primarily depends on the guide who conducts it. Somewhat tiring transfers between objects, so with small children it can be difficult.

I would highlight the Erawan waterfall, the village of elephants, and rafting on the river. Hot spring is not ice. Artificial origin and radon there, figuratively speaking, and does not smell.

Returning to Pattaya in the evening, we got into the famous Bangkok traffic jams.

Day twelve.

After breakfast, the final massage session, swimming in the sea, packing a suitcase, throwing coins into the fish pond near the reception, transfer to the airport. By the way, near the reception there is a scale on which you can weigh your luggage.

Summary:
- a great hotel for families, but without small children.

- large, well-groomed, but without ardent fanaticism, territory

- a large pool, but we did not swim in it, as we flew to the sea, and there is enough bleach at home

- a big plus is the presence of its own massage parlor

- a fairly large and clean private beach with sunbeds, which are not available even at the peak of the season

- the presence on the territory and within walking distance of several restaurants and cafes for every taste and budget

- fifteen kilometers away from the city center, I consider it more a plus than a minus. You can hang out and go shopping without any problems by shuttle from the hotel, by tuk-tuk, by taxi and by transfer to shops like Lukdota.

- Adequate and varied breakfasts. The only but, this is the absence of milk and dairy products, coffee powder, does not count. But this is the case everywhere in Thailand, not just at Botany Beach.
Rather, they are in supermarkets, but imported and at very unpleasant prices.

- free Internet in the lobby, but you need to sit away from the pool with fish, otherwise mosquitoes will get it. In addition, there is a room for computers connected to the Web. Wi-Fi networks are available in the rooms, but this is apparently for a fee.

It seems that everything, I apologize for the large number of letters, but I hope this experience will come in handy for someone.