Kept Bangsaray Hotel Pattaya has floating rooms with Maldives vibes
Maldives is one of those destinations that many of us seek to visit in our lifetimes, due to its clear waters and idyllic bungalows overlooking the boundless sea. I am unabashedly among this crowd of travellers who’ve been pretty travel-deprived since the start of the pandemic.
Having said that, I searched for alternative places that look like Maldives, and surprisingly found a resort in my hometown.
Kept Bangsaray Hotel is in Pattaya, Chon Buri, which is about 2 hours away from Bangkok by car. Here’s a quick summary of what to expect here, from floating rooms with Maldives-style decorations and a luxury pool in the middle.
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Floating villas on sapphire waters like in Maldives
Kept Bangsaray Hotel offers guests a slice of the Maldives seaside experience, with floating villas along the Bangsaray beach with a long pier extending above the sea’s waters.
Peering out from a higher vantage point, you’ll glimpse the clear blue sea, along with outlines of a few of the surrounding islands in the distance.
Step carefully on the elevated wooden walkway, and listen out for the sound of waves crashing upon the shore.
Walking down on the pier, you can’t miss four villas standing side by side; those come with panoramic views of the sea. Plus, you can take leisurely strolls while basking in the salty sea breeze around you.
As for the villas, you may actually have to resist your impulse to jump into that vast pool in the middle.
If you get tired of walking, let your hair down by sitting outside your room and watching the smol boats float on by. The city’s skyline will probably remind you not to accidentally mistake this place for the actual Maldives, though.
On the other side, you will see Pattaya City, where skyscrapers stand tall, side by side along the shoreline.
When the evening comes, sit on the hammock at the end of the pier and catch the sunset with your partner or squad.
The following day, you might want to do something else — especially if swimming in the sea isn’t for you — they have private tubs and pools for guests to take a dip in.
Spend the entire day lounging in a private jacuzzi tub
You might have read about many resorts with outdoor bathtubs overlooking mountains and mist, but this hotel’s promises a different experience. In your private villas, open the toilet’s door to be greeted by a round-shaped jacuzzi right next to a window — allowing you to gaze at the sunset.
Prices are a little steep, however, if you wanna listen to the soothing sound of waves in their Kept Villa, be prepared to fork out ฿13,000 (~USD303)/night.
Besides natural scenery however, their private outdoor pools also offer edge to edge panoramic sea views, in contrast to the indigo skies above.
To kick up the fancy metre a notch, grab a glass of wine and sip it slowly while soaking in the tub.
If your heart says yes to this view, don’t hesitate to book this Kept Suite from ฿10,000 (~USD303)/night with breakfast included.
But if those two prices are outside your budget, consider this Kept Deluxe from ฿7,800 (~USD236)/night, which comes with a small outdoor tub instead.
After lounging in the room all day, it’s time to try something new – or adventurous, rather.
Go squid fishing for live seafood dinners
When the sun goes down, you may be feeling a tad bored once night falls. We’d recommend grabbing a fishing rod and looking for a green-lit spot in the water. That’s where you can fish for squid so the resort’s chefs can make you fresh sashimi with spicy sauce for free.
For those you’ve never fished before, no worries. The hotel’s employees will guide you through it. Fair warning to those who’re game to try, it’s not easy job to fish for squid – so just be patient, and keep trying.
Once you catch your squid, this is what your ‘sashimi’ will look like. Once you’ve experienced squid fishing for the first time, you may be wondering what to do the next day. Well, chilling at a floating cafe on the sea could be another novel activity to consider.
Floating cafe on the sea
Kept Pier Cafe is a floating cafe near this hotel, located right smack in the middle of the sea. The cafe lets you lounge with a 360° view, so be prepared to take out your camera to capture the panoramic scenery.
Getting to Kept Bangsaray Hotel Pattaya
It might cost too much for many of us to plan a trip to Maldives, so here’s an option closer to home to consider. A resort in Pattaya that will scale back on your holiday budget, so you can splurge on food or souvenirs instead.
Do note that it takes about 2-3 hours to get here from Bangkok by driving, so show this review to your friends and take them along with you.
Address: 4/2 Bang Sare, Sattahip District, Chon Buri
Telephone: +66 6 3464 0789
Kept Bangsaray Hotel Pattaya’s Facebook | Google Maps
Cover images adapted from (Clockwise from Top Left): ฤ ดู ที่ ฉั น เ ที่ ย ว, นักท่องเที่ยวสัญชาติไทย, ฤ ดู ที่ ฉั น เ ที่ ย ว, Go Way Finder
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