Lock in Thailand's durian season at Novotel Rayong Star Convention Centre Hotel
Rayong is a small coastal city with only three international chain hotels. After staying at the Holiday Inn and Hilton Garden Inn, I moved to the Novotel Star Convention Centre Hotel in the city center.
Compared to the other two hotels, which are built on top of the few high-rise buildings in the area, the Novotel is more traditional, surrounded by greenery and hidden in the bustling city. You can only see its unique star-shaped building when you walk into the nearby neighborhood.
The hotel has a large area, with front and back gardens and a beautiful outdoor pool. It is also close to the largest local farmers' market. During the durian season, this is a famous distribution center in Thailand. The hotel has a special outdoor durian corner, which is very thoughtful. Across the street, there is a lively Starlight Night Market and a Lotus Supermarket. In addition, the hotel is less than a kilometer from the old street, a must-visit for tourists, and is within walking distance.
The hotel's treatment of Accor members is inconsistent. The surprise was that the room was upgraded to an open-plan junior suite. The layout is similar to a one-bedroom vacation apartment, with a bathroom with a bathtub and a living room with a simple cooking table and microwave. It has a very homey atmosphere. The downside is that the happy hour has been reduced to a simple cocktail party in the lobby bar, with no food. The buffet dinner is not available at the discounted price that members are entitled to.
The seafood buffet dinner here seems to be quite famous locally, only open on Fridays, and reservations are basically full. The thick-cut salmon and the price of less than 100 baht are the reasons for its popularity.
The breakfast is also good, with a variety of options but no highlights. Only the sour and spicy rice noodles can stimulate the taste buds. Overall, it is mainly Western food, with Chinese, Japanese, Korean, and Indian food, which covers the needs of most guests.
Finally, the three international chains in Rayong are not five-star hotels, but they are all newly opened, brand new, and each has its own charm. My personal ranking is Novotel first, followed by Holiday Inn and Hilton Garden Inn.
Room information:
Room number: 835
Official name: Deluxe Room
Area: 43 square meters
Mattress: Slumberland
Living room TV: Samsung
Bedroom TV: Samsung
Sink and bathtub: Cristina
Toilet: Electric American Standard
Shower and metal fittings: American Standard
Hairdryer: Swissmann
Scale: Swissmann
Amenities: Large bottle Deep Nature Ocean Citrus series
Electric kettle: Swissmann
Instant coffee: Moccona
Tea bags: Dilmah
Bottled water: Crystal
Mini bar: Charged