19:50 “Then I had a caesar”😂….. man, for a flicker of a second I thought why did he have a seizure after eating garlic bread, and why is he saying that? 😂
First time commenter, and recent subscriber. Really enjoying your reviews especially the honest and exact impressions you give. The humour and choice of when to narrate or not adds that something extra. Thanks Kevin, keep on travelling 🙂
Planning three leisure trips before the end of 2024, and realised the decider for me is 24 hour room service. While many do, a surprising number of hotels don’t make the room service menu available online. Noticing a trend towards replacing the overnight menu with equivalents of stale crisps or last week’s curry. Noticing after check in isn’t great. What would be great is being able to check, say, a folder in photos for faux overnight menus. As it happens, I have a Kevin folder in my photos, full of info screenshots, and during this review reflected on how very convenient it would be to group this travel info here too:). Such a lovely review today, will plan a visit when I’m back in the southern hemisphere. Thanks Kevin.
Really… I always find it interesting what other people’s deciders are. Tbh, 24 hour room service is probably 38th on my list, but I enjoy knowing when viewer preferences are wildly different from my own. Helps me take a step back and not keep applying the same standard.
Looks amazing. I agree with your comments on Pattaya. It's not my favorite place in Thailand but there are some great resort hotels there. I stayed at the Intercontinental Pattaya about 10 years ago (it was a Sheraton back then) and it was incredible.
lovely, i just returned from Pattaya and lovedit so much I'm already planning a trip back.Maybe thailand is not a place for single middle aged black woman, but I saw it differently. Lovely seeing things from your lenses
And I thought Pattaya is like Kuta beach, but your video proved me wrong and it just made me want to visit Pattaya when I go back to Bangkok next year; Thanks Kevin!! Btw, love the new breakfast ranking look; was hoping this Andaz is closer to the one in Bali, ranking wise. But #43 ain't bad.
We went to the Andaz Pattaya following your review, and it was great! Thanks again. This is the second of your recommendations we followed (the other being Phu Quoc Mango Bay). Both really amazing experiences. When are you doing China?
It's not about them not noticing, but rather not knowing what I am doing. All of my videos are only filmed with a simple iPhone, no other equipment in hand. So, they can see me filming, just like any other guest filming their vacation. I also make sure to film during opposite dayparts so that certain staff wouldn't see me filming more than once.
Wow. This was fantastic. I need to go back to Thailand and hit up this hotel. A few nights at the Park Hyatt Bangkok and check out your other thai videos for Koh Samui and Chiang Mai.
Well done Kevin - another great report! This time at a location I wouldn't have previously considered for the reasons you outlined. Your reviews are ever evolving (for the better) and I really like the food ratings. However, some of the prices at hotel restaurants are eye-watering, especially when compared to establishments in the local vicinity - fair enough for 10/10 cuisine but anyone paying that for only 7/10 rated dishes should have a hard think. Keep up the great work! Fantastic to see your subscribers, thumbs-up and comment numbers steadily increasing. Whatever you do, please avoid the temptation to accept freebies, try to find fault in search of clicks or turn to awful gimmicks e.g. NASA clothes, 'Tims' and 'DC' as some other reviewers have fallen foul of.🤣
Lovely. I really like that he view from the beach makes it looks like someone's personal (albeit expensive) beach front property. I've only ever stayed at one Andaz (Wall Street NY) and it's left a lasting positive impression.
A spectacular video that does full justice to a spectacular resort. Honestly, the landscaping beats the Andaz Bali in my view. I also found the multi-restaurant breakfast concept rather unique and something I'm genuinely curious to try out. May I offer a bit of constructive feedback regarding the background music? As rousing and zesty as they are, I feel the audio levels could be taken down a notch or two, especially when your voiceover ends and the background score swells, like 8:05, 9:08 etc. And maybe crossfade the transition from one track to another?
Yeah- I’ve trained myself to not hold my breath on hotels which were/are scheduled to open in 23/24/25 haha. Feel like 2 years is becoming the standard delay! That said, lots more options for Hyatt coming to Bangkok. The Andaz plus the 2 Standard properties.
21:40 maybe a bit hassle to walk around 3 places, but if it's me, I will sit in the middle for easier access to other buffets station, and also a bit walk help to digest and make you hungry more. I need to get my money's worth haha.
Impressive they gave you a room to wait in. I wonder if they know your identity at this point and treat you accordingly. Hotel chains must occasionally be able to correlate your review with a reservation and then in the future be on the lookout for the same name
Yeah, so I will never deny that this could be the case (at any hotel). But, I will say that any time something even remotely "extra" happens during one of my visits, my alert level goes to crimson red and I pay attention significantly more to how other guests are being treated by staff- comparable to how I'm being treated. In this case, I genuinely don't think they knew- I think it was simply AMEX + Globalist. AMEX gets you space available early check in, Globalist gets you space available early check in, with those things combined- I'm sure many guests arrive and expect it to be the case... and in that regard, the hotel is wise to simply use a facility to make a good impression which otherwise would sit empty.
A very good review. A question. How far is it from Jomtein Central/the entertainment centre. Also do they provide a car/golf buggy service to Jomtein Centre?
Hi Kevin. Loving your channel and the style of your reviews. Heading to Thailand and Vietnam in March / April 2025.. just wondering have you ever stayed or plan to stay in the hotels I picked. The Slate in Phuket and the Centara Reserve in Koh Samui? Would love to hear your opinions on them. Brendan.
I was actually at one of those very recently. Happy to answer any questions about it you have but I don't share advance info on TH-cam. My "Roamer" Patreon tier is made just for situations like this. You can find me at: www.patreon.com/theflipfloptraveller
8:40 I'm surprised you didn't mention this earlier (lots of unnecessary steps already at 4:02, 5:58, 6:20, 7:47) and I don't share your optimism. The resort has been open for over 18 months and they have done nothing to ramp any of it. I'd like to be able to wander carefree through a resort like this, but instead I had to be watching the ground for tripping hazards, just the way you have to be watching for broken tiles and uneven pavement when walking in Bangkok. It really detracts from the enjoyment of walking. I loved the big pool that you disliked though. It's gigantic and gives you somewhere to swim to, not just up and back.
Lovely review as always, however…you mentioning a jungle resort being an option for the Andaz portfolio…do you have any reviews planned in the future (like Ubud..Sapa..etc)? Thank you! 🙏🏼
I’ll be back for one or two in Ubud early next year. For Sapa, to my knowledge nothing new and notable has opened up there since Covid and when I did my last series there I feel like I was already ‘stretching’ my choices 😅
Would you suggest to go for private pool suite at all (which is right below garden deluxe suite)? The private pool doesn't seem to be as private to me with balcony of another room above along with walking path and other room units in the surroundings. And I don't want to spend that much for beachfront/ private villa yet. So right now leaning towards Garden deluxe suite that you stayed in the review. Thanks.
Another great trip report Kevin. I can also recommend another Andaz property for you - The Andaz Costa Rica at Peninsula Papagayo. Absolutely superb! Happy travelling!
what is the normal cost per night during the dry season. great video by the way, you really got the life, don't know how you afford this high end travel all the time
Walking between 3 restaurants for the morning buffet seems excessive. Although sounds a healthy option, aiding in appetite and digestion along the journey.
I was going to say something about those weird steps on the footpath, mentally calculating how to drive there using a wheelchair or a walker. I hope you're right about the ramps.
As always another thorough and thoughtful review. This property and many others you review are stunning. But that brings to mind one question I have. If a property has so many food options, so comfortable, so many amenities, why would I leave the property. But then if I never leave the property, why would I go there, and not a similar property that’s closer to home…🤔
I’m not sure where your home is but to answer on behalf of all western and north East Asian tourists: you would never find such a resort near home, of the same caliber, for anywhere near the same price. A week here +$1000 air fare would come in WAYYYY below the cost of an equivalent resort within a 5 hour flight of New York. And let’s not pretend that a hotel having 4 restaurants means you’d never leave it. Seems you want to penalize a resort for offering too many amenities lol.
Paths with unnecessary ramps guaranteed to sprain or break an ankle? Sounds like a true Thailand pedestrian experience to me. Last spring I sprained a foot and saw one Western tourist take a bad fall near CentralWorld in Bangkok.
The saddest part is that Bangkok streets are old, but improving, whereas this is a new development and it might be decades before they try to fix it. (I was pleasantly surprised to see nice new footpaths along Silom Road recently.)
Pattaya is actively trying to rid itself of that reputation- one that also meant I had no reason to visit prior to this. Each reinvention needs to start somewhere. An no, no plans for other properties in Pattaya now.
Looks like a fantastic hotel. The only issue is JOMTIEN? PATTAYA? I mean, no one goes there for the beach or the temples, there's only one reason to go there if you know what I mean. Nudge, nudge, wink, wink. I will try Bali, but no reason to go to that area for me. Great video though!.
The nudge nudge wink wink was why I’d never been to Pattaya before, but it seems it is trying to shake that reputation and just be another weekend choice for Bankokians (?) similar to Hua Hin.
Many families with kids around these days. Pattaya is becoming more and more a family destination with attractions ranging from world's first Columbia Pctures themed waterpark to a tiger zoo with safari,night safari, aquariums, one of the biggest botanical gardens in the world, floating markets, Dinosaur Kingdom, theme parks , vineyards and many more.
I know that Kevin tries really hard to capture footage with nobody else in it, to protect their privacy and other reasons. But I kinda like watching random people in the videos. An empty beach just feels so wrong, love to see it being enjoyed by many.
annoyingly american ie sell my othher services at every opportunuty and create drama by making minor criticisms ...but well filmed and the commentary is thoughtful and interesting
My sincerest apologies for running a business- and there wasn’t a hint of drama in this. Sorry if that reply was too American for your delicate sensibilities.
The best hotel/flight reviewer on YT.
Thanks.
Thanks very much 🙏🏻
One of the most appealing new resorts in this region alongside The Regent Phu Quoc. Thanks for covering it. I’m totally drooling over both of them!
Two great choices!
Quote "This was a fabulous hotel review" Unquote 😊
Grand hyatt resort groups are always the best place to relax. good job Kevin! Can’t wait to visit thailand
Really good review looks nice and looking forward to further Thailand reviews 👍
Thanks very much 🙏🏻
Bathroom red tiles are bold and gorgeous. Made the whole space look very warm.
19:50 “Then I had a caesar”😂….. man, for a flicker of a second I thought why did he have a seizure after eating garlic bread, and why is he saying that? 😂
I mean, if I did… props to me for continuing to film 😅
Beautiful review, beautiful resort. Pattaya was never on my list - until now. Thank you, Kevin.
Thanks for watching 🩴.
Very nice review - and I just live 3km away from this great choice of hotel!
First time commenter, and recent subscriber. Really enjoying your reviews especially the honest and exact impressions you give. The humour and choice of when to narrate or not adds that something extra. Thanks Kevin, keep on travelling 🙂
Thanks very much 🙏🏻
Planning three leisure trips before the end of 2024, and realised the decider for me is 24 hour room service. While many do, a surprising number of hotels don’t make the room service menu available online. Noticing a trend towards replacing the overnight menu with equivalents of stale crisps or last week’s curry. Noticing after check in isn’t great. What would be great is being able to check, say, a folder in photos for faux overnight menus. As it happens, I have a Kevin folder in my photos, full of info screenshots, and during this review reflected on how very convenient it would be to group this travel info here too:). Such a lovely review today, will plan a visit when I’m back in the southern hemisphere. Thanks Kevin.
Really… I always find it interesting what other people’s deciders are. Tbh, 24 hour room service is probably 38th on my list, but I enjoy knowing when viewer preferences are wildly different from my own. Helps me take a step back and not keep applying the same standard.
Looks amazing. I agree with your comments on Pattaya. It's not my favorite place in Thailand but there are some great resort hotels there. I stayed at the Intercontinental Pattaya about 10 years ago (it was a Sheraton back then) and it was incredible.
OMG, perfection. Incredible.
Thanks for watching 🩴
Love your videos always. Waited for Thailand series to be back 😁😁
Lots to come!
Great video, your music choice was on point.
Thanks for separating the breakfast tables.. it’s very much appreciated
lovely, i just returned from Pattaya and lovedit so much I'm already planning a trip back.Maybe thailand is not a place for single middle aged black woman, but I saw it differently.
Lovely seeing things from your lenses
Thanks for the info + video!
Thanks for watching 🩴
And I thought Pattaya is like Kuta beach, but your video proved me wrong and it just made me want to visit Pattaya when I go back to Bangkok next year; Thanks Kevin!! Btw, love the new breakfast ranking look; was hoping this Andaz is closer to the one in Bali, ranking wise. But #43 ain't bad.
I always have glowing reviews for your videos! ☺
Captivating video 🧜♀
We went to the Andaz Pattaya following your review, and it was great! Thanks again. This is the second of your recommendations we followed (the other being Phu Quoc Mango Bay). Both really amazing experiences. When are you doing China?
Glad you enjoyed it! As for China, no plans for hotel/resort reviews from there in the next couple of years.
Kev you sun of a beach
Pattaya? You naughty man 😂😂
As always another great production.
Thanks very much 🙏🏻
Love your hotel reviews! How do you film your videos without staff noticing that you are recording?
It's not about them not noticing, but rather not knowing what I am doing. All of my videos are only filmed with a simple iPhone, no other equipment in hand. So, they can see me filming, just like any other guest filming their vacation. I also make sure to film during opposite dayparts so that certain staff wouldn't see me filming more than once.
Wow. This was fantastic. I need to go back to Thailand and hit up this hotel. A few nights at the Park Hyatt Bangkok and check out your other thai videos for Koh Samui and Chiang Mai.
Well done Kevin - another great report! This time at a location I wouldn't have previously considered for the reasons you outlined. Your reviews are ever evolving (for the better) and I really like the food ratings. However, some of the prices at hotel restaurants are eye-watering, especially when compared to establishments in the local vicinity - fair enough for 10/10 cuisine but anyone paying that for only 7/10 rated dishes should have a hard think. Keep up the great work! Fantastic to see your subscribers, thumbs-up and comment numbers steadily increasing. Whatever you do, please avoid the temptation to accept freebies, try to find fault in search of clicks or turn to awful gimmicks e.g. NASA clothes, 'Tims' and 'DC' as some other reviewers have fallen foul of.🤣
대박 😂😂 wanna go ❤❤❤
I love all the resorts and hotels in Thailand, Sri Lanka and Indonesia. These are beautiful designs, natural and traditional architecture ☘⛩
Lovely. I really like that he view from the beach makes it looks like someone's personal (albeit expensive) beach front property. I've only ever stayed at one Andaz (Wall Street NY) and it's left a lasting positive impression.
It’s been reflagged as a centric
Wow had no idea!
Lush and deluxe 🎉. Getting an early check in is like winning a lottery, kinda 😅. Only got one once. Nice video 😊
Amazing room.
Thanks for watching 🩴
Beautiful resort.
A spectacular video that does full justice to a spectacular resort. Honestly, the landscaping beats the Andaz Bali in my view. I also found the multi-restaurant breakfast concept rather unique and something I'm genuinely curious to try out.
May I offer a bit of constructive feedback regarding the background music? As rousing and zesty as they are, I feel the audio levels could be taken down a notch or two, especially when your voiceover ends and the background score swells, like 8:05, 9:08 etc. And maybe crossfade the transition from one track to another?
There gonna be a new Andaz Bangkok near the new Ritz Carton Bangkok, wish to see you review those hotels!
Would love to, but the region hasn’t exactly had a good track record for opening hotels anywhere near on time in the past 2 years lol
They’re opening another Andaz at One Bangkok soon
Yeah- I’ve trained myself to not hold my breath on hotels which were/are scheduled to open in 23/24/25 haha. Feel like 2 years is becoming the standard delay! That said, lots more options for Hyatt coming to Bangkok. The Andaz plus the 2 Standard properties.
More Pattaya please! Can you do the Mytt, Cape Dara, and Arbour?
No more Pattaya plans for now.
21:40 maybe a bit hassle to walk around 3 places, but if it's me, I will sit in the middle for easier access to other buffets station, and also a bit walk help to digest and make you hungry more. I need to get my money's worth haha.
Chang mai needs Andaz! Hope it happens.
Would be a great fit!
so as The Philippines 🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼
Impressive they gave you a room to wait in. I wonder if they know your identity at this point and treat you accordingly. Hotel chains must occasionally be able to correlate your review with a reservation and then in the future be on the lookout for the same name
Yeah, so I will never deny that this could be the case (at any hotel). But, I will say that any time something even remotely "extra" happens during one of my visits, my alert level goes to crimson red and I pay attention significantly more to how other guests are being treated by staff- comparable to how I'm being treated. In this case, I genuinely don't think they knew- I think it was simply AMEX + Globalist. AMEX gets you space available early check in, Globalist gets you space available early check in, with those things combined- I'm sure many guests arrive and expect it to be the case... and in that regard, the hotel is wise to simply use a facility to make a good impression which otherwise would sit empty.
A very good review. A question. How far is it from Jomtein Central/the entertainment centre. Also do they provide a car/golf buggy service to Jomtein Centre?
Thank You ✈️
is it walkable outside the resort?
Sure
Hi Kevin. Loving your channel and the style of your reviews. Heading to Thailand and Vietnam in March / April 2025.. just wondering have you ever stayed or plan to stay in the hotels I picked. The Slate in Phuket and the Centara Reserve in Koh Samui? Would love to hear your opinions on them. Brendan.
I was actually at one of those very recently. Happy to answer any questions about it you have but I don't share advance info on TH-cam. My "Roamer" Patreon tier is made just for situations like this. You can find me at: www.patreon.com/theflipfloptraveller
8:40 I'm surprised you didn't mention this earlier (lots of unnecessary steps already at 4:02, 5:58, 6:20, 7:47) and I don't share your optimism. The resort has been open for over 18 months and they have done nothing to ramp any of it. I'd like to be able to wander carefree through a resort like this, but instead I had to be watching the ground for tripping hazards, just the way you have to be watching for broken tiles and uneven pavement when walking in Bangkok. It really detracts from the enjoyment of walking.
I loved the big pool that you disliked though. It's gigantic and gives you somewhere to swim to, not just up and back.
Showing it multiple times was part of the setup to talk about it. Thanks for watching 🩴
Lovely review as always, however…you mentioning a jungle resort being an option for the Andaz portfolio…do you have any reviews planned in the future (like Ubud..Sapa..etc)? Thank you! 🙏🏼
I’ll be back for one or two in Ubud early next year. For Sapa, to my knowledge nothing new and notable has opened up there since Covid and when I did my last series there I feel like I was already ‘stretching’ my choices 😅
Thanks
Would you suggest to go for private pool suite at all (which is right below garden deluxe suite)?
The private pool doesn't seem to be as private to me with balcony of another room above along with walking path and other room units in the surroundings. And I don't want to spend that much for beachfront/ private villa yet. So right now leaning towards Garden deluxe suite that you stayed in the review. Thanks.
Question: The captions seam a little too good to be auto generated. Another "hidden" feature of the wonderful channel?
My captions have never been auto generated, it’s always my script uploaded and synced.
Curious about your notes on SriLankan, I flew them earlier this year on mileage run for.pleasure from Abu Dhabi to Jakarta.
Andaz in Chiang Mai would be amazing. It really lacks luxury options.
There are a few, but yes- agree it needs more.
There are a few- but agree they need more!
Great and informative video. I’ll keep this brand in mind.
Thanks very much 🙏🏻
Kevin, we have been waiting for your Rosewood Bangkok video for nearly 2 years - please oh please when are you going to stay there and review it? 😊
That had to be cancelled back in the day bc of a flight change. Back on the list.
Me too,,,go for it ASAP 😂😂❤❤❤❤
Another great trip report Kevin. I can also recommend another Andaz property for you - The Andaz Costa Rica at Peninsula Papagayo. Absolutely superb! Happy travelling!
Thank you. Can’t’ wait. Can you add the peninsula as well?
what is the normal cost per night during the dry season. great video by the way, you really got the life, don't know how you afford this high end travel all the time
Varies depending on the month etc. I’d suggest you check for the dates you’re looking.
Doesn’t feel tropical but nice if other choices aren’t available.
Walking between 3 restaurants for the morning buffet seems excessive. Although sounds a healthy option, aiding in appetite and digestion along the journey.
Wow. Thai hotels are killing it.
Certainly are!
I was going to say something about those weird steps on the footpath, mentally calculating how to drive there using a wheelchair or a walker. I hope you're right about the ramps.
Thanks for watching 🩴
As always another thorough and thoughtful review. This property and many others you review are stunning. But that brings to mind one question I have. If a property has so many food options, so comfortable, so many amenities, why would I leave the property. But then if I never leave the property, why would I go there, and not a similar property that’s closer to home…🤔
I’m not sure where your home is but to answer on behalf of all western and north East Asian tourists: you would never find such a resort near home, of the same caliber, for anywhere near the same price. A week here +$1000 air fare would come in WAYYYY below the cost of an equivalent resort within a 5 hour flight of New York.
And let’s not pretend that a hotel having 4 restaurants means you’d never leave it. Seems you want to penalize a resort for offering too many amenities lol.
Paths with unnecessary ramps guaranteed to sprain or break an ankle? Sounds like a true Thailand pedestrian experience to me. Last spring I sprained a foot and saw one Western tourist take a bad fall near CentralWorld in Bangkok.
The saddest part is that Bangkok streets are old, but improving, whereas this is a new development and it might be decades before they try to fix it. (I was pleasantly surprised to see nice new footpaths along Silom Road recently.)
A lovely review hope you left some thank you notes and gifts for the staff
This video is my thank you note lol
FIRST COMMENT
Thanks for watching 🩴
Kevin, may I ask where you are from? Any German or Dutch influence in your roots?
Happy to answer the first part lol. From NJ/NY
@@tfft big LOL, was just wondering cause you once said something about a big german viewer base, thanks!
Did you run into any of the creepy travelers who scare many of us away from this part of Thailand (and parts of the Philippines for that matter)?
Pattaya is actively trying to rid itself of that reputation- one that also meant I had no reason to visit prior to this. Each reinvention needs to start somewhere. An no, no plans for other properties in Pattaya now.
Looks like a fantastic hotel. The only issue is JOMTIEN? PATTAYA? I mean, no one goes there for the beach or the temples, there's only one reason to go there if you know what I mean. Nudge, nudge, wink, wink. I will try Bali, but no reason to go to that area for me. Great video though!.
The nudge nudge wink wink was why I’d never been to Pattaya before, but it seems it is trying to shake that reputation and just be another weekend choice for Bankokians (?) similar to Hua Hin.
Many families with kids around these days. Pattaya is becoming more and more a family destination with attractions ranging from world's first Columbia Pctures themed waterpark to a tiger zoo with safari,night safari, aquariums, one of the biggest botanical gardens in the world, floating markets, Dinosaur Kingdom, theme parks , vineyards and many more.
No Club!
It’s an Andaz!
I know that Kevin tries really hard to capture footage with nobody else in it, to protect their privacy and other reasons. But I kinda like watching random people in the videos. An empty beach just feels so wrong, love to see it being enjoyed by many.
Yes, but how many of those people enjoying the beach would stop enjoying the beach if they were being filmed without their consent? lol
annoyingly american ie sell my othher services at every opportunuty and create drama by making minor criticisms ...but well filmed and the commentary is thoughtful and interesting
My sincerest apologies for running a business- and there wasn’t a hint of drama in this.
Sorry if that reply was too American for your delicate sensibilities.
Too bad it’s far from the action.