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Published on March 8, 2008

For more than four decades, the Amari brand has been flourishing in Thailand, opening new properties in all corners of the Kingdom that have become synonymous with high standards of customer service and value for money.

Pattaya, one of Thailand's busiest seaside towns, is home to a four-hectare property housing the Amari Orchid Resort, which last year was extended to accommodate the five-star Ocean Tower.

With many of Pattaya's regular visitors now choosing to blend pleasure with business, the Ocean Tower is catering to the seminar crowd, offering elegant guestrooms, quality conference facilities and the latest in audio-visual equipment.

The new hotel has a great modern personality that greets you from the moment you step into the stylish lobby. The sleek decor is reflected in the extravagant check pattern of the carpet, the chandeliers and the chic sofas, and continues into the Ice Bar where jazz singer Ruby Hayes meets guests each night.

The Ocean Tower features 297 rooms, 199 of them Ocean Deluxe, plus 36 Junior Suites and 15 Family rooms. Guests staying on the Horizon Club floor, also known as the Amari Executive floor, can choose between 28 Executive Deluxe rooms and a mix of suites, and also have the advantage of their own reception for private and express check-in and check-out.

Arriving on the 20th floor, I admire the panoramic view of Pattaya bay complete with an ocean liner and the Sanctuary of Truth Pavilion in the distance. Looking down, the freeform swimming pool next to the Garden Wing looks very inviting.

The rooms on the executive floor are delightful, fitted out with a large flat-screen TV with satellite, a mini bar, safe and wireless hi-speed Internet access. If you haven't brought a laptop, you can use the sleek desktop computer provided at the Horizon Club free of charge.

Interestingly, the open-plan rooms on the executive floors have no immediately visible division between bedroom and bathroom. While there is something quite delicious about a very spacious room with a luxury bathtub sitting in the middle, those who don't like the idea can use the remote control to lower a blind and divide the room into two. Business travellers should enjoy their work surrounds sat at the glass desk, which is appropriately set beside the oversize window.

So big is the window that you can see the sea from everywhere in the room - even the toilet, which sits next to the glass wall and balcony. A dark wood-laminate floor makes the room feel cosier and a comfy bed made up with soft white linen caps an inviting atmosphere.

Breakfast is served on the 19th floor of the Horizon Club by very attentive Club staff, or guests can choose to go down to Essence, a modern dining venue on the third floor. Sivara Spa is on the fourth floor, near the fitness centre, and leads to the swimming pool outside.

Amari has always been serious about its restaurants and guests can enjoy chilling at Mantra Restaurant and Bar, on the corner of North Pattaya's Beach Road, a short walk from the Ocean Tower, or at the more casual Henry J Bean's Bar and Grill.

At Mantra, chefs take centre stage in the open kitchens and the cuisine - both Mediterranean and Asian - is excellent.

Amari's old Garden Wing remains low-rise with a huge lawn perfect for lazing in the afternoon.

vipasai@nationgroup.com

Vipasai Niyamabha

The Nation