Pattaya's Hidden Gem: Korandos Bar & Guesthouse - Unforgettable Thai Escape!
Pattaya's Hidden Gem: Korandos Bar & Guesthouse - Unforgettable Thai Escape! - A Rambling, Honest Review That'll Actually Make You Want To Go!
Okay, buckle up buttercups, because I’m about to drop some serious truth bombs about Korandos Bar & Guesthouse in Pattaya. Forget those glossy, perfectly curated hotel reviews – you’re getting the raw, unfiltered stuff. And let me tell you, this place? It's a vibe. It’s not flawless, but that’s precisely why it’s charming.
First Impressions (and the Struggle is REAL):
Finding Korandos can be a bit of an adventure, especially when you’re jet-lagged and sweating like a pig in a sauna. Accessibility is… well, let’s just say it’s not the easiest place to navigate if you need serious wheelchair assistance. Lots of steps, narrow pathways, the usual Southeast Asian charm. However, once you ARE in, you’re in the heart of it all.
And let's get this out the way…
No, not Pets allowed. Sorry, Fido.
What REALLY Matters (the Good Stuff):
The Vibe, Man, The Vibe: This isn't a sterile, cookie-cutter hotel. It's got character. It’s like a funky, slightly eccentric uncle's beach house. The staff? They aren't just staff, they're a whole family that's trying, for sure. They smile, they try and even try to help when my brain shuts down from the jet lag and I accidentally order a bowl of soup for breakfast instead of the lovely buffet.
Internet – A Mixed Bag, But Mostly Okay: Free Wi-Fi is a life-saver, especially when you're trying to avoid awkward small talk at the bar, and Internet access with Internet [LAN] is available. Wi-Fi in the public areas is patchy. BUT, in the rooms (they have Free Wi-Fi in all rooms!), it’s pretty solid, which is a HUGE plus when you need to, you know, actually work (or stalk your ex on Insta.) There has been good information on Internet services, and you can work right in your room with a Laptop workspace, along with Desk.
Dining is an Adventure, Sometimes Delicious: Korandos has a whole bunch of Restaurants and Poolside bar available. There is also Coffee shop where you can grab a java. There is options for Restaurant and Snack bar. The Room service [24-hour] option is a godsend when you're battling a late-night craving or just don't feel like putting on pants. Be sure to check out the Asian cuisine in restaurant, and the Vegetarian restaurant options, if you're into that kind of thing.
Things to Do (or Not): Look, Pattaya is Pattaya. You're here to live a little. Things to do? Oh honey, you're covered. BUT, if you need to relax, Korandos has amazing options. There's a gorgeous Swimming pool [outdoor] with a view, which I spent a solid afternoon lounging by, sipping (responsibly) on cocktails. They have a full Spa, and the massage left me feeling like a limp noodle in the best possible way. The Sauna, Spa/sauna, Steamroom, options are available, but I am not sure how to use them. I also see Pool with view, which I actually took pictures of every day when I first arrived (and then promptly forgot). There also is the Fitness center, Gym/fitness. And the Foot bath and Body scrub, Body wrap (not all at once, unless you are REALLY ambitious).
Cleanliness and Safety – Doing Their Best: They're making a solid effort. There is Daily disinfection in common areas and they have Anti-viral cleaning products. They're using Hand sanitizer. Rooms are definitely Rooms sanitized between stays, even if they sometimes miss a spot on the mirror. Staff trained in safety protocol is great to see, too. I feel safe, and honestly, that means a lot.
Dining, Drinking, and Snacking – Fueling the Fun: The A la carte in restaurant gives a lot of option. You can get the Asian breakfast, Western breakfast, Western cuisine in restaurant, or you can order what you want with Alternative meal arrangement. They had Bottle of water, and the Breakfast [buffet] is great. The Buffet in restaurant has enough options that I felt like I could eat whatever I wanted. The Coffee/tea in restaurant. The Happy hour is essential. The Poolside bar is where I spent a lot of time. The Desserts in restaurant. Food delivery is the best thing to happen to travel ever, which is super good for Food delivery.
Services and Conveniences – The Little Things That Matter: Cash withdrawal is easy. Concierge is helpful. Currency exchange is available. There is a Dry cleaning, Laundry service and Ironing service. You can use Invoice provided. They have Meeting/banquet facilities (I guess, if you want a super-fun meeting?), Safety deposit boxes and a Luggage storage.
For the Kids – Family-Friendly, Ish: There is, Babysitting service, Family/child friendly, Kids facilities, Kids meal. I do not have any kids or grandkids, but it looked well organized.
The "Meh" Moments (Because Honesty is Key):
The Room Sometimes Feels…Cozy: The rooms are well, compact. Don't expect a palatial suite, especially in the more affordable options. But hey, you aren’t spending your days in the room, are you?
The Language Barrier (Sometimes): The staff speaks English, but sometimes there can be a bit of a communication gap. Just smile, be patient, and point!
You Know It's Pattaya: This isn't a secluded, zen retreat. You can hear the distant thrum of life and the late night noise from the smoking area. Embrace it.
My Personal Korandos Experience (The Anecdote You Didn't Ask For):
Okay, so there I was, jet-lagged, disoriented, sweating like a… well, like I've already said, a pig in a sauna. I’d stumbled into the bar, desperate for a beer and something to eat. Ordered a spicy Thai noodle dish without truly thinking. The moment I swallowed the first bite, my face broke out in a sweat. I’m talking Niagara Falls of sweat. I was about to go down, but the bartender saw my face, and rushed over with ice water and a huge grin. We were instantly friends. We spent the next few hours yapping away. It was the perfect illustration of what makes Korandos great: It's not about the perfect room or flawless service. It's about the genuine, friendly people who make you feel welcome, flaws and all.
The Verdict: Should You Go?
YES! If you're looking for a luxury experience with all the bells and whistles – this isn’t it. If you are looking for a genuine, charming, and affordable stay in Pattaya, with amazing stuff to do, go go go! Korandos Bar & Guesthouse is a hidden gem, a place to unwind, recharge, and experience the real Thailand.
Crafting an Offer That Sells: (Because You Asked!)
Headline: Escape to Paradise: Unforgettable Thai Adventure at Korandos Bar & Guesthouse!
Subheadline: Discover Pattaya's Hidden Gem: Relax, Rejuvenate, and Experience the True Spirit of Thailand!
What You Get (The Good Stuff, Re-packaged):
- Cozy & Charming Accommodations: From budget-friendly rooms to more spacious options, all equipped with air-conditioning, free Wi-Fi, and everything you need for a comfortable stay.
- Delicious Dining & Refreshing Drinks: Enjoy a mix of Thai and international cuisine at our on-site restaurant and poolside bar. Plus, a special Happy Hour to kickstart your evenings!
- Recreational Bliss: Take a dip in the outdoor swimming pool, unwind with a massage, or explore the vibrant city of Pattaya.
- Unbeatable Value: Experience authentic Thai hospitality and a memorable vacation, all within an affordable budget.
- Safe & Sanitized: We prioritize your safety with enhanced cleaning protocols, hygiene certifications, and staff trained in safety procedures. Featuring Anti-viral cleaning products. Plus, you can opt-out of room sanitization.
- Accessibility Don't worry, most of the area is perfect to go on, and the friendly staff is willing to help!
Limited-Time Offer:
- Book now and receive a FREE welcome drink (a refreshing Chang beer or non-alcoholic option!).
- Get a 10% discount on all spa treatments during your stay.
- Complimentary Breakfast [buffet] included with all bookings!
Call to Action:
Visit our website today and book your unforgettable Thai escape! Don
Luxury Getaway Awaits: Colbert Château in France!
Alright, buckle up buttercups, because this ain't gonna be your sanitized, perfectly-planned travel blog. This is ME, unraveling a trip to Korandos Bar & Guesthouse in Pattaya. Prepare for the glorious mess.
Day 1: Arrival…and Existential Dread (with a free beer!)
14:00 - Landing in Utapao - Welcome to Paradise… or, You Know, Thailand! Okay, so I’m sweating. Like, deeply sweating. The humidity hits you like a warm, wet, slightly disapproving hug the second you step off the plane. Passport control? Utter chaos. Honestly, I think the guy stamping my passport just grabbed the nearest blurry stamp and went for it. I’m pretty sure I’m legally in Thailand.
15:00 - Shuttle Shambles: Finding the shuttle to Pattaya… ugh. It involved a lot of waving, pointing, and pretending I understood Thai when someone barked something incomprehensible at me. Finally, found a minibus crammed with what looked like the cast of "The Hangover 3." The ride? Let's just say my internal organs were doing a synchronized swimming routine for the entire hour.
16:00 - Korandos! The Guesthouse of (hopefully) Dreams: Ah, finally. Korandos. And it looks… well, it looks like the pictures! (which is a win in itself, let's be honest). The front desk guy, bless his heart, seemed utterly unfazed by my borderline-feral appearance. He handed me the key, a welcome smile, and… a free beer voucher. SOLD. Immediately. Check-in complete: Mission Accomplished!
17:00 - Room Reveal and Reality Check: The room! It's… cozy. And by cozy, I mean "slightly smaller than my walk-in closet". But hey, it’s got air conditioning, a questionable-looking bed, and a window facing… well, let’s just say the view isn’t exactly postcard material. More like “gritty urban authenticity," which is probably what they're going for with the dive bar vibe. But, you know what? It’s fine. It’s perfectly fine. This is where I'll live for the next week!
- Anecdote Alert: Quick story. My first instinct was to check under the mattress for… you know… hidden treasures. (Blame my adventurous imagination). Found a single, slightly damp, playing card. (A 6 of spades, in case you were wondering). This is gonna be fun.
18:00 - The Bar, The Beer, and the Beginnings of Bliss: Free beer in hand, I ventured downstairs. The bar itself is charmingly dim, smelling faintly of cheap cologne and… opportunity. Met some folks. A grizzled expat from Sheffield who's "been here 20 years and knows every rat in Pattaya," and a couple of backpackers fresh from a Full Moon Party who were still vibrating with pure, unadulterated energy. And the beer? Cold, cheap, and… exactly what I needed. This trip, this life, maybe isn't so bad after all.
Day 2: Beach Bumming and the Unexpected Charm of Street Food
09:00 - Beach Bound (and a Battle with Mosquitoes): Woke up. Humidity-squared. Breakfast was a dodgy instant coffee and a bag of questionable-looking fried dough. The beach, I thought, would solve everything. So, slapped on sunscreen (with the zeal of someone who's seen too many skin cancer commercials) and headed out. Jomtien Beach. Lovely. But… oh, the mosquitoes! I swear, they were actively hunting me. Left with more bites than tan lines.
- Quirky Observation: Why do Thai beaches always have those vendors wandering around selling EVERYTHING? From fresh fruit to hats to guys dressed in… well, let's call them "questionable" outfits offering massages. The sheer entrepreneurial spirit is truly something to behold.
12:00 - Street Food Nirvana (and a Sudden Craving for More): Okay, so this is where things dramatically improved. Found a little street food stall with a lady who was a culinary goddess. Pad Thai that melted in my mouth. Fresh mango sticky rice that made me question all my life choices (in the best way possible). Spring rolls that were unbelievably crispy. I ate until I thought I might explode. Seriously, I could have stayed there all day consuming the local delicacies.
- Emotionally Charged Reaction: Food has this power, you know? It’s not just sustenance; it’s emotion. It's culture. It’s pure, unadulterated joy. That Pad Thai gave me a genuine moment of happiness I wouldn't have expected. Food is love!
14:00 - A Nap of Unspeakable Quality: Back in the room. So hot. So full. Needed a nap. The bed felt like a cloud. Woke up two hours later, drool included. That nap was a solid 10/10. Highly recommended.
17:00 - Sunset Drinks and People-Watching: Back to the bar. Sunset was… alright. Not the most spectacular I’ve ever seen, but it was nice. Drinks were flowing. Conversations with the Sheffield expat got increasingly philosophical (and slightly slurred). People-watching is a national sport, and I'm an Olympic contender. Saw a couple of guys in matching Hawaiian shirts that screamed, "We planned this trip together!".
Day 3: The Elephant Sanctuary & A Messy Emotional Rollercoaster
- 08:00 - Elephant Adventure! (Or, the Pre-Planning Regret): Alright, so I booked this elephant sanctuary thing. And now I'm regretting having spent extra money on this so early on in the trip! I should've saved it, booked in advance, gotten a better deal. Whatever.
- 09:00 - Elephant Encounter & Real-Life Tears: The sanctuary itself was well-run. The elephants were majestic. We had an opportunity to feed them (a small bucket of bananas at a time). The way the gentle giants nuzzled me with their trunks. Pure, unadulterated, unbelievable power in the eyes of animals who have been used and abused. I cried when I fed the biggest ones. Not just a little; a full-on, snot-running, mascara-streaking cry.
- Emotional Reaction: I was overwhelmed. The experience was beautiful, heartbreaking, and humbling all at once. I felt a deep responsibility to do better, to be better. It was probably the most emotionally raw experience I’ve ever had on a trip. I was never going to forget this day.
- Rambling: It brought up so much. The weight of human cruelty. The resilience of these incredible creatures. I want to tell everyone. I will be telling everyone, this experience is a must-do.
- Emotional Reaction: I was overwhelmed. The experience was beautiful, heartbreaking, and humbling all at once. I felt a deep responsibility to do better, to be better. It was probably the most emotionally raw experience I’ve ever had on a trip. I was never going to forget this day.
- 14:00 - Emotional Recovery and Questionable Decisions: Post-elephant-tears, I wandered around to buy more souvenirs. What was I thinking? I ended up with a weird trinket I'll probably regret. Was that emotional overload? Or the fact that I barely had time to eat lunch? Who knows!
- 18:00 - Back at the Bar - Needed it: More beer. More people-watching. Sheffield expat was talking about the meaning of life in a way that mostly just added to the existential dread, but it was comforting nonetheless!
Day 4-7: A Blur of Beach Days, Bar Nights, and the Ongoing Adventure
- Day 4: More beach. Maybe a massage. Definitely more street food. Regretted the trinket purchase.
- Day 5: Day trip to a nearby island. Snorkeling wasn't great (murky water), but the boat ride was lovely. Sunburn. Regret.
- Day 6: Karaoke night at the bar. Let's just say my rendition of "Bohemian Rhapsody" was… enthusiastic. Sober me would cringe, but present-me? Living my best life!
- Day 7: Departure and the Bitter-Sweet Taste of Home: Woke up. Packing felt like an impossible task. Saying goodbye to the bar staff was surprisingly hard. I'm not ready. Thailand, you're already a part of me!
Final Thoughts (Because, Honestly, Who Cares?):
Pattaya wasn’t perfect. It was sweaty, chaotic, and sometimes a little bit… too much. But it was also beautiful, delicious, and surprisingly moving. I came here looking for an escape, and I got something much more interesting: I found myself, a little bit. With a tan, a full belly, and a few (very) questionable souvenirs.
Would I go back? Absolutely. But next time, I’m bringing extra sunscreen. And maybe a better camera.
Escape to Paradise: Trang's Secret Safe House Cafe & Homestay #4
Korandos Bar & Guesthouse: FAQs - The Really Real Deal (and My Brain's Ramblings)
Is Korandos REALLY a hidden gem? Or just another dive?
Okay, so "hidden gem" is thrown around like yesterday's Chang beer can in Pattaya (and trust me, there are a LOT). But Korandos... Yeah, it *kind of* is. It's not flashy. It's definitely not the Instagrammable paradise you're expecting. Think more… seasoned. Less "perfectly manicured sunset" and more "a grumpy old Thai lady yelling at the cat that keeps stealing the rice." It’s the kind of place where you feel like you've stumbled into a secret handshake society. Definitely not sterile. Definitely worth the (little) effort to find it. So, less dive, more… authentically Pattaya. And that’s saying something.
The rooms… are they actually clean? I’m a bit of a germophobe, you know…
Alright, look, I’m not going to lie to you. They’re not the Ritz-Carlton. My standards are pretty high, especially after a few… incidents involving questionable street food (let's just say my digestive system and the Pattaya sewer system had an intimate relationship for a day). But the rooms at Korandos are… serviceable. Clean enough that I didn’t immediately contract some exotic Thai disease. They are basic, but what do you expect for the price?! You're not paying for fancy. You're paying for a *vibe.* And yeah, there might be a stray gecko or two, but they eat the mosquitos, right? It’s a trade-off. Deal with it. Or bring Clorox wipes. Actually, bring Clorox wipes. Just in case.
Is the food any good at Korandos? Should I even bother eating there?
Oooooh, the food! This is where Korandos *really* shines. Forget finding the pristine restaurants with the tourist traps, the food here… oh man. It's classic Thai, and it's usually cooked by Mama Noi herself (not sure that's actually her name, but whatever, it *feels* right). I had the best pad thai of my life there. Seriously. Mind-blowingly, soul-shatteringly good pad thai. I honestly considered staying another week just to inhale more. And the chili in their papaya salad? Legendary. One time I tried to act tough and ordered it 'Thai spicy'. Big mistake. Massive mistake. I was sweating for a solid hour, cried a little (okay, a lot), and then immediately ordered another one, because it was *that* good. Eat there. Seriously. EAT THERE. Forget about room service (because they probably don't have it). EAT. THERE. Everything is prepared on the spot!
What's the bar like? The drinks are cheap, right?
Cheap? Oh, honey, the drinks are practically *given* away. And strong. Very, very strong. They have your standard beers, yes. And the cocktails...oh the cocktails. They're potent, they’re fruity, and they'll have you doing karaoke in a language you *definitely* don't speak by the end of the night (true story). The bar is the heart of the place, a social hub. You'll meet some fascinating characters there, from seasoned expats to wide-eyed backpackers. Be prepared for late nights, questionable decisions, and possibly waking up with a new friend and a vague recollection of karaoke.
What about the location? Is it easy to get around?
Okay, here's the thing: "easy" is relative in Pattaya. Korandos is tucked away, which is part of its charm. You're not right on the main drag, so you escape some of the chaos. It's close enough to be walkable to the beach, restaurants, and some of the… er… *ahem*… nightlife, but far enough away for a little peace and quiet. You can easily grab a motorbike taxi (be careful!), a songthaew (the red trucks – the bane of my existence, sometimes), or even walk if you're feeling energetic (and the heat isn’t trying to kill you). Be prepared to get a little lost the first time… or ten. But that’s part of the adventure, right? Just make sure you have Google Maps, because I’m still hopeless.
What kind of people stay there? Is it all just wild partying?
It's a mix! You get the backpackers, the long-term expats, the budget travelers, and the occasional… *interesting* character. It's definitely social, so be prepared to meet people. Yes, there's partying, but it's not the only thing. It's the kind of place where you can have a quiet beer, read a book, and then get roped into a philosophical debate about the meaning of life at 3 am. You’ll also notice a lot of regulars, like the guy who's been there since the beginning of time. It's definitely got a "community" feel. It’s friendly, it’s relaxed, and it's a million miles away from the sterile anonymity of a chain hotel. (Thank GOD!)
Is there anything I *shouldn't* expect at Korandos?
Room service. A five-star experience. Silence. Perfect English from everyone. A pristine beach right outside the door (it's Pattaya, remember?). A perfectly curated "Instagrammable" experience. A luxurious, over-the-top vacation. Expect to make your own coffee. Expect to rough it. Expect to have a great time. Most importantly, expect to leave with a few stories that would get you thrown in jail if you told them to your grandma!
What are the downsides? Anything I should be warned about?
Okay, let's get real. It's not perfect. Noise can be an issue. The air conditioning might be temperamental sometimes. The internet can be a tad…slow. I've had a power outage or two (which is part of the charm, right?). You might encounter some… *interesting* characters. I definitely wouldn't take your most valuable gold necklace with you. Oh, and the stray dogs. They love a good nap *right* in the middle of the road. Be careful. But honestly? The imperfections are part of the appeal. They contribute to the raw, authentic experience. Embrace the chaos. That's Pattaya. That's Korandos. That's life.
Would you go back?
