Hello, I am Seally-Go-Round the sea lion.
This review continues to focus on the eastern region, specifically around Chonburi.
Following a previous review detailing a relaxing stay at Balcony Seaside Sriracha, a compact service apartment complex situated by the sea, this article delves deeper into the exceptional Japanese-style service that left a lasting impression, prompting a heartfelt recommendation. To revisit the aforementioned review, kindly refer to the provided link.
"Experience a touch of Japan when you stay at Balcony Seaside."
This review serves as a continuation of the Balcony experience, exploring another Balcony location called Balcony Courtyard. Situated in Sriracha, it offers a distinct atmosphere compared to Balcony Seaside. This review delves into the differences between the two locations, including their ambiance, value for money, and onsen experience.
The sea lion will take you to check in and relax in a Japanese style at Balcony Courtyard. ^^
Follow the delicious journey and culinary creations of the "Seally Go Round" chef at:
https://www.facebook.com/seallygoround
For old trip reviews, Seal has compiled them here https://seallygoround.wordpress.com/ ^^
Driving leisurely from Bangkok on Sukhumvit Road, starting from Bang Na, we continued until reaching Sri Racha. Turning into the Assumption College Sriracha Soi, Balcony Courtyard can be found within this soi.
Upon arrival, a golf cart will be waiting to transport you and your luggage to the Lobby.
The Balcony Courtyard is significantly larger than the Seaside. It comprises multiple buildings and offers a greater number of rooms.
Upon arrival, guests are greeted with a welcome drink and escorted to their rooms.
The seal booked a 1-night stay from Agoda.com. The Superior Twin Bed room with breakfast included costs 2,286.50 baht.
The seal is resting on the ground floor of Building 3 with a garden view.
Lobby of Building 3
Let's go inside and see the room.
The room is neither small nor large, making it comfortable to live in. It is a one-bedroom apartment, with a living area separated by a door from the bedroom. Each room has its own air conditioning unit.
Dining table
The kitchen corner has an electric stove, a range hood, a refrigerator, a sink, a microwave, and a full set of kitchen utensils. You can live here for a long time and buy groceries to cook yourself.
However, I will pass on this opportunity today, as I had the chance to try it out during my previous stay at Balcony Seaside.
The bedroom is inviting.
The bathroom features both a bathtub and a shower. The toilets are all Japanese-style, with a variety of buttons to choose from.
Once we have finished packing our belongings, we will be ready to transform and use the public facilities here. ^^
- SERVICE & FACILITIES -
The majority of amenities and activities available to guests are located in Building 1 or the lobby building where check-in takes place.
Upon check-in, the receptionist will provide a guide outlining the location of various amenities and services.
Let's take our time and explore each floor one by one. ^^
[ Social Lounge | G Floor ]
The first floor of Building 1 features a social lounge.
The charmingly named "Pineapple Room" is open from 5:00 AM to 12:00 AM.
This is a room where people can come to relax, work, read comics, or do homework. There are plenty of seats available, so feel free to choose one that suits your needs.
I almost fell asleep while listening to music box-style music.
The library offers newspapers, Japanese comics, snacks, water, and a coffee machine.
Children are welcome to play, but please keep noise levels down so as not to disturb others.
For those who are hungry for snacks, water, milk, or various drinks, there is no need to go out and buy them. They are available here. The shop is located next to the elevator.
The price is slightly higher than outside, just pick it up and pay at the front.
[ Gong Kaow Restaurant | 1st Floor ]
The Restaurant Zone
The restaurant zone is open from 5:00 AM to 10:00 PM. Breakfast is served buffet-style and begins at 5:00 AM to accommodate the needs of the many Japanese residents who live here on a monthly basis and need to leave for work early in the morning.
Okay, here is the translation of the sentence:
"Let's come back to breakfast tomorrow morning. For now, let's explore other places first."
(In addition to the restaurant on the 1st floor, there is also a meeting room available. However, you need to contact the reception to book the room.)
[ Golf Simulator | 2nd Floor ]
Another popular sport or activity among Japanese people is golf. There is also a Golf Simulator room available for use, but please note that users must bring their own equipment.
[ Family Club | 3rd Floor ]
This room is ideal for families with young children. It provides a safe and spacious environment for children to play and explore, similar to a daycare center with a wide variety of toys.
Mini football houses are also available.
I want this one…
Oh, this is Dinosaur Planet. Haha.
This room would be a paradise for children. They could spend all day here, especially if they had friends to play with. They would have so much fun that they would forget all about their parents!
[ BATHROOM | 3rd Floor ]
For those who have the opportunity to visit an onsen in Japan, you can try practicing here first. This is a truly authentic Japanese onsen, which means you must be completely naked to bathe, just like the Japanese do. If you feel shy, you can wait for a time when there are fewer people. The staff at the front desk will inform you how many people are currently using the onsen. In general, there are more men than women using the onsen. (I went in alone, and it felt like a private onsen!) If there are people using the onsen, you can wait in the lobby, where there is water and hot tea to enjoy while you wait.
The Ofuro room is open every day, but from Monday to Friday it is open from 5:00 PM to 12:00 AM. On Saturdays, Sundays, and public holidays, it is open from 8:00 AM to 12:00 AM.
| How to use the Ofuro room |
- Inform the staff at the front desk of your room number, and they will provide you with a small towel (a size that will not cover you completely, whether you hold it horizontally or vertically... I told you to take off everything, don't be shy ^^) and a locker key to store your clothes and belongings. Once you have locked it, put it on your wrist. It will not be lost.
- The onsen rooms are separated into male and female sections. The male section is larger and has two hot spring pools (40°C and 43°C), a cold pool, a steam room, and a sauna. The female section does not have a sauna and only has one hot spring pool (40°C) and one cold pool.
- After changing clothes, please store them in the locker. Do not bring anything into the hot spring room. Before soaking in the hot spring, please take a shower first. Sit on the chair provided and clean your body thoroughly before entering the pool.
Note: Due to restrictions on photography in the Ofuro area, the image used here is borrowed from Facebook Balcony Thailand.
The onsen was incredibly relaxing. After soaking, I was able to shower immediately, with soap, shampoo, and conditioner provided. The scent was lovely. In the changing room, there were private dressing areas, hairdryers, and all the amenities I needed.
The onsen alone is worth the price of admission. ^^
[ Swimming pool | 4th Floor ]
The rooftop pool here is larger than the one at Balcony Seaside. The weather is pleasant and the breeze is cool.
Below is a putting green, but players must bring their own equipment.
The fitness room is open 24 hours a day.
Yoga room
Rooftop pool, especially today with no sun and cloudy skies, makes for a delightful swim. From this level, you can catch a glimpse of the sea in the distance.
The twilight sky is beautifully lit with blue hues.
It's getting dark and I'm starting to feel hungry. Let's change our clothes and go out for dinner, but we won't drive. Instead, we'll use the hotel's shuttle bus service. ^^
[ Shuttle bus service ]
The last time we stayed at Balcony Seaside, we took the shuttle bus to eat at Maxvalu. Today, we decided to change things up and go to Robinson instead. We informed the front desk that we were staying in room number… and wanted to get off at Robinson Sriracha. The bus comes every half hour, so we waited in the lobby. When the bus arrived, the staff called us.
The journey to Robinson takes less than 15 minutes by car, traffic permitting. The car will park at the City Lobby, which is located near Robinson.
After finishing our meal and shopping, we returned to the original spot to wait for the bus. (The Robinson here closes early, at 9 pm.)
Inside the City Lobby, you can relax comfortably while waiting. There are drinks, tea, a coffee machine, and some light snacks available.
Is there anything else I can help you with?
There are comics to read... but I can't read them.
Immersed in reading a book, the car arrived in a flash. Excellent service, I love it! ^^
Is there anything else I can help you with?
It's better to go back to sleep. Sleep well. Sweet dreams z z z Z Z Z Z ....Monday morning, a working day for everyone.
(Including seals, I had to rush from Si Racha to Pattaya to open the shop at 9 am ^^')
During the morning rush hour, we witnessed the lives of Japanese people residing in Thailand. Some were accompanied by their families.
This morning's scene depicts a father dressed for work, while several Japanese housewives and their children enjoy breakfast together in the dining room.
The breakfast buffet at this restaurant is open from 5:00 AM to 10:00 AM.
The restaurant offers both Thai and Japanese cuisine. However, I personally prefer the food at Balcony Seaside, as it seems more child-friendly. They offer a wider variety of Western dishes, which I find more appealing than Thai or Japanese cuisine. Of course, this is just my personal preference.
My personal favorite is the Zaru Somen Tempura, which boasts a delightful and well-balanced flavor.
Delicious enough to order seconds.
Children love this kind of food.
And a menu of rice with a variety of dishes
Children's Dinnerware Set
Having eaten my fill, I must now return to work. Meanwhile, the Japanese children here are also heading off to school. ^^
Japanese mothers in Thailand send their children to school by car, enjoying a comfortable lifestyle.
The children have all gone to school, leaving the playground empty.
Bicycles are parked neatly.
It's time for us to get back to work as well.
... Farewell ...Balcony Courtyard
[ Overall Summary of the Stay at Balcony Courtyard ]
Deeply impressed, similar to my stay at Seaside, but with a more relaxed atmosphere due to the wider range of activities available. However, upon inquiring with the Balcony staff, I discovered that...
The Courtyard provides a shuttle bus service between the Courtyard and Seaside.
This means that regardless of whether you are staying at Seaside or Courtyard, you can access the facilities at both locations. For example, if you are staying at Courtyard but want to enjoy the sunset view at Seaside, you can do so. Similarly, if you are staying at Seaside, you can use the onsen facilities at Courtyard.
......Yawn.....goodness....
(We didn't know about this place before, otherwise we would have come here for a hot spring last time. T T)
*** I see that there is now a shuttle bus service to Harbor Mall Pattaya. This is great news! ... Next time I visit, I might be able to leave my car at home, as my cat's house is right behind Harbor Mall. ^^
In conclusion, both accommodations offer excellent value for money and exceptional service. Balcony Courtyard is highly recommended for families with children seeking a convenient and activity-filled environment.
Seally-Go-Round
Friday, September 27, 2024 10:42 AM