The Patong Beach Hotel) has the best location being set back from the main road so as you don't hear the noise from the streets at night, but close enough to walk to everything. The Banana Nightclub is next door to the hotel (but on the main road), along with endless Irish pubs (only thing Irish about them is the name!). The hotel is in the centre of Patong, which is flat (towards the end of the resort, the hotels tend to be set in a cliff like the Diamond Cliff hotel). The tuk tuks and 'taxi meters' can be easily picked up from the main road (Thaweewong Rd).

The taxi turned off Thaweewong Rd to our hotel and we were greeted by a suited doorman (in THAT heat!) and shown the way under the thatched roofed walkway to a cushioned chair where we were promptly given a cocktail. Unfortunately they had double booked us so they put us up in the Diamond Cliff Hotel on a B&B basis (we'd only paid for room only) for two nights. Because of this we were also given a complimentry barbeque dinner at Patong Beach Hotel for a night of our choice.

The Diamond Cliff Hotel was not walking distance to the main stretch of beach or night markets and was set at the end of Patong. Because the hotel itself is set in a cliff, there is a golf buggy that drives around it to move guests about. Believe me, it's STEEP and would have been made a whole lot easier if there were more steps! The standard is a star above the Patong Beach Hotel but I favour location over the standard.

Our third night, back at our original hotel, gave us a chance to really look around. The hotel offered massages and beauty treatments at great prices compared to what I'd pay back in the U.K, but I was on a real budget so saved my money for the clothes instead. On the beach at a fraction of the cost of the hotel, Thai ladies would come and massage you in the shade of a palm tree, so this is a better idea if you are on a budget! The beach was full of vendors selling Coke, water, fruit, etc. and people selling sarongs and jewellery.

The rooms were nice, not as plush as in the Landmark Hotel or as big as the Diamond Cliff Hotel, but a good 3-star standard. The service was still great, flowers on out pillows at night, and friendly staff that took time to greet every guest they passed.

I would definately recommend this hotel as the location was perfect and very good value for money.