About a month ago I started a thread "beach hotels" got quite a few responses and as I have now returned
I thought I would give a review, hopefully be helpful to someone.
Rooms: I spent three nights in the junior suite, I then booked another three nights in the Andaman studio which it turned out was unavailable and I was given a free upgrade to the Suite. I then decided to stay two more nights (tough to leave when your having fun) and spent the last two nights in the Andaman studio. I booked them all through Agoda and spent $62 on the junior suite and $72 on the studio, with no extra charge for the three nights in the suite. The junior suite was a good size, seperate sitting area and bedroom with a nice bathroom. The only thing I didn't like was my patio area had no view, only the 1st two or three rooms closest to the pool have a view.
The suite was huge, two bathrooms, large living room, large bedroom, big balcony overlooking the pool and a very nice jacuzzi tub. I never used the living room much and I don't think the jacuzzi would be worth paying full price but with the free upgrade I loved it. The Andaman studio was the smallest of the rooms but it faces right to the ocean which I liked. If you get a studio on the ground floor your patio actually ends where the sand begins...nice!
Pool: Nice size pool and you can walk straight from the pool to the beach
Breakfast: I made breakfast a few times and it was pretty good, decent selection, eggs made to order, included in the price so good deal.
Internet: Wireless in the rooms, charged 100 baht an hour
Location: 2 min walk to Bangla, and that's if you walk slow! You have the Bay Garden, then Savoy seafood and then Bangla. After finding out what tuk tuks wanted, I was glad that I was in stumbling distance to the bars.
Ok, probablly what you have been waiting for...GF???: Yes, I rolled the dice and didn't asked till I got there. The desk checked my booking, said it was for a double and it would be no problem bringing a guest. Desk does take ID card but was always friendly. The hotel however seems to be more of a family/couple hotel. I think I was one of the few people who didn't bring my own girlfriend from home but it never caused a problem.
The hotel is rebuilding their beachside restaurant right now so there is hammering going on in the mornings...also next door to the hotel, construction is going on but it was never too bad, something to keep in mind though.
I had also thought about the Safari Beach Hotel. I checked it out and it looks nice but I didn't like how the pool was on one side of the street and the beachside rooms were on the other side of the street.
Overall I thought the Bay Garden was a great place, right on the beach and perfect location to nightlife. I would definately stay again although I'm not sure how much the prices go up in high season.
I know this was a long post, but I have always gotten some good info from this site and wanted to do my part. Hope it helps someone out.