Visiting Hat Yai: Centara Hotel

Bringing my mom on a holiday has always been on my wish list, and I’m so glad I finally did it! To be frank, I didn’t have a big budget, so I was just checking around for a nearby place to go to, preferably with cheap airfares, accommodation, food and shopping.Just so you know - my mom is a major shopping queen. She can find something to buy in every kind of market or mall, and she enjoys stopping at every single shop just to see what they have to offer. So, I was browsing through different destinations offered by the budget airlines and I saw this unusual place in Thailand called Hat Yai. The fare was cheap because it’s the nearest destination in Thailand to Malaysia, which meant that flight time would be relatively short as well. After discussing with my brother, we decided to just go for it even though we had no idea what we can do at a place like Hat Yai.

When we told our mom the next day about this place we would be bringing her, we were shocked by how excited she was! Apparently, Hat Yai is a very popular holiday destination especially among Malaysians because of how near it is to Penang. A few years ago, she visited Hat Yai with her sister and enjoyed the place so much because everything was cheap, cheap and cheap. Hat Yai may not be a popular or even conventional holiday destination for Singaporeans, but all of a sudden, I was looking forward to the trip! =P

The search for a place to stay in Hat Yai began and I was browsing through the internet for reviews and found Centara Hotel Hat Yai, for many favorable reviews because of its prime location and comfortable rooms. So glad that the hotel was happy to host my family when I wrote to them that I was visiting Hat Yai and wish to do a review. The Thais have always been friendly, warm and hospitable, and I felt that even before the trip. Centara Hotel Hat Yai is located right in the town centre, next to Lee Gardens Plaza and there are plenty of street vendors everywhere at night. You’ll have no lack of food options at night, that’s for sure!

Stepping in Centara Hotel was a pleasant experience. The lobby’s located on Level 6, as the hotel is situated above a shopping mall. The lobby was spacious with high ceiling, and the staff made us feel at home with a refreshing welcome drink and a smile. Check-in procedures were done quickly and we were ushered to our rooms.

 

Our room was cosy and had everything that we needed. It had a nice and consistent maroon color theme that ran through the wall, bed covers, sofa and cushions. This would be our nice and restful abode in Hat Yai after lots of walking and shopping on the streets all day. The beds were really soft and comfortable, and we got 2 pillows each, which was awesome. Everyday when the housekeeping comes by to clean up our room, they will leave us a plate of fresh fruits, which makes my mom really happy because she is a big fan of fruits and good service.  In fact, my mom told me that she has never been to a hotel which serves her fresh fruit platters every day! I think Centara Hotel made an impression on her just by that alone!

Bottled water with coffee & tea are provided complimentary on the bar counter.

 

 

The bathroom is basic with a standing shower and all the necessary toiletries. Love the smell of their shampoo and body foam – Makes me feel like I was having a Thai spa!

 

 

The mom and I took a tour around the hotel and we found her favorite lotus in the little pool right next to the swimming pool, which got her very excited of course. From there, you can get a pretty decent view of the city (which is really small).

 

 

The swimming pool was not big, but sufficient for a morning swim. My mom loves to swim, so that was one of my criteria when choosing a hotel for the trip. I also thought it was a nice idea to be able to laze around by the poolside (in case Hat Yai turns out to be boring =P) and just have a relaxing time. Right there in front of the swimming pool was a well-equipped gym (open 24 hours) so one of the mornings, I was there running on the treadmill while mom was swimming. It was really nice to have a slow and take-it-easy holiday when most of my other holidays were usually packed and hectic.

 

 

In case you are wondering if the pool is kid-friendly, you can rest assured. One end of the swimming pool is shallower than one metre, so even my 7-year-old Jayne would be able to stand in the pool with no problem. :)

 

The gym is well-equipped and clean. Best for holiday goers who wish to stay trim and fit on a trip.

 

 

For families visiting Hat Yai and planning on staying at Centara Hotel, there is a room for the kids as well with a TV and some simple toys. At other Centara Hotel properties, there are even programmes planned for  the kids everyday to keep them occupied. Find out more here: http://www.centarahotelsresorts.com/kidsclub/

 

 

And of course, while there are many cheap massage options on the streets, if you prefer not to step out of the hotel, there is always an in-house hotel spa to meet all your needs. They may be more expensive than those on the streets, but they are still considered extremely cheap by Singapore standards.

 

Breakfast is very important to me, and I was glad that the breakfast buffet at Centara Hotel was fabulous! There were Asian dishes, pastries, noodle and egg stations, cakes, salads, fruits etc. A very sumptuous spread indeed! And I couldn’t resist the deep fried chicken skin and had that every single day! =P

 

   
 

 

Love good hotel breakfasts. Starts my day right at Hat Yai everyday!

 

If you are planning a visit to Hat Yai soon, do consider staying at Centara Hotel Hat Yai. Our stay was pleasant and comfortable, with our requests met promptly and always with a smile. Not to mention, the location was superb as well, with a few shopping malls all within three minutes’ walk, a large wet market about 10 minutes’ walk away, where you can observe and see the everyday lives of the people of Hat Yai, and many food options on the streets even late into the night. There are massage parlors and hair salon at extremely cheap prices everywhere too. Stay tuned for my next few posts as I talk about the places to visit and eat in Hat Yai, and perhaps you can start planning for a very affordable but relaxing Hat Yai trip soon too.

Thank you Centara Hotel Hat Yai, for making my first trip to Hat Yai such an enjoyable one, with your great service and wonderful amenities. My mom has already started telling her friends to visit soon! =D

 

Centara Hotel Hat Yai
Website: http://www.centarahotelsresorts.com/centara/chy/
http://www.centarahotelsresorts.com/

Disclosure: The J Babies was sponsored in total 5 nights of stay (2 rooms) for purpose of review. No other financial compensation was received and all opinions and photographs used in this post are mine.