La Vintage Resort (Former Poppa Palace Hotel)

This hotel is basically long, narrow, and seemingly built on stilts.  With a rectangular shape and large columns leading into the airy lobby, the La Vintage Resort  greets guests with more than ample seating areas -- including huge window seats with plentiful throw pillows. Kitschy palm tree lamps and giant Asian-inspired vases line the way to the wooden reception desk. Open-air hallways guide guests to their rooms throughout this property, though there isn't much landscaping beyond a tropical plant or two.

The vibe is generally respectful, quiet, and well suited to families or other tourists looking for a calm place to relax after exploring the Patong area.

Just far enough from the clubs of Bangla Road (which is a 10-to -15 minute walk), this hotel is still in close party-time proximity but without the all-night noise pollution. Its central Patong location also puts it just about five minutes from the beach, if taking the shortcut from the back alleyway of the hotel to get to the sand. Jungceylon Shopping Center and Junceylon are also within 10 minutes. Immediately surrounding the hotel there are many restaurant choices, and a reputable massage parlor is right out front. 

Simply decorated with bright accent walls, virtually no wall art, and dark wood furnishings (some of which are showing wear and tear), the 105 rooms in the La Vintage Resort are good sized, regardless of if you book a smaller Standard room or one of the more expensive suites. 

While most of the beds in Patong area hotels are rock hard, the beds in this hotel are actually a little more comfortable (at least by Western tourist standards). All rooms have modern amenities such as flat-screen TVs, stocked minibars, electric kettles (for making tea or coffee), and individual climate controls; bigger rooms may also have microwaves and larger refrigerators.

Unless one books a pricier suite, the bathrooms have showers, and there is nothing but a curtain separating the spewing water from the toilet and sink (i.e. be prepared for wet and slippery tile floors after washing up). The good news is that there is plenty of hot water and decent water pressure. Flip-flops and general toiletries are provided for guest use. 

The quietest rooms seem to be the ones with balconies facing the pool, but even street-side rooms are insulated enough to keep exterior noise from preventing sleep. There is an older wing and a newer wing...request a room in the newer wing for the best experience.

There are two small pools -- more suited to a cooling dip than an actual swim -- which tend to get a lot of shade; this can be annoying, or a welcome respite after getting a healthy dose of sun at the beach. Guests usually have no problem snagging an umbrella and sun lounger, but the chairs could definitely do with an upgrade as many are broken or uncomfortable.

There is an on-site restaurant, which serves breakfast only and for a fee. However, most guests seem to enjoy venturing out for other meals to area restaurants with the nearby Orange and Patong Corner being favorites. 

While there is no free Wi-Fi in this hotel and the paid connection is very slow, there are computers in the lobby for guest use -- what the property calls its Internet Cafe -- which is roughly the equivalent of a mock business center. Pay-per-use massage chairs in the lobby work as a substitute for an on-site spa.