The Horseshoe Point Resort And Country Club

This hotel is some way off the beaten track from Pattaya beach and town. If you don't want to eat in the hotel restaurant (which is mediocre) then you'll need to book a taxi and that'll cost you around 400 baht each way.

The hotel is on genorous grounds and quite new (1999). The rooms are comfortable and stylish, the service is attentive and friendly and the facilities include a pleasant swimming pool, quad bike and bicycle rental (to go around the grounds), tennis and squash plus plenty of places to walk around and enjoy.

However people come here for horses, horses and horses. There is a very well kept stables with more than 100 horses adjoining the hotel, with a good tack shop and plenty of instructors (who don't speak a lot of English). Riding lessons will cost you around 1,800 baht for an hour and in the centre of the hotel is a covered square where you can take lessons and where the instructors suss out your abilities before deciding what you need to be taught.

It's highly recommended if you need to do some riding (but no galloping as it's just too hot for the animals). However if you're not into that you'll get bored quickly unless you love silence. There's no night life as such, unless you enjoy playing on the only pool table next to the swimming pool.

Unique Quality: Riding is the life blood of this place. You can stroll around the very well kept stables and see fit and happy horses, as well as the odd boar and ostrich. Watch out though - some of the 'guards' try and rip you off for 20 baht or so to gain entry, even though your a hotel guest. We just fetched the floor manager and she got us in to the stables ok.

Directions: You need a map and a taxi for this one. A drop-off and pick-up taxi to Pattaya is 400 baht each way.
If you're coming direct from Bangkok airport, expect to pay 1,200 baht each way plus tip. The journey takes just over two hours.