New Hotel and Resort Experiences: Pattaya Now, NYC Future
Explore new hotel and resort experiences with family-friendly Pattaya stays now and The StandardX Times Square opening in 2028.
Two New Hotel Experiences, One for a Pattaya Family Week and One for a Future New York Splurge
The quick list
Best overall for families: Centara Grand Mirage Beach Resort Pattaya, for parents who want a beach break where children can spend the day in pools, slides, and Lost World Adventureland.
Best future city splurge: The StandardX Times Square, for travelers planning a post-2028 New York stay who value a theatrical hotel experience over quiet lodging.
Best value: Centara Grand Mirage Beach Resort Pattaya, for a family comparing a resort room and on-site water activities against paying separately for a Pattaya hotel, pool club, and kids’ entertainment.
Best for a short New York stay: The StandardX Times Square, for theatergoers and first-time visitors who want Times Square outside the door, once it opens.
You are choosing between two very different ways to make the hotel the destination. One gives your family a working beach-resort water playground today. The other promises a future Manhattan stay with a thrill ride high above Times Square.
Centara Grand Mirage Beach Resort sits in Naklua, north of central Pattaya, on the Gulf of Thailand. The StandardX Times Square will occupy The Torch, a 60-story supertall development near Times Square and the Theater District. [2][4]
The comparison is uneven on purpose. Centara is a bookable resort with a known room-rate range and facilities you can use now, while StandardX is an ambitious 2028 opening with no published rates or confirmed operating details.
| Option | Where it is | Scale | Main experience | Known room price | Biggest trade-off | Best trip length |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Centara Grand Mirage Beach Resort Pattaya | Naklua, Pattaya, Thailand | All rooms have sea views, according to Global Travel Mate | Beach, pools, water-play areas, Lost World Adventureland, spa | About THB 7,580 to THB 11,080 nightly for a Deluxe Explorer King in October 2026 [[1]](https://www.klook.com/en-US/hotels/detail/242462-centara-grand-mirage-beach-resort-pattaya/ "Centara Grand Mirage Beach Resort Pattaya in Pattaya | 2026 Updated prices, deals - Klook United States") | You are outside central Pattaya and will likely spend much of the trip inside the resort |
| The StandardX Times Square | Midtown Manhattan, New York City | About 1,800 rooms, the largest Hyatt in New York City [3] | Rooftop pool, 1,000-foot-plus observation deck, enclosed free-fall ride [[7]](https://www.euronews.com/2026/10/30/this-new-times-square-hotel-will-have-a-free-fall-thrill-ride-an-observation-deck-and-a-ro "This new Times Square hotel will have a free-fall thrill ride, an observation deck and a rooftop pool | Euronews") | Not announced | Not open until the second half of 2028, and pricing is unknown [3] |
Centara is the book-now choice
If your trip starts with, “How do we keep the kids occupied without organizing three separate outings a day?”, Centara has the cleaner answer. Global Travel Mate found the resort’s water areas, playground, and Lost World Adventureland central to the stay. [9]
The pool complex is the headline, not an afterthought beside a standard hotel pool. The walkthrough shows a wild-river-style water area, children’s water play, sunbeds, and a separate adventure zone built around active play. [9]
Lost World Adventureland includes a playground, trampolines, and the Sky Rider slide, according to Global Travel Mate. Guests staying at the resort could access the area without buying a separate admission ticket, making it easier to budget a family day. [9]
That included access changes the math for parents. A room rate may look high beside a basic Pattaya hotel, but a resort day with pools, slides, beach time, and a playground can replace several paid activities.
For October 2026, Klook listed Deluxe Explorer King rates at roughly THB 7,580 to THB 11,080 a night, varying by date and availability. [1] Another booking listing showed rates from €136.81 per night, demonstrating how sharply platform and date can change the headline price. [8]
Those are nightly accommodation prices, not an all-in vacation total. They do not establish what you will pay for flights or transport from Bangkok, spa treatments, jet ski rentals, meals beyond your booking terms, or any taxes and fees added at checkout.
The resort is a roughly two-hour drive south from Bangkok in Global Travel Mate’s account. That makes it workable for a two-night weekend from the capital, especially for Bangkok-based families who want beach time without building an elaborate island itinerary. [9]
Its location is also the limitation. Centara is positioned for a self-contained stay away from central Pattaya’s bustle, so it suits you best if the resort is the plan, not if you want to move through Pattaya’s nightlife districts every evening. [9]
Every room has a sea view, Global Travel Mate reports, with the Gulf of Thailand beyond the pools. That is a meaningful layout advantage for families, since you are not gambling on whether a cheaper room faces a parking area or an inland city block. [9]
The beach setup has barriers separating swimming space from jet skis and banana boats, according to the walkthrough. Water sports are available for rent, so this is another place where the activity exists on-site but is not necessarily included in your room. [9]
Adults are not entirely secondary here. The resort has Cenvaree spa facilities including steam and sauna areas, while its Candy Spa concept is aimed at children. Global Travel Mate also found a broad breakfast spread with Thai, Indian, and Western options. [9]
Centara has invested heavily in keeping the resort competitive. A 2024 renovation reportedly cost about THB 1.4 billion, a major outlay that helps explain why the property is selling a full resort experience, not merely a room beside the beach. [9]
StandardX is the wait-and-see New York option
The StandardX Times Square asks you to choose a hotel for the building’s attractions as much as for its beds. Hyatt plans an enclosed free-fall thrill ride, rooftop pool, and an observation deck rising more than 1,000 feet above Manhattan. [7]
That is a radically different kind of hotel day from Centara’s pool-and-beach routine. You would stay in Midtown and go up, not out, using the property as a high-altitude attraction between theater performances, restaurants, and city sightseeing.
The hotel is scheduled for the second half of 2028, not 2026. Construction had reached the 40th floor of the planned 60-story tower in October 2026, with the overall project backed by $1.25 billion in construction financing. [4]
Hyatt contributed $60 million to that financing, according to Hotel Business. [3] Those numbers tell you the project is substantial, but they do not tell you what a room, observation deck visit, pool reservation, or ride ticket will cost.
With about 1,800 rooms, StandardX Times Square is expected to be Hyatt’s biggest New York City hotel and one of the city’s largest properties. [3] Scale can mean broad availability, but it can also mean busy elevators, crowded public spaces, and a more event-driven atmosphere.
Hyatt describes StandardX as a streamlined, more casual sibling to The Standard brand, with simpler rooms and a focus on design, beds, and a connection to the surrounding city. [7] In this location, the surrounding city includes Times Square’s noise and density.
The Times Square setting works for theatergoers, families on a first New York trip, and visitors who want to step outside into Midtown. We would not pick it for a quiet New York reset, a neighborhood feel, or easy access to downtown Manhattan.
The proposed rooftop pool is unusual in New York, where rooftop pools are limited and often seasonal. It is too early to compare pool access or value, because Hyatt has not published room prices, reservation policies, operating seasons, or whether outside visitors can buy entry. [7]
The thrill ride will face a demanding approval environment. New York City amusement-ride rules require inspections, safety systems, warnings, insurance coverage, and compliance with applicable ASTM standards, so you should wait for Hyatt’s final operating rules before planning a trip around it.
The ride’s “enclosed free-fall” description is exciting but incomplete. Hyatt has not published the ride height, duration, age limits, weight limits, accessibility policies, admission price, weather protocols, or whether hotel guests will receive priority access. [7]
That uncertainty is the core booking trade-off. StandardX may become one of New York’s most memorable hotel attractions, but it is not yet possible to calculate its total cost or determine whether you will need to reserve every headline feature separately.
Price, layout, and the hidden costs
Centara gives you the clearer budget before you depart. You can compare dates against the THB 7,580 to THB 11,080 October range, then decide whether the room’s included family facilities justify paying more than a basic Pattaya hotel. [1]
The major extras are straightforward: transport from Bangkok, food and drinks outside your booked meal plan, spa appointments, and beach water sports. The resort’s family facilities are its strongest value when you actually plan enough pool and playground time to use them. [9]
StandardX gives you no equivalent budget clarity yet. A New York hotel room can be only the start, particularly if the observation deck, ride, nightlife venues, and rooftop pool are separately ticketed or require reservations once operations begin.
We would avoid trying to compare the two by nightly rate alone. Centara’s price buys a resort compound and child-focused activities, while StandardX will sell a Midtown address and vertical attractions in one of the world’s most expensive hotel markets.
Who each option suits
Centara Grand Mirage Beach Resort Pattaya suits families with young children, multigenerational groups, and Bangkok residents planning a two-night escape. It is the better pick if your ideal day involves breakfast, pool time, slides, beach, naps, and dinner without a taxi schedule.
It also fits travelers who want a controlled beach environment and do not mind staying away from central Pattaya. We would choose it over a city hotel when the children’s entertainment is the trip’s main constraint.
The StandardX Times Square suits future visitors who want New York at full volume, particularly theater fans, first-time Manhattan travelers, and couples or families willing to pay for a hotel that doubles as an attraction. Its 2028 opening date makes it a future-trip option only. [3]
We would wait for published rates and ride-access rules before committing. If Hyatt prices its rooms competitively and includes meaningful guest access to the deck, pool, or ride, it could be a strong splurge, but those details remain unannounced.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best new hotel and resort experiences for families in Pattaya?
The Centara Grand Mirage Beach Resort Pattaya is the top choice for families seeking a beach resort with extensive pools, slides, playgrounds, and the Lost World Adventureland. It offers a self-contained experience where children can spend most of the day engaged in water play and adventure activities without leaving the property.
When will The StandardX Times Square hotel open and what features will it have?
The StandardX Times Square is expected to open in the second half of 2028. It will feature unique amenities such as a rooftop pool, an observation deck more than 1,000 feet above Times Square, and an enclosed free-fall thrill ride, creating a theatrical hotel experience in Midtown Manhattan.
How much does a stay at Centara Grand Mirage Beach Resort Pattaya cost in 2026?
In October 2026, a Deluxe Explorer King room at Centara Grand Mirage Beach Resort Pattaya is priced roughly between THB 7,580 and THB 11,080 per night. Prices vary by date and booking platform, and additional costs for transportation, meals beyond the package, spa treatments, and water sports are extra.
What unique amenities do new hotels in Pattaya and New York offer?
Centara Grand Mirage Beach Resort Pattaya offers a large water playground with pools, slides, and the Lost World Adventureland, including trampolines and the Sky Rider slide. The StandardX Times Square will provide a rooftop pool, a high observation deck, and an enclosed free-fall ride, which is a rare feature for a hotel.
Is The StandardX Times Square hotel available for booking in 2026?
No, The StandardX Times Square hotel is not available for booking in 2026 as it is still under construction and scheduled to open in late 2028. Room rates and booking details have not yet been announced.
How we researched this
This article was assembled from 1 video source, 1 published article, 9 cited references.
Nothing here is based on hands-on testing. Where a figure or finding appears, it belongs to the source cited beside it, and the writing says so rather than implying otherwise. Every source is listed below so you can check it.
Sources
Pattaya Lost World Water Park at Centara Grand Mirage Beach Resort 🇹🇭 Thailand, Global Travel Mate
A hotel with a thrill ride? Hyatt is taking Times Square to new heights, The Points Guy
Hyatt, Extell plan The StandardX Times Square - hotelbusiness.com
Extell’s Times Square Supertall Project Has Its Anchor Hotel, Commercial Observer
Hyatt's StandardX Times Square: ~1,800 Rooms, Free-Fall Ride - The Hotelier Times
Centara Grand Mirage Beach Resort Pattaya: waterpret aan het strand van Wong Amat
Watch New and Noteworthy Hotel and Resort Experiences on Youtube
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