Escape to Paradise: Crociere Cafe & Hostel, Your Rayong Retreat
Escape to Paradise: Crociere Cafe & Hostel - My Rayong Rhapsody (and a Few Hiccups)
Alright, listen up, fellow wanderlusters! I've just returned from a stay at Escape to Paradise: Crociere Cafe & Hostel, and let me tell you, it's a bit of a chaotic gem. Rayong, Thailand, itself is a slice of heaven, but does Crociere live up to its name? Let's dive in, shall we? Buckle up, because this is gonna be a bumpy, beautiful ride.
First Impressions & The Vibe:
The name Escape to Paradise? Ambitious, but hey, I'm always up for a challenge. Crociere is a blend. Part hostel, part cafe, part…well, “resort-ish” attempt. The lobby is bright, modern…and occasionally a little too brightly lit. (Someone get those fluorescent tubes pointed down, stat!) The staff are genuinely friendly. A little on the side of over-eager. I'm talking, "Welcome! You arrive! Fantastic!" while simultaneously tripping over their own feet. Bless 'em.
Accessibility
Okay, so listen, accessibility is a mixed bag. Wheelchair accessible? Theoretically, yes. But the reality is… complicated. Some areas seemed well-thought-out, like the lobby and cafe. Other parts? Not so much. There's an elevator, which is a HUGE plus, but navigating around the pool area and certain pathways could be a bit of a challenge, especially for folks with mobility issues. I didn't actually have any accessibility needs myself, but I paid attention, you know? My takeaway? Call ahead and really clarify your needs. Don't rely solely on the website.
The Room (My Cozy Little Box):
I booked a…well, I think it was a standard room. Features? Check. Air conditioning? Absolutely essential! Free Wi-Fi? Yep (and it actually worked! Praise the internet gods!). Coffee/tea maker? Yup! And thankfully, the room was clean. Really clean. The bed was comfy, the blackout curtains allowed me to sleep ‘til noon – a true luxury. The shower was decent (always a win), and the air conditioning was blasting cold air. This is the most important part of the experience.
Food, Glorious Food (and Coffee!):
This is where Crociere shines, especially the cafe. The coffee shop is a haven of caffeine-fueled happiness. The cafe itself is gorgeous, open-air and delicious.
- Restaurants: Multiple! Seriously, you could eat there a week and not get fully bored. They've got everything from Asian cuisine to Western cuisine. And the Asian breakfast was amazing. Think fresh fruit, fluffy omelets, and all those delicious little side dishes that Thailand does so, so well. The breakfast buffet was well stocked, but I missed my morning coffee because of the wait time. The food was prepared in a Sanitized kitchen and tableware items.
- Room Service: Twenty-four-hour room service? Yes, please! Midnight Pad Thai, anyone?
- Dining, Drinking, and Snacking: The Poolside bar is a total mood. Cocktails, snacks…perfect for lazy days. The snack bar offers a decent selection, too.
- Desserts: I'm not usually a dessert person, but their little mango sticky rice bites? Sigh. Worth the extra calories.
Things to Do, Ways to Relax (and My Personal Spa Disaster):
Okay, so this is where I had a… moment. Crociere offers a TON of stuff. Like, a ton. Swimming pool, check. The pool with a view is gorgeous. The sauna, spa, steamroom…all sound amazing, right? Right. I booked a massage, and the spa area was beautiful. The massage? Meh. I mean, the masseuse was lovely, but the pressure? Way too light. I practically had to beg her to get deeper in there. By the end, I felt more ticklish than relaxed. The fitness center is present. The gym/fitness is a small one. The foot bath is amazing, but not mandatory. I didn't try the Body scrub or Body wrap, and I regret it. (Look for it).
Cleanliness and Safety: (I felt safe but…)
This is where Crociere REALLY impressed me. The whole place felt spotless. Anti-viral cleaning products were clearly being used. Individually-wrapped food options were a nice touch. Staff trained in safety protocol? Seemed like it. There’s safety/security feature.
Services and Conveniences: (The Good, The Bad, and the “Huh?”):
- Cashless payment service is available.
- The Front desk is 24-hour and very helpful, offering a concierge service.
- Daily housekeeping was excellent.
- They have facilities for disabled guests.
- There's a little convenience store on-site – always a win.
- Elevator in the building!
- Luggage storage, a lifesaver.
- The shrine on the premises was beautiful.
- They offer both Indoor venue for special events and Outdoor venue for special events.
- Car park is both car park [free of charge] and Car park [on-site].
- Doctor/nurse on call is available.
- Not so keen on the Smoking area though.
Internet, Internet, Everywhere!
Free Wi-Fi in all rooms! And it was fast and reliable. Internet access – wireless, Internet access – LAN. Internet services are fine. I was a little skeptical at first, but the Wi-Fi in public areas was also excellent. Crucial for all those Instagram Stories, you know?
For the Kids:
I saw lots of happy families, so it must be family/child friendly. I didn't utilize the Babysitting service, the Kids meal, or the Kids facilities, but they seemed to be there.
Getting Around:
- Car park is both car park [free of charge] and Car park [on-site].
- Airport transfer? They offer it.
- The Taxi service is fine.
The Quirks (and the Minor Annoyances):
- The “theme” of the place seems to shift. Is it a cafe? A hostel? A beach resort? It's a bit of an identity crisis. But hey, I like a little ambiguity.
- The music choices in the pool area were… eclectic. One moment, it’s chill, the next, it’s blasting pop.
- Some of the staff are too eager to please. Overcompensation? Maybe. But it was endearing.
The Bottom Line:
Crociere Cafe & Hostel is a bit rough around the edges. It might not be perfect, but it has a certain charm and a strong sense of wanting to be more than it is. It has a lot of good features and has room for improvement on others. While the massage wasn't stellar, everything else—the food, the cleanliness, the internet, the friendly staff—made for a genuinely enjoyable stay. It's a solid choice for a Rayong retreat, especially if you're looking for a good value.
My Rating: 4 out of 5 stars. (Minus 1 star for the massage.)
My Exclusive Offer for YOU, My Fellow Traveler!
Ready to Escape to Paradise: Crociere Cafe & Hostel? Here's a deal you can't refuse:
Book your stay within the next week for 20% off your room rate + FREE breakfast for your entire stay! That's right, fuel yourself with that amazing Asian breakfast (or Western if that's your thing!), and save some serious baht!
PLUS:
- Complimentary welcome drink upon arrival.
- Priority booking for all spa treatments (because, hey, you deserve a good massage this time!)
- Free upgrade to a room with a pool view (subject to availability).
Why book with me? Because I've been there, I've seen it, and I know this place inside and out! I'll give you the real scoop, the honest tips, and make sure your stay is as smooth as possible.
How to Book:
Simply click on the link below and use the code RAYONGADVENTURE at checkout.
[Insert Booking Link Here - Or Contact Information if no direct booking is available]
Don't delay! This offer is only valid for a limited time. Escape to Paradise and create your own Rayong rhapsody! You won’t regret it!
Seoul's HOTTEST Hidden Gem: R55 Hongdae Private Room!
Alright, deep breaths. Crociere Cafe and Hostel, Rayong, Thailand. Let's see if I can wrangle this travel itinerary into something that resembles a plan… or at least a semi-coherent memory of my trip. Brace yourselves, folks. It's gonna be a wild ride.
Crociere Chaos: A Rayong Rumble
Day 1: Arrival – The "This is Not a Drill… Probably" Welcome
- 14:00 - Arrival at Utapao Airport (UTP). Okay, smooth flight, landing was maybe a *little* bumpy but hey, we’re alive! Immediately hit with that familiar, humidity-drenched hug of Thailand. Love it? Hate it? Jury's still out. Mostly I'm just confused about how much sunscreen I need.
- 14:30 - Taxi to Crociere Cafe and Hostel. The taxi driver looked at me like I'd grown a second head when I asked for "the hostel with the really cool cat." Apparently, "Crociere" is the important part. Lesson learned. Also, the traffic. My god. Apparently, "rush hour" is a concept that has mutated into a constant, slow-motion obstacle course.
- 15:30 - Check-in. Cat sighting SUCCESS! The internet lied. There's not one cool cat; there's a whole feline dynasty running this place. This hostel is charming, it's messy, it’s chaotic… and I already feel at home. The owner, a dude with that perpetually sunburned look, seems to know everyone. He welcomed me with a grin and a slightly-too-enthusiastic hand clasp. Bless him.
- 16:00 - Room orientation. Assessment of the 'bed'. My bed? Okay, it’s… functional. The aircon, however, is bliss. I'm pretty sure I'll be spending the next few hours just staring at the ceiling and letting the cool air wash over me. Possible existential crisis brewing: "Am I truly relaxed, or am I just sweating less?"
- 18:00 - Sunset drinks at the Cafe. Okay, the cafe. It’s… a work in progress. Ordered a Chang beer, which arrived with a side of questionable ice. But the view? Glorious. Sunset over the water, palms swaying, the air thick with the scent of jasmine and… something vaguely like a deep fryer. I'm in Thailand, baby!
- 19:00 - Dinner at… somewhere. Okay, finding food. This is where things get tricky. I wandered the streets, got hopelessly lost, saw a dazzling array of street food I didn’t dare touch. Finally, settled on a tiny, brightly lit establishment that looked slightly more sanitary than the others. Ordered something that looked like Pad Thai. Turns out, it was Pad Thai, but with… a surprise ingredient. I'll leave it at that. Let's just say the toilet situation is going to be an important part of the next few hours.
Day 2: Beach Bumming, Boat Woes, and Unsolicited Life Advice
- 08:00 - Breakfast! Yes! Food! The hostel breakfast is basic: toast, jam, coffee that could strip paint. But it is food, and I need it. Also, I spotted the cat. The cool cat who clearly runs the place.
- 09:00 - To the beach! The famed beach. I hired a tuk-tuk for a ride. He probably charged me twice the going rate, but I don't care. Bliss. White sand, turquoise water, the relentless Thai sun burning a hole in my retinas.
- 10:00 - Beach Time. Spent a glorious few hours swimming, sunbathing, and generally trying to be a beach bum. I even considered trying to snorkel, but the thought of getting my hair wet was overwhelming.
- 14:00 - Boat Trip Debacle. Okay, the boat trip. It sounded idyllic. Island hopping, snorkeling. Instead, what I got was a cramped, rickety boat, questionable life jackets, and a captain who looked about 12 years old. The snorkeling? Let’s just say I saw more plastic bags than fish. The "buffet lunch" was an experience in itself. I blame the Pad Thai incident from the night before. This is the moment I almost cried. Maybe I should have skipped the boat trip.
- 16:00 - Back to the hostel. Regret. The post-boat-trip blues are REAL. I retreated to the hostel, sulked, and may have spent an hour aggressively scrolling through Instagram, comparing my life to everyone else's perfect beach photos. I was starting to think I'd chosen Rayong because I wanted to suffer.
- 18:00 - Dinner with the local cats. The cat dynasty of the hostel is really growing on me.
Day 3: Crociere Cafe, Local Market, and the Quest for Decent Coffee
- 08:00- Breakfast. This time I managed to get my hands on some amazing pineapple. This one is the food I will miss the most!
- 09:00- exploring the Crociere Cafe. I'm determined to love the new cafe. Maybe it was the coffee or the cat. The staff are super friendly, which helps a lot.
- 10:00- Wandering the markets. The market is a feast of the senses. And an assault on the senses. The sheer variety is astounding. I almost bought a durian, then thought better of it (the smell alone would probably drive me out of the hostel).
- 11:00- Finding Coffee. This is proving to be a challenge. The hostel coffee is, well, barely coffee.
- 12:00- Back to the hostel. Resting and starting to get used to it here.
- 13:00- Exploring the hostel. The hostel is beautiful, but there is something missing. I think a cat.
- 14:00- Starting to feel the jet lag. At this point I'm not sure where I am.
- 15:00- Back to the cafe. More coffee. This may be a mistake.
- 17:00- Dinner. After the boat trip, I'm not sure I can take a restaurant.
- 18:00- Chillaxing. The cats and I are bonding.
Day 4: The Farewell
- 08:00 - Breakfast. Breakfast, again! Toast, jam, coffee, and me contemplating the meaning of life.
- 09:00 - Last stroll around Rayong. Saying goodbye to the people and cats.
- 10:00 - Travel to the airport.
- 11:00 - Departure
Final Thoughts: Rayong. Crociere Cafe and Hostel. It's messy, it's chaotic, it’s probably not winning any awards for cleanliness. But dammit, it’s got heart. And cats. And a certain charm that grows on you the longer you're there. Would I go back? Absolutely. (Though next time, I'm bringing my own coffee.) And maybe, just maybe, I'll learn to love durian. Probably not. But hey, that's the beauty of travel, right? The weird, the wonderful, the utterly, gloriously imperfect.
Escape to Paradise: Nara's Mai Sakura Hotel Awaits!
So, what *is* this whole "thing" about...?
Ugh. Okay, fine. Let's just say we're diving into... stuff. The nebulous, wonderful, terrifying stuff that makes up... well, life, I guess? It's like trying to nail jelly to a wall, constantly shifting, utterly frustrating, and occasionally, unbelievably delicious. Don't expect linear answers. Expect... me.
What are the basic tenets? The core beliefs? Lay it on us, preacher.
Tenets? Core beliefs? *Heavy sigh*. Look, I’m not a guru. I stumble through life like everyone else. But if you *insist*, I guess it boils down to: Embrace the chaos. Laugh at your own stupidity (you'll have ample opportunities). Be kind (mostly). And never, *ever* trust a fart. (Seriously, the shame... the *horror...*) Oh, and maybe, just *maybe*, try to learn something along the way. Mostly, though, just try to *survive*.
Tell me a story. Something... personal.
Right. Okay, fine. Let's talk about *The Incident*. It happened last summer. Remember those stupid 'self-care' articles? Yeah, well, I decided I needed a 'retreat.' A 'transformative experience.' Sounds lovely, right? Wrong. I booked this yoga retreat in the middle of nowhere. Think remote cabin, mosquito-infested lake, and a teacher who looked like a particularly judgmental garden gnome.
First day, we're doing this pose – the *crow*. If you've ever seen it, it looks graceful in photos. In real life? I looked like a startled frog desperately trying to lay an egg. Emphasis on trying. Gravity, that *ungrateful* booger, had other plans. I toppled forward. My face met the surprisingly hard wooden floor. For a glorious, humiliating moment, I swear I saw stars. And then, the gnome-teacher's voice: "More focus!" *More focus?!* Lady, I was focused on not needing a dentist!
Honestly, I wanted to weep. But it was also… hilarious. I mean, *me* doing the crow pose? Epic fail. I spent the rest of the week sneaking off to eat chocolate and secretly plotting ways to sabotage the gnome's perfectly curated aura. Did I learn to do the crow? Hell no. Did I come back transformed? Probably not. Did I get a good story? Damn right I did! And sometimes, that’s the most transformative thing of all. The memory still makes me snort-laugh.
What about Relationships? Love? Heartbreak? The whole shebang?
Ugh. Okay, let's just get this over with. Relationships? It’s… complicated. I firmly believe love is real, but it's less a smooth, fairy tale and more a bumpy, unpredictable rollercoaster with questionable safety regulations. I've had my share of epic romances, fiery passions, and, let's be honest, spectacular crashes and burns. Heartbreak? Yeah, been there, done that, got the t-shirt... and the therapist bills.
The biggest lesson I have (after far too many painful experiences) is that you *must* love without expectations. Otherwise you are setting yourself up for a fall. Also, don't ignore the red flags. They are *red* for a reason. And finally, sometimes, the best love is self-love. Which, incidentally, pairs beautifully with a pint of ice cream and a binge-watching session. Just saying.
What's your biggest regret?
Regret? That's a loaded question, isn't it? I could give you the standard answer about missed opportunities or things I should have done differently. But honestly? My biggest regret is probably not yelling back at that incredibly rude waiter who spilled soup all over me in Paris. That should have been a cinematic moment! I just mumbled something and felt humiliated for days. Ugh, the *shame*! I still fantasize about it sometimes.
What keeps you going? What do you *love*?
Okay, this is where I get all gooey and sentimental, so brace yourselves. First of all, I love a good book. Sinking into a book is a form of self-care, I think. And I love music – music that makes me dance like an idiot in my kitchen. I love the little things: sunshine on my face, a perfect cup of coffee, the laughter of friends. I adore the smell of old books, the feeling of rain on my skin.
But mostly? What *keeps* me going is a stubborn refusal to give up. Even when things are tough (and they frequently are). Even when I feel like a complete disaster. That little voice inside me, the one that whispers, "You can do this." That's what keeps me going. And occasionally, a really, *really* good slice of pizza. Food is my love language, obviously.
What is the deal with 'finding yourself'?
Finding yourself? That's another one of those phrases people throw around, like "self-care" or "live, laugh, love." Honestly? I think it's a crock of… well, you get the idea. I don't believe we *find* ourselves. I think we *create* ourselves. We're always evolving, changing, making mistakes, learning lessons. There is no finish line. It's a continuous process. We are who we are, right now, and we will *continue* to be something else tomorrow. Give yourself space to change, and to be, and make a mess.
Any advice for… well, *being* human?
Oh, advice? I am the *last* person who should be giving advice! But if you *insist*: Be kind to yourself. Forgive yourself. Embrace your imperfections. They make you interesting. Don't be afraid to fail. Fail often! Learn from your mistakes. And for the love of all that is holy, laugh. Laugh as much as you possibly can. Because, honestly, sometimes that's all you can do.
