Romance Hotel Sukhumvit 97

Even the older building, where my room was, felt clean and comfortable, though the rooms and building are a bit dated. The photos make the place look better than it is, and I understand there’s both an old and a new building. The room was simple, cleaned and set up each day, and the bathroom was clean too. I saw no cockroaches or dirt under the bed. The reception staff were very nice, and nobody asked me to leave a review in exchange for faster check-in. The area isn’t great and feels a little dodgy, but I went to 7/11 alone to pick up a few things without trouble. I’d been concerned after reading the reviews, but none of those situations happened to me. It’s good value for the money.

Just three blocks away I found some of the best street food I’ve ever had, cheap and delicious. There’s also a 7/11 right next door. The area is much more relaxed, away from where all the wild stuff happens, and the prostitutes don’t follow you home at 3am. The place itself was amazing for the price. Big rooms, soft beds, clean, with a little outdoor area and good WiFi. The staff were courteous and considerate. There’s a nice pool, a big rooftop, and an onsite washer and dryer. The gym was meh. Concrete walls too, if you wanna get loud 😜.

It’s fine for a cheap night during a layover, but I wouldn’t stay longer than a day. The place is close to 7, which is handy, but otherwise far from everything. The pool feels old and sad. Getting to the rooms means walking a fair way from the lobby, and I had to carry a lot of my own bags. Staff did try to help, but there was no cart, so I was carrying my things along with my toddler. When my bags were outside rolling down the sloped ground, I asked the receptionist for help. She just said “passport” without helping, which felt really unfriendly. Usually staff greet you at the door and help with luggage.

We’re back for our second stay because the prices are really fair. We enjoyed the pool and the small, practical fitness facilities. I can’t say anything about breakfast yet, since we booked without it last time, but maybe I’ll add an update. The staff deserve 5*, they were amazing and so helpful on our first holiday in Thailand.