Modena by Fraser Buriram

The rooms are roomy and clean, with huge flat-screen TVs, and the pool is enormous. The steam room feels luxurious too. Best hotel service I've ever experienced. Thanks especially to the staff and manager for helping us with our travel plans.

If you only need a decent room near the sports venues, this place may do. The pool and gym are there, and the stadium and race track are within walking distance. The design is modern, though cold and without much atmosphere. There are no spa facilities. I got the impression it mainly caters to sports events and the big influx of visitors and staff, and I can't see much reason to stay otherwise. The room itself was functional and modern, but very utilitarian, with basic furnishings that felt cheap for the price. Modern and chic aren't the same thing, and even IKEA might refuse to furnish these rooms. Soundproofing was poor too. I could easily hear TVs and doors slamming. The 4-star listing doesn't feel deserved, and I've stayed in much better places for the money. Reception service was very poor. Nobody helped with the bags on arrival or took them to the room. They just walked us to the lift, said which floor, and left us there, without showing us the room or explaining anything. A 4-star hotel with 1-star hostel service. That's enough reason for us not to stay again. The lobby service was poor as well. I also got the impression companies book rooms for event workers at reduced rates. One evening, a large group of people in their twenties came into the pool and hotel around 8pm. We spoke to them, and they were event visitors or staff. In the morning they had breakfast together, then were herded into waiting shuttle vans at 08:30. I'd be VERY surprised if those block bookings pay anything close to the published rate, or if these guests usually stay in pricey hotels. The place may feel like heaven to them, which could explain all the glowing reviews. Full-paying guests may have a different experience. I won't get caught again. The restaurant was fine during the day, with good food and service. In the evening, the snack food was very second-rate. The chicken wings tasted strongly of cheap oil, and the fries were overcooked, like eating Lays. They arrived 20 minutes after the wings, and we left half the food. The staff were pleasant, though. Breakfast was passable but nothing special. Some choices were odd, like broccoli soup, and the hot plates managed to keep the hot food cold. What's surprising for an event hotel is that it had no courtesy shuttle to Chang International Circuit, even though a motorcycle racing event there drew 25,000 people. If I have to summon a Grab to get there and back, I'd rather choose a far better, less corporate hotel. That's what we'll do next time. There was no porter for our bags at all. The hotel has 4-star facilities, but nothing about it feels luxurious. It's probably the worst so-called 4-star hotel I've stayed in. I won't EVER return or recommend it unless you just want to be close to the sports stadiums and don't mind the REALLY basic rooms, rubbish reception service, and being overrun with event staff. At first I thought I'd call it just OK. Now I'd avoid it like the plague. I'll stick to hotels where people are more likely to pay the same rates, and where it isn't overrun with kids.

Gigi deserves an extra thank you for looking after guests so well, and for the attention to detail at the front office. This is the best hotel in Buriram, with outstanding service. No doubt, it's the place to stay.

We had a great stay. The hotel is modern, the bed was so comfortable, and the staff are really friendly and willing to make sure you enjoy yourself. The location works well if you're going to an event at the race track or football stadium.