Hua Lin Inn

We enjoyed good stays at both Empress and Premier Empress, spending 5 nights in each. They’re next door to each other and both are handy for walking to the night markets, old city and ping river. The hotels are old and it shows, though both were clean and tidy. The Premier’s extra cost got us a bigger room and, in the deluxe room, a much larger bathroom with a nice bath. Beds were hard in both, and many people would probably need a topper. Breakfast at each was pretty average, much like at other Thailand hotels we’ve stayed in. The pools were about the same, but I preferred the Premier’s setting and how clean it was. The Premier gym is excellent, a great spot for a workout and swim to balance out all that good food. For some reason, neither reception had the usual Thai welcoming feel, especially at the Premier. They felt sterile. Both are good value, but neither deserves the listed 5* rating. Whether the extra cost is right for you depends on your needs and how much you’ll use the facilities.

The pool and chairs were where I spent most of my time, and the doormen were quite nice. Since I was there for 5 days, they eventually remembered me, became warmer and helped with the door and pleasantries. The buffet staff manager was great and spoke English, but the others didn’t understand me at all and I always needed the manager to translate. For the price, I don’t think it was worth it, and I won’t return. The hotel felt very quiet and eerie. At check-in, no one helped with my bag from the cab, and when I walked to reception and said " Sawadika :)" she quickly replied " passport please" without a hello or smile, which put a real damper on things. The strange, heavy bag of "goodies" had random items in it. Why not place it nicely in the room? I had to ASK for help bringing my bags up. My first room smelled horribly of urine, so I asked to switch. They kept saying "5mins, I call back" but it took closer to 15mins. That was fine, but they could have been honest. The new room smelled okay, was a nice size and had great shower pressure. Maybe I didn’t know how to use it properly, but the water never stayed at one temperature, getting very hot slowly or cold.

The location was great, and the hospitality made the stay especially good. The staff were always smiling and attentive. Miss. Moon in the breakfast area deserves a mention for being so kind and looking after everyone. Breakfast was well worth including with our stay, and they also gave us a large bag of snacks and drinks that we couldn't finish. Many thanks to the empress premier team.

We were treated to fresh fruit, roses, and a goodie bag on arrival, and our standard suite booking was upgraded to an executive suite. We had booked only about 20 minutes before getting there, after a terrible stay at another hotel. The suite was huge, with a lounge area, separate bedroom, large shower, separate bathtub, and a smart toilet we loved. Breakfast had lots of choices too. Shops are an easy walk away, and a seven 11 is nearby; other things are a 100-200bhat drive away. I’ll recommend the hotel and stay again.