C.K. Residence

The room and hotel were fine for a budget stay. Check-in, though, was one of the rudest experiences I've had at a hotel. The woman just grunted. The only words she actually said were “passport, pay deposit, second floor, room 4.” No hello, welcome, thank you, or even a wai or Krup Kun Ka.

There were only three TV channels, fewer than I usually see at hotels in this category. The tap water wasn't very hot, the mattress was quite hard, and the towels and bed linen had lots of stains and discoloration. The main advantage is the location, directly across the street from the bus terminal. That's handy if, like many travelers, you're using Hat Yai to transfer from Padang Besar (Malaysia) to places elsewhere in Thailand, including Phuket or Bangkok. The hotel itself is fairly ordinary for this type of accommodation.

The location and affordable price were great, and the room was consistently comfortable and good for what we paid. If checkout had gone smoothly, I would have rated the stay 4 or 5 stars. Instead, an argument over a small cleaning charge ruined the experience. We were charged 200 baht for faint stains on a pillowcase and bedsheet in one of our family rooms. We thought they came from damp or sweaty clothes, which can happen to travelers, and took a photo. The marks seemed minor enough to come out in a normal wash or quick hand wash. When we disputed the fee, the manager/boss was confrontational and wouldn't waive it. The amount was small, but the argument left us frustrated and feeling cheated. The policy felt punitive and out of step with modern hospitality standards, as though the hotel doesn't trust guests and wants to collect petty fines. The value and location are good, but the checkout service was unacceptable. I'd suggest future guests check the linen for existing flaws on arrival. Or, to avoid a similar argument, using the affordable laundry service nearby before checkout might cost less than the “small fine.” We won't stay again after the way management handled this minor issue.

Good value and comfortable rooms. Nothing fancy.