Baansuanrudee Resort

Breakfast was a letdown, and getting food takes some planning. Grab won’t deliver here, and the closest restaurant is about eight minutes away by car. I couldn’t drink the flavored instant coffee because it had sugar, so I drove about 15 minutes to 7/11 to buy coffee. The setting is nice, with the river right outside for a swim, though its rocks are very slippery and could use some clearing. The pool is small but fine; my wife thought it smelled of algae, though the rest of us didn’t mind. The Thai-style mattresses were okay, and the room was fine, but the old TV had two big stripes across the screen. We barely watched it. I’d suggest upgrades, or cutting the price by 50%.

The people at Baansuan Rudee Resort clearly care about how guests are doing. I didn’t have transport, and my Grab driver wanted more than the app fare since they had to make the return trip, so I paid 500 baht instead of 370. The nearest shop is back on the main road, so bring what you need. I stayed three nights for the forest and water, and there’s a choice of the river or pool for swimming. My riverfront room was 990 baht on a weekday, with a balcony right over the river, hot shower, good aircon, and a firm but comfortable bed. Breakfast was delicious, and Noor Lee asked what I wanted for lunch and dinner. The gardens were beautifully kept and everything was spotless. I’ve seen places blame covid for letting things slide, with rubbish and no food, but that wasn’t happening here. Across the bridge, you can feel how much the people care about your stay. On the walk up to the waterfall, some dogs barked, but if you keep walking without making eye contact, they leave you alone, and their owners are nearby. The waterfall past the rotting wooden bridge was pretty average, though the pool below it was lovely for a swim. On Sunday, some young Thai's were drinking and playing loud music on the road, but they were gone by 5pm and I didn’t see them again. There are a couple of food stalls across the road, and the first one on the left going toward the waterfalls is especially good. I think it’s called 'good idea' in Thai. P.s the photo is Noor Lee not me!

A private, cozy spot tucked among the hills and trees, with a stream from the waterfall running nearby. The water is fresh and clear, and the rooms work for all kinds of groups.

A nice place to get away from a hectic routine, surrounded by nature. There’s a pool for cooling off or getting a little exercise, plus breakfast and wifi for YouTube. It also works well for a big group. The mattress felt a bit hard to me, though my wife liked it.