Loei Residence

The little balcony was useful for drying clothes, but that's about the only plus. This is an old hotel that needs renovation, and 400 baht feels expensive compared with other places in the same range. The bathroom was very average, the shower had mildew, the toilet seat was too small for the toilet, and the floor towel had a hole in it. We won't be coming back.

Right in the centre, with basic but functional rooms. Buses come and go all night, though the noise wasn't too bad. At 550 baht, it’s a cheap and cheerful place for a one-night stop on the way somewhere else. Can't complain.

Loei feels even more off the grid than Nong Bua Lamphu, which is 30 miles west of Udon Thani. The hotel is right beside the bus station, and its lively atmosphere added some life to otherwise dead surroundings. I arrived at 11:20, but the front desk pointed to a sign saying check-in was at 2 pm. I showed them my online reservation, which said noon, and they told me to come back then. I had 40 minutes to kill in the hot sun. Maybe the 7-11 half a mile away would be worth a visit. The deluxe room cost $33 including taxes and fees and was okay. I'm not sure the extra space is worth paying double the regular room rate. If you want a larger room, avoid #301 unless you like having a high voltage transformer, about the size of a refrigerator, right in front of the balcony. I moved the sliding door screen between it and the bed, but couldn't tell whether its mesh was metal and might act as a Faraday shield. The room seemed new, although the decor looked very 90-ish, as shown in the first photo. To be fair, the molded one-piece glass sink was modern and chic in the second photo. If the hot water heater seems not to work, there’s a toggle switch at the bathroom entrance. The fridge is unplugged when you first enter the room. Those are the house rules, I was assured.

For 450THB, the new rooms are comfortable and come with air conditioning, a TV, fridge, shower and toilet separated by a sliding door, fast free Wi-Fi, daily cleaning, free water, and complimentary coffee and ovaltine in the morning. There’s also a small balcony. Being beside the bus station makes this good value. Just keep in mind that the center roundabout is a 20-minute walk away, or you can get a tuktuk from the bus station for 50THB. Motorcycle rental is at the roundabout, left of the Honda Shop, where the Chinese lanterns are. Prices are steep: 350THB a day for an old Scoopy, 300THB for a Wave, plus a 400THB helmet deposit. It seems to be one of the only places to rent a motorbike, and they’ll discount a longer rental.