Blu Hotel Nakhon Phanom

We had a good view of the Mekong, and the breakfast buffet offered a nice range of food and drinks. The rooftop cafe is a relaxing spot, and the hotel is about 2 kilometres north of the city's CBD. Our room was presented really well, and the staff service was excellent. It's an inexpensive hotel and had recently been renovated. But late at night, we heard a rat running over the ceiling in our top floor room for about two minutes. The next morning, heavy rain brought puddles near some windows, in the middle of the room and beside the bathroom sink. The note was clean.

On our recent stay, there was no hot water for all 3 days. Staff said it was a new boiler problem, but it never got fixed, and for most people that's a deal breaker. I hope they sort it out and reply here once it's fixed so people know. The place has aged noticeably over the past few years. Still, service and food remain great, and the rooftop bar and coffee shop are fantastic. Earlier, we found the rooms spacious and well cleaned, with free Wi-Fi and a good breakfast buffet at a fair price. It's probably the best value along this stretch, but book online because walk-in prices are much higher. The balconies are big and nice, though from our third-floor room facing the river, the next building blocked the view. One floor up would have earned a higher rating. UPDATE March 2023.

The location is perfect for walking and looking out at the river, but sleeping early is pretty much out of the question. You can hear every sound and conversation from neighbors on every side, as if you're all in one room. There's no sound isolation at all. Two stars for the location, zero for the hotel.

The rooms were in good condition, with an impressive view across to the Laos side. Service was good, especially at the reception counter. We got a really good bargain on deluxe rooms during the COVID outbreak. The hotel is by the Mekong River, and its lobby and exterior architecture are simple and average. It used to have a fitness room, but doesn't anymore. Bikes are available to rent, though I'm not sure if there's a charge.