Centara Korat

We liked it so much that we added another week to our stay. It was calm and comfortable for working remotely, and the rooms had plenty of space and really comfortable beds and linens. The rooftop, pool and gym were all great, and being connected to Central Mall meant easy access to Tops, shops and cafes. There’s also a track out front for walking or running. The breakfast team made sure my vegan diet was taken care of every morning. Kaew and the other staff checked in with me and had the kitchen prepare fried tofu with vegetables and sometimes a tasty mushroom and vegetable soup. After we’d left for Bangkok, I realized I’d forgotten my sandals. We were going on to Krabi the next day, and the staff worked with the postal service to get them to our Airbnb in Bangkok within 24 hours, helping coordinate right up to delivery. The care and kindness from the employees throughout our stay stood out. I can’t recommend this hotel enough if you’re in Korat.

The location is a real plus, and the hotel could be great, but the decor takes away from the atmosphere. There’s not much warmth in either the public spaces or the rooms. Reception sits in the busiest area, so it feels crowded as soon as you enter. Our Executive Suite was large, though the walls and floors were bare. I’d call it a good 3- or 4-star hotel.

Breakfast had lots of choices, and the staff were polite and helpful. For a modern four-star hotel, the price seemed reasonable. The bed was comfortably soft, though the double bed in the Double Double room felt a little smaller than a queen. The shower stood out most, with steady temperature and water pressure.

The rooms were a highlight: spacious, lovely, and the connecting setup worked really well for our family. We had a suite joined to a deluxe room. Breakfast was among the best five we’ve had in Thailand at Onyx, IHG Hotels, Marriott and elsewhere, with excellent quality and taste. The Saturday night buffet was also worth trying, with attentive staff and outstanding food. Parking in Central Korat connects by a second-floor walkway, which is convenient, and valet service was available at check-in. The start was frustrating. After a long drive, we were told to wait until 15:00, even though our booking mentioned early check-in subject to availability. With two rooms, perhaps one could have been ready. We waited until 15:05 without an update, then had to return to the desk ourselves after they’d said they would call. The staff also didn’t explain breakfast hours, suite benefits or the Wi-Fi code, so we had to phone reception to ask. The hotel is nicely located for visiting Nakhon Ratchasima’s highlights. One other letdown was the rooftop draft beer, which tasted and looked like it had been sitting in the tap too long. Still, we had a great stay and would come back to Korat.