Brook View Resort

We booked for the beautiful view, and the rooms were basic but functional. There are lots of steps, so it won't suit elderly guests or anyone with limited mobility. The rooms are small, there's no convenient power outlet for guests, and the bathroom gets steamy without an extractor fan. The concrete bed and frame are a problem too. I hit my head on it during the night and unknowingly got blood on the pillowcase. Instead of asking how I was or what had happened, they kept the 100 baht key deposit to cover cleaning it. They would have had to wash the pillowcase anyway, and they advertise laundry at 49 baht per kilo. The money itself wasn't a big deal, but the incident soured our stay, especially since the injury was an accident caused by the bed's design. Their lack of concern about my cut didn't match the kindness we'd seen from other Thai people.

The staff were very friendly and spoke English. There isn't a restaurant, but they put out free coffee and toast at reception each morning. It was easy to walk into the centre, and the room was good value, a decent size, and had a modern interior. Ours was at the back, down some steps, with a nice balcony looking over a small lake and the mountains. Despite being next to a main road, it was completely quiet. There are lots of parking spaces. Enjoyable stay.

The balcony view was absolutely breathtaking, and on its own made the stay worthwhile. It's also in a great spot, just a two-minute walk from Walking Street. The room had real character, like an old wooden hut on stilts, though it was a bit dated and the mattress was hard. The bathroom wasn't great, but I've stayed in worse.

We arrived at 10 pm without a booking, desperately needing a room for four for two nights after finding our original hostel disgusting. Luckily, the owners were still awake. They were very kind, found us two lovely little cottages with balconies and a pretty view for a very low price, and even drove us back to our old hostel to collect our backpacks and things for very little money. The cottages were clean and had towels, and there was free coffee at reception in the morning. Close to Walking Street but still quiet, which was perfect for backpackers or couples looking for an affordable place to sleep. 10/10.