Zen Next Khao Yai

The staff were helpful with questions and used Google Translate to communicate. Our junior suite had a queen bed, a king bed and a living area, and the water and “minibar” were free, so it was good value. The onsen was a nice touch, though the showers were cold and the hot water didn’t seem to flow even after a long wait. The room water pressure and consistency of the warm water could be better too.

The room was large, with a bathtub, balcony, comfortable sofa, and a dining table with two chairs. There’s another sofa on the balcony. We paid Thb 500 for an extra bed, and it was good. There are two TVs with local channels, no Netflix or similar, plus a microwave, electric kettle, and two sets of tableware with plates, bowls, spoons and forks. Cooking in the room isn’t allowed. The onsen isn’t spring water, just hot tap water, but I liked the onsen, sauna and steam room. If you really want to use those facilities, check with reception that they’re available. On the main road there’s a Lotus, 7 Eleven and some restaurants. I haven’t tried the bicycle.

The staff were friendly and helpful, and there were nice complimentary drinks and snacks. I also liked the sauna, steam room and pool, and the gym was decent. The rooms were spacious with nice design, clean, and had cool air-conditioning. There were scenic mountain views, and the location was convenient for the national park and other places of interest. Water pressure in the shower and bathtub was inconsistent and sometimes weak.

The water stopped from 9 PM until 9 AM, and despite five calls, staff couldn’t fix it. When it came back, it was mixed with sandy sediment. We also had trouble at arrival because staff couldn’t find our reservation, which we’d made through an app. The room was spacious, the view was stunning, and the hotel had appealing facilities like a pool, onsen and sauna. But cleanliness was a serious issue, with dust on most surfaces and a musty smell. The stay was disappointing, and based on these problems I can’t recommend the hotel.