The Rizin

A warning about Rizin hotel. I booked a pool-facing property through agoda, but they gave us a room that didn't face the pool. When we complained, staff started blaming us over dirt on the pillow cover and other things they were changing behind our backs. They also took a deposit to deduct from it. The hotel staff were rude and arrogant, and even told us to call the police. It ruined my whole trip. I'd tell people not to stay here or hand over a security deposit. Be aware of the marks I've added, as they will charge for those.

The aircon in my room worked great, and the staff were lovely. The place is relaxing and laid-back. Their laundry service is reasonably priced, and the cleaning ladies were all kind and efficient.

My review concerns Agoda, not the hotel staff or the property itself. Agoda ruined my New Year's trip. I had a confirmed booking, but Agoda canceled it at the last minute because of overbooking. That left me without a place to stay on New Year's Eve, when prices had shot up. I was scrambling despite having done everything right, and Agoda's compensation offer came nowhere near covering the damage. This wasn't the hotel's fault. Still, Agoda is its booking partner, so the experience reflects badly on the property too. I hope Rizin hotel considers whether working with Agoda is worth it if guests' once-in-a-lifetime trips can be ruined this way. It was my first and possibly only New Year's in Thailand, and Agoda's failure to honor a confirmed reservation overshadowed it with stress and uncertainty. Future travelers should be very cautious about using Agoda for important dates.

The room was clean, comfortable, and looked good for the price. The location isn't ideal, but Bolt or another transport app makes getting around easy. On my last night, though, there were heavy footsteps and banging from the apartment above. The earlier nights had been quiet, so maybe I was just lucky then. The room may not be as soundproof as I'd thought. I had a very different experience with one building maintenance man. Several times I was sure he was taking photos of guests, including me, too often and without a reason. He'd spend a long time quietly looking at people from under his hat or out of the corner of his eye. It didn't feel friendly, and made me feel watched and uneasy. When you looked back, he'd quickly turn away. He seemed shy and introverted, but I also saw him gossiping negatively about guests in front of the hotel, often to cleaning staff or locals arriving at the building. I experienced him clearly gossiping about me, then looking over as if to make sure I noticed. I hadn't done anything wrong and had always been respectful. Reception and cleaning staff treated me warmly, but he seemed to dislike me for no reason. His behavior felt deeply unsettling and inappropriate in a hospitality setting. He gave off a negative, uncomfortable energy, as if he were unhappy and taking it out on guests. At times it felt deliberate, like he wanted people to feel watched or unwelcome during their holiday. That's unacceptable in a hotel. He acted immaturely and unprofessionally, with what seemed like envy and bitterness toward guests, as if he resented seeing people happy or successful. Instead of helping with luggage or maintenance work, he wandered around or played on his phone, contributing little and creating tension. It's a shame, because the rest of the team are genuinely wonderful and the property could be a great place to stay. Management should address his behavior, since it's hurting the hotel's reputation and making guests uneasy. The reception staff are among the warmest people, genuinely kind and polite, always ready to help with a smile. The Building B cleaning ladies are also lovely and positive, greeting guests cheerfully. I really enjoyed talking with them, they give the place an uplifting, pleasant feel.