Blue River Resort

The parking bays beside each bungalow are covered and roomy enough for an SUV, and the bed was comfortable without being too soft. I slept well. The white hotel-style sheets, bedside lamps and plugs on both sides of the double bed were nice touches. There’s also a quiet fridge, though it’s small and partly stocked with drinks for sale. The room felt plush, but there wasn’t an outlet near the table, and the ceiling light can only be switched from the door. The large bathroom has daylight and a little jungle view behind glass, but barely any shelf space for two people’s toiletries. Staff handled my special requests quickly after I messaged ahead. The place was very quiet, the air conditioning and Wi-Fi worked well, and the kettle was the best I’ve used in Thailand. Big mosquito screens made it possible to get cross ventilation. There are two outlets by the bathroom sink, and laundry was quick and affordable, with a form at reception. The bedrooms in the bungalows face each other directly, so keeping the curtains open doesn’t feel comfortable. Shower pressure and heat were only middling. The bath water never got warmer than lukewarm for me, even after I added less than four liters of boiling water from the kettle. That was a major letdown in such a luxurious, spacious bathroom. The heater light was on and its setting was at maximum; I didn’t ask staff about it. I’ve had a similar problem solved at another hotel by cleaning the water outlets, which improved pressure enough to activate the heater. There’s no private outdoor sitting area, as far as I could tell, just the less inviting pool area. The night receptionist seemed less capable than the daytime staff, something I’ve noticed at other mid-range hotels too. Some staff speak English very well, while others don’t. Blue River Resort isn’t actually on the river, and the Nan River isn’t blue at all. I didn’t try the TV, which was far from the bed, or the breakfast or swimming pool.