The Rice Hotel

Noise ruined the night for us. From 2.30am on, doors kept opening and shutting, with footsteps, talking, and laughter carrying through the hotel in one constant wall of sound that made sleep impossible. In my view, it came down to inconsiderate guests, poor sound insulation, and ineffective night staff. When we asked reception the next morning why it had been so noisy, we just got a shrug. We won't stay at The Rice again. Maybe they could put reminders in the lifts and corridors asking people to keep quiet after 10pm, since others may be sleeping. Just a thought.

The staff make this place. Morning and evening, they're always willing to help, and the short older lady checking the breakfast food was especially friendly. She made sure there were eggs and rice, and if the food was about to close for the hour, she'd ask guests if they wanted anything else. The breakfast is simple and much the same as always, so remember you're not at the Marriott. Really nice people make up for what's lacking. We stayed two weeks, and the rate is good for this place. I prefer great staff over some extra luxuries, and I'll stay again. I was here about three years ago too, and the place still looks the same. The outside is nicely kept, and the inside, including the entrance, is clean. My only complaint was some ants in the room, probably because there are large gardens nearby, I think. Staff sprayed quickly and that took care of them.

It's well placed for bars, restaurants, and entertainment, with a good room for a fair price. The room was clean and nicely decorated, with a minibar and a good-sized toilet. Outside, there's a well prepared area and a fairly big car park for guests at the front.

We rented two rooms, one for us and one for my wife's parents, and everyone was very happy. The Rice will be our usual choice when we visit family in Roi Et and stay in the city instead of the home village. The rooms were very clean, the grounds well maintained, and the design details gave the place a special feel. The air conditioning was excellent, and the stand-up shower was great. Minibar and snacks were priced very fairly. My wife asked about early check-in, and they would've accommodated her, but the rooms were still being cleaned. They held our luggage so we could go explore Roi Et. Breakfast offered Thai and Western options. We got one of each to share, and both were delicious, with lots of coffee choices too. The staff are very friendly, and the owner can speak English if you need.