Karabuning Resort and Residence

The hotel staff were smiley and courteous, and there’s a gym on the ground level by the carpark. Our Superior Studio, City view, 30 m²/323 ft², had plenty of space for two and firm beds. It felt like a simple, humble place for a longer stay, with basic needs covered rather than a 5-star hotel. I liked being in a quieter area where locals live, with street vendors nearby. The room had a wooden dining table and four chairs, coffee table, small two-seater couch, dressing table and TV. The pantry was well equipped with a large fridge, microwave, big sink and stove, plus a pot, pan and cutlery. The cutlery looked quite used, though, and there was no dish soap or sponge. The air con was quite old and started leaking on our last day. The toilet was old too, with water stains on the bath curtains and tub. The floor flooded easily when showering, even with the curtains closed. Only shampoo and body wash were provided, and I used them as hand soap. A hair dryer was beside the mirror. There were no drink sachets, toothbrushes, toothpaste, hand soap or slippers, so bring those if you stay. The balcony had a makeshift rope drying rack that was handy for our clothes. It’s an affordable option for a long stay, with lots of space and very basic amenities.

The deposit has to be paid as soon as you check in, but you can’t get it back directly when checking out. At checkout they also charge a 700 baht cleaning fee, even though cleaning should be the housekeeper’s job, and the place doesn’t seem to get a good clean. The rooms are horribly dirty. I accuse the woman in the picture of stealing 3000 baht, 100 TL and my old phone from my room instead of cleaning it. There are cockroaches and lizards, and I had to kill 2-3 cockroaches every week. There are mites in the beds too, and you wake up with bites every morning. The electricity bill was usually 1200-1300 baht each month, but it was 1900 the month I was leaving. Weird! Long story short, stay away from here.

We settled on four stars after debating between four and five, mainly because traffic on the busy street outside our window was noisy and the room needed a good clean. The room could also use fresh paint in some parts of the kitchenette. Still, the bed was comfortable and the AC was quiet and efficient. We rented a serviced studio for one night. It had a small kitchen, sofa, dining table and balcony, and the layout made good use of the space, giving it a homely feel. The property has both monthly and short-term units. Reception staff were super friendly, and there’s an elevator. Parking is plentiful, though most spaces are in an unpaved field beside the hotel; only a few covered spaces are reserved for long-term residents. There are a few restaurants nearby and a convenience store across the road. Robinsons and Pacific Park Mall are about a 10-minute walk away, with a large night market next to the mall. Monthly rentals start at 9000B per month, plus electricity at 8B per unit, which is expensive.

The location is great and the staff are nice. The pillow and blanket we got smelled bad, though. Aside from that, it’s good value.