Anantaya Home Phare

The karaoke bar behind the hotel was loud enough to hear clearly in the rooms, and we also couldn’t get hot water. Staff moved us to another room after we reported it, but the hot water still didn’t work there either. This was my second stay: the first, years ago, was lovely, but the place seems to have aged. With neighboring hotels offering hot water for half the price, I won’t be back.

The owner was friendly, and the extra charge for bringing our dog was reasonable. We’d told the hotel about the dog when booking, though, so I wish they’d mentioned the fee then. The room stayed quite dark even during the day, and there were stains on the bedsheets and towels throughout.

I’d happily stay here again when I’m in Phrae. The hotel was a pleasant surprise, just a couple of kilometers down the road from Big C and the shopping area. Our room came with a free breakfast buffet: eggs, sausage, toast, apple and papaya slices, congee, and four Thai dishes that my Thai wife said were delicious. The only breakfast letdown for me, as a coffee “snob,” was that instant coffee was the only option. The room was large, quiet, and comfortable, with a very comfortable king bed. On the ground floor, tall bird-of-paradise plants screen the rooms from view, and there’s a small patio with similar privacy planting outside the sliding glass window. I went ahead and booked even though Expedia had no reviews, and I’m glad I did. Parking inside the grounds seemed limited to about a quarter of the rooms. Luckily, the street is quiet and there’s plenty of parking in front, only roughly 5-to-10 meters farther to walk than from a spot on the grounds.

The atmosphere was really nice, and the beds were comfortable. There was good hot water, though the tub didn’t have enough water for us to use it. Breakfast was fair, with standard Thai dishes, bread for toast, and instant coffee. The eggs and hotdogs were there, but cold. It’s south of the city along the highway.