Rajthani Hotel

The bed was hard, even by Thai standards, and that was the only real drawback for me. For a budget stay, this was one of the nicest places I’ve been in Thailand. The staff were warm and spoke good English, and the room was spotless. Even if you skip housekeeping, they leave water and toilet paper at your door. The fridge has its own electrical circuit, so it keeps running while you’re out, and the AC works well. There’s an elevator, snacks for sale at the hotel, and a 10% discount at the restaurant, where the coffee is great and vegan food is available. The hotel is quiet too. A family stayed next door, but I never heard the kids after 6 pm. The location is great for vegetarian restaurants and the night market. I don’t get why so many reviews are negative. If you’re paying for a cheap place, don’t expect a 5 star hotel.

Getting around was easy from this central spot. The night market is close, Panthip bus to and from the airport is a four minute walk, KFC is across the street, and Tops is a block away. The coffee shop is good, staff were helpful and friendly, and Wi-Fi was fast. The room had plenty of space and storage, but I was disappointed by the setup. There was no safe, kettle, or coffee. The toilet has no fan or window, so this seems better suited to a solo guest. Aircon blows straight at the bed and can’t be turned down much. The mini fridge switches off when you take the key card out, so after a hot day my drinks were warm and the milk had gone bad. Noise was another problem: the long hallway echoes with people coming and going, the walls are thin enough that a neighbor’s TV came through, and a low bass hum kept starting and stopping overnight. It might have been a pump or some other electrical device, but it woke me repeatedly and kept me awake.

The room was clean and functional, and the mattress and pillow could have been a little softer. It’s handy for the night food market and central Surat Thani, easy to reach by cab, and about 30 minutes from the airport.

For the low price, it’s a perfectly okay hotel, and being right by Surat Thani bus station makes it easy to reach from the airport. The night market is just around the corner, with a few cafes, restaurants, and bars nearby. The beds are very hard.