Ruean Thai Nai Bang by Pansak Resort

I enjoy staying in old places that once had a grand past and now show their age, and this one has plenty of charm. The staff are great and do what they can with the resources available. I slept perfectly, so it's a lovely spot for a couple of nights. I don't think it needs to change.

The bed was the best part: huge, comfortable, with clean, nice sheets. Beyond that, there was very little to do. The hotel is literally in the jungle, so getting into town means ordering a taxi. That can be a good way to see everyday Thailand, away from tourist markups. The pool is closed and looks as though it hasn't been used in years, though I found a photo of it operating six years ago. The whole place feels run-down, which is a shame because it seems to have had a lot of potential. It may have been hit hard by Covid and now seems to operate mainly for weekend weddings, so a Saturday booking could mean a noisy night. I can't believe we missed the reviews before booking. LL's review describes it exactly.

The people running the hotel were especially helpful when I realized I'd booked the wrong night, three weeks later than I needed. The app wouldn't let me change it, but they understood and moved the reservation for me. Thanks again 🙏 I also enjoyed having breakfast on the patio, looking out at the garden and ponds. It was delivered by 11am, costs 100 baht, and needs to be ordered the day before. The room was clean and pleasant, with a comfortable bed and a great hot shower.

We left a day early, losing one night's fare and having to find another hotel at short notice. Staying longer simply wasn't worth it. It's a pity, because we would honestly have enjoyed a nature break if the owner had put more care into the place and offered a few basic services. We've stayed in smaller hotels where the owners' effort made all the difference. Here, it felt as if the owner no longer cared for the property. The one bright spot was the friendly, smiling staff member who gave us mangoes from the trees when asking us to move our car. Check-in and check-out were very lax, though: there were no document checks, just a man glancing at our booking in a manual book before letting us in. We handed the keys over to leave, which didn't inspire confidence in the security. We had booked three nights but checked out after the second. The grounds are very isolated, reached by a forest road that was pitch black at night. The hotel itself was dark and creepy. Shops like 7-11, small mini marts, and a laundry shop are at least a 20-minute walk away through a dark jungle path, so a car seems necessary. The place felt empty and unsettling at night, and in the daytime there was nothing to do except sit in the room or outside staring at nothing. There were hardly any amenities. The algae-filled pool didn't work, the property was poorly maintained, and the supposed “river view” was a murky brown stream. Open forest and plantations surround the grounds, which felt unsafe, especially for families or people travelling alone. And yes, there were monitor lizards. Breakfast was also disappointing, just a few choices like eggs and ham. Our room wasn't ready when we arrived around 7-8 PM. One looked as though the hotel keeper was about to sleep in it, with a mattress set up. We had to wait awkwardly while they moved their things before we could go in. I think they assumed we weren't coming because it was already night. The bedding and towels were badly stained, and there were moths and dead bugs on the bed. Furnishings were sparse and mismatched, with dining chairs but no side tables or sofa. There was no microwave, and no food options nearby. The doors and windows didn't feel secure, and mosquitoes were everywhere, so we had to buy our own coils. The hot water failed, was fixed by staff, then broke again. It was hard to sleep comfortably and the stay made us anxious. I don't usually post negative reviews because I know running a business is hard, and I normally just move on after a disappointing stay. But I wanted to warn others. We hadn't read reviews before booking, then afterwards saw that others described similar problems, including bed bug bites. If your idea of a stay is staring at neglected trees, dealing with stagnant water, mosquitoes, monitor lizards, and no basic services or sense of safety, this could be for you. The only positive was the staff member's kindness. The hotel could have been a lovely break from city life with more care and a few more amenities, but we had a very unpleasant stay.