Thongphaphum River

The receptionist was pleasant at both check-in and check-out, and you can walk to several different restaurants nearby. There’s also a large parking lot in front of the courtyard entrance. My Deluxe king room was 16 square metres, with simple furnishings and a very standard feel. The shower and toilet share one space, so the whole floor gets wet when you shower. It’s a decent place for a night while passing through.

The main downside for me was the missing shampoo. The bathroom was clean and had hot water, but only two bar soaps were supplied. Otherwise the room was new, clean, spacious, and had a high ceiling. The air conditioning worked well for sleeping, there were plenty of outlets, and the many light switches let you set the room how you like. The daylight colored bulbs worked well for reading or makeup. There was a fridge with two glass bottles of Singha water, free WiFi with the password at the counter, and complimentary fruit on the table downstairs on the way to the room. Parking outdoors is safe, clearly marked, and has space for 15-20 cars. The hotel is near the bridge over the Khwae Noi river. Coming from Saiyok toward Thong Pha Phum, cross the bridge and look for the big sign on the right. Lots of restaurants are nearby for lunch or dinner, and 7-11 is about a seven minute walk or two minutes by car. I think it’s worth staying here.

The river Kwai view is lovely, and the wooden style makes the place look recently built. Staff were polite and accommodating, and it was easy to talk with them about requests. The room had a TV and WiFi, though I didn’t use the TV, plus shampoo, shower gel, a kettle with coffee, and two sets of towels. I’m not sure if toothpaste and toothbrushes are available on request. There was no room phone to contact reception, and the bathroom sink leaked. There were no cabinets for clothes or belongings. I also couldn’t adjust the water temperature, and it was too hot for me, since I’m not used to hot showers. The rules and penalties were in Thai without an English translation. There’s a wide parking lot, bins around the property, a smoking area, and an emergency exit plan. The place was clean and offered free fruit, we had rambutan. It’s about a three minute walk to the market.

I booked too carelessly and paid the full price in advance, my own mistake. The twin room was tiny, and though it’s near the river and bridge, there was no river view, no facilities, no food, nothing. The atmosphere felt strange to me. In the end, I drove another hour to stay in Sangkhlaburi district.