Soontree House

The air conditioner in my room barely cooled anything. It took around six hours to bring the temperature down, and even then the room was only just okay. I stayed at the Soontree for a few nights before, and since it’s an apartment hotel, long-term renters live on the upper floors. Last time, the people above me were noisy until the early morning, and the front desk couldn’t help.

The location was handy for transport: a short walk to the main road, where songthaews and the Udon City Bus run often. Café Amazon is across the road, and Beyond Café is nearby. Shops and Thai food places are more than 500 metres away, including a 7-Eleven, Mini Big C, and Tesco a little farther on. The view opposite is of a large demolished lot, now overgrown and covered in rubble. My room was only 23 square metres including its small balcony, not the advertised 28, which is why I chose it and why I was disappointed. There was a big wardrobe but no shelves or drawers, and rubbish had been left in the cupboard space above it. There was no toilet paper, and none was available when I asked. The air conditioner was noisy, with its outdoor unit starting every 5 to 10 minutes; the sound carried through the bathroom and the glass balcony door. A rooster next door crowed before dawn, though it seemed to have lost its high notes. The receptionist was sullen and unhelpful, and no English was spoken. I stayed two nights and wasn’t impressed.

Clean, nice hotel with pleasant staff. It was 500 B, and I didn’t need to book ahead. Free parking, too.

A new, nice hotel with friendly staff, and good value for the price. I’d stay here again.