VELA Dhi Udon Thani

The staff were nice, and the cleaners were friendly. Breakfast was quite good, Thai style, and the little bar area was comfortable. We had a good stay at the VELA Dhi hotel. Check-in was fine, just a simple form, and the entrance and reception looked really nice. There are two lifts serving seven floors. Our room was nice, with a big bed, bathroom, TV, mirrors, and so on. Wi-Fi was not too bad, but like in most hotels it wasn’t secured, so a VPN is a must if you use it. The small pool is on the second floor, with only three sunbeds and a circular lounger because the space is limited. There’s also a sauna and a small gym there. At checkout we had to wait while staff checked the room. I’d recommend this hotel to others.

The rooms were a highlight: clean, comfortable, thoughtfully laid out and well equipped, with strong showers, plenty of hot water, useful toiletries, and really good beds and bedding. We had three east-facing one-bedroom rooms with balconies on the fourth floor. Room service was excellent, and breakfast was decent for our mixed Thai and European group across three generations, though not outstanding. The location was easy to find, with plenty of parking. The problem was the house across the road to the east. It has several flashy cars in the driveway and what sounded like three or four parrots or cockatiels. They woke us at 5:15 and 5:20 each morning. We mentioned it to reception at checkout and got friendly smiles, but I couldn't tell whether they knew about it or planned to do anything. Hotel managers, a polite word with those noisy neighbors might help.

Right in the heart of Udon Thani, this hotel has a modern look and is kept in good condition. The room worked well enough for a short stay, even though it wasn't very big. My only real hassle was the small desk, which wasn't comfortable for using a laptop. A reasonable choice if location and contemporary style are what you're after.

The lounge bar was nice, and the hotel itself was very quiet. My room was large, and the staff were efficient. I asked for a top-floor room away from the lift, and they did their best to arrange it. I didn't use the breakfast or swimming pool. I'll definitely come back.