Category: family friendly hotels

sai thong resort

Sai Thong Resort (ทรายทอง รีสอร์ท)Trang

Posted on by Ms. Elle

On our way to Krabi we decided to have a stopover in TRANG. We immediately started thinking of an accommodation that would not break the bank as we already have booked a nice resort in Krabi, Green View Village Resort. While we were discussing the plans for the day we remembered a resort our university booked us in during our annual university sports meet held in Trang a few years back.  Sai Thong Resort is located at 8WJ+64H, Mai Fat, Sikao District, Trang 92150.

Sai Thong Resort (ทรายทอง รีสอร์ท) was a good experience the first time we stayed so we decided to spend our stopover night there.  We walked in and booked for a night. The family room that we got costs 800Thb (23.8USD) per night. We opted for the cheapest family room thinking that it’s only for a night. Not really the best decision. ^_^

Room

The cheapest room is part of a quadruplex bungalow, one of the older structures the resort has. Inside the room is like a time machine that brings you back to the late 90s to early 2000s with the dated items you can find inside. A picture tube TV attached to a TV Box, old switches and electrical outlets, a vintage shower head, and the room itself is showing its years. The good thing is that they retrofitted an Air conditioner which seems to have been added recently. With all that being said, for us, as long as it works we don’t really mind. ^_^

Bathroom

The bathroom was clean. Old but clean. The bowl and sink are either new or just well-maintained. As for the shower set, the bidet, the mirror and the rack beneath it have seen better years.

Amenities/Complimentary 

We had at least 3 water bottles when we got in the room and presumably will be replenished daily.   A roll of toilet paper and a bottle of body shampoo. There’s a mini ref to store your drinks and food.

Wifi:  The room has free WiFi, but connecting our mobile phones was a struggle. Two out of four phones could connect and get decent feed. The moment a third and fourth phone logs in the feed starts to lag. This is something the management needs to look into. At this day and age we all know that having a good wifi signal is akin to having air to breathe. ^_^

Swimming Pool

This resort does not have a pool but is very very near Pak Meng beach. We also did not mind this aspect since it’s only a stopover for a night. ^_^

Food

They did not offer breakfast during our stay but we clearly remember a buffet breakfast was available during our first stay. I think they only offer breakfast to big group deals or something like that. But it does not matter though since it is surrounded with restaurants with affordable prices and with actually good food. ^_^

Recommendation

Do we recommend Sai Thong Resort??? ABSOLUTELY!!! You have options to either save money or be comfortable in your stay.  We opted to save money and we got what we paid for but they do have better rooms for a higher price. This resort is not only near Pak Meng Beach and restaurants… it is also near Rajamangala Trang Aquarium, an affordable place where you can have a bit of an educational fun with the kids. It’s a very convenient resort to be in with your family. A good place for a short getaway from the hustle and bustle of the city.

Affordable Family-Friendly Hotel/Resort

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Green View Village Resort

Posted on by Ms. Elle

Green View Village Resort is located at 2RMM+R98, Ao Nang, Mueang Krabi District, Krabi 81000 (2RMM+R98 ตำบล อ่าวนาง อำเภอเมืองกระบี่ กระบี่ 81000).

It is comfortably situated at the heart of Ao Nang, surrounded by tropical trees and picturesque mountain cliffs. It is a pretty big resort with two main buildings and several bungalows spread around the resort. And true to its name, this place is surrounded by all sorts of greens. Although there are so many foliage, it doesn’t feel like there are scary animals or insects around.

We booked a family room for 3 nights to celebrate Songkran, Thailand’s water festival. The booking was made online through booking dot com just a few days prior. Having only a few days left before the holidays, I thought it’s going to cost us a lot, but to my surprise, we booked the room, a family room at that, for just 149 USD (5000 THB). Honestly speaking, I didn’t have so much expectation considering the price.

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Here’s our experience in Green View Village Resort

Hotel room

The family room is really large, high-ceiling, and clean. It’s got two large beds, which are not too soft nor too hard. They were comfortable. The room has two large sinks with a wall-sized mirror in front, maybe a powder area or wash area, it’s nice (watch the reel to see what I mean). It also has a balcony with a massive wooden table and benches. We had our brunch here, and despite the hot temperature, it was relaxing and refreshing with the trees around.

Bathroom

The bathroom was something I did not expect because all I really prayed for was a clean bathroom, however to our surprise, did we not only have a clean bathroom, we got TWO bathrooms! And each has two sets of showers, one attached to a heater (on the wall), and a rain shower attached to the ceiling.

 
 
 
 
 
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Amenities/ Complimentary

It has the usual free bottled water, and toiletries . It also has free coffee and tea, which are replenished daily. Having coffee is how we start our day, so having free coffee is big for us. I’m saying this because we’ve been to a hotel on a similar price range and yet does not offer free coffee. Of course, the room has an electric kettle, a small fridge, drinking glass and coffee cups, closet with hangers, a hairdryer, and a flat-screen TV mounted on the wall.

WiFi connection

The room has free WiFi, but connecting our mobile phones was a struggle. We managed to connect our laptop eventually. Although some guests might have their own internet connection on their mobile phones, others don’t. This is something the hotel management has to look into. In this day and age, it is necessary to have a reliable internet connection.

Swimming pool

Most often we book a hotel with a swimming pool. Our kids love swimming and hanging around the pool. Green View Village has TWO swimming pools. One has a great view of the mountain and a wide lounging area for sunbathers. There’s a swimming area for toddlers, and the adult area has a depth of 1. 20 to 1.70 meters. The water is clean and clear. The other pool is around 1.60 meters deep all through out. It’s rectangular shape makes it perfect for swimming laps. Since it’s situated in front of one of the buildings, it is shaded in most part of the day, totally perfect for those who want to swim but don’t want to get toasted by the sun. But keeping the water clear and clean is something the hotel has to improve on.

Food/ Restaurant

The hotel restaurant is spacious and high-ceilinged. What’s unique about this is that, it is decorated with ornamental plants and flowers of all sorts. Beautiful! The food is another surprising thing. We’ve had a bad experience regarding breakfast in one of the hotels in Ao Nang, since then we opt-out breakfast in our bookings. This time we had room service for brunch, honestly speaking it tasted way better than the takeout we had from one of the popular resto near Ao Nang beach. Plus the price is local rate and the serving size is good at just 60THB (roughly 1.80USD).

Do we recommend Green View Village Resort?

It’s a big YES for us!

From experience, we tend to go back to a place where we are familiar and at home with. Over the past years, we’ve stayed a couple of times at Rimlay Park Resort in 2017 and again in 2019 we went back to Rimlay Park Resort. Another resort we feel at home with and booked twice is Ibis Styles Ao Nang Krabi , in 2019 and we had our 2021 family staycation when the lockdown was lifted. This year although we really wanted to go back, we also thought of exploring other hotels. Luckily, we had a great deal with Green View Village Resort through Booking dot com.

Other Hotels in Krabi

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Ao Nang Beach Krabi 2021

2021 Family Staycation Ao Nang Krabi Thailand

Posted on by Ms. Elle

After the twelve-month lockdown restrictions have been partially lifted, we got to take our annual family staycation. Although it was short, it’s a much welcome interruption from the monotonous online work and classes. A 5-hour road trip was definitely a refreshing change of scenery from the four corners of our house to the natural beauty of Ao Nang Krabi. It’s also great to contribute to the eventual economic recovery of the country.

Let me say, it’s not as easy as before  because we have to be mindful of COVID-19 protocols like wearing of masks, sanitising our hands, and social distancing. We’re glad Ibis Styles Ao Nang Krabi is also taking these precautionary measures seriously, which is absolutely important.

The pandemic has taken a good two years of our lives, and has made havoc to the economy. Many businesses have closed down over these years, and we’re just glad Ibis Styles Ao Nang Krabi is still open. We’re the type of customers who prefer something that we already know, and are comfortable with.

In 2019, we came here for the first time, and was totally impressed. They’ve got the cleanest and clearest swimming pool we’ve ever gone to. The kids love to swim and play around the pool. If you’re planning of coming to Krabi and are trying to find a good place to stay that is easy on the budget here’s a detailed review of our experience at Ibis Styles Ao Nang Krabi.

We also visited Ao Nang Beach (a 2-minute ride from the hotel), and Nopparat Thara Beach (a 5-minute ride from the hotel). As usual the beaches here do not disappoint. They are still as gorgeous as before, in fact, the shores are cleaner.

What was so obvious though is that visitors have significantly dropped. There are lesser visitors than last year. Many of the hotels and commercial establishments have closed down including 7 11’s and Mc Donald’s. The Burger King place right in front of Ao Nang Beach has closed down. Luckily there’s another one, although smaller but it’s open. It’s near the police station right in front of the bus stop where monkey statues are.

To see how Ao Nang Krabi looks like these days, here’s a short video of our 2021 family staycation in Ao Nang Krabi.

From 0.00 to 2.03: A glimpse of Ibis Styles Ao Nang Krabi Hotel, where we stayed for the second time. From 2.04 to 5.30: A glimpse of Ao Nang Beach and Nopparat Thara Beach

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HERE’S MORE

kids in the pool

Koh Lanta Krabi

Lanta Riviera Villa Resort as advertised online caught our attention as it was one of the cheapest family friendly resort. We booked through Booking.com.

disney-esque temple in Thailand

Chiang Rai

Chiang Rai’s Disney-esque Temple: Wat Huay Sai Khao has a Disneyland and Saint Basil’s Cathedral vibes. When inside, the mixtures of so many different styles and sizes of multi-colored stupas and shrines towering around will give you a feeling of being in a totally different place. 

United Residence Serviced Apartments

Bangkok

United Residence Serviced Apartments has the usual amenities you’d find in other hotels but what sets this apartment apart from other below 100USD accommodations is the fully-functioning mini kitchen. 

mermaid statue at samila beach

Songkhla

Samila Beach is one of the two beaches in Songkhla Province in Thailand, the land of smile. It is famous to locals and tourists alike; one’s visit to Songkhla is never complete without stopping by Samila Beach.

kids in the pool

Lanta Cottage Hotel

Posted on by Ms. Elle

Accommodation: Lanta Cottage Hotel

It is located at Sala Dan, Koh Lanta District, Krabi 81150 Thailand. We had our first getaway here after the travel ban was lifted. Businesses had just started to open, and the entire place felt like it had just woke up from a keep slumber. Going into Lanta Cottage, you’ll see untrimmed plants, dried leaves all over the place, padlocked sheds, and dusty receiving/canteen area.

Room

Nothing fancy about the room, it’s air conditioned and pretty spacious. There’s a mini kitchenette with sink. Plates and utensils are also provided. It’s a family room with one double bed and a bunk bed. Both are pretty hard on the back. But at least they’re not rickety. Please take a look at Lanta Cottage in the video at 4.25.

  • Other room amenities include a flat screen TV, a fridge, a wooden wardrobe, and towels.
  • Complimentaries are the usual coffee and tea, bottled water, and toiletries.

Bathroom

I’m personally not so fond of the bathroom. It is large but the design is not so well-thought of. The toilet is placed very near the wall that you won’t be able to sit well. The bidette spray is placed at the left side of the toilet cramped up in between the toilet and the wall. It’s just way too uncomfortable. It’s not so clean too.

WIFI Connection

Wifi connection is important these days more than ever. Due to the pandemic, several jobs have transitioned online. And we are one of them. However, to our great dismay, this hotel’s Wifi connection had been severed by the provider. We didn’t want to complain thinking it might be an aftermath of the lockdown.

The Pool

Pool is life for our children. They love to hang out by the pool, and have been trying to learn swimming. This hotel’s pool is one of its strength. Kid’s pool is 2.5ft deep, pretty safe even for toddlers. Adult’s pool is 4.5ft deep. Although, not so clean, but we’ve seen worst than it.

Breakfast

Lanta cottage has restaurant area, but didn’t offer breakfast during this time. So we ended up eating in a restaurant overlooking the Bamboo beach.

Parking Lot

There was no designated parking area. Cars can be parked on any vacant lot any where around the hotel area.

Clientele

Lanta Cottage may be preferred by families or group of friends who prefer to cook or bring their own food. And it could also be a nice choice those who opt for a budget-friendly accomodation.

Price

We booked Lanta Cottage for a little over 60USD, definitely cheap. If you don’t mind a few inconveniences here and there, then, it’s a good choice.

Although it wasn’t what I expected, we were just thankful to be out of the house and enjoy the outdoor. We hope Lanta Cottage can bounced back to its feet.

Hotels with Swimming Pool

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Asian Cultural Village Sadao Thailand

Asian Cultural Village: Sadao Thailand/ Dannok Malaysia

Posted on by Ms. Elle

Let’s watch the 5 Amazing Parks in this video

Asian Cultural Village is conveniently located in Sadao, Thailand/ Dannok Malaysia. This huge and amazing tourist destination is something you don’t want to miss when visiting the South of Thailand. It has so much in store for all it’s visitors, not only it has accomodations and restaurants to choose from, but it also has 5 different, amazing theme parks.

Dinosaur Theme Park is arguably the most visited of the five. It is a favorite among children and of course those who are kids-at-heart. This place always makes to the list of places for school field trips, science club exploration, or Dinosaur enthusiasts getaways. Speaking of Dinosaurs, this park has life-size dinosaurs of different species. Together with each display is a detail information about them They roar and move! Recently additional features were added like the dark cave with velociraptors and super huge dinosaur eggs, and the dinosaur mascot! Kids just go nuts; they love to touch it, poke it, and even cling on to it. Well, not all though, little ones cry their wits out. Dinosaur park is not only a fun haven to bond with families and friends, it is also educational and informative.

Dinosaur Theme Park

Farm Animals theme park is popular among animal lovers. Here, you’ll find plenty of farm animals from the most common to the rarest, huge to the tiniest, and from the ordinary to the most exotic looking ones. Like the dinosaur park, animal farms is also vast, with ponds, cages, lush trees, benches, and a hanging bridge. Animal enthusiasts would definitely have a great time here.

Rabbit Garden theme park is next in the list, from the name, it has a lots and lots of rabbits. In a gated garden, rabbits are free to roam around, and visitors are also allowed to play with them. Aside from rabbits, this park also has other equally fascinating animals – turtle, fish, otter, and variety of reptile species. Although, we were not able to play the rabbits when we visited, we had a blast with the giant iquanas and snakes.

Futuristic Park may just be the place for Avengers fanatics and enthusiasts. It got giant replicas of The Hulk, Thor, Iron Man, Captain America, Thanos, and so much more. And what’s so interesting about this replicas is that they are all cleverly made using scrap metals. The best time to visit is at dusk to early evening when the colorful lights are on as they are open from 9AM to 9PM. There are so many superhero replicas that visitors might run out of poses for their instagram photos.

Water Fun Park is one of the most visited theme parks in the Asian Cultural Village. Aside from the fact that it is located near the entrance, the enormous fountains are just too magnificent to ignore. They are as if calling very eager children to come and have fun. It also has a large water tank elevated and built high up on the main pool that splashes water into the pool. Children wait happily as the tank fills up and splashes water unto them; they would then giggle and laugh their hearts out. This place is indeed a fun park.

Have you gone here? Please do share your experience on the comment section.

For more information visit their facebook page Asian Cultural Village亚洲文化村

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Ibis Phuket Patong Hotel

Ibis Phuket Patong Hotel Review

Posted on by Ms. Elle

Accommodation: Ibis Phuket Patong Hotel

Location: 10 Chaloemphrakiat Riad, Patong, Kathu, Phuket 83150, Thailand. ☎ +66(0)76303888

Room

We stayed at a family room with queen sized bed and a bunked bed for the kids. The bunked bed is great, it is usable. I mean, we’ve been to Nadivana Serviced Apartments and it got a bigger and better looking bunk bed but our kids ended up cramped in the lower bunk because the aircon is just a few inches away from the second deck of the bed, which means it’s blowing air directly at you. Anyway, Ibis Phuket Patong’s family room is more than ok. It isn’t that spacious but neither it is cramped up. In terms of space, we think it’s smartly designed. It even has division for the kids’ mini computer area, where a playstation 4 is installed, and the cabled flat screen TV on the side of the parent’s area. It got a balcony over looking the pool.

Bathroom

It is small. However my husband said it didn’t feel cramp up. Also, I didn’t feel claustrophobic despite my dislike for small and tight places. So it is well-designed I should say. However, I have one hiccup that I couldn’t help but mention here. The area where the sink and toilet are, doesn’t have a drain, so water pools there. And to get rid of it, you’d have to mop or “kick” it into the shower area.

Compliments

It got the usual coffee, tea, hairdryer, electric kettle. It also got free bottled water, toiletries, bathroom towels, and pool towels. The room also has an intercom which makes communication with the front desk easy.

For the Children

We stayed in a family room, Ibis Phuket Patong Hotel knows just what children likes. Aside from the bunk bed, the hotel also has installed playstation 4. This is a sure hit for kids. Another one is “Teddy”, a stuff toy our kids lovingly named. It has become their playmate during our stay there, that saying goodbye is hard. Watch the video to see what happened.

Price

It is affordable! It’s a pretty big, well-maintained hotel with great service and an English speaking front desk (broken but comprehensible). Every inch of the hotel is clean and tidy. So with these, paying 176USD for a three-night stay in a family room is already a great deal!

Breakfast

We opted out breakfast. But when there, we decided to have breakfast in the hotel restaurant, TASTE Restaurant. I guess it’s pretty popular in Phuket. Anyway, ended up having breakfast there during our entire stay. We paid a little over 11USD per breakfast for all four of us. We learned later that the kids’ breakfast were free. WOW! Isn’t that awesome?

Pool

Most often than not we book a hotel that’s not only affordable but has a pool especially kids pool. Our children are simply big suckers for it. We appreciate that the hotel keeps their pool clean and tidy in spite of the surrounding trees. The size is pretty decent as well.

Overall

Oh we forgot to mention that the heating system is centralized, even the pool side shower is warm.

We had a wonderful stay. Our children obviously loved it. As for me, everything was perfect except that water pooling on the toilet area.

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tips for successful family travels

What to Look for in a Family-Friendly Hotel

Posted on by Ms. Elle

Going on vacation with your family is a wonderful thing. We all live busy lives and spend most of our weeks rushing around, managing school runs, working, cooking meals, cleaning the house and generally keeping on top of things. It makes it hard to spend time having fun together. You might feel as though you never have time just to be together enjoying each others company.

Going on a trip together is your chance to spend some quality time together without distractions. It’s an opportunity to get to know your kids and their interests as well as time to catch up with your partner. A vacation is a chance to explore the world, to have an adventure and to see more of the world. It might also be your only way to spend time with family who usually lives far away.

Family holidays don’t last long. When your kids are very young, you might choose to stay close to home to reduce stress. But, by the time they are teenagers, they might not want to come away with their parents at all. Your next family trip might be with your grandkids. So, with only a few short years to make the most of the trips with your own children, it’s crucial that you make the most of them. This means that finding a family-friendly hotel is essential. Here are some of the things that you should look for when booking accommodation for you and your young family.

family pier woman children

Credit – https://pixabay.com/photos/family-pier-man-woman-children-591579/

Large Rooms

When we travel on our own, with friends or our partners, without the kids, the hotel room is never a priority. We sleep in them, they are our base, but that is it. We don’t spend time in our rooms. We’re too busy out seeing the world. This means it really doesn’t matter if your room is tiny and contains barely more than a bed.

Your room is a little more important when you are away with young children. You’ll need a place that fits an extra bed or crib, and gives you space to keep spare clothes, toys and anything else that you need. But it’s more than that. Your kids don’t just see the room as a place to sleep. It’s part of their adventure. Kids see the room as a playground — a place to have fun and feel safe. So, you want to be able to book a bigger room, so that you can all live comfortably together without stress and tension.

Facilities

When traveling with kids, it’s all too easy to overpack. You might be tempted to take all of their toys, a travel cot and highchair, changing mats and anything that you might need for yourself. You might worry about mixing their milk or keeping their food cool and safe.

Finding a hotel room with the right facilities can make everything much easier. Look at what is included in the room. Can the hotel provide spare beds, cots, high chairs, and changing mats? Is there a fridge and a hairdryer in your room? You might also want to make sure there’s a bath if your children don’t like showers.

Then, look at what’s on offer in the rest of the hotel. An on-site pool, park and even things like a cinema and bowling ally can have your trip much more comfortable. You’ll have plenty to do without having to travel far, and even if the weather isn’t on your side, you won’t be trapped in your room for days at a time.

Dining Options

Some kids will eat everything. They’ll get stuck in and try new things happily. But, let’s face it, not all of them. Most kids are at least a little fussy and reluctant to try anything new.

While on holiday you might be keen to try restaurants and eateries. But, sometimes it’s easier to just eat in the hotel. So, make sure any hotels that you consider have a choice of restaurants and more informal cafes. Check that they are suitable for children, and if possible look at the menus online before you book, to make sure they serve things that your kids are likely to eat.

Location

If you are going to be taking a long flight, the last thing that you want is to get off the plane, spend time going through security and getting your bags, only to face another long journey to your hotel. This could make an already long day unbearable. Instead, look for hotels relatively close to the airport. Or, if that’s not possible, think about an airport hotel for that first night, to break the journey up and make things more comfortable.

Local Area

beach women child

Credit – https://pixabay.com/photos/beach-family-female-women-woman-2090067/

It’s not just traveling distance that you need to think about. While your hotel might be packed with fabulous entertainment and facilities, but it’s unlikely that you want to take your family on a trip to spend your time in your hotel and its grounds. Hotels like Novotel Melbourne Central are close to city centers where there is plenty to do and see. You might also want to be relatively close to local train or bus stations so that you can get about easily and see more of the surrounding area.

Childcare or Kids Clubs

Some parents want to spend their whole holiday together as a family. Others are happy for their kids to enjoy playing with new friends and learning new things at kids clubs. Even if you just want a few hours for yourself, an on-site kids club is a great option. Check online to see what is available, and make sure the clubs aren’t closed for the off-season when you visit.

Red Flags

It’s important that you don’t just look for the things that mark a hotel as family-friendly. You also need to be checking for red flags that suggest that the hotel isn’t suitable for kids. Not many of them will say “not suitable for kids”, but the signs might be there. Your children might feel more at home in a larger hotel, with a swimming pool, on-site park and other fun facilities, instead of a small, romantic and quiet establishment that promotes peace and tranquility. Look out for hotels advertising quiet, romantic restaurants and intimate breaks. Your kids might not be happy here, and your holiday might be awkward and uncomfortable.

Family Friendly Hotels in Thailand

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pool at rimlay hotel

Update: We went back to Rimlay Park Resort

Posted on by Ryan

Our summer getaway in Ao Nang Krabi, where we went island hopping and stayed at Aonang Regent Hotel, was apparently not enough especially for the kids who were due to go back to school in a weeks time. As their final summer activity, we went back to Rimlay Park Resort.

Our second visit to this out-of-town, away from the hustle and bustle haven had been a great success. The kids as usual had so much fun just like the first we went for an unplanned staycation. Please head to Rimlay Park Resort Hotel Review to know about this place.

After two years the place still looks scenic, and pretty. Clearly the lovely Thai lady who owns and manages the place did an awesome job maintaining it.

Rimlay Park Resort is certainly one of the best places to stay whenever you happen to be in Phattalung, Thailand.

Two Important Updates

  1. Room rate has increased but still affordable. The lady-owner was very kind, and offered us an extra bed free of charge. She was also very generous with our breakfast, and gave us fresh coconuts.
  2. She offers room packages and promotions through direct booking. To avail these, you need to book via email. I’ll gladly forward her email to those who are interested, just comment your email address below.

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ao nang regent hotel

Aonang Regent Hotel, Krabi Thailand: Hotel Review

Posted on by Ryan

Accommodation: Ao Nang Regent Hotel, Krabi Thailand is located at
262/24 Aonang soi 11 Leela Valley Moo. 2 Aonang Muang , , 81000 Ao Nang Beach, Thailand. We booked this hotel through booking dot com.

Hotel Room

My family and I stayed in a Deluxe Triple Room, which was pretty spacious for a family of four. The overall design was simple, functional, no nonsense type. It was fitted with wooden cabinets with built-in, wall size mirror,  wooden dresser and tables. Walls are clean with no photo frames whatsoever. The private balcony over-looking the mountain and pool below was where we had our snacks and light meal. The large, clean bed was on a solid wooden platform. It was so comfortable; we woke up refreshed and relaxed.

The bathroom was large with dark-colored tiles, but I could tell they were clean. We love the huge shower which gives off large volume of water but lands softly on the skin. The standard, american-size toilet needed upgrading though. It was clean but there were corroded portions around the seat that were rough and stained. It looked a bit icky.

songkran at aonang regent hotel

Amenities and Complimentary

It had the usual amenities like coffee maker, hair dryer, medium-size fridge, and freebies like toiletries, coffee, tea, and bottled water. But take note, there were two sets of bottled water, the ones in the fridge are for sale. This room’s aircon unit is big and strong. The flat-screen TV has English channels to choose from.

A hanger rack for drying clothes was also provided which was really convenient as we were there to celebrate Songkran 2019, and to go island hop as well, so, you could just imagine the wet clothes that needed drying.

Aonang Regent Hotel also offers free Tuktuk ride around Ao Nang, twice during the day from 8 a.m until 5 p.m. If you avail this beyond these hours, a service charge of 50 Baht per person is incurred.

The flat-screen TV had a few bilingual channels to choose from. These are pretty convenient channels as you have the option to choose the audio. But there will be a need for you to tinker with the remote before getting to it. The channels are usually in Thai as it is the standard setting and the English audio is the secondary choice.

Wifi is strong. The internet connection in this hotel is excellent. We were able to log in immediately without problems. We were able to stream movies and even play mobile games.

Fitness Center is open to all guests. It has the usual equipment like treadmill, benches, dumbbells, pulldowns and machine fly, as well as hula hoops which the kids had fun using.

Kids pool was a jacuzzi-converted type. It was originally meant to be a jacuzzi so having it right next to a hotel room was a grand idea. A guest would just have to jump into their swimwear, open the door and just jump right in to the jacuzzi. But, having it converted into a kids pool presents a bit of a problem. You could just imagine the noise the guests had to bear, and water coming in the room floor as children play and splash water around. I think this is something the hotel management has to look into.

Food

We opted out breakfast. The breakfast was a bit pricy. Although, the rate is comparably higher as this is a touristy area, there are still places that sell food at a slightly cheaper price. So we decided to walk around and explore the place.

Clientele

Aonang Regent Hotel is popular to both local and foreign tourists. It’s a pleasure looking and listening to people talking in different tongue.

Staff

The lady in the receiving desk could speak English and was accommodating and friendly. She patiently answered our inqueries regarding the hotel, island hopping itinerary, and many more.

Overall

We had a great stay at Aonang Regent Hotel. We would certainly recommend it for guests who are on an average budget. And for those who would like to have an easy access of the beach but would like to have peace and quiet during the night.

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Neca Reiche: Hotel Review

Posted on by Ryan

Accomodation: Neca Reiche

Location: 736/2 Poonnakan Rd, ตำบลคอหงส์ Amphoe Hat Yai, Chang Wat Songkhla Thailand 90110

The Room (Standard II, L705):

At first glance this hotel room is the most modern we have ever seen. The concept is just state of the art. The way they made use of the space is so ingenious. The wall that separates the entrance and the bathroom hides the ref together with the closet and a tiny safety box. The closet can be accessed both from the outside and from the bathroom. A sliding door with a full body mirror camouflages this part. Next to it is the sliding door for the bathroom which is a translucent glass. You got to be very careful though as one can easily get their hands pinched by the alternating sliding doors.

The room smells like heaven. They have these perfumed, dried flowers that make the room smell so fresh. It’s the first thing that greets you the moment you open your room.

The room size will not blow you away but it is big enough to be comfortable. A queen size bed is nestled in the middle and a sofa bed tucked in the end of the room. There’s enough walking space in-between furniture but that’s it. You’d be risking stubbing your toe if you are not careful though.

The place is definitely clean, although we are not fond of black tiles for the floor (bathroom) as they never look/feel clean, they are very particular with cleanliness. The nooks and crannies even under the bed was vacuumed.

The room is aesthetically pleasing to the eye. It’s a well thought of design and arrangement. Even the small details like paintings/photo on the wall, the hanging lampshade on each sides of the bed, even the TV rack is pleasing.

The only flaw we saw, which basically ruined it all for us was the bathroom. I guess being aesthetic does not always equate to functionality. We were not able to fully enjoy the bathtub or even just our bath for fear of flooding. If one is not careful, water could easily and we mean easily flood the room. The bathtub is located next to the bathroom door and the bathroom-floor and the room-floor are level. Well, we have seen modern bathrooms like these but I guess the basics of slightly angling the floor towards the drain should still be observed. Instead the water flows outside of the bathroom. It really freaked us out when we saw water going out of the bathroom while using the bath. We literally had to towel the floor down and squeeze the towel in the sink.

Ant problems also put us off. I woke up with ant bites and they were all over the floor the next morning. As a plush hotel in downtown Hatyai this should not have not been an issue but it is.

Now this is just based on the room we stayed in.

This video was taken at Neca Reiche Hotel.

Sockets:

At this modern age of gadgetry we have made electric sockets our best friend. And having plenty of them in a hotel room is a necessity. We always bring a ton of gadgets with us and re-charge all of them in the evening and we were not disappointed. Sockets were aplenty

Wifi:

Another downside of this hotel is their WIFI connectivity or the lack of it. We were not able to connect at all during our stay. We called the front desk for assistance thinking we may have made a mistake in connecting and someone did come to our AID to help us connect but still no connection at all. For us it was fine since we do have internet in our mobile devices because we live here in Thailand but if you are a tourist on a tourist SIM card you might really really want a hotel wifi connection and this will be outrageous and disappointmenting.

Amenities:

They have got the usual complimentary bottled water, towels, toiletries, shower caps, flat-screen TV, fridge, electric kettle, and hairdryer.

Pool:

They have a pool located on the 6th floor of the building. The pool is tiny. You’d have to literally wait for your turn to get into it. They do not have a kiddie pool so kids shorter than 4 feet will need a flotation device. The tiles are dark blue almost black so we could not be sure if the water was clean. We did not take a dip.

Food:

The food was the saving grace of this hotel. They were generous of the food. They served ham and eggs, fried rice, fruits and vegetables, complementary drinks, salad dressings, soup, porridge, bread, and a lot of condiments. They replenished the food the moment they see it’s running low. We have seen stingy hotel restaurants who would not refill the serving plates right away to discourage clients from having seconds.

Staff:

The hotel staffs were friendly and courteous. They could speak decent English so communication is not a problem at all.

Clientele

Neca Reiche hotel is a good place to stay if you plan to go around Hatyai City. It is famous among Malaysians, Singaporeans, Expats, and local tourists.

Overall

At 49.90 USD/per night for a family of four in a Standard II room, I think it is a good deal. Overall, in terms of aesthetic, cleanliness, and location, this hotel is great. And the whole experience which could have been even greater if not because of the bathroom and WIFI connection. If Neca Reiche addresses these, then I would say it is the total package but until then, I would not return.

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