Milk.Blitz.Street.Bomb.

Where Martial Arts and Travel Meet

  • Start Here
    • About
    • Contributors
    • Contact
  • The Martial Life
    • Boxing
    • Brazilian Jiu Jitsu
    • Karate
    • MMA
    • Muay Thai
    • Silat
  • The Nomadic Life
    • Destinations
      • Asia
        • Indonesia
        • Laos
        • The Philippines
        • Russia
        • Thailand
      • The Americas
        • Canada
        • Cuba
        • Mexico
        • The U.S.
    • Memoir
    • Galleries
    • Photo Series
    • Random
  • Resources
  • Press
  • Shop
  • Thailand Help
You are here: Home / Thailand / 5 Tips to Book a Hotel, Guesthouse or Resort in Thailand

5 Tips to Book a Hotel, Guesthouse or Resort in Thailand

January 14, 2013 By Laura Dal Farra Leave a Comment

Vasidtee City Hotel, Suphanburi, Thailand
Vasidtee City Hotel, Suphanburi, Thailand

1. Book Ahead Through Agoda

Agoda.com is widely used throughout Thailand. You’ll find Thai hotels, guesthouses and resorts that aren’t advertised on other English language booking sites.

2. Read A Lot Of Reviews

Ideally locate independent blogs that have reviewed the hotel / guesthouse / resort you’re interested in. Typically they’re more in-depth and include photos of the establishment’s current amenities (not promo pics that may be a decade old, or Photoshopped).

3. Understand Thai Transliteration Inconsistencies

Many cities share the same name as the province they reside in. Should this be the case, the city will be listed as Amphoe Meuang (Ampeur Muang). Note, as there is no unified transliteration of Thai language (to Roman script), the cited examples are the two that I read most often (or any mix of the words, i.e. Ampeur Meuang). If it reads as anything similar, in sound, I suggest assuming it is referring to the city. For example, a hotel may be listed as:

NAME OF HOTEL, 534/26 Vasitdee Road, Amphoe Muang Buriram, Buriram, 3299 Thailand

Please note, often people will omit the Amphoe/Ampeur and simply write something to the affect of:

Meuang Buriram

Muang Buriram

To further complicate the matter, Thailand is divided in provinces, regions, subsections, cities, towns, etc. differently than what I’m assuming a great deal of you are used to (or anything like I’ve experienced in Canada or the U.S.). To simplify the entire situation, I suggest reading Amphoe Meuang /Ampeur Muang or any mix, including only one of the words as a signifier of the name of the city. For example:

NAME OF HOTEL, 39 Soi Prachuabauichaem, Tambon Nang Rong, Amphoe Nangrong, Nang Rong, Buriram, Thailand 31170

Where is this hotel located? Nangrong City, in the province of Buriram.

Finally, one last question. Where is this hotel located?

NAME OF HOTEL,514/59 Harnchana road, Muang Burirum, Buriram, Thailand 31000

Correct. Buriram City.

4. Understand Thai City Planning

Because a hotel is listed as being in the city (as described above), that may not translate as one would expect in the West. For example, although the mailing address is listed as the city, the hotel may be 15km away from what a lot of you, I suspect would consider city. Basically, it’ll look like you’re in the sticks, with little to none of the expected amenities (i.e. buses, tuk tuks, taxis, motorcycle taxis, restaurants, net cafes, a 7-Eleven). This happened to me when I booked at a hotel in Kanchanaburi. This is how the address was listed online:

NAME OF HOTEL, 99/9 Moo 3, Thamakam, Kanchanaburi City Center, Kanchanaburi, Thailand 71000

So what can you do? Spend that extra time researching reviews online.

5. Don’t Expect To Find English Speaking Staff

Despite the hotel either being listed on a website marketed towards English readers or having a website written in English, it doesn’t mean the staff can speak English. Simple, but often an assumption made which I suspect has been the source of frustration for some travelers.  Download a Thai translation app, bring a translation book or simply learn to roll with it.

For Thailand hotel reviews, travel information and tips, check out Backpacking Thailand, my free Thailand resource.

The Duenshine Resort, Kanchanaburi, Thailand
The Duenshine Resort, Kanchanaburi, Thailand

Filed Under: Thailand, Tips From Along The Way Tagged With: Hotel Reviews

Love What You’ve Read?

$
Select Payment Method
Personal Info

Donation Total: $1.00

Your support helps us to continue our work by contributing to the operational costs of Milk.Blitz.Street.Bomb.

About Laura Dal Farra

After a six month adventure training Muay Thai in Thailand in 2007, Laura Dal Farra returned to her native Canada, sold most of what she owned, and boarded a plane set for Bangkok alone. She spent the next 3.5 years training in traditional Muay Thai gyms, pushing her limits, and embracing the unknown. Realizing little was being written on the subject, she began to blog about it. Laura Dal Farra is the founder of Milk.Blitz.Street.Bomb.

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Recent Comments

  • Petrified Wood – All This on The Petrified Wood Forest, Tak, Thailand
  • beget dedicated server on Racism in Thailand – a Day in the Life of a White Woman in Buriram
  • The Artwork of Not Complaining – My Blog on The Art of Not Complaining – Your Key to Mental Toughness
  • Richard D. on Reader Q & A: On Decency And Sportsmanship In Muay Thai

MBSB Merch

muay thai

Travel Thailand

How to Declutter and Make Money to Travel

Tips for Women Traveling to Thailand

Vegan? Vegetarian? Here’s How to Do It in Thailand

How to Avoid MSG in Thailand

Tips to Help You Book a Hotel, Guesthouse or Resort in Thailand

Muay Thai in Thailand

Things to Consider Before Training Muay Thai in Thailand

What Muay Thai Training Can You Really Handle?

Training in Thailand: Deciding How Long to Go

Determining Your Budget

6 Ways to Make Money to Train Muay Thai in Thailand

19 Ways to Save Money to Train in Thailand

Guidelines for Training in Thailand’s Muay Thai Gyms

Subscribe

MBSB delivered straight to your inbox.

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Pinterest
  • RSS
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
| Contact | Resources |
Copyright © 2023 Milk.Blitz.Street.Bomb., All Rights Reserved | Privacy Policy | Terms Of Use | Affiliate Disclaimer |
 

Loading Comments...