Beddings

Nong Khai 

Hop Inn Hotel ( 600baht double room )

front 

room

lobby

This hotel is good and clean BUT it is located far from all the Mekong riverside and market areas and even restaurants are at least 20 min walk away. It is on the highway itself so is very dusty and hot during daytime. Unless you have a car, I would not stay here again.The reception at the desk do not know English and we had quite a tough time before we could get a proper room and check in.

So to cool off, we decided to take a walk to the supermarket (20min across the highway) and come back when she gets the room ready.
This Hop Inn is more of a local chain of accom and so they are not so familiar with foreign tourists and language barrier. In fact, we noticed this hotel is quite popular and full with local patrons.

Even though the staff cant understand English, she is friendly and even let us use her mobile phone to make calls to book the rental car at Udon Thani Airport. We needed to rent a car for the road trip from Nong Khai.


Mut Mee Guesthouse ( 900baht double room chalet )
On the 3rd day we checked into this Mut Mee Guesthouse on the Mekong Riverside and we were plesantly surprised to find this little " hidden gem" with lush green landscaping and very very warm cosy ambience and english speaking reception and staff. Also very cute looking boys and girls at the reception.

It was such a contrast to the Hop Inn ambience.
Wished we had stayed in Mut Mee more nights. (but no wfi in room/chalet)

The reception is very foreigner friendly with good english speaking staff. The sitting area by the river is so cool . Many guests just hang around this area, either reading books, wifi or just having tea.

They have a quirky system where when a guest check in we are given a little book or "passport" they call. So we order our own drinks and food and write into this little booklet ourselves and even make our own beverages. As for food, we place the booklet on the kitchen table and they will serve to our table later. So when we check out, they will just add up all our bills. Simple & cute !

the grounds of MutMee just at the Mekong riverside

  

private bathroom /toilet 

mosquito netting

bedroom chalet -very spacious

a little patio outside our chalet

 the Loy Kratong Festival takes place with a beauty contest and many of the contestants are not women !!!

MutMee Guesthouse many TripAdvisor awards

MutMee location is perfect ! one cant get any closer to the river Mekong! Just walk out of reception area and go thru the left little opening in the fencing and the path directly on to the Esplanade that runs all along the side of the Mekong.
Every daytime till 5pm the Sadet Market is open for food and all sorts of things. On weekends there is a night market just 2 min away from this MutMee Guesthouse.

Chiang Khan

Mae Nam Mee Kong Guesthouse ( 900baht double room )

  This is one of the best accomodation on this trip. This little "homemade" artistic guesthouse caught our eyes immediately as we drove thru the Chiang Kai road.
Later found out the owner, Dong (nickname) is a photographer and a keen artist. All the little arts and crafts in this Guesthouse are hand made by himself and his friend - there's is a personal touch to it. Simply love it !

This guesthouse is located at the start of the Chiang Kai Street. At night we parked our little car at the side lane and after 10pm we have to go in and out thru the little side wooden door.
,
The bed is hard but we were so "in love" with the art and colors in this place, we slept like a log anyway !

street view 

balcony

shared bathroom/toilets/sinks

air conditioned bedroom

shared bathrooms with hot showers

sitting area upstairs- self service coffee, tea

and us....

and more accomodation in Chiang Khan village along Chiang Kai Street...ranging from 600baht up to even 3500baht !

and for the non Asian's tourists....

LOEI

Muanmanee Boutique Hotel (700baht double room )

double room, very spacious and bright

clean bright bathroom

 We didnt make any pre online booking in Loei and started surfing the internet to look for a accom for the night when the name of the accom strikes our interest - sounded very exotic and authentic local, even though we had no idea what it means.

Found the location thru "Maps with me" and was very delighted with the decor and friendliness of the staff  The lady at the reception was very nice and friendly. Not only did she give us a good rate for the room, she suggested a better room with a good view of the mountains but it is on a higher floor. There are no lifts in this hotel. We still took the 4th floor and was not disappointed, even though had to climb the stairs everytime.
Car park is behind/under the hotel. good and secure.

at the Lobby reception area

PHUREAU PROVINCE

Phureau Boutique Hotel

This Hotel took us a while to find it ! hidden down a small lane behind a row of shops. The sign board was small and not obvious. Car parking is good as they have a parking lot at the back. The Hotel is obviously refurbished to try to have the modern look. Clean and very spacious. 

However, the termites were having a feast at night as there was a tic-tic-tic tok-tok-tok  concert of sounds in the room whole night...till morning hours. . Cant see them tho.

At 600baht, (got a discount at reception cos low season) cant complain much.
Location is strategic. ...can get to eating places quite easily. The young boy at the reception was very friendly and obliging and showed us a few types of rooms available.  




Udon Thani 

One Residence Hotel 's location is very strategic. In the middle of the city. Opposite is Central Bus terminal. By the side is the largest shopping mall. The hotel is simple with a little reception area. easy check in and out system. Dont expect any porters or help to carry your luggage so better travel light and many floors to carry your bags. Dont even expect any service or smiles from the male staff at the desk. He is not friendly at all, for a person to be in a service line.We found it a very cold back-to-the-city-welcome, after the heart-warming people outside the city.

We are given a security tag to get in and out of the little door at the side and almost felt like a silent hitler   'Go to your prison now or be whipped!'  gesture.

We had a fair bit of loose luggages so it was a scramble of grabbing all our stuff and get out asap. We got out of reception safely with all our belongings and made it up to our room on the 4th floor in one swift gesture! ... and without any of hotel staff assistance.   Thankfully we are not of any physical disability yet.
Covered Car park available under the building.

The room is a bit dark, not enough windows or light.
We were too tired to complain much about the hard bed ... showers is hot but weak.
You have to share your room with a colony of hungry ants. Better to keep your food and drinks in the fridge.
Consolation : Flat screen tv with the most english channels available compared to other nice hotels.


It is a typical city accomodation.


One Residence (600baht double room)

 One Residence Hotel located right smack in city zone....convenient to get around. Across the road is the central Bus Terminal and 5 min walk is the Central Plaza, the biggest shopping mall in the northern area

view outside

View across the road

for a simple breakfast before catching the plane, we crossed the road to a simple coffee shop for the pad tai and the koay chup, which I'm sure tastes better elsewhere. We didnt have much time cos need to get to the airport to check in and traffic looks quite bad in the mornings, like any other cities.  Further down the road, there is a lane that looks like a market inside and am sure you can find better or more choices of food.