Recommended Hotels for Birders

Thailand is blessed with a multitude of places to stay from international hotel chains to local homestays and this level of competition makes for some very competitive prices. However, it can also make things very confusing as, quite frankly, in many places one is spoilt for choice while in some more remote places it can be hard to know if there is anywhere comfortable to stay at all. On this page I will recommend accommodation that I have personally stayed in and discuss the merits and downfalls of staying in them on birding trips. Please note that the scores I have given the hotels do not reflect how they would compare to a complete list of top quality accommodations, but rather their quality and convenience in respect to their price and facilities as far as their suitability for vising near-by birding locations.

Bangkok

Grand BS Airport Hotel Suvarnabhumi: There are a lot of hotels in the Lat Krabang area that service the airport but this one strikes a great balance between quality and comfort as well as price. Reception is cool and spacious with staff who speak a high level of English and are efficient in checking in the guests.

The rooms are modern and airy with good internet connection, air conditioning and efficient showers. All floors are accessible by elevator and the hotel has an outside area with a swimming pool for guests.

This hotel also has a restaurant that serves good quality food at a reasonable price which is good as the hotel is situated some way down a side road making the walk to local markets and restaurants a distance of around 600 metres. Breakfast is provided too, but if you are leaving before it is served then there is a 7/11 convenience store at the end of the road which is open 24 hours. The hotel also has a shuttle bus service that can meet you at the airport if previously arranged when booking.

Lots of people I know have stayed here and nobody has had any complaints. I recommend Grand BS Airport Hotel if you need to stay near the airport. 9/10

Mariya Boutique Residence: If you need a place to stay near Suvarnabhumi airport this is a good value-for-money choice. One of the best things here is that they operate a free shuttle bus to and from the airport which runs frequently, only taking 10-15 minutes of travel time, and can pick up can be organized upon booking. The level of English spoken by the staff is very good indeed and they are very efficient in dealing with any reasonable request. The rooms are spacious, clean and very pleasant with satelitte TV, excellent internet, coffee and tea plus free water in the room and fully-functioning hot shower.

Breakfast is available from 6am but there is always coffee, fruit juice, bananas and biscuits available and there is a 7/11 convenience store right next door which is open 24 hours where a wide range of things can be purchased including coffee, toasted sandwiches and other snacks if you need an early getaway. There are plenty of restaurants a short walk up the road and on the opposite side of the road; there is a crossing point around 100 metres from the hotel if you turn left after leaving the hotel.

On the down side this hotel has no elevator but the staff will help you with your luggage if you need it and if you have any problems with stairs you can request a lower floor when you book. There is a small parking area at the side of the hotel which can fit around 6-7 vehicles.

Lots of people I know have stayed here (including myself) and nobody has had any complaints. I recommend Mariya Boutique Residence if you need to stay near the airport. 8/10

Phetchaburi

Sun Hotel: This is a convenient place to stay, in the town of Phetchaburi, for birding in Phetchaburi rice fields and Laem Pak Bia/Pak Thale. The rice fields are about 10 minutes away while Pak Thale shorebird site can be reached within about 20 minutes. There is plenty of parking here and although the level of English here is limited they are friendly and helpful and used to dealing with foreigners. The rooms are simple but spacious with air conditioning, fridge and TV (some channels in English) and hot showers which can take a bit of playing with to get the right temperature as I usually find them a bit hot.

The main advantage of Sun Hotel is that they serve breakfast at 6am which is unusual for hotels that deal with non-birding tourists, which allows birders to get on site shortly after first light. One of the big drawbacks here, though, is that their restaurant never reopened after closing due to covid restrictions in 2021. Next door there is a passable restaurant with a few more within 3-400 metres.

A couple of other negatives about this hotel are the lack of an elevator (but hotel staff will help you with your luggage) and the fact that sometimes there can be a few mosquitos in the room (just ask the staff to use some bug spray).

I stay here frequently and it is good value for a fairly low price. 7.5/10

Royal Diamond Hotel: Just around the corner from Sun Hotel and visible from the main highway this is an easy place to locate with ample parking, making it another suitable option for birding in nearby rice fields and the shorebird hotspots of Pak Thale/Laem Pak Bia. This is a large hotel with two restaurants, one indoors and one outdoors, serving a wide variety of dishes and, importantly for birders, a breakfast buffet that starts at 6am. The rooms are large and comfortable with air conditioning and hot showers although the decor shows just a little evidence of being "tired" but kept very clean, however. Last time I stayed here rooms did not have fridges but free water is supplied. For those who are unable to deal with lots of stairs this hotel has an elevator as well as plenty of helpful staff, and a fair level of English is spoken by some of the receptionists. Internet works well in all the rooms I have stayed in but it is possible that some rooms further away from reception could have limited signal so if you find your room has a weak signal ask to be relocated.

The only real negative of this hotel is its size and the fact that it attracts large tour groups meaning that at busy times there could be a backlog of guests at check-in and it could get crowded at meal times.

Royal Diamond is a very comfortable place to stay, a little more upmarket than most other hotels in town which is reflected in a slightly higher price. Still good value for money though. 8/10

J House: Another hotel in the town of Petchaburi which is convenient for birding nearby rice fields and shorebird hotspots. This small hotel was built in early 2018 and is extremely clean, has good-sized rooms with powerful air conditioning and fully-functioning hot showers. The rooms have a large fridge, free water and TV although only Thai channels are available. The internet signal in the rooms is very good and the service has not cut out at all when I have visited. For those driving there is a large car park at the side of the hotel which is also covered offering some protection from the midday sun or rain.

Although this is a very comfortable place to spend a night or two the negatives are that it is not particularly easy to find, being down a small side road with insufficient signage and that there is no restaurant, although it is only a short drive around the corner to several good ones. This also means that there is no breakfast provided here, although coffee is provided in the reception area and there is a 7/11 store very close-by which is open 24 hours and stocks all manner of breakfast snacks. Another issue with J-House is that reception is very small and understaffed which mean that if a couple of groups arrive at the same time there can be a delay. It also means that there are not sufficient staff to help with your luggage to carry it up the stairs, as there is no lift here.

J-House is excellent value for money, although it has a few minor inconveniences. 7/10

Kaeng Krachan National Park

Baan Maka Nature Resort: This is one of the very few guesthouses in Thailand that is run by birders, for birders, although plenty of non-birders also stay to enjoy the relaxing atmosphere and visit the nearby national park. This location is tucked away down a dirt road but is signposted in English from several kilometres away so is fairly easy to find. Baan Maka has around a dozen simple but comfortable rooms distributed around very pleasant gardens in which there is some good birding making this a very good place to stay if you want some down time rather than round-the-clock hard core birding at all times. The on-site restaurant here serves excellent food which can be selected from a menu which is in English, Thai and Chinese; the owners speak fluent English and some of the staff speak adequate English. The staff here are used to providing very early breakfasts for birders, with free coffee always available, and packed lunches for the national park can also be provided; the food situation here could not be more convenient or of a better quality for birders. For those that enjoy beer there are several imported beers available as well as local brands.

The rooms are modest but kept exceptionally clean and several improvements made in late 2017 include good numbers of power outlets for charging electrical equipment and bedside lamps while umbrellas are supplied for reaching the restaurant in a dry condition when there is rain. Air conditioning is supplied in all rooms and warm showers are installed in all rooms although "hot" may be a bit ambitious. Free bottled water is supplied in the rooms; there is no TV or fridge in the rooms.

Baan Maka can provide transport and guiding into the forest, while the grounds itself have some trails and hides on the premises; the owners are very knowledgeable about a variety of Thai wildlife. Access to all nearby hides for photography can be arranged through Baan Maka.

The main negative for those who need to stay in touch is that phone signal here can be variable (particularly in bad weather) which can effect the internet signal too. However, in mid 2018 is frequently very poor and only available in the restaurant. These things, though, may be just what you want if you need to just get away from it all. Baan Maka is a 15-minute drive from the park entrance, which means a 30 minute round drive every day; this is a little tiresome at the beginning and end of a long day.

Baan Maka Nature Resort is an excellent place for birders to stay and good value for money, albeit with a couple of minor inconveniences. 9.5/10


Samarn Bird Camp: Less than 2 minutes drive from the national park this is the most convenient location for birders to stay and very easy to find, being located so close to the park gate. The rooms are clean, pleasant but smaller than other nearby options, with plenty of power outlets for charging equipment, free water, fully-functioning shower and efficient air-conditioning. Food here is excellent, with a Thai-English language menu, if sometimes a little slow to be delivered, and early breakfasts can be organized from 5.30am onwards. The gardens here are pleasant, with a number of interesting birds to be seen and it is an excellent place to see and photograph Large-tailed Nightjar.

The only pitfall here is that although the owners are very friendly and keen to please, the level of English spoken here is very low, in fact almost non-existent, unless Samarn's grandson is present who speaks impeccable English. Transport into the forest can be arranged here as can access to the photographic hides around the fringes of the national park. Samarn is a bird photographer himself and can take birders to a number of good photographic opportunities in the forest for a modest fee, but unless you speak Thai communication can be tricky - just let him get on with it, he knows what he is doing.

Internet is available in the restaurant (and in some of the rooms close to the restaurant) with a reasonable signal that is sufficient for loading most webpages but not for uploading/downloading large files. Phone signal strength is usually very good here. Samarn Bird Camp is a great place for birders to stay at and it is very good value for money, although with the major downfall for those who do not speak Thai in that communicating can be tricky although a little patience will suffice. 8.5/10

Kum Nangpaya: Directly opposite Samarn Bird Camp and just a minute or so from Kaeng Krachan NP gate this guesthouse has a great location for accessing the forest. The great strength of this accommodation is the friendliness of the owner who will go out of her way to make sure guests enjoy their stay and speaks a decent level of English. The on-site restaurant has an English language menu and serves very good food while early morning breakfasts can be arranged for birders. Transport into the national park can be arranged and booking of nearby photographic hides can also be provided for guests. The grounds are extensive but most vegetation is immature so on-site birding options are a little more limited than other accommodations but having said that a number of species do come to flowering trees next to the restaurant.

Rooms are in cabins scattered around the grounds and while they are comfortable enough they some of them are rather "rustic" inside. Free bottled water is provided in the rooms some of which are air-conditioned while others are fan-cooled. Bathrooms have electric showers but here lies a major negative of Kum Nangpaya, the bathrooms are access down a few steep steps which could be dangerous for some people who need to use the facilities in the night and forget there are steps; this is a potential danger in some rooms. Rooms do not have TVs or fridges. Phone signals here are strong and there is a passable internet connection available in the restaurant although not in the rooms.

Location and friendliness of the owner are the major positives here but, in my opinion, the accommodation is a little overpriced for what it is in comparison to other places. This is still a very convenient location for birders to stay at though. 7/10

Chumphon

Morakot Hotel: This hotel is in the centre of Chumphon town which is not large but can be a little confusing to drive around, so making finding this location a little tricky but not really complicated. There is plenty of parking here and there is an elevator which gives access to the higher floors and staff that help bring your luggage from the vehicle to your room; the reception staff speak good enough English and are used to dealing with foreigners. The reason that this hotel has found itself on the birding circuit is that it is within a 20 minute drive of Khao Dinsor which is a prime raptor-watching site for the autumn migration and with the breakfast buffet being available from 6am it serves birders well. It is also only a 15-minute drive from the Kaem Ling Nong Yai Royal project which is quite good for wetland birds. Although there is a breakfast room there is no restaurant for dinner here but this is not really a problem as there is a selection of good restaurants accessible from the side door in reception.

Rooms are very spacious with TV, fridge, air conditioning and free bottled water although some of the decor in the old wing is (as of 2018) a little "tired" but having said this it is still kept very clean and this is a good place to relax at the end of a long day of birding. As of 2019 there is a new wing of the hotel (accessed at the back of the lobby) which is very clean and comfortable.

The price-point of this hotel is very reasonable for the comfort it provides and although there are plenty of other hotels which look nice in Chumphon I have stayed here many times. 7.5/10

Nana Buri Hotel: Another hotel in Chumphon town centre, a little tricky to find without using a navigation app on your phone as it is down a side road but there is a spacious parking area in front of the property. There is a large reception area and although I spoke to the receptionists in Thai, the size of the hotel suggests that some of the staff, at least, will speak English. For those with mobility issues there is a modern elevator to take you to all floors.This hotel is just as well-placed for visiting all the birding spots around Chumphon as any other in town and there is a decent breakfast buffet at 6am although one has to walk out into town to find dinner. Rooms are spacious, airy and clean with fully-functioning air-conditioning and good showers in the bathroom. Some of the rooms on the upper floor have quite good views over the town to the surrounding mountains in the distance and all rooms have TV, fridge and free bottled water.

I stayed in the Nana Buri Hotel for the first time in early 2022 and found it a very pleasant place and have used it again as it is clean, well-run and excellent value for money. 8/10

Surat Thani

The Lephant Hotel: This strangley-named hotel is not near any recognized birding locations but it is a very convenient place to stay if you need to break the long drive from Bangkok to the south of Thailand. Situated at a service station on a main highway this is certainly not a birding stop but the hotel is very clean and extremely good value for money, providing a comfortable night's rest. Bottled water is provided free of charge in the rooms and the largest wing of the hotel is brand new as of 2017 so has fully-functioning air-conditioning, hot showers and furnished with a TV (thai channels). Being at a service station, parking is not a problem and although there is no restaurant or breakfast provided on-site there is a Black Canyon restaurant that serves Thai and Western food and a convenience store that sells all sorts of snacks etc. that can be eaten for breakfast. Hotel reception speak rudimentary English but they are friendly and want to please so, with patience and a smile, communication is not really a problem. The upper floors do not have access via an elevator but if this is a problem rooms on the ground floor can be requested.

Lack of breakfast, English skills and no nearby birding sites are the only issues with this place but I only include it as a rest-stop so these things are not really a problem. Great value for money and a convenient place to break a long journey. 9.5/10

Phang Nga

CURRENTLY CLOSED

SiamIS Hotel Phang Nga Bay: Out of all the hotels I have to recommend this one is perhaps of the lowest quality but for convenience to the nearby birding site of Phang Nga bay mangroves and the view from the rooms I continue to use this hotel when in the area. Basically from the front door birders can walk across the road and start birding, in fact even the hotel itself is a draw for a few key species such as Rufous-bellied Swallow. There is plenty of parking space available here and if there is rain one can drive right up to the door where the car will be sheltered as it is unloaded. There is a large reception area but the level of English spoken is low and there are not usually enough staff present to help guests with luggage. There is, however, an elevator to take guests to the upper floors where one will find the corridors looking rather old. The rooms are an odd shape but spacious enough and although they are a bit old in 2017 new air conditioners were fitted, a fresh coat of paint was applied and some attention was paid to bathroom fittings with the showers working well enough. In the room there is a small fridge, a TV with a few English-language channels and the view out of the patio windows is great, looking over the mangroves and limestone karst.

There is a hotel restaurant on the riverside and this is where the hotel feels a bit odd as the place is usually abandoned and service is a bit reluctant but the food is good enough and there is an English-language menu to choose from. On my last visit in early 2018 the restaurant was undergoing some renovation so things may change soon. A simple breakfast is included in the price here and service begins at 6am, although I have turned up earlier and been served.

While there are several new, nice-looking small hotels a few kilometres away in Phang Nga town, SiamIS is still worth staying at for its convenience to birders visiting the mangroves, albeit the property is a little tatty and service can be patchy. 6.5/10

Good Morning Hotel: This small hotel which was opened in early 2018 is a very convenient place to stay if you have spent the afternoon at Laem Pakarang and are visiting Sri Phang Nga the next day with the former being about 20 minutes away and the latter no more than 30 minutes drive. This is a very clean and comfortable place to stay which is very easy to find as it is right on the main highway and has ample parking. The reception area is small but the lady who has been there on my visits is very friendly and speaks very good English. Security is good here with a digital pass card allowing access to the hotel and rooms, plus conveniently there is an elevator to help get your luggage up to the higher floors. The rooms are simple but exceptionally clean with plenty of electrical outlets and fully-funtioning air-conditioning, hot shower and TV with some international news channels.

The only negative is that there is no breakfast here although there is coffee freely available in the morning and on one visit there was bread and a toaster, but there is a 7/11 down the road where breakfast can be found. The lack of a restaurant is not a problem as 20 metres down the road is a small, family-run restaurant with some of the best food I have encountered in Thailand. This restaurant is closed on wednesdays but further down the road there are other places in the town of Takua Pa.

This is very good value for money and conveniently placed between two birding sites. I highly recommend staying here. 9/10

CURRENTLY CLOSED

Kuraburi Greenview Resort: Many birders have stayed here when visiting Sri Phang Nga national park and it is set in a very nice depression in the hills, surrounded by forest, and some nice birds can occur in the garden although I have always found it less interesting than it seems it should be. The location is good, with a 20 minute drive to the main entrance to the national park but it is also just a 30 minute drive to Thung Cha Lee ranger station which has some good birding. This is also a very easy place to find, being on the main highway and signposted as you approach it. There are plenty of very helpful staff here, who speak a good level of English, and the management have a very good track record of dealing with any problems that have arisen. Rooms are of a variety of types, catering to a variety of budgets. All rooms are nicely decorated and comfortable but the cheapest rooms do not have proper air-conditioning and some are up a steep slope, far away from the restaurant, while most are a fair walk away. Free bottled water is in every room and there is a mini bar too with price list in English. There is an excellent breakfast buffet, which usually starts at 6am, and the restaurant serves some very good food if a little overpriced with service staff being very efficient.

As mentioned, rooms are variable with the clay houses being quite pleasant and rustic with good facilities although a bit of a walk from the restaurant, while the rooms in the superior buildling are the most comfortable and most convenient for unloading the vehicle and access to the restaurant/reception.

This hotel can also arrange visits to the Similan Islands to see Nicobar Pigeon as well as other excursions in the area. This is a comfortable and pleasant place to stay (if you have a fully air-conditoned room) but although it is not that expensive, is certainly not suitable for budget travelers. For those staying in the best rooms 8/10 If staying in the cheaper rooms 6.5/10

Krabi

Maritime Park & Spa Resort: Situated a very short drive outside of the main part of Krabi town the gardens here are a reasonable birding location in their own right with Mangrove Pitta, Great Eared Nightjar and Brown-winged Kingfisher present among others. This is also a convenient place to stay if taking a boat trip into the mangroves and is a very comfortable place to stay if needing some relaxation or heading to Krabi airport in the morning. This is a very large hotel, set in lovely gardens which always seems to be half empty due to the proliferation of other places around town which results in a slightly less than sparkling appearance around the buildings. There is a parking port at reception so that during rain you do not have to get wet unloading the car and staff will always help transport your luggage from your vehicle to your rooms. There is lots of space for parking here. Reception staff are very efficient, polite and helpful, speaking a good level of English and, I believe, Chinese, while excursions to all the tourist areas around Krabi can be arranged.

There is a decent breakfast buffet which starts at 6am and breakfast can either be eaten in the garden or in an air-conditioned room. The hotel restaurant provides a mixed selection with some dishes being excellent while others are mediocre. Certainly the prices are higher than normal, even for tourist restaurants and you will get some of the most expensive beer in Thailand if you enjoy a drink with your meal.

The gardens are the greatest asset of this hotel and also contain a large swimming pool although the attached spa section seems to now be closed. The major problem with this location is that it is not right in the town with all its facilities so if you do not have your own transport you are trapped on site, but it is a relaxing place to stay at the ned of a long trip. The size of the hotel, along with the multitude of accommodation options nearby has resulted in a slight neglect of the property and there probably are not enough staff to keep the buildings in top condition, however, all the rooms I have stayed in have been extremely comfortable. The furnishings in the rooms are a little "tired" but still very pleasant with air-conditioning, refridgerator, mini bar, free bottled water, kettle and free tea/coffee and the views from rooms on the upper floors are great, looking over the gardens and limestone karst. Wifi works reasonably well in the rooms but does cut every now and then, but logging straight back in usually seems to work. TVs in the room carry several English language channels.

I would not recommend this hotel at its premium prices but I usually find I can get great last minute deals online (perhaps not at the peak of the high season) or a decent walk-in price. Every time I have stayed here over the last few years I have booked standard rooms but have been upgraded to larger rooms and had breakfast included for no extra cost. 8/10

The River Scene Hotel: This small hotel was built in 2014 and is kept extremely clean. The location for boat trips into Krabi mangroves could not be better, with just a walk across the road needed to find a boatman. Finding the hotel is easy as it is on the river front and there is some parking to the rear of the hotel. Hotel staff were very helpful on my stay here, helping guests with their luggage up the stairs, as there is no elevator, and arranging a packed breakfast as we left before it was time for it to be served. Simple but very tasty food is available in the small reception restaurant for a good price. This hotel is right in the heart of Krabi town and it is a short walk to markets, shops, restaurants and all other conveniences.

The rooms here are quite small but in immaculate condition with air-conditioning, TV, kettle with tea/coffee, free bottled water and hot showers; the rooms at the front have a nice view across the river.

The only real problem here is a question of scale; the hotel is small, reception is small, the parking area is small, rooms are small but everything else about the place is very good indeed. 8/10

Satun

Sinkiat Buri Hotel: This hotel is right in the town of Satun but only a 10 minute drive away from good mangrove birding, 30 minutes away from Thalebun national park and about 1 hour away from Wang Tai Nan ranger station of Khao Banthat Wildlife Sanctuary. This hotel provides some comfort for birders visiting some very hot and humid nearby birding sites. It is quite easy to locate, has enough parking and efficient and helpful reception staff who speak enough English to make checking in manageable. Security is good here with digital cards providing access to the rooms but there is no restaurant for evening meals, although there are plenty of places to eat nearby. Breakfast is provided but is perhaps not early enough for birders heading out in the morning but as usual in Thailand there are 7/11s around town that are open 24 hours, selling breakfast foods and coffee.

The rooms are very clean and airy, comfortably furnished with good air-conditioning, free bottled water, hot showers and fridge. TVs only have Thai channels. Rooms at the rear of the hotel have a view over nearby countryside but do heat up a lot throughout the day, taking a while for the air-con at full blast to cool them down. I have always felt very comfortable and relaxed in the rooms here and the internet connection is good in all rooms I have stayed in. Whenever there have been small issues in the room on my stays (blown light bulb, requiring an extra towel) the staff have immediately dealt with it.

Although perfectly situated for visiting Satun mangroves, the other birding sites are a bit of a distance from here meaning that breakfast is not early enough; this is the only pitfall of this hotel in my opinion. There are places to stay closer to those other sites, they do not offer the comfort that Sinkiat Buri does. 9/10

Chiang Mai

Amora Tapae Hotel: This is a fairly large hotel, very close to all the main tourist facilities in the city of Chiang Mai. It is easy to find, being set on the main road around the moat and has plenty of parking in purpose-built car park which has security guards at all hours. For those with mobility issues it is possible to park right at the door and there is a ramp and bellboy who will help with all the luggage. The reception staff speak very good English and the reception area is spacious and a comfortable place to wait. Check in is usually dealt with efficiently but they do want to see passports of every guest and as they deal with large tour groups there can sometimes be a backlog of people to check in. There are more than ten floors here and thankfully there are a couple of elevators to take guests up to them. The rooms on upper floors have good views across the city.

Rooms are spacious enough with digital key cards. Air conditioning is in every room as is TV with a number of English language channels, free bottled water, tea and coffee with kettle, mini bar and hot showers are provided in a spacious bathroom. Internet connection is good here in all the rooms I have stayed in. There is a very good breakfast buffet provided here which starts at 6am but if you turn up a little early it is usually ready and the restaurant serves good enough food at acceptable prices but a multitude of restaurants are within walking distance as are all the conveniences of a large tourist city.

This is a very comfortable hotel and although the decor in the rooms is showing some stages of wear I still highly recommend it. 9/10

CURRENTLY CLOSED

The Imperial Mae Ping: This large hotel is located very close to Chiang Mai's night bazaar and although the walk to the most interesting temples is further than many other hotels it is certainly not too far, although when the weather is hot you will probably want to take a taxi. For those driving, this hotel is very easy to locate and spot but it does require some planning as you have to negotiate a number of one-way streets before arrival. Parking is spacious and there are security guards to take care of the vehicles night and day. It is possible to drive right up to the front door to unload your vehicle and the staff will help you and deliver it to your room.

Checking in is usually an efficient affair and the staff all speak very good English and are very attentive. Each room gets two key cards which means that one can be left in the room to keep the air conditioning on when you are out, so that you can come back to a cool room. The rooms are comfortable, if a little dated, and if you can get upgraded your room will be very large indeed. There is a TV in every room with English language news channels and internet is efficient in every room I have stayed in. There is free bottled water, tea and coffee with a kettle plus minibar in every room and there are three elevators to take people to every floor. The rooms on the upper floors have very good views over Chiang Mai looking towards Doi Suthep.

The real advantage of this hotel for birders is that a very extensive breakfast buffet begins at 5.30am meaning that you can get out birding nice and early on a full stomach. The outdoor restaurant is very pleasant, serving some very good food although it is very pricey, this is not the place to eat/drink if you are traveling on a budget. Although the regular price of this hotel is a little expensive I have been able to get some very good deals through Agoda.com at short notice.

The location of this hotel is excellent for a quick departure in the morning if heading south to Doi Inthanon and it is very good as somewhere to get a bit of rest part way through a long birding trip. 9/10

Hotel M Chiang Mai: Another hotel in central Chiang Mai and this one is inside the moat inside which are most of the interesting temples and it is just around the corner from where the Sunday night market is held. Finding this hotel is very easy indeed, given its location, but there is very limited parking in front of the property; the parking attendant will usually try and make room for you even if it seems full. The staff all speak a good level of English and there is an elevator to give access to all floors. There is a breakfast buffet which starts at 6am but I don't think there is a restaurant; there is no need for one as there are hundreds of places to eat nearby. Connected to the hotel is a money changer offering bank rates rather than hotel rates.

The rooms are pleasant, if a little smaller than other similarly priced hotels, with efficient air conditioning, free bottled water, tea and coffee with kettle, fully-functional hot shower and TV with several English language channels. The rooms have quite large windows letting in a nice amount of light during the day.

This hotel is very convenient for visiting tourist sites within the old city of Chiang Mai and comfortable for the end of a trip but you need to get a good deal for Hotel M to compare favourably with the previously mentioned hotels. 7.5/10

Imm Hotel: Another hotel near the Tapae gate of Chiang Mai, making it very convenient for visiting the toursit sites and weekend night markets. The night bazaar is not too far away and the hotel is extremely easy to find being alongside MacDonalds! However, if driving to this property you need to be aware of the one way system around Chiang Mai's moat and make sure you don't miss the small left hand turning that is a little after the hotel which gives access to the parking area. The back door gives access from the parking area to reception and the staff all speak a decent level of English. They can be quite pedantic about checking in so make sure everyone in the party has their passports ready and is ready to fill in a guest card. A lift gives access to upper floors but there are rooms on the ground floor so if you have mobility issues this may be a good place for you.

The reception, corridors and rooms have rather the feel of a budget hotel, but are kept very clean, however, due to its location the regular price is not exactly budget. Having said that it is one of the cheaper hotels with a car park in this area and I have managed to get some good deals online in the past, making it good value for money. There is no restaurant, but so close to lots of eating areas that it does not matter and a breakfast buffet is held in the atrium from which the ground floor rooms are accessed. This means that it can get noisy early in the morning so if you want a lay-in do not choose a ground floor room. The other problem with this area is that it is not air conditioned so can be quite sweaty for much of the year.

The rooms are clean but most have very small windows making them rather dark without the lights on. There is free bottled water available, a TV with English language news channels, fully-functioning hot showers but internet can be annoying, sometimes it requires going to get multiple password tickets before actually getting one that works.

This hotel's main advantage is having a parking lot in a central location for a decent price. 7/10

Fang (For Doi Lang)

Tangerine Ville Hotel: Situated on the edge of Fang, on the main road through the town, this hotel is easily located and is convenient for visiting Fang Hot Springs (15 minutes) and Doi Lang West (45 minutes). Although it is a fair drive to Doi Lang there is very little significantly closer to compete with staying in Fang town itself and this hotel is one of the most convenient. This is one of the largest hotels in Fang but rarely seems to be busy so that there is always plenty of room to park in the rather large car park here but, like all of the hotels in Fang, there is no possibility of birding in the hotel grounds, this is strictly a place to rest for the night.

Reception is always rather quiet but the staff here are extremely polite and guests are checked in very quickly. Although there are steps/large ramp to negotiate into the hotel there are staff members to help take your luggage to your rooms. The big drawback here is that although there are three floors there is no elevator here but, for those who struggle with stairs, there are rooms on the ground floor so request one of those if required. The rooms themselves are spacious and comfortable, kept clean and have well-maintained air-conditioning and showers with free bottled water and toiletries plus television with a few English-language channels. There is also a kettle in the room with tea and coffee available. The rooms on the south side of the hotel can get very hot in the day during the warmest part of the year but pleasantly warm during the cool season while the rooms on the northern side remain cooler during the hot period and rather chilly in the cool season.

One of the advantages here over some of the other hotels in Fang is that there is a restaurant. The food is adequate rather than exceptional and I would suggest sticking with old favourites such as Thai Green Curry rather than being experimental in your selection here. Breakfast is served from 6am but the staff will prepare a simple packed breakfast on request a bit earlier of either sandwiches or friend rice. In fact the staff here are very helpful and any sensible request is dealt with as well as is possible although English language skills are limited so keep things simple.

Being in a small town this hotel is also very conveniently placed for facilities such as banks, hospital, pharmacies, supermarket and various restaurants. This is a good quality hotel which is good value for money. 8.5/10

Sleeping Tree Hotel: Right in the centre of Fang this hotel could not be better placed for convenience to the facilities of the town although it is, like other accommodation in the area, some distance from the birding on Doi Lang itself. This hotel was opened in 2017 and it is extremely clean throughout and well-priced although staffing levels are low so that you will usually have to get your luggage to your room yousrself although this is easy being able to drive right up to the door, no stairs to deal with and an elevator to every floor. The reception area is spacious and clean with seats for people to use while waiting but I have been checked in very quickly when I have stayed here without needing them.

Considering the modest price the size of the rooms is quite a surprise with an area with a sofa to relax in and watch TV which has several English language channels. A kettle, tea and coffee are supplied in every room and showers are very efficient with various toiletries supplied.

Breakfast is supplied in a breakfast area to the rear of the hotel and I have been able to get it rather earlier than advertised by asking politely so that I could get on the mountain for first light. The biggest drawback here is that the hotel lacks a restaurant so that for evening meals one has to go outside. This is no great problem as there are a number of small food outlets nearby but few restaurants of any size. In the far corner of the parking area there is a nice restaurant run by a pleasant couple which serves very good food but they are not always open late; it is worth taking a look though and if there are enough of you they will probably stay open.

This is a really confortable hotel and excellent value for money with the only downside being that there is no restaurant to make things as convenient as they could be. 8/10

Doi Inthanon

Inthanon Highland Resort: Less than 2 kilometres from the Doi Inthanon National Park gate this is the most convenient place outside of the park for birders to stay. With accommodation inside the park being thin on the ground, and rather poor at that, this is where I always stay when visiting Doi Inthanon. This location consists of a number of 4 bed-roomed houses and 4 seperate rooms, set in landscaped gardens, meaning that there is ample parking for many vehicles; the gardens are also quite good for birding in the early morning and it can be rewarding for night birding here too.

All rooms have air conditioning and private showers although some of the rooms are a bit old and could do with redecorating. However, despite this they are comfortable enough and the staff are extremely helpful and polite with any sensible request taken care of; this is a good place to get laundry done for a reasonable price. Check in is always done quickly and efficiently and if you need helpwith luggage just ask. The restaurant is open-air and set next to a pond in the middle of the gardens and serves very good Thai and Western food at reasonable prices and of a decent quality.

This accommodation has been used by many birding groups so the staff are used to catering for early breakfasts which can be served as early as 5am if required. Breakfast is served to order and can consist of eggs, sausage, toast and fruit, or anything else that is on the menu. This is a comfortable place for birders to stay which is close to the birding spots lower on the mountain and is ideal if you don't want to be out all the time and need to take a relaxing afternoon off. 8/10

Tak

White House Hotel: This quite imposing hotel was opened in late 2017 and has been designed for visual impact; it even appears on Google maps as a photographic opportunity! There is loads of room for parking here and even someone to help you park properly. Reception is large and the staffing levels are high so even when I have arrived at the same time as other groups check in has been quick and efficient. Although Tak is not an established birding location there are several places of interest nearby including Nong Luang Royal project and adjoining wetlands, nearby patches of dry dipterocarp woodland and a 30 minute drive to Thaksin Maharat National Park. This is a good base to explore some seldom-birded areas that could be rewarding. This hotel makes a good stopover if you are driving north to Chiang Mai and need somewhere to rest although it is a little out of town so to access the facilities of Tak it takes a short drive of 5 minutes.

I don't remember seeing an elevator here but the hotel is only three storeys high so not too many stairs to deal with and for those who have knee problems there are rooms available on the ground floor. The rooms are very clean and equipped with TV (Thai channels only), air-conditioning and fully functioning showers with hot water and free toiletries. Every room has a small balcony and overlooks the swimming pool around which the hotel is built.

There is a restaurant/breakfast room on site and while I have not eaten in the evening shere, the breakfast buffet is good enough without being anything particularly special. Breakfast starts at 7am but if you want to spend this time out birding it is best to drive a few kilometres down the road to a 7/11 convenience store. 8.5/10

Soho Boutique Hotel: Just a short detour from the main highway, in the centre of Tak town, Soho Boutique Hotel is fairly easy to find and can be located on Google maps. There is ample parking here and a drive past reception for unloading and loading bags which may be useful to people with mobility issues. There are no staff available for carrying bags etc. This is a policy by the hotel to keep costs down and offer a lower price. The reception is a large, spacious area and the staff are very helpful and check people in quickly. There are two lifts to reach the higher floors so that you do not need to struggle up the stairs with your luggage.

The rooms here are spacious and pleasantly decorated without being anything flashy. They all have air-conditioning, kettles, TV (Thai channels only) and fully-functioning showers in the bathrooms with toiletries supplied. There is a small fridge in every room with free bottled drinking water too.

The breakfast room is very pleasant, with breakfast beginning at 6.30am with a good selection of breakfast foods available. This time is early enough if you are going birding nearby but if you are planning to visit somewhere further afield then the 7/11 convenience store opposite the hotel may be a better breakfast option for you. 8.5/10

Nakorn Ratchasima

Juldis Khao Yai J2 Hotel: This is a small hotel and is basically the budget counterpart to the much more expensive Juldis Hotel next door. Just a few kilometres from the northern entrance to Khao Yai National Park this is very convenient for birding at this well-know location and is where I have been staying over the last few years. There is plenty of parking at the front of the hotel but there are no gardens (other than that of Juldis next door) with the accommodation so that this type of leisurely birding is not an option as it is with some hotels in the area.

All rooms are clean, comfortable and have air-conditioning and private bathrooms but there is no elevator so you must drag your luggage up the stairs. However, there are only a couple of floors and the staff are helpful and friendly so they will help you with your bags if you ask politely. Rooms also have a TV and free water while downstairs a simple breakfast of toast, jam and coffee is available from around 5am which is extremely convenient for birders.

On the downside there is no restaurant here so one must go out somewhere else for dinner, but there are several places nearby that are only a short drive away. There is noting particularly special about J2 Hotel but its combination of clean rooms, good price, early breakfast and close proximity to Khao Yai make it an excellent choice for birders. 8/10

Email me at nickupton@thaibirding.com

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