Where to lay your head
Many travellers opt to stay near the train and old bus station in the vicinity of Soi Sampantamit, which is probably the seediest street in Northeast Thailand. Those hoping for a more local-style scene should opt for City Centre and Nong Prajak Park area.
Anyone wanting to avoid the sleazy side of Udon while staying closer to Nong Prajak Park should opt for one of the hotels in the city centre or towards the west side of town. We like the locations of these better in terms of atmosphere, but they’re also further from the Western food and other conveniences, including the trains and most buses.
Occupying a sharp modern Thai house in a quiet corner of the city, Jamjuree is our top pick in Udon Thani. It truly is a home, with the young Thai owners living here and getting up to cook breakfast for guests or perhaps join them in the on-site yoga studio. The house has only four guestrooms along with several spacious common areas that come complete with sofas, tables, terraces and free WiFi.... Read our full review of Jamjuree Home.
( Read more on Agoda.com )
As an extension to the owner’s artistic furniture shop, Baan Rare has brought some style to Udon’s budget accommodation scene. The intimate guesthouse utilises a mix of faded wood, bamboo, exposed bricks and polished concrete to nail down a rustic-vintage aesthetic. While the private room that we checked out was on the small side, we really dug the hardwood accents, funky art, antique... Read our full review of Baan Rare Guesthouse.
( Read more on Booking.com )
Located near the immigration office and a quick walk from the municipal market and Thung Si Muang, the Prajaktra City is a newish spot that doesn’t quite pull off the boutique-y theme that it tries to project. Even so, this is a very solid, clean and secure option that puts you smack in the heart of the city, even if the word “hostel” should be replaced by “inn” or “hotel” (there... Read our full review of Prajaktra City Hostel.
( Read more on Agoda.com or Booking.com )
The old Udon Hotel likes to advertise the fact that it opened in 1972, even if it hasn’t changed much since then. While it’s hey day came and went a long time ago, the big box-like building is worth considering if you want to stay in the non-touristy part of town and save cash without sacrificing air-con -- or if rooms at the smaller places are all booked out. We checked out two rooms and one... Read our full review of Udon Hotel.
Much of Udon’s accommodation is found towards the east side of town, known for its expat bars and many shopping options. It’s a very convenient and bustling area, though some travellers will be put off by the seedy element.
The little City Inn is located around the corner from the old bus station, making it a very convenient option if arriving here -- or if you get stuck overnighting in Udon. The featureless white building has narrow stairs leading up to around 10 plain but squeaky clean and reasonably comfortable rooms. Expect white-tile floors and white walls with no decor, fresh white sheets on the decent spring... Read our full review of City Inn.
( Read more on Agoda.com )
The Pannarai is a fairly large hotel with bright and modern rooms to go with a decent-size pool. Some rooms overlook the pool on the quiet side of the building while others face a cluster of bars -- request poolside unless you plan to be up late. All rooms come with air-con, widescreen LCD TVs, fridges, safes, free WiFi, desks and good-size bathrooms. Deluxe versions are about the same size as... Read our full review of The Pannarai Hotel.
( Read more on Booking.com )
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