Old backpacker flophouse
Occupying an old-school white wooden building towards the northern end of Klang Mueang, the Saen Samran is quite possibly the longest running hotel in Khon Kaen.
It’s a backpacker favourite thanks to dirt-cheap rooms with high ceilings, a few windows, moveable fans, thin mattresses on beds raised off the heavily scuffed wood floors and basic cold-bathrooms with Western-style toilets. An extra 60 baht gets you a TV, though we were met with a frown when we asked if it had English channels. The rooms are very spacious and appeared acceptable for the price, at least if you can block out the considerable mould on some of the walls. The pokey hallways include wooden deer and lions, with a “dogs of the world” poster hung from an old Thai-style fretted wood wall. The hotel does have free WiFi and the older women who run it can speak a little English between them. Though certainly not a luxurious choice, this will do if you’re on a shoestring budget and simply need a place to crash. The hotel has virtually no online presence and accepts walk-ins only.
Address: 55-59 Klang Mueang Rd, Khon Kaen
T: (043) 239 611; (043) 332 985;
Coordinates (for GPS): 102º50'9.55" E, 16º26'10.25" N
See position in Apple or Google Maps: Apple Maps | Google Maps
Room rates: Under 600B
What we were quoted as a walk-in.
| Dbl fan private bathroom | 220 baht | 220 baht |
| Quad fan private bathroom | 340 baht | 340 baht |
Reviewed by
David Luekens
David Luekens first came to Thailand in 2005 when Thai friends from his former home of Burlington, Vermont led him on a life-changing trip. Based in Thailand since 2011, he spends much of his time eating in Bangkok street markets and island hopping the Andaman Sea.
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