We say deceptively as you wouldn’t guess from the frontage they’d managed to fit 84 decently sized rooms into this one narrow block. Raming is five minutes on foot from the night bazaar and two from Tha Pae, so we expect no complaints about location. Bear in mind that the lower floor front rooms will catch some racket from Loi Kroh, which can get pretty raucous come evening. Closing time as of mid-2017 was 00:30, so it won’t go on that long and rather sensible Raming have adopted a can’t beat them policy and set up their own stool-lined footpath bar—Rock Me—out front anyway.

The restaurant setting. Photo: Mark Ord

Behind the bar is the in-house restaurant offering lunches, dinners and the included breakfast. An outside, plant-scattered seating area is set in an open corridor between two room blocks. There are three six-storey blocks with brick facings for a change laid out in a tight horseshoe shape. The ground floor of the rear block houses reception, which gives onto Soi 3 rather than Loi Kroh. The left hand block, looking from Loi Kroh, is home to their spa on the ground floor.

It’s all a bit congested, but Raming have made an effort and purchased a plot of land across the soi on which they’ve built a swimming pool and car park. Yes, you do have to cross a road to get to the pool but at least they have one, even if it is lacking in the shade department.

Typically clean, simply decorated rooms. Photo: Mark Ord

As far as the rooms go we’ve no complaints, particularly bearing in mind prices, which translate to very good value for money. Thankfully they don’t assassinate you with high season supplements either, which are kept to a sensible level. Decor is understated but tasteful and a mixture of traditional and modern, with cream walls and crimson bed linen and cushions, and solid, varnished wood furniture. There’s good lighting, including bedside lamps, plus fridge, fast WiFi, safety deposit box and large, flat-screen cable TV. What’s more, despite squeezing in so many rooms, they are still reasonably sized.

Deluxe rooms are on higher floors, slightly larger and include minibar as well as free airport transfers, and they also offer various suite options. All in all this is a well thought out property and a great deal, though if you’re after a quiet, romantic stay or a laze around in a lush tropical garden, this might not be the right choice for you.