The long-standing Lai-Thai just about squeezes into the budget range these days by virtue of low season discounts and online booking rates and is an excellent option it is too in this category.

In earlier days Lai-Thai had flashpacker pretensions but with many years, and no make-overs, on the counter it’s looking rather tired around the edges these days and prices have dropped relative to the host of nearby, new lower mid-range alternatives. So much the better then as rooms are just a bit tired, rather than completely run down, plus facilities such as the splendid swimming pool and spacious cafe are still available.

Dated rooms, but the price is right. Photo: Mark Ord

Lai-Thai Guesthouse is positioned on the outer moat road, east side, near the corner with Sridonchai Road so conveniently located but with a lot of traffic right outside the gates. The pool is set back away behind the car-park but the restaurant and cafe area is right by the road. Rooms are arrayed in three low blocks on either side of the pool and though you’d never guess from the outside they claim a total of 110 rooms.

Neither standard nor deluxe rooms are particularly large though we were informed the latter had wider bathrooms. They are, as we said, rather tired around the edges and the pleated bamboo wall panels—which may have passed for boutique 20 years ago—could do with going on the bonfire and being replaced with a fresh lick of paint. Most rooms come with en-suite hot showers and air-con though they do advertise some cheap rooms with shared bathrooms. Otherwise there’s fridge and cable TV and the rooms appeared to be clean enough.

Their restaurant, (open 06:00-24:00), isn’t bad, with a standard list of local and Western faves and staff seemed helpful enough with motorbike and car hire available plus plenty of travel assistance and ticketing. Their trump card is definitely the pool which is large and surrounded by plenty of plants. Note it is open to non-residents for a 100 baht fee, (open 08:00-21:00). During low season, or if you can get a decent online agent’s rate, then it represents a good deal but for a full whack, high season, walk-in price there’s better deals elsewhere.