Does Anyone Live In Sukhothai?

[simon43]

I'm posting this in the General section because I can't see any local forum that includes the Sukhothai region... Anyway, I'm not looking for business advice, rather on comments about the Sukhothai region.

I'm toying with the idea of opening a new guesthouse in Thailand. My previous venture, (the airport hotel in Phuket), was (still is) a good success, but divorce from my Thai wife and business partner made living there rather difficult! I still get a share of the profits though, so it's not all bad

Now I'm thinking of building a new 10-room guesthouse, both as a business and as a place to live. I do have other online business income, so I'm not putting all my eggs in one basket. (But this time, I won't be marrying a psychotic business partner.....)

After doing some investigation about tourist numbers/demographics etc, Sukhothai Historical Park seems a potential location for a small guesthouse, where visitors would perhaps stay for a single or two nights.

I am travelling up to visit the region later this week, but I would appreciate any comments from those who know the area already. Land prices seem cheaper than other regions where I had considered (eg Ayutthaya).

Thanks!

Simon

[terribleterri]

I'm posting this in the General section because I can't see any local forum that includes the Sukhothai region... Anyway, I'm not looking for business advice, rather on comments about the Sukhothai region.

I'm toying with the idea of opening a new guesthouse in Thailand. My previous venture, (the airport hotel in Phuket), was (still is) a good success, but divorce from my Thai wife and business partner made living there rather difficult! I still get a share of the profits though, so it's not all bad

Now I'm thinking of building a new 10-room guesthouse, both as a business and as a place to live. I do have other online business income, so I'm not putting all my eggs in one basket. (But this time, I won't be marrying a psychotic business partner.....)

After doing some investigation about tourist numbers/demographics etc, Sukhothai Historical Park seems a potential location for a small guesthouse, where visitors would perhaps stay for a single or two nights.

I am travelling up to visit the region later this week, but I would appreciate any comments from those who know the area already. Land prices seem cheaper than other regions where I had considered (eg Ayutthaya).

Thanks!

Simon

Sukhothai is overloaded with guesthouses. There must be 100 in the area, catering to every kind of tourist, backpacker to luxury tourists. SiSatch maybe a better search area.

[hammered]

I'm posting this in the General section because I can't see any local forum that includes the Sukhothai region... Anyway, I'm not looking for business advice, rather on comments about the Sukhothai region.

I'm toying with the idea of opening a new guesthouse in Thailand. My previous venture, (the airport hotel in Phuket), was (still is) a good success, but divorce from my Thai wife and business partner made living there rather difficult! I still get a share of the profits though, so it's not all bad

Now I'm thinking of building a new 10-room guesthouse, both as a business and as a place to live. I do have other online business income, so I'm not putting all my eggs in one basket. (But this time, I won't be marrying a psychotic business partner.....)

After doing some investigation about tourist numbers/demographics etc, Sukhothai Historical Park seems a potential location for a small guesthouse, where visitors would perhaps stay for a single or two nights.

I am travelling up to visit the region later this week, but I would appreciate any comments from those who know the area already. Land prices seem cheaper than other regions where I had considered (eg Ayutthaya).

Thanks!

Simon

Sukhothai is overloaded with guesthouses. There must be 100 in the area, catering to every kind of tourist, backpacker to luxury tourists. SiSatch maybe a better search area.

Agree Si Satchanalai may be a better look

[Bobsyouruncle]

Hi Simon

Like the poster above I too have visited Sukhothai and the place has many guesthouses.

Unless you can offer something very special I think it would be a hard sell there.

If I was was to open a guesthouse I would be looking around the River Kwai area. 6 mths ago I saw a couple of really good locations close to the bridge that would be ideal.

[simon43]

Indeed, Si Satchanalai is actually the exact place that I am considering (I just said 'Sukhothai' as a general region....).

I have already visited the River Kwai area, but felt that it was not suitable for my project. Same for Ayuthaya.

In any case, I am not desperately concerned about whether there are already many guesthouses in the region or not. My hotel in Phuket gets most visitors as a result of careful and continual management of online agency database entries and good SEO - virtually a full-time job! So the customers have already booked and paid in full before they even visit the area... walk-in traffic is modest.

Simon

[DLock]

Simon, I am in Sukhothai regularly and have stayed in many a lousy hotel or sorry Guesthouse.

And whilst there are a lot of Guesthouses in Sukhothai, finding one online with a great informative website, online booking, fast response and then offering transport options, tours, good food and everything that a 3 day tourist would want is sadly lacking.

So, whilst I agree with the other posters, I think you have a distinct advantage in your online understanding and skills to do well with a reasonable Guest house in Sukhothai...or in fact anywhere in Thailand that tourists want things planned before they get there.

So don't be discouraged. It's not about how many Guesthouses there are...its about how you can market it better than the next guy...but you know that already.

Good luck.