Kanchanaburi Hotel Named As One Of The 4 Best Floating Hotels In The World

[dantilley]

Jungle Rafts, near Kanchanaburi, is named as one of the 4 best floating hotels in the world:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/picturegalleries/8388037/Floating-hotels-four-of-the-best.html?image=2

[Timthai]

Out of interest... How many floating hotels are there in the world? (the article doesn't say, nor who judged them?). Not that I'm knocking it, I haven't stayed there before. Anyone got any experience or recommendations? I like Kanchanaburi, so I get there every few months if I have time, so if it's nice, I'd treat the good lady to a weekend there. I can't remember the rates, but I recall it's a little more upmarket that most of the places we usually stay at there, but that doesn't bother me if it offers value in a different experience or setting.

[bino]

Been there, done that. Stayed for a weekend about 3 years ago. Ms. bino won the trip at her company Christmas party. Enjoyed it well enough, but not enough to go back.

Definitely an interesting place. The ride up the river takes about 30 mins on a long tail boat. The rooms on the rafts are basic but comfortable enough. Woke up one morning to find an elephant outside my window, eating the pineapple husks and other scraps provided by the kitchen staff.

If you venture ashore there is a village of Mon people, and several trails throughout the village and area for walking and exploring.

The food was good, and the local Mon people / children put on a cultural dance and music show each night. The evenings are inky dark and silent, with the sky full of stars that you just don't see from any place that has any ambient light.

Be warned- there is no electricity, telephone, cellphone coverage, television or any of the other conveniences. Everythnig ends pretty early in the evening there- nothing else to do but turn in early. After two nights, I was itching to get out of there and back to civilization.

[dantilley]

I've stayed 2 or 3 times now and would definitely go back, it really is a unique and interesting place to stay. Very relaxing, you can while away a whole day just swinging around in hammocks, reading and listening to the water flowing beside and underneath you. Very therapeutic. If you want to do something a bit more active, there's a village nearby to explore, elephant riding, the nightly dance performances, etc. Good, hearty food is served and the whole no electricity, eco-living thing is quite appealing I think. Maybe not for everyone, people who are wary of cold showers or who need their mobile charging won't be too comfortable, but for those who want to stay somewhere a bit different and don't mind the lack of mod-cons, it's worth taking a look.

[Soboringtochooseaname]

Where is it located exactly ?

Thanks.