Two Nights Udon Thani, Two Nights Nong Kai

[roger1999]

I hope someone can help me. I will be flying from Chiang Mai to Udon Thani on Thursday, Jan. 26 and staying two nights. I will then take a bus to Nong Kai and stay one night before going to Vientiene for two nights. Then back to Nong Kai for maybe three/four days.

I need hotel/guesthouse recommendations for both Udon Thani and Nong Kai. I need to be located in a central place where I can either drink a beer on my own or possibly meet other foreigners for a chat about those cities. My hotel budget is 1,000 baht per night. I can go to 2,000 if necessary.

Thank you!

[Focus]

In Udon Thani you can stay at the Charoen Hotel for about 1,300 baht per night. Or you can stay at the Top Mansion for about 350.

In Nong Khai I can recommend the Kiang Khong guest house, about 350 to 400 a night. If you don't want a guest house and want to go up a bit, you can try the Pantawee Hotel; I'm quite sure they are in the 800 to 1000 baht range, maybe less.

Focus

[thrilled]

If ya stay at the top mansion you'll want to email them asap,or they'll be full go to udonmap you'll see the address and nongkhai go go to nongkhaimap

[TheGhostWithin]

Top Mansion is clean, quiet and has good security. Charoen hotel in my opinion is ovepriced for what it is, and bearing in ming it is not Bangkok, or even Korat.

You can contact Top Mansion (say hello to Eve for me!) via [email protected]. They will reserve a room for you without payment ifmyou can provide dates of arrival etc. It is 10 minutes walk from the night markets, and there are places to drink beer nearby too. The bus station is about 5-7 minutes walk, or a 30-50 baht tuk tuk ride away.

The security guard at Top Mansion has a son named Thep, who drives a tuk tuk and is 100% trustworthy and reliable, even if you are not in a state to take care of yourself. Some other tuk tuk drivers may try to convince you to go to seedy places if you are out at night, so be careful about that. If you want his number let me know and ill pm it to you... Ive known him for nearly 5 years now.

If you want to meet local people, most are friendly. Try to stay away from the mainstream farang oriented bars and go with thai people to where they eat and drink, ahd you will fall in love with Udon, its slow pace of life and reoaxed atmosphere.

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[roger1999]

Thanks guys.

[Focus]

Hello TheGhostWithin,

Are you sure the Top Mansion is quiet? Are we talking about the same place? Or maybe it has changed. The noise from that rave disco behind the guest house drove me away. I'm not talking about the Udon Day and Night, the falang hangout next door, which is quite tame and generally quietens down at a decent hour. The last time I stayed at Top Mansion, a couple of years ago, the noise from the disco kept me up most of the night/morning and I swore I'd never stay there again, even filling out one of those little suggestions/comments slips and popping it into the box at the front desk, not like it's the Top Mansion's fault. I told them the noisy disco was bad for their business; maybe they took some action. ?

Anyway, yeah, Charoen is a bit overpriced for what you get but it's not so bad. Nice swimming pool/garden area, and CIA ghosts lurking about.

[fishhooks]

Have to disagree with the comment above re Top Mansion being quiet and agree with the comment above re it being noisy.

There is a Disco a "stones throw" away, which like all disco's. particularly Thai ones will have you wanting to get out of bed and go out on the town again.

If you can sleep, well, jolly good luck to you.

One of the noisiest hotel experiences I've ever had, been travelling since 1970!

Irish Clock in same area as T Mansion but far enough away from the Disco, was fantastic (last stayed early 2011). Best breakfast in Udon T.

Edited January 22, 2012 by fishhooks

[JoePai]

Have to disagree with the comment above re Top Mansion being quiet and agree with the comment above re it being noisy.

There is a Disco a "stones throw" away, which like all disco's. particularly Thai ones will have you wanting to get out of bed and go out on the town again.

If you can sleep, well, jolly good luck to you.

One of the noisiest hotel experiences I've ever had, been travelling since 1970!

Irish Clock in same area as T Mansion but far enough away from the Disco, was fantastic (last stayed early 2011). Best breakfast in Udon T.

I heard there was a change of Managers at the Irish Clock - anyone know if the food is a good as before ?

[ExpatOilWorker]

In Udon you can stay here (http://www.agoda.com/asia/thailand/udonthani/home_at_udon.html) for 800 baht and it is in a farang area of town and close to UD Plaza.

[D24]

I favor Irish Clock over Top Mansion, as the poster said the disco is booming bass and unrestful night. Also Top mansion does get full. Irish clock is in the 850+baht range on my last stay. As for farang food, it's standard. But Vientiane has best western food in region, IMO.

I'll share my newest discovery though, @Home- 1 month old Thai run hotel with 32" flatscreens on same street up from Irish clock. Didn't stay because full, 042212800/ 042212822 quoted me 600baht/night and will stay on next trip to try. My last few nights in Udon were at NB Hotel- 650baht with a small Thai breakfast buffet/coffee.

In Vientiane, last week enjoyed a stay at 1 D'Rose, also 2 hotels down is the little nicer D'Rose near Lao plaza hotel. 1200/1800baht respectfully with breakfast, the latter with a great buffet. metered taxis near hotel also for any services in Laos.

[fishhooks]

Just take some other advice re if you hear about another hotel named "Ruysuck' near what's called the Lao Soi's.

Wife and I had a "disastrous almost stay" there with a Thai manager who was more interested in getting drunk, than taking care of his guests.

Well educated guy, did a degree in Australia, but unfortunately the demon drink still takes preference as with some of his other countrymen and it wasn't even Sonkrun time.

Edited January 31, 2012 by fishhooks

[fishhooks]

Sorry, Songkran!

Edited January 31, 2012 by fishhooks