Hotels in Thailand Introduction to Thailand
Thailand HotelsThailand hotels vary in price and facilities throughout the country. The standard varies from luxury 5-star hotels in the big cities to guesthouses offering basic accommodation. Thailand hotels usually offer decent, clean rooms in a building with fan or air-con, attached bathrooms, hot showers, TV (usually only Thai channels though) and/or fridge as optional extras.
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Guesthouses are a bit more downmarket and are cheaper than hotels. They offer basic rooms, with fans, with or without attached bathroom. Check whether hot water is available. Standards and facilities can vary from place to place so if you don't like the first guesthouse you see, it is worth looking around for another one. Prices vary according to season and public holidays and how many tourists are around. Some also provide food and tourist information, and can organise trekking and other activities.
The term 'resorts' is used for any place offering accommodations with detached rooms or bungalows, usually in villages, rural or beach areas. It can also mean a campus offering various facilities and activities, but often just standard accommodation.
When looking for a room, ask to look around the room, check light switches, check the fan works and check that there is hot water if you have asked for it. It is sometimes worth negotiating over the rates, particularly if it is quiet. In Thailand hotels and guesthouses, attached bathrooms can have either Asian- or Western-style toilets. You may want to check this before taking the room, but there is usually a western-style toilet. On Khao San Road in Bangkok you should also check that your guesthouse isn't just behind, or next door to, a club if you want an early night or are a light sleeper.
Luxury hotels are available for rich tourists, or business people. These have TV, air-con, a fridge, western style showers, baths and toilets and usually an attached restaurant. Add 7% government tax and usually the hotel adds a service charge. Some international hotel chains have branches in Thailand - usually only in big cities and the main holiday resorts, such as Phuket. There are also Thai-owned/run hotels which have high standards. Thai travel agents can obtain discounts and some offer discounts for bookings made over the Net. The Thai Hotels Association Desk at Bangkok Airport (Arrivals, both terminals) can arrange discounts. Thai International Airways ticket holders can obtain discounts organized by the airline.
Thailand Guide
