Ubon Buri Hotel & Resort

I arrived at Ubon Ratchatchani railway station on the well patronised day express railcars from Bangkok and obtained a tuk-tuk at THB70 to the hotel. After passing over a major bridge and past a homewares centre, arrival at the hotel was in less than 10 minutes. The resort is huge, but a bit rundown although as noted below, don't let this deter you. However for THB741 plus a terrific continential breakfast (watermelon, cantaloupe, four slices of not overcooked toast with a choice of strawberry jam or marmalade, and butter), Ovaltine and powdered orange and melon juice) for THB150 and an evening meal of mixed seafood for THB268 (octopi and three small prawns), one cannot complain. Upon arrival there is no bellboy. I had to carry my luggage up about 15 stairs to reception and then down about 10 stairs to the ground floor. One girl offered to assist, sort of, but she was smaller than me so better to do it myself. I do not know how they cope if a group of elderly tourists arrive. There are no lifts or ramps anywhere. At check in the girls gave me a twin room but I succeeded in changing this to a King room. The room was about 35 square metres - large - and had a rock hard bed (but I slept acceptably) with good linen and a top sheet and blanket (gar preferable to unhygienic European-style doonas). The airconditioning worked extremely well: it cooled the room fast. There was a great view of the pool that was five metres from the room's balcony, but to access it one has to climb stairs back through reception. The balcony lacked locks on either the glass sliding door or the screen door, but unlike at Rainforest Boutique Hotel in Chiang Mai, I did not feel unsafe. The bedroom also had an alcove into which a round table and two chairs were placed. There was also a desk and upholstered chair and a stocked minibar with the usual two complimentary glass bottles of drinking water. A flatscreen television plus a bedside table, lamps as light (and a fluro light over the desk) plus a wardrobe complated the room. There was a pack available of tea, coffee and Milo: THB70. Unusual to have to pay for this! There was also a bottle of brandy. The bathroom had a partly stained bath and shower over it. The water was cool: although I ran the tap for three minutes, hot water did not come. The main towels were verging on gray, but the hand towels were whiter. Shampoo,. conditioner and cotton buds plus shower caps were free. The pool was a highlight. It was 50 metres long and great, receiving some run. Poolside drinks were available. Service in the first floor restaurant was slow but friendly, although staff had next to no English. Female staff 19yo Miw and also young May were helpful but again, they had to ring the female owner whose English was far better. Some 'negotiations' took 10 minutes, which did not matter to me as I was in no hurry but may to others. A taxi back to the railway station cost THB60 although the meter showed THB42. There is probably a telephone booking charge. WiFi was largely hopeless. Of about 10 tries, it worked twice, briefly. Staff giving me new passwords did not help. In summary this is a very good hotel. It mystifies me why so few appear to stay here if my night was typical.