Trip report-Hotels-restaurants

[The1]

This is from January - Febuary 2010
Upon arriving in beautiful Korat I was in need of a hotel room. We had booked at the KR hotel after the reading here about the amenities
and highlights. The price range was 350 - 450 - 550 Baht a day. I would hate to see the 350 Bath room. I took the 550 room for a night.
I have a back that gives me problems at times so a soft be is very important to me. My observations were:
Hard bed but not to bad for a night or two.
Scary, dingy place that felt like at least 10 people have died there.
Bathroom amenities - ZERO. little hot water, no water pressure. Most lightbulbs not working. dirty.
Alot of night time entertainment, for Korat. Seedy comes to mind.
Cheap buffet- I did not try. Starts at 11:00am
Great location. At the end of the driveway is a Internet cafe. 15 baht an hour, speedy computers, highly recommended. Name: Bana Net.
I checked out with the feeling, that this is a good place to go for Short time.

After that we checked out the @ bed place for 5 minutes. This is located on the big street Changpayra(?) also called soi Pegasus that goes across highway 2 . The same street and side that you would go the The Ram bar but do not turn. Down the street on the right hand side.
Bed was harder that a rock.
Clean.
5 floors, no elevator. looked at the room and left. Price 500 Baht

After that we went to the V-one hotel Soi Pegasus to see their rooms. My impression was, more hype that it's worth. Small room = 1350 a night.
Clean, new, classy, for Korat. Not worth the money in my opinion. Good location.

Then we went to the Pegasus. First impression, old. Worn out. The grand old damn, has gotten a bit long in the tooth. However, soft bed, never ending hot water, great water pressure, breakfast buffet, Thai food, Karaoke, and the famous 12th floor.
Price range, 458 - 558 - 658 baht a night ( Chinese have a weird thing with eights).
Good location, good hotel staff. We stayed there for 5 weeks and got a 100 baht discount a day after 2 weeks.
Only problem was that they were tearing up the road in front of the hotel. It was fun to look out the window in the morning and see how many cars drove in to the holes they made.
The U bar is in the front parking lot (car park) Not a bad place if you want to feel old. However scenic as heck. Opens at 10:00ish pm

Oh, almost forgot the KS Pavilion. New, clean rooms. Friendly staff, good bathroom aminities. Hard bed. Swimming pool. 700 baht a night. if not for the bed, I would have stayed there. Great location.

Bars -Restaurant's

My last year favorite The Ram bar, Has been sold and under new management. I wish them the best of luck. It was going through a transition stage while I was there and they were working the "bugs" out. Hard to comment at this time.

The Mall bar. Great place, great location, expensive, watch your bill, good food, service was not as good as usual.

Out of time, I will try to "Edit" this later or start a new post, if you want.

[saf]

Thanks for the report, T1.

It's a pity that KS wasn't up to scratch. It's well located for the town, as you said, and that lunch time buffet is fine as a functional repast. Perhaps they have come to rely on the trade that falls out of the surrounding night spots.

It seems that many hotels in Thailand fail to understand the need to keep the bathrooms looking clean and smart. I dislike neglected, mouldy bathrooms but it's what we get far too often.

[The1]

Thanks for the report, T1.

It's a pity that KS wasn't up to scratch. It's well located for the town, as you said, and that lunch time buffet is fine as a functional repast. Perhaps they have come to rely on the trade that falls out of the surrounding night spots.

It seems that many hotels in Thailand fail to understand the need to keep the bathrooms looking clean and smart. I dislike neglected, mouldy bathrooms but it's what we get far too often.

You mean the KR? I did want to try the buffet at the KR but first I wanted to get out. Then I thought about it and naaah.

I am not a prude about bathrooms. You haven't lived until you took a #2 in the Non Thai government building. It's quite a character builder. That said, I do need a hot shower at least one time a day and the KR was not able to provide that small service for me. We looked at 4 different rooms before choosing that one

[Alfie]

It's a shame the KR has gone downhill that far and can't even provide hot water. The only loser is the hotel, which will get fewer and fewer customers.

BTW, do they have a 'short time' room-rate?

[The1]

It's a shame the KR has gone downhill that far and can't even provide hot water. The only loser is the hotel, which will get fewer and fewer customers.

BTW, do they have a 'short time' room-rate?

Hi Alfie,
I did not ask. I was with my wife and that is the shortest time I could get.

[The1]

Cont.

We were taken to the Sataporn / Palm Garden for our first time.
This place I highly recommend. My wife liked it because all of the ingredients were there for her to make and eat the way she liked it.
Much more than your typical Korean BBQ. I was in the mood for farang food and I have to say, the best in Korat. ( in my limited experience's)
We went a few times after as well. It seems everybody knows where this place is. If not I believe you can find it on this site. Inexpensive, nice atmosphere
alot of people I know go there.

There was talk on another site about a Korean BBQ on soi Pegasus, same side. Look for the pair of red and blue boxing gloves on the sign.
Not bad. Good service. It was not 99 baht it was 120 baht. However if you bring 3 people, the third eats free.
Korean BBQ is not my favorite and there are quite a few places to go for that. It just happened to be close to my hotel.


Friends bar - The always charming Ducky runs her bar very well. She does all of the work. When it is busy she she works hard and is all smiles.
I can't say enough good things about Friends bar. Very good farang food, great service and always a good time.
The bar is for sale. I wish she would keep it.

We House - I needed to see what all the commotion was about. I brought the family and have to say the most beautiful restaurant / bar in my travels in Korat. I drink Leo beer and it was 80 baht for a big one. I did not try the food and did not see Ian or whatever his name is but I was greeted and served by Tim. A lovely and accommodating lady that puts up with more than she should. A very nice person that I wish I got a chance to get to know better. Next time
I will eat and drink and stay much longer. I have never seen such a nice place in Thailand.

I need to think of a few more. See ya..

[saf]

I agree with everything you say about Palm Garden (Sataporn). It's our favourite restaurant in Korat and we are always made very welcome.

Ducky does battle on but I think it's time for her to take a break and spend more time with her family. I hope that soon she will be as lucky as were two other bar sellers in town recently.

It's good to read a favourable report about We House after all the poisonous drivel from the habitual wreckers elsewhere. I will treat Mrs. Saf to a meal there one of these days. I thought as I read all of those stupid posts that it sounded like a good place to visit. I didn't agree with Ian's ratio but his business philosophy was sound.

[The1]

It is well worth a visit to We house. The popular thing there is dining from bean bag chairs on the front lawn (garden) that the customers seem to like.
There are private party rooms, dining area's, just a cool place to hang out. A real bar too. One that would remind you of back home...but in a good way

[Alfie]

Could you post some directions to We House. The1, please? Or a map?

[stop the bus]

We House Map

http://www.wehousekorat.com/map.html