Theparat Lodge Krabi - Krabi, Thailand     

I stayed from 3rd to 8th Feb 2008 with four others. We booked 2 twins with an online travel agent, and paid quite a bit for the rooms as it was peak season. Major issues: 1. When we arrived, we were given one double and one twin. The owner claimed that she had informed the agent that double was not available, but we were not informed prior by anyone. Since it was late when we arrived, we agreed to stay one night in the double and the owner had promised change rooms the next day. We never got the twin (they actually offered another double, duh!) coz they kept giving excuses of room taken up coz it's peak. 2. The rooms very tiny! The toilets were even smaller. They do not provide houskeeping service, thus you must ask for your rooms to be cleaned. I had trash almost spilling out and no one cleaned it until the 3rd day of my stay. The electricity goes off once in a while, cable TV is intermitten and the hotel doesn't have lifts. I suggest asking for lower floors so you don't break your back climbing up the stairs with your luggage. 3.The place overcharges for everything! A one way trip to the airport costs THB650, while a taxi would have cost THB300. This is for a 15min ride, as this motel is in Krabi Town itself. A coke is priced at THB90. I suggest not to eat there coz there are many nice places to eat in Krabi town. Also, tour packages are about 30% more at the lodge, so take a walk in Krabi Town and you can get bargains if you 'shop' around. 4. Breakfast provided was reasonable. You don't have much of a choice coz it's the same day in and out. There's no one to pick up telephone calls and transfer to your room after 10pm. I'd say, it was a basic need fulfilled although I was pretty much sure I could have got a better bargain elsewhere in Ao Nang beach itself. Rooms were going for THB1000 per nite, while we paid THB1400 at Thepparat. A taxi ride to Ao Nang beach will cost TH40/50 per one way. Service wasn't that bad, the owner was OK to us.

first of all, it is comparatively expensive compared to all other motels in that area. (The facilities are motel standard) Two local Krabi business people running their shops (souvenier and clothes shop) asked me where i was staying (making conversation i guess..) and i told them Thepparat lodge. And they looked at me as if a look of despair and puzzlement. (As if.."yet another sucker that got conned..") They then proceeded to share, rather hesitantly (its Thai nature i think, to not say bad things about other people..) that many travelers have been somewhat duped into staying at the motel. mostly because most booked their stay over the internet. And so did we - my girlfriend and i. to put things into perspective, a reasonable motel with really good location, can cost you about 100baht to 500baht. At most, you have to pay 1,200baht for a 2 - 3 star hotel - where the location is better, and being higher up, you don't get the noise from the motorcycles at night. (the local youngsters are out and about racing their bikes at night until around2 -3am...modified bikes... very noisy..) The Thepparat lodge charges 1,600baht. It is cheap, but we were a bit dissapointed because it is the principal of it - not the amount. The rooms are fairly small, and the amenities are rather basic. Breakfast is small in portion and the taxi charge is 100baht higher for airport pick up and delivery. Again, its a small amount, but i think the principal of it is an important part to remember. When someone starts of trying to pull a fast one, and hope that you'd never find out.... its not a nice feeling. we wanted to cut short our holiday by 3 days - we did not expect a refund, but it would have been nice to get it. at least, half of it...? but, the lodge owner very quickly told us that we cannot get a refund. since payment was via credit card -(booked on the net, we burned a few thousands bath on it...) so, overall, we think if it is avoidable - stay elsewhere where the people running the motel are more honest. i think Thai people are generally honest people - and if they want to cheat you, it shows on their guilt ridden face. Good luck.... and go for the local food - they taste great. insist on hot food...