With just 5 guest rooms, staying at the Royal Tha Tien Village is more akin to staying at somebody’s home than a hotel. The polished wooden floors and cleanliness of the hotel (guests must take off their shoes before going upstairs) give the accommodation an intimacy and charm that helps to make this a great choice for visitors to Bangkok who want to be close to the main sightseeing attractions such as the Grand Palace, Wat Pho and Wat Arun.
Rooms
The rooms at the Royal Tha Tien Village are well-maintained with some luxurious touches you wouldn’t normally expect to find at this kind of price-point. Big, comfortable beds and crisp linen welcome visitors after a long flight or day’s sightseeing.
Facilities
The standard room I stayed in had no balcony but that is an option is some rooms. Plenty of light from the large windows and a desk area combined with a decent wi-fi connection made it a comfortable space to do some work during my 3-night stay here. Other notable features included air-conditioning, a big wardrobe and a clothes dryer/airer. I liked the wooden floors and chandeliers throughout the building and was impressed with the general level of cleanliness and space in the room. An excellent hot water shower and a good-sized bathroom completed the package. The room price I paid didn’t include breakfast although there are some limited options available if you wish to eat at the hotel in the morning. If not, there are local food stalls and other choices close by. The friendly staff also made staying here a pleasure and if you are new to Bangkok they can provide you with practical help and advice.
Reception closes early at approximately 4.30 pm and doesn’t open again until 7.00 am with guests given secure electronic key-cards to access the building. If checking-in late afternoon or evening you should contact the hotel in advance so that they can meet you. There are no lifts/elevators so you will need to walk up the wooden staircase with your luggage.
Location
The location of the Royal Tha Tien Village is perfect if you want to be near the river and/or key attractions in Bangkok’s historic Rattanakosin old district with attractions such as the Grand Palace and Wat Pho within easy walking distance. Going in the opposite direction away from Wat Pho, a 10-minute stroll brings you to the local flower and vegetable market with some excellent street-side food stalls. If you need to get to other areas of the city, it’s easy enough to catch a river boat at the nearby piers and connect up with Bangkok’s efficient Skytrain and metro service. The hotel can be difficult to find if you aren’t familiar with the area and not all cab drivers will know the hotel location so try to get a print-out of the address in Thai before getting in a taxi.
The hotel is actually tucked away down a quiet side soi (lane) and isn’t immediately obvious from the entrance to the soi. Coconut Palms restaurant is on the front corner of the lane and looking down towards the river you will see a small Chinese shrine at the end of the soi. The Royal Tha Tien Village is located a few doors up from the shrine (see map below).
Summary
A great value boutique hotel in an ideal location for exploring the Grand Palace and historic heart of old Bangkok. Close to tourist attractions but it doesn’t feel like you are staying in a tourist area with the quiet neighbourhood providing lots of local character. I’d definitely stay again and would happily recommend it to friends and family. If you want to be close to Bangkok’s entertainment district or the main shopping areas, this isn’t the hotel for you, but for a quiet, relaxing stay it’s an excellent option.
Booking online in advance with Agoda, my standard room was 1,100 Baht per night.
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