Qoo Hotel Buriram — Hotel in Buri Ram Province

Stayed here for 10 nights with my wife whilst visiting her family that live nearby.||Mainly used it as a base to come back to in the evenings as it is too hot for me to stay at her family's home.||We chose this hotel as we were on a bit of a budget this time around and was told this was a new hotel in the area.||When we enquired we were told breakfast was included and the room was only 550Bahts per night.||||The room itself was very spacious....a lot bigger than we were expecting...and as we were staying for so long we negotiated with the hotel to let us have a ground floor room as there's no elevator.||The bed was very comfortable and soft which for Thailand is a rare thing.||||Now onto the not so good features ;||||Breakfast.......What breakfast ? Basically you have a choice of toast with Jam or toast with Sweet milk...and/or some local Doughnut type.||Something hot....even eggs on toast would have been much more preferable.||Even if it was to cost a little extra.||Especially when the two local establishments that advertise an English breakfast are absolutely terrible.||There is one lady about 5-10 mins walk away ( to main rd turn left, then on the right side of road) that does a very nice local chicken with rice.||||Hotel staff need training.||Lobby staff spent most of their day either on their mobile phones or watching tv on the front desk computer and the room staff missed cleaning the drinking glasses a couple of days too.||Small niggles I know, but can make all the difference between keeping and losing customers in the hotel business.||||I'm told an elevator is to be added soon.....I just hope they look at offering food soon too.||||So marked the hotel as average for this time.....but with it being new 'm hoping they will get their act together. If they do this has the potential to be a very good...

Outstanding in every way: quality, comfort, cleanliness, price — great, great value. Decor is tasteful: old toys, antique bicycles and vintage scooter; chair in the room is made of hardwood planks from old buildings, yet the architecture is modern (black quartz countertop and stainless steel guard rail on the balcony). No less than four kinds of tiles are used in the bathroom alone. Maybe “Qoo” is to suggest being “cool”?

In terms of convenience, this hotel probably has a connection with Nok Air which, for 250 baht (on Nok Air website when booking for flights), sends passengers to town at two drop off points: this hotel and one other hotel in the city of Buriram. There is more: 7-11 is 20 feet away; and in case your spirit ventures, 12 feet away is car rental. See photo. Most fortunately, the excellent Oli’s Bar and Restaurant is right across the street.

Staying put in the compound is a reward in itself: Thai style fried dough (bak-tong-gor in Thai) dipped in sweet condensed milk washed down with Nespresso latte, with a view of local antiques and bonsai trees, are tranquil and joyful. See photos.

The only two imperfections are: (1) coughing from next door can be heard clearly, perhaps owing to the sound transmission properties of concrete and steel; and (2) the entire bathroom floods, because an incline in the floor towards the drain was not built in. But, hey; at $20 a night this resident is not...

I was in town to see a football match at the Chang Arena and stayed at the Qoo Hotel for two nights in late November. Firstly, if you book a flight with Nok Air (or Air Asia I believe) their shuttle buses pick up and drop off at The Qoo Hotel, which makes things far more convenient getting from Buriram Airport (which is 30 minutes out of town). As for the hotel itself, it's relatively basic but great value for money. Staff were friendly and helpful and the whole place had a nice vibe. My single room was clean and comfortable, the wi-fi signal was very strong, the shower was hot and the air-conditioning nice and cold (not that I needed it in late November) There is a big 7-11 right on the corner of the street and plenty of restaurants and coffee shops within easy walking distance. The centre of town and night market is a 15-minute stroll. I can't comment on the breakfast because I had read it was only basic so I went to Jimmy's Sports Cafe (10-15 minute walk) and had a full English instead. Would I stay here...