Maison de Sukhothai — Hotel in Sukhothai Province

I cannot say enough about how much we loved this little place and the beautiful hostess, Tong. A bit tricky for the uninitiated driver to find, but once there we were in heaven. The house itself is a lovely deep red colour, situated in a rural area but close to village life, in a setting of rice paddies. After the bustle of Chiang Mai, this was such a welcome change, so quiet and without the throngs of tourists.||||Tong has added from her own collection to the beautiful guest house building - only four rooms, with antiques here and there both on the landing and in the rooms. Comfy bed, pretty room and a really lovely bathroom await. But we found the best things about our three day stay was:||||- sitting at a table in the outdoor dining area watching the birds on the river. A kingfisher visits daily, and there are storks and herons (I think) as well as many smaller birds.||- the kindness and generosity of Tong. She has so much good advice and information about the area, and will go out of her way to help organise trips in the area. She took us in her car to a local market, one of the real treats of our stay.||- The food! Tong and her off-sider prepare all your meals, well breakfast and dinner, from local produce. And they are truly beautiful meals. Fresh baked bread in the morning and beautiful fruit, and a range of dishes for dinner. Some examples, pork larb, papaya salad, grapefruit salad, chicken in coconut milk, banana in coconut milk - all delicious, and she chooses ingredients with an eye on sustainability too.||- The trips to the two historical parks. These are stunning, and are organised as part of a package that Tong runs.||||Very highly recommended for perhaps three nights, to enjoy the local life, see sunset over the rice paddies and visit both nearby...

Maison de Sukhothai is an outstanding place. With just four rooms, it gives you a feeling of privacy and personal care. The house is equipped with beautiful furniture, even some antiques, and is tastefully decorated in every aspect. It is located on the banks of a small river in the middle of a small and friendly village. The rooms are not large but very comfortable with conveniently designed bathrooms. There is a nice terrace where you can relax and where the meals are served. Breakfast and dinner are included in the room rate. Breakfast is continental with home made bread and jam plus you can get some eggs as well. Dinner is home cooked and offers a nice variety of real Thai dishes, although not spicy. However, you can have some chillis if you want to. The vegetables mainly come from the own garden. Besides all these strong points, the real asset of Maison de Sukhothai is Tong, the owner. From the very first moment you enter the gate, she will give you the feeling of being at home. Tong is a very friendly and open person, it is always a pleasure to talk to her. We had to see a doctor and she immediately decided to come with us to arrange everything and to translate. She speaks very good English and excellent French. Originally, we planned to stay one night and ended up with staying three nights. We can really recommend this beautifull guesthouse and would love to come back. If you are interested in a real Thai experience with some "European" comforts, this is the place to go. Thank you very much Tong for...

Tucked away off the beaten track, only 20 minutes or so from Sukhothai (well worth the visit, by the way) is the small but perfectly formed boutique hotel, Maison de Sukhothai.||||A change of plan meant we booked only a few hours before arriving, understanding that it was too late to order dinner. However, being located in an idyllic rural location meant there were not any other restaurants in the vicinity. We had not done our research! At this point, with grumbling tummies from kids and elderly relatives alike, I was ready to abandon our plan and look for more conventional accommodation in town. However, a glimpse of the inviting hotel finery (antiques and traditional Thai furnishings) enticed us inside, where we were greeted by the delightful owner, fluent in English, French and Thai. Without fuss she agreed to do her best and quickly scuttled up to the kitchen and whipped together a delicious meal from scraps. ||||The rest of the evening was spent in pleasant conversation only interrupted by the tune of bamboo rattling in the light breeze. After a good night's sleep in the tasteful, air conditioned bedrooms we were greeted by a supreme continental breakfast comprising freshly baked bread (still warm), handmade jams, eggs and lots of tropical fruit. Unfortunately our schedule meant we had to leave shortly after, but we hope to be back one day. ||||If exciting accommodation, good food and custom service is an important part of your Sukothai itiinary, then Maison de...