When you think of Thailand, Bangkok and Pattaya are most likely to come first to mind. However, the land where the Kingdom of Siam used to rule offers so much more than just beach and city life. How about visiting the capital of the Kingdom itself, Sukhothai? Being a big country, it should come as no surprise that Thailand has a wide range of tourism areas. Sukhothai is nothing like Bangkok and Pattaya. You will not see people walking around chanting with a bottle of beer in hand here, nor will you find tourists rocking their beach body in new bikinis. In Sukhothai, everything is so quiet. In this part of Thailand, you get to connect with both nature and the past while exploring the old ruins complex at Sukhothai Historical Park.
Since it is not packed with tourists, it can be quite a challenge to find good accommodation here without prior research. Fret not! I have done all the hard work for you and found this great affordable resort just 10 minutes away from the historical park.
Located in a quiet and peaceful ambiance
Most areas in Sukhothai offers a quiet and peaceful ambiance, but the area where Sawasdee Resort Sukhothai is located offers even more! As soon as you exit the Sukhothai Highway and go further down towards the resort area, all you can hear is nature (and occasional chatters). Need I explain that this is the kind of ambiance you will need after a long adventurous day at the historical park?
Big comfy bed in a spacious bedroom
Sawasdee Resort Sukhothai offers independent cottage-style rooms. Walking in, you will not feel like you are in a hotel. Instead, it is like walking into a green housing complex. As soon as you check-in, they will guide you to your room and help you out with your luggage. Each room offers a rustic decoration with wooden furniture, but this doesn’t mean you will not get to enjoy the modern facilities. The bedroom is big and comfy with netting to protect you from insects while you are asleep.
Complete with amenities that give you comfort
As mentioned earlier, despite its rustic theme, the rooms still come with modern facilities such as air conditioner, flat-screen TV with international channels, reading lights, laptop-friendly workspace, rocking chair, and everything you need to make your own tea or coffee. Please note that there is no closet available, only a corner to hang your clothes. However, the room is more than spacious enough to store your luggage.
Small but cozy bathroom
Staying at Sawasdee Resort Sukhothai, you don’t need to worry about bringing your own toiletries because everything you need is available in the bathroom. The bathroom design matches the rest of the room. My favorite part is the shower booth which is wooden tiled from floor to ceiling.
Outdoor pool to enjoy the tropical sun
In the summer, Sukhothai’s sun can be really hot. This is where a nice relaxing pool comes in handy. Surrounded by gardens, the resort pool offers more than just swimming activities. Floats and balls are available for free so kids can have a fun time. A bathrobe and pair of slippers are available for each guest in the bedroom.
Bikes available for rent
Here comes the most important part of your adventure in Sukhothai: exploring the historical park. This park is a big area filled with ruins from the era of the Kingdom of Siam. You can get to the park by taxi or tuk-tuk, just ask the staff at the reception desk to get you one. They don’t charge extra for this service, you will only have to pay the driver the fare.
Once you get there, you can explore the park on foot. However, I highly recommend you to do it on a bicycle. This way, you can explore one ruin to another easily and spend more time on them than walking. Sawasdee Resort Sukhothai offers bikes for rent with only 50 THB (approximately 1.64 USD) for 24 hours. There are plenty of options and you can try them before deciding which bike you’re going to rent. Please note that Sukhothai Historical Park charges a small entrance fee for the bike.
Enjoy the view from the terrace
You can explore the whole area of Sukhothai Historical Park in just one day, so you will have more time to explore the rest of the town or simply to relax and enjoy the resort’s facilities. Even if you decide to stay at the resort all day long, you won’t feel guilty from missing out because you get to enjoy the view right from your room’s terrace. You can see temples and hills from afar while enjoying a cup of tea or coffee on a rocking chair. Sounds like a pretty good deal to me!
Genuine hospitality from start to finish
From my own experience, the moment I got off my tuk-tuk, the staff welcomed me with their genuine smiles and helping hands. Every morning, they would greet me at the breakfast buffet, a nice touch before enjoying the food made from locally grown produce. This area is known for its fruit, so definitely fill your breakfast plate with the fruits they serve when you stay here. I still can’t get over the sweet rich mango I had!
The staff at the reception desk speak fluent English, so you will not have any problems in communicating and getting information to make your vacation as adventurous as it can be. There are other places to explore around Sukhothai other than its historical park. All information is available at the reception desk and also in a booklet provided in your room.
When you check out, they provide you with your choice of taxi or tuk-tuk. You can order this in advance to match your preferable check-out time. My tuk-tuk arrived on time! As you would have guessed, the staff helped me with my luggage during check-out too, and as I drove away, they waved me goodbye. Oh, did I mention their friendly dog named “Booking”?
The true meaning of "Sawasdee"
The resort’s name represents the hospitality it offers. “Sawasdee” is a form of wai or Thai greeting people use to say hello and goodbye. The formal and polite way to do it is to press your palms together in front of your chest and slightly bow while you say “Sawasdee”, followed by “kha” if you’re a female, and “khrap” if you’re a male. However, you can also do it the informal way by saying “Sawasdee kha/khrap” with a smile and a slight nod. That’s how the staff at Sawasdee Resort Sukhothai will greet you every time they see you. So, practice your wai before you visit Thailand to make your stay even more authentic!
History
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