Thames Valley Khao Yai

We decided to stay one night in Khao Yai after driving back from Khao Kho to break the car journey into shorter parts so we do not have to rush back to Bangkok right after Khao Kho. Another main reason to stay 1 more night in Khao Yai is to experience the various options for accommodation in Khao Yai

Due to the popularity of Khao Yai as a travel destination in recent years, different kinds of resorts and accommodations sprouted all over Khao Yai selling different types of themed stays. Initially, we wanted to book Movenpick Khao Yai as it is themed like a huge castle but the room rates were beyond our budget so we went for the next best accommodation which is Thames Valley Khao Yai

As we arrived back in Khao Yai in the evening, it was dark and the entire compound was lit up beautifully. The main carpark area from the right of the entrance was The Castle Restaurant while towards the left was the carpark for the hotel. The check-in was located inside the tiny cottage house with its own cosy courtyard garden and pond. The lobby was very spacious with the main area where the check-in counters were located and also a side room which was decorated like a cosy living room complete with a fireplace and Christmas tree

After check-in, once you walk past the glass doors, you immediately feel transported into a quaint English village. The restaurant is connected to the check-in cottage but the rest of the accommodation blocks were a couple of minutes walk away. The staff offered to bring us to our accommodation block in a buggy and we got on as we thought it was very far. When the buggy was driving on the pavement and passing through ponds and bridges, I really felt that we were in Stratford upon Avon which is an English town I really loved when I visited years ago

On the way to The Castle for our dinner, we also saw that the hotel held movie nights on the lawn complete with bean bags, blankets, drinks and snacks like popcorn for all their guests. All seats are on a first come first serve basis

It turns out our accommodation was 2 mins by buggy and just 5 mins by foot, each accommodation block is sectioned out by names of different English towns. You can see from the pictures below that they put up a signpost to direct guests to the correct blocks. We booked the deluxe twin with a garden which is on the first floor while the ones with a balcony are on the 2nd floor. We were given a key to our little apartment which comes complete with a small metal gate and porch

It really felt like coming home as we opened the door to a living area space with an armchair and lazing sofa and coffee table where you can laze around for tea or chit chats. Right at the entrance to the bedroom area is a small wooden dresser which contains the mini fridge and amenities like bottled water, glasses, coffee and tea as well as a kettle. The bed is set on old-fashioned metal bed frames and is hard enough for my liking and the pillows were also soft and fluffy. The TV is placed on a wooden console right in front of the beds for the best viewing experience

To the left of the console is the door to the bathroom which is huge with a long marble table top for make-up or getting ready for heading out. The mirror also has 2 adjustable sides which helps to see your reflection from all angles

The shower is on the left of the basin and is decorated in a raw concrete manner and covered by a heavy linen curtain instead of those plastic shower curtains so that it blends in with the whole village’s rustic atmosphere. The toilet is in the corner out of the shower facing the basin so other guests can use the toilet if someone is in the bathroom

To the right of the console is a door to a small porch where it overlooks the garden through a small window. The same category of the room we booked has options for a porch that opens out to the garden view like the photo I included. Unfortunately, all the rooms with this view were already taken up so we were given the one with a blocked view through the small window. It was pretty noisy as the sound from the water fountains could be heard through our porch so we closed the door completely and did not really hang out on the porch as we only stayed 1 night

We managed to get a good look around the compound the next morning and the entire space was just gorgeous. The replica of the stone brick buildings in terms of colour and architectural design is 100% alike to those in the small English villages. It was extremely serene and calming to take a stroll along the small man-made river that flows through the resort and chill out at the various garden benches scattered throughout the area. The luscious greenery, river and stone houses form a picturesque image against the bright blue skies filled with clouds and I really wished I stay here for at least a couple of nights as a retreat

While we were walking around, we also saw that there was a swimming pool and spa as well as a gym for guests to work out and relax. Further away from the main accommodation blocks were the standalone villas where the entire houses were available for booking for big families on vacation

Breakfast is included in the room rate and is hosted at The Castle Restaurant which is in the building next to the check-in cottage. Unlike the rest of the blocks, the restaurant has high ceilings and walls and is decorated to mimic a castle’s main hall for dining and celebrations

When we were shown to a table, the staff passed us a set of mask and plastic gloves which is required to be worn by all guests when taking food from the buffet line. I think this was quite good given that I have seen many unhygienic habits at other buffet lines

The varieties offered at their breakfast were extensive as they had 2 outdoor live stations serving freshly made pancakes, eggs and Thai-styled soup noodles. The rest of the buffet line is located indoors within the restaurant so most of the outdoor area was kept as a seating area for guests to enjoy eating outdoors with the picturesque backdrop

The buffet line had salad, fresh fruits, cakes and doughnuts, cereal, yoghurt and milk, bread loaves, waffles, croissants and sweet pastries. For hot selections, there are bacon, ham, fried wanton, baked beans, sausages, fried noodles and rice, fried chicken, stir-fried vegetables, Thai porridge as well as fried fritters with soy milk

In terms of taste, the food was good and the flavours were all balanced without any dish being too sweet or salty. I truly enjoyed the breakfast at Thames Valley and wished I had another day to try their breakfast again as I could not eat so much at one go

Overall, the stay was more pleasant than any 5-star hotel due to the friendly service of the staff and the charming English villages-themed compound. I will highly recommend anyone to stay at least 2 nights here for a good rest as walking around the space really did lift my spirits and made me very relaxed

Address: 999 Mu Si, Pak Chong District, Nakhon Ratchasima 30450, Thailand

Room rates from SGD 169