Lopburi Hotels, Guesthouses and Resorts
Even if Lopburi cannot be considered a primary backpackers destination, you will in fact struggle to find anything that doesn’t look like a perfect backpacker’s guesthouse in the old town.
Remember also that the old town is called Monkeys town for a good reason and the communal areas of all the guesthouses and restaurants are not an exception! Monkeys do feel at home there. For this reason, make sure you choose a place with screened windows if you like to keep them open while sleeping.
For a few solution targeting at a mid-range market or for those who don’t want to deal with monkeys, the new town, approximately 5 km away from all the attractions, offers several good digs. Keep in mind that the regular songthaew service stops at 10pm and after that a motorbike taxi is the only means of public transport available.
The old town – budget
With some of the cheapest rooms and the best value for money in town, Noom Guesthouse (15-17 Phaya Kamjad Rd, info@noomguesthouse.com) is a backpackers’ favourite. Inside an old-style wooden building there are simple but nice single and double rooms with fans and shared bathrooms, all priced between THB250/THB400. Facing the back garden they also have a double room with an air-con and private bathroom for THB600. Noom is a great place to speak to other travellers, too.
As the venue is extremely popular, this is probably the only guesthouse in town where reservation is recommended. To get there, go right when you exit the train station for a couple of hundred meters until you cross Phaya Kamjad Rd. Noom is 50 meters on your left.
Even if it totally lacking any charm, Lopburi City Hotel (1/5 Page Road, Tha Phra Rok) is a good deal. Rooms are characterless and basic, but they all come with an air-con and private bathroom with prices starting at just THB300. This place is not listed on any booking web-sites and so it’s impossible to book (unless you can speak some Thai over the phone), what of course means that nobody else will book it either and you’ll always find a room.
It’s easy to find though: just go right when you’re exit the train station and you’ll find it after a 5 minutes’ walk on your right.
The new town – mid-range
On the main road connecting the old and new town, Benjatara Boutique Resort (123/33 T. Khao Sam Yord) is in our opinion the best accommodation option in Lopburi. The name could be slightly deceiving to be fair, since if you think of a boutique resort your expectations might be way too high for what it offers, but the rooms are nice, modern and well furnished. They all come with flat screen TVs, air-cons and a mini bar. Breakfast is included and rates start from THB600 for a standard room. Songthaews running back and forth between the new and the old town stop right in front of Benjatara. Take the red one to be dropped at the train station (THB8).
Out of town – top end
If you don’t mind staying away from town at night, the Lopburi Inn Resort (144 M.3 Phahonyothin Rd. Tasala, Muang) will treat you with a bit of comfort and luxury – you’ll actually get the best benefits you can expect from a 3 stars hotel. Located 12 km away from the old town, it offers big spacious and modern rooms with air-cons, flat screen TVs and nice bathrooms with hot showers. The resort consists of several small units surrounding a nice garden with a swimming pool (the only one in town). On site you’ll find a restaurant (good Thai food) and a bar where you can try the beer that they produce in their small brewery. Rates start at THB1100.