Udon Thani Hotel - Use the map to locate your hotel

1) Mono Place - A large apartment style building on a quiet road opposite a temple. Rooms are prices at 330 baht per night and include air con, TV and hot water shower. There's a great deal if you stay for a month or longer...only 3,900 baht. You can hook up to the internet in your room for free if you stay daily...monthly and it'll cost 700 baht for the month. Security appears good and the whole place has a clean, fresh feel to it I'd consider staying here if I ever return to Udon Thani. Have a look at their website to see pictures of the rooms and more: www.mono-place.com. (opens in new window) Dtom, the lady who owns the hotel, offers Thai language tuition for 200 baht per hour as well as counseling and legal services....there's an office attached to the hotel. Tel: +66 (0)42 342300 / 342301 Address: 131 Soi Thong Kham Utit Road (although it's just off this street..see my map). Email: monoplace_udonthani@yahoo.co.th

2) Udon Hotel - In quite a pleasant area of the city on a relatively quiet road. The hotel is large, very large, with lobby area, lifts and 150 rooms. I like the rooms here. For 520 baht a night, you can have a stylish looking room. What really drew my attention was the comfortable looking sofa in the room - a rarity at this price. The location is pretty good because 500 meters away is Nong Prajak park and a walk to the main shopping area and night markets near the train station is about 1,500 meters distance. You might want to ring them to try booking a room as I can imagine it gets busy at times. Tel: +66 (0)42 248160 Address: 81-89 Mak Kaeng Rd.

3) Sritrakran Hotel - For the budget conscious, this place is an option. It's on a busy road, yet conveniently located just opposite the bus station. The cheapest rooms, priced at 170 baht, I didn't like but for 200 baht, the rooms were quite OK with bathroom inside. They've been open since 1969 and have 45 rooms. You can turn up in the middle of the night and still get a room. Noi, the owner, who spoke reasonable English, seemed a nice lady. It can get full here at weekends so consider telephoning 1 or 2 days before arriving. Tel: +66 (0)42 222454 Address: 298/1 Saiutit Road.

4) Centara Hotel & Convention Centre Udon Thani (formerly Charoensri Grand Royal Hotel) - The most striking hotel in Udon Thani. Very large place with a nice entrance area. On a busy road just next door to the city's main shopping complex so, depending on your take, either a great location or a very bad location! I can imagine the rooms seal out most of the noise though! Have a look at their website http://www.centarahotelsresorts.com/cud/cud_default.asp.(opens in new window) Rooms are priced between 1,200 and 2,600 baht and include breakfast. Tel: +66(0)42 343355 Email:charoensri@charoensrigrand.com Address: Tikkatanon Road

5) Jan Condotel - Quiet location down a small street. Close to the city museum and not far from Nong Prajak Park. The rooms are relatively small but very nicely furnished. The nightly room cost is 500 baht - a monthly stay is 10,000 baht. There's also luxury suites here but I didn't see them. Have a look at their website for more info: www.jancondotel.com. (opens in new window) Tel: +66 (0)42 329 223 (also can change the last digit to 4,5,6 or 7 to get through). Address: 102/16 Soi Sansuk (off Srisuk Road). Email: jan_condo2005@hotmail.com

6) The City Lodge - On not too busy a street, this place had nice looking, smartly furnished rooms priced between 500 and 900 baht per night. Very close to the central area - shopping center, night markets, and many bars and restaurants. Mobile tel: 080 1999615. Landline: +66 (0)42 224439 Email: thecitylodge@yahoo.com Address: 83/14-15 Wattana Nuwong Rd.

7) Top Mansion - Centrally located on 'foreigner street' with its many ladies bars. The street is actually relatively small and quiet though gets noisier at night. This hotel is popular with decent, clean rooms with TV, air-con and hot water shower for 350 baht per night. Tel: +66 (0)42 345015 (also can change the last digit to 6,7,8 or 9 to get through). Mobile: 07 923 8383 Address: 35/3 Sampantamitr Road. Email: topmansion@yahoo.com The time I visited (March '09) the hotel charged 50 baht per hour for an internet connection to your room (some hotels are free) which was one reason I chose not to stay here....

8) Charoen Hotel - Large hotel with 250 rooms second only to the Charoensi Grand Royal Hotel in terms of 'prominence' in the town. There's a pleasant looking swimming pool at the entrance HOWEVER....this hotel is on the busiest, widest street in Udon Thani and the pool is meters from the street. They have made an effort to separate the street from the hotel with a grassy area but in areas this replaces the pavement. Rooms are 1000 baht for the cheapest deluxe rooms. See their website: http://www.charoenhotel.com (opens in new window) Tel: +66 (0)26 745555 Address: 549 Phosi Road Email them through their site.

9) Ruysuk Inn - (sometimes known as Ruysuk Mansion) - On a street with lots of karaoke and massage parlors. The hotel has a bar with pool table downstairs. Rooms are 350 baht nightly with slight reductions if you stay longer. TV, Air con, fridge and free internet in the rooms. Near to lovely Nong Sim lake and park. Tel: +66 (0)42 325 533 Mobile: 081 0547267 Address: 249/1 Adulyadat Road. Email: ratprasertkul@hotmail.com

10) Fuzzy Ken's - Very central location for a budget guesthouse, a stones throw from Charoensi shopping center. There's a used book shop here, as well as Western/Thai restaurant and pool table. There's just 5 rooms priced at 199/250 baht. I didn't get a chance to see them as they were being refurbished. Bathroom is outside the rooms. Have a look at their website: www.fuzzykens.com Tel: 086 0114 627

11) Malasrisangden - Very central location next to Fuzzy Kens. It has a rather ugly entrance but once upstairs where the rooms are, it gets better with a nice wooden floor area. The rooms aren't great but there's an effort made and they're quite spacious. The fan rooms cost 260 baht nightly - the air con rooms 350 baht per night. Security seemed to be an issue here....it's so centrally located, next to the shopping center and bus station yet when I visited, there were no staff to be seen (in the end, there was a man on the premises but watching TV behind curtains...but they may be so relaxed about security because it hasn't been an issue!)

12) Pakalang Mansion - If this hotel was more centrally located it would be one of the better hotels in the city. Rooms were priced at 290 baht a night for fan rooms and 380 baht for the air-con rooms. TV and hot water private bathroom. And FREE internet in the rooms. However, if you look at my map, it's a further 2 kilometers from where I put the arrow..and it's one of the busiest streets in Udon Thani...so walking isn't pleasant but there are songtheaws (small truck with seating in the back) to pick you up. Tel: +66 (0)42 321 222 (good luck - the receptionist's English didn't seem to stretch to numbers). DIRECTIONS: Continue along the road for about 1500 meters. You'll see a large MAKRO supermrket on the right hand side of the road. Take the next right after the supermarket. Walk down the quiet road for about 300 meters. The hotel (without English sign) is on the right.

13) Udon Mansion - A large, 80 roomed hotel on a nice quiet street popular with Thais. The rooms are Ok but nothing special but include hot water private bathroom and TV and are well priced: Fan rooms - 220 baht per night. Air con rooms - 300 baht a night. Monthly stays here are cheap - 3,000 for the fan rooms, 4,000 for the rooms with air conditioning. Tel: +66 (0)42 341287 (you might need a translator!)

14) Surada Guesthouse - Off a busy road but far enough back for it not to be too noisy. Rooms here are about 400 baht a night but I didn't see them as the hotel was full. Have a look at the website: www.suradaguesthouse.com . (opens in new window) Tel: +66 (0)42 245 769 (the lady I spoke to was good at English..) Email: surada9@yahoo.com

15) Udon Star - Very centrally located near to night markets and the shopping center. Rooms/apartments are price at 1,000 / 1,500 / 2,000 baht per night with reductions if you stay a week or a month. See their webite: www.udonstar.biz . (opens in new window) Tel: +66 (0)42 246 808 Email: udonstar@hotmail.com

16) Ton Koon Hotel - Large 115 roomed hotel with a nice location near to Nong Prajak park and not too far from the shopping and night market area. The hotel looks smart with a large lobby area and the rooms look nice, priced at 700 baht per night. Not sure if the place will be to everyone's taste - the leaflet about the hotel I was given has a picture of massage girls who appear to be waiting to be 'chosen'.

17) Ban Chiang Hotel - Smart looking, large hotel, with quite majestic looking entrance and lobby area, not far from Nong Prajak park. Rooms are 1,300 and 1,500 baht per night with a luxury room at 5,000 baht a night. Have a look at their website: www.banchianghotel.com. (opens in new window) Tel: +66 (0)42 327 911 (the last 2 digits can be replaced from 12 to 20 to get through). Address: 5 Mookmontri Rd. Email: info@banchianghotel.com

18) Yim Siam Hotel - Quite large hotel rooms with 59 rooms. Rooms are OK but I'd try to get a room with window because the room I was shown without window looked stuffy. Fan room: 250 baht a night. Air-con rooms: 400 baht a night. Tel: (0)42 329325 (you might require a translator..)

19) Karin Hotel - Large, nice looking Hotel from the outside but I didn't see the rooms at this hotel but they're priced between about 450 and 900 baht per night Tel: 042 320515 (can change the last digit with 6,7,8 or 9 to get through). Address: 37 Wattana Nuwong Road.

20) King's Hotel - This hotel reminded me of a prison with 5 or so floors and rooms looking across at each other, separated by a drop. Still, could be a novelty! Fan rooms are 190 baht a night, Air-con rooms, 220 baht nightly. Tel: +66 (0)42 222919 (may be difficulties with the conversation!)

21) Silver Reef Hotel. Just next to the central bus station, rooms are priced at 600 or 700 baht a night. Have a look at their website: www.silverreefudon.com. (opens in new window) Tel: +66 (0)42 344 081

22) Udon Airport Hotel - I didn't venture this far but useful if you have a flight as it's close to the airport. Have a look at their website: www.udonairporthotel.com. (opens in new window) Price is between 800 and 1,000 but this might change with the season and they may have discounts. Address: 14 M.1 Udon-Nongbua Lampoo Rd TEL: +66 (0)42-346223, +66 (0)42-346513 Email: udonairport@hotmail.com

23) President Hotel - I didn't visit because of it's distance from the center of town and it was hot! (on the map, continue traveling down the road not too far...the hotel will be on your right). The hotel and rooms seem nice on their website: www.presidenthotelthailand.com. (opens in new window) ...with the 72 rooms priced between 1,200 baht and 1,850 baht a night. There's a swimming pool here too. Tel: +66 (0)42 327777 Address: 253/3 Moo.7 Amphoe Rd.(sometimes spelt Amphur) Email: info@presidenthotelthailand.com

24) Banyen Hotel - Actually a good looking hotel with nice rooms on a quiet street but the stone carved ladies with a hand between their legs positioned next to the entrance of each room leads me to think there's more going on here than meets the eye. Rooms 400/500 per night.

25) Mitpracha Palace Hotel - An amusing difference between the majestic sign outside the hotel which rivals 5 star hotels and the interior of the hotel which is anything but 5 star. It's very close to Charoensi shopping center. The old looking fan rooms at 280 baht per night look like they've had one cigarette too many smoked in them. The air-con rooms are 380 baht per night. Tel: +66 (0)42 344184 (might need a translator) Address: 271/2 Prajak Road.

26) Puttarak Hotel - Mattresses for the adventurous. Very centrally located, a stones throw from the lively night market area. 160 baht per night. Tel: +66 (0)42 247032

27) Udon Residence has 3 smart and modern looking rooms priced at 450 baht/750 baht/1150 baht per night.There's air-con fridge and TV in each room and free wifi. The larger suite room has a sofa. Contact them by phone:+66 (0)42 343296 or Mobile: 089-5778933 Address: 9/2 Choet Sombat Rd

28) Napalai Hotel - I didn't visit this hotel because it was a bit further from the town center. It has 248 room and a swimming pool. You can see pictures of the rooms on their website:www.napalaihoteludon.com. (opens in new window) and find out the price by emailing or phoning them. Tel: +66 (0)42 347444 Address: 572 Pracharaksa Rd Email: reservation@napalaihoteludon.com

A place to stay for a month or longer that I haven't marked on the map above is Aek Udon Apartment. (opens in new window) (opens in new window). Prices are cheap, between 3,000 baht and 6,000 baht monthly and people seem to like it. On my map, it's between Aek Udon Hospital and the railway track, on Phosi Road. This is their map (opens in new window) that they have on their website. Tel: +66 (0)42 340999 Email: customerservice@aekudonapartment.com

The Letters on the Map that Include Churches, Temples, Markets and Car Hire Shops

A) Pu-Ya Shrine

B) Vegetarian Restaurant - The only one I could find in town - Dishes are about 30 baht. Open from 6am to about 7pm.

C) Lum Udon Night Market

D) Centerpoint Night Market - These 2 markets (C & D) seem to merge into one and are a very popular place to visit, starting at about 6pm - many food stalls where you can sit and eat).

E) Precha Market

F) International Christian Fellowship Church

G) City Pillar Shrine

H) Chinese Shrine

I) Mosque

J) International Christian Fellowship Church - Church service in English on Sundays 10:30am (family) 6pm Sundays (celebration) Website: www.udonicf.com

K) American University Alumni Language Center (AUA) - Opportunities to teach English here.

L) Car for Rent Tel +66 (0)42 243 962 Mobile: 081 964 9736 (Honda Jazz / Honda Hilux Vego)

M) Car for rent - Tel: +66 (0)42 320535

N) Rattana Car Rent - Tel: 081 964 9736

P) Terrapat Car for Rent and Motorbike - Tel: +66 (0)42 343 552 Mobile: 081 544 1037

Q) Motorbike for rent - 150 baht a day.

NOTE: The car rental places above charge between about 1,000 and 1,500 baht for 24 hours rental. Some of the car rental places also rent motorbikes but the cheapest I came across was 'Q' at 150 baht. Try to understand the contract you sign when you rent a car or motorbike. Cars often have insurance so my advice is to find a rental place that you don't have to pay for the car in the event of a crash or it being stolen. Think twice about renting a motorbike if you can't afford the cost in the event of theft....some motorbike rentals in other cities have an extra daily cost which halves the cost of payment for you in the case of theft/accident but Udon Thani didn't appear to offer this. Actually this is me being perhaps overly cautious as I don't really like to be in the position where there's a chance of a huge payment. See THIS PAGE (coming shortly) for more info on this.

R) Wat Nong Bua - A peaceful temple about 200 meters further on from my arrow on the map, on the right hand side.

T) Wat Thippayaratnimid

U) Tourist Information.

EXTRA INFO: To the right of King's Hotel (number 20 on the map), on the corner of the next street along is an Indian Ayuraveda Therapy Center. (it's on the corner of Phosi Road and Thung Si Muang road)