Asian Hotel — A Budget Stay That Sells Its Location in the Heart of Hat Yai's Markets
If you come to Hat Yai to wander markets, eat well and shop till your bags are full, while keeping your room budget as low as possible, Asian Hotel is a name that keeps coming up among travellers hunting for cheap rooms within walking distance of everything. It's an older building on Niphat Uthit 3 Road, right in the trading district, with about 170 rooms, an on-site restaurant, parking and free Wi-Fi. A few steps takes you to Kim Yong Market, Santisuk Market and Lee Gardens Plaza. From approx THB 700/night, scoring 7.3 from around 84 reviews. The selling point is location and price; the age of the place is something to accept.
The main reason people pick Asian Hotel is a spot in the heart of the market district at the lowest price around. The hotel sits on Niphat Uthit 3 Road, the core of Hat Yai, just a few minutes' walk from Kim Yong Market — the hub for snacks and souvenirs — plus Santisuk Market and Lee Gardens Plaza. The streets around it are packed with restaurants, dessert shops, massage parlours and souvenir stalls, so you hit food the moment you step out of the lobby. For anyone here mainly to walk the markets and shop, almost nothing else sits this close to Kim Yong Market at this price.
It's an older building with about 170 rooms, from Standard and Superior up to Deluxe. Rooms are dressed in a classic Asian style, with air conditioning, a refrigerator, TV and free Wi-Fi. Some have a separate seating corner, and higher floors look out over the Hat Yai cityscape. Many reviews note the rooms are roomier than expected for the price and that staff are friendly. Just understand this is an older-generation hotel — the furniture and decor are in the original style, not a fresh new-build design.
"Great location, easy walk to Kim Yong Market and Lee Gardens, lots of food around. The room was bigger than I expected for the price, and the staff were kind and helpful."
The common facilities are enough for a hotel at this budget level. There's an on-site restaurant, a bar, laundry service, parking and free Wi-Fi. The parking is a genuine plus for anyone driving in, because parking in Hat Yai's central market area is scarce and pricey. The front desk can recommend places to eat and help with getting around, and several staff speak multiple languages — a real help here, since Hat Yai draws plenty of Malaysian and Singaporean visitors.
What you have to accept is that the building shows its age and wear clearly. Some reviews mention that certain corners of the hotel are fairly dark and a bit musty, that bathrooms and showers in some rooms are old with uneven water pressure, and there are occasional complaints about the cleanliness of linens or towels. That's what pulls the score down and explains why it costs less than newer hotels in the same district. If you expect a spotless, just-opened room, this isn't it — but if you treat it as a cheap, well-located place to sleep, expectations line up much better with reality.
Prices start at around THB 700/night for a standard room in normal periods, climbing to THB 900–1,200 for larger rooms or busy dates. During long weekends, when Malaysian and Singaporean tourists pour into Hat Yai, rates rise fast and rooms fill quickly. The 7.3 from around 84 reviews on Trip.com reflects it honestly — location and price score well, while room condition and patchy cleanliness drag it down. On Tripadvisor it sits mid-to-lower in the Hat Yai rankings, matching the picture of an older budget hotel rather than a premium pick.
In short, Asian Hotel suits budget travellers, people here to walk the markets and shop, and drivers who want parking right by the markets. If what you want is a bed in a walk-to-everything location at a cheap price, leaving more budget for food and souvenirs, this works well. But if you prioritise a fresh new room, consistent cleanliness or a modern hotel feel, it's worth adding a little budget for a recently renovated 3–4-star in the same area instead.
A tip drawn from the reviews: ask for a higher-floor room and one that's been recently renovated to avoid musty smells and dark rooms. Check the room, the linens and the bathroom before you take the key — if it isn't right, you can ask to switch. Always book a Free Cancellation rate and compare a few platforms, since the price gap matters at this level. For long weekends, book several weeks ahead because rooms fill fast.
Summary from Booking & Agoda
- ✓ Heart-of-the-markets location, walk to Kim Yong Market, Santisuk Market and Lee Gardens
- ✓ Cheapest option this close to Kim Yong Market and Lee Gardens
- ✓ Rooms roomier than expected for the price
- ✓ Friendly, helpful, multilingual staff
- ! Older building, some corners fairly dark and musty
- ! Bathrooms and showers in some rooms are old with uneven water pressure
- ! Occasional complaints about cleanliness of linens or towels
- ✓ Very strategic location, easy to shop and find food
- ✓ Good value for a spot in the heart of the markets
- ✓ Honest and dedicated staff
- ✓ On-site restaurant and parking
- ! Facilities and decor look dated and need refurbishing
- ! Some rooms have cleanliness and odour issues
- ! A few bathroom fittings are old or barely functional
- 💡If you expect a fresh, spotless room and decor — the building is old and some furniture and bathrooms look dated → if newness matters, add budget for a recently renovated 3–4-star in the same district.
- 💡If you're sensitive to musty smells and cleanliness — some corners are fairly dark and a bit musty, with occasional linen complaints → ask for a higher floor or a renovated room, and inspect before taking the key.
- 💡If you want a resort feel or full facilities — there's no pool or gym here; it's a cheap, well-located bed → ideal for market-walkers, not as a relaxation destination.