Baan Are Gong Riverside Homestay — a teak house on the Pa Sak River three minutes from the station
If you arrive in Ayutthaya by train and want to sleep in an old teak house, hearing the river instead of traffic, Baan Are Gong Riverside Homestay is a name backpackers have loved for years — a teak-wood homestay on the Pa Sak River, right across from Ayutthaya Railway Station, about a 3-minute walk away. It's an old wooden house the owners live in themselves, not a slick new hotel; the draw is the atmosphere, the location and the warmth. Rooms start from approx. THB 700/night.
Baan Are Gong is an old teak house that the owning family lives in and runs themselves, sitting on the Pa Sak River on the same side as Ayutthaya Railway Station. The house is built entirely of teak, with real wooden floors and stairs that creak gently with age. The feel is less hotel and more being welcomed into a real Thai home — a charm many guests say you simply can't find at an ordinary place to stay.
What guests like most is the location. It's about a 3-minute walk from Ayutthaya Railway Station to the front door, easy with luggage — for anyone arriving by train from Bangkok for a single overnight or a quick visit, that's a clear advantage. From the house there's also a ferry pier across to the old-city island for a few baht, putting Wat Mahathat, Wat Ratchaburana and the historical park within quick reach. There are bicycles for rent too, perfect for pedalling around the island's temples.
"Sipping coffee on the wooden riverside terrace in the morning, watching boats pass, the owner greeting us like family — it felt more like visiting a friend's home than checking into a hotel."
Rooms come in several types, from budget fan rooms with a shared bathroom up to air-conditioned rooms with a private bathroom. They're simple, clean and decorated in a Thai style, and some look onto the river. Just understand going in that this is an old wooden house — the walls and floors are timber, so sound travels easily and footsteps upstairs carry below. Many reviews agree the mattresses are fairly firm, and some nights the guard dogs bark. If you're a light sleeper or need real quiet and privacy, weigh this up first.
The other charm is the food and the owners. A lot of reviews praise how the owners and staff are attentive and helpful, and the home-cooked Thai food is genuinely good — especially dinner, which you can order ahead; many guests call a home-style meal cooked by the owner a highlight of the stay. Breakfast, though, needs managed expectations — some reviews note it's quite simple, sometimes just coffee and a snack rather than a buffet. English can be limited at times, but most guests say a few gestures and a smile get you there.
In short, Baan Are Gong suits travellers who want a riverside wooden-house experience and genuine warmth on a budget more than hotel-style comfort. At roughly THB 700–1,200/night you get a walkable location to the station, a riverside setting and caring hosts — excellent value for backpackers or anyone wanting to feel Ayutthaya like a local. But if you want a quiet room, a soft mattress and a new bathroom, this isn't it — look at a newer riverside hotel instead.
A tip from reading many reviews: if you want quiet, ask for a ground-floor room or one away from the main walkway, and order the owner's home-cooked dinner ahead if you can. And if you're coming by train, you can tell the family your arrival time — it's close enough that you can simply walk over yourself.
Summary from Booking & Agoda
- ✓ Pa Sak riverside location, walkable from Ayutthaya station
- ✓ Atmospheric old teak house with a lovely riverside terrace
- ✓ Warm, genuinely helpful owners and staff
- ✓ Budget prices, bicycle rental and free Wi-Fi
- ! Timber walls and floors — sound carries easily
- ! Fairly firm mattresses; some bathrooms are dated
- ! Simple breakfast, not a buffet
- ✓ An old wooden house with an authentic local feel, unlike an ordinary hotel
- ✓ Close to the station and the ferry across to the old-city island
- ✓ Tasty home-cooked Thai food; dinner can be ordered ahead
- ✓ Great value for a riverside stay in Ayutthaya
- ! Guard dogs bark on some nights
- ! Staff English can be limited
- ! Some rooms and bathrooms are ageing — manage expectations
- 💡If you're a light sleeper who needs quiet — the timber house lets sound through and some nights the dogs bark → ask for a room away from the main walkway, or pick a riverside hotel with thicker walls instead.
- 💡If you want a new bathroom and a soft mattress — this is an old teak house with firm beds and some dated bathrooms → consider Krungsri River Hotel or iuDia, which are newer.
- 💡If you're arriving by train and want a local, budget feel — the location and charm here serve this best → and order the owner's home-cooked dinner in advance.