BaanRimNam Resort Trat — a canal-side resort in central Trat town that's quiet yet within walking distance of the old town
Picture this: you wake up, open the balcony door, and there's the view of Bang Phra Canal and green trees, with birdsong instead of traffic — yet a few minutes' walk out of the resort and you're at Trat Museum and the old town. BaanRimNam Resort Trat is a small resort of around 17 rooms that pulls off something that sounds contradictory: "quiet and riverside" together with "walk to the town centre" in one place. It's a warm-toned Thai timber-and-masonry house where every room looks out onto the canal or garden, with an on-site restaurant, airport transfer and free parking. Rates start at around THB 600/night, review scores sit high at around 9.1, and TripAdvisor ranks it the #1 specialty stay in Trat. Most guests use it as a base before or after Koh Chang, Koh Kood and Koh Mak, but plenty say the place is pleasant enough that they wished they'd stayed more than one night.
BaanRimNam in a nutshell — who it suits — to put it as briefly as possible, BaanRimNam Resort Trat is a small resort for people who want "quiet by the water" without trading it for being far from the town centre. The name "BaanRimNam" (house by the water) says it plainly — it's a Thai timber-and-masonry resort of around 17 rooms set on Bang Phra Canal in central Trat town, in Nong Samet subdistrict, Mueang Trat district. It isn't a beachfront resort on an island, and it isn't a high-rise hotel in town; it's somewhere between a homestay and a boutique stay that sells a calm atmosphere, shady trees and a canal view in every room. Real reviews line up on who this place is right for: couples after a quiet, fuss-free stay, travellers who'd rather walk and explore the old town than sit in a car, small families wanting a spacious room for the money, and especially people about to head to Koh Chang, Koh Kood or Koh Mak who want a night in town before or after the islands. Another group that loves it is backpackers and middle-aged couples from abroad looking for a stay with Thai character at a light price rather than luxury or a full set of facilities. In short, this place sells "the atmosphere and feeling of staying at a relative's house by the canal," not the experience of an international-standard hotel — and that's the expectation to set right from the start.
Location and getting around — this is what sets BaanRimNam apart from your average riverside stay. Even though it feels as quiet as the outskirts, the resort is actually inside Trat town, on Bang Phra Canal. The point reviews mention most often is that it's only about a 4-minute walk to Trat Museum, with a little more walking to the old town, the in-town markets, temples and local restaurants — many guests tell of heading out for dinner in town and strolling back to the room comfortably within 5–15 minutes. That's an advantage you won't find at most riverside resorts, which tend to sit outside town. For onward travel: Trat Airport (TDX) is about a 30–40 min drive away, and the resort offers an airport transfer. As for island-bound guests, Laem Ngop Pier (for Koh Chang) and Laem Sok Pier / Center Point Pier (for Koh Kood and Koh Mak) are about a 20–40 min drive from town, and the resort can help arrange transfers and ferry tickets. One small note: if you drive yourself, the lane into the canal-side soi is fairly narrow, so take it slow — and there isn't much public transport around town, so having your own car or using the resort's transfer service is the easiest way to get around.
"The room was spacious and very clean, set by the canal and so quiet — I woke up to birdsong, yet a few minutes' walk took me to Trat Museum and the restaurants in the old town. The staff were lovely and sorted out a car to the pier for Koh Kood — it's the most charming and best-value in-town stay I've ever had in Trat."
Room types and decor — BaanRimNam has around 17 rooms in a Thai timber-and-masonry house, split between upper and lower floors. There are several room types to choose from by size and number of guests, starting with the Superior for 1–2 guests, the entry-level room that's still roomier than a standard guesthouse room, moving up to Superior and Deluxe for 2–3 guests, and larger rooms like the Rimchon Room for 3–4 guests, which suits families or groups of friends. Some platforms also list categories like VIP Room, Triple Room and Superior Double. The decor is contemporary Thai in warm tones, leaning on woodwork — lower walls panelled in timber, wooden beds and small decorative touches that feel more like staying in a home than a plain hotel room. The thing reviews most consistently praise is that the rooms are very clean, larger than the price suggests, and the beds are comfortable. Every room has air conditioning, a fan, a private bathroom, a fridge, a TV, free Wi-Fi and free drinking water. Many rooms have a balcony or sitting nook looking out onto the canal and trees, a spot guests love for a morning coffee. Some reviews from abroad praise the mosquito nets provided and the well-placed fans that make for comfortable sleep even in the heat. The note to make is that, being a wooden house, the soundproofing between rooms isn't as thick as a concrete building, and some of the decor is in an older style in keeping with the canal-house mood — anyone expecting sleek, modern rooms like a new hotel may need to adjust their expectations. But on charm and cleanliness, it does very well for the price.
Facilities, garden and riverside atmosphere — the highlight of BaanRimNam isn't a fancy pool or a modern gym; it's the canal-side atmosphere and the leafy garden that are the heart of a stay like this. The resort has a riverside terrace and sitting nooks where guests come to relax, read, sip a drink or take photos throughout the day. From evening into the night, when the lights come on around the timber building, the atmosphere turns especially warm. There's a green, shady garden around the resort that feels as calm as being outside town, even though the town centre is just a few minutes' walk away. The basics are all here for a resort this size: free Wi-Fi throughout, and free on-site parking, which matters a lot for people who drive in and want to leave the car while they head to the islands. There's a reception counter that helps with luggage storage, calling taxis and booking ferry tickets. To be straight about it, there's no swimming pool, no gym and no on-site spa — if you're after those, this may not be the place. But if what you're after is calm, trees and a quiet water view at a light price, BaanRimNam does it well in its own way.
Food and dining — the resort has an on-site restaurant serving breakfast to guests, generally from around 7:00–10:00 AM. Many reviews praise the breakfast as "good for a small place" — it isn't a big buffet, but a freshly made breakfast set that tastes good and suits the start of a day before heading out to wander the old town. Sitting to eat by the canal adds to the charm of the morning. For other meals, the in-town location helps a lot, because a few minutes' walk takes you to local restaurants, noodle shops, cafes and the markets in Trat town that are known for local food. Many guests therefore mostly head out to eat, which is part of the appeal of staying in the old town. Anyone who likes trying local food will find Trat has standouts like Chanthaburi-style noodles, mu chamuang (pork stewed with chamuang leaves) and fresh seafood from the Trat coast, across several restaurants within walking distance of the resort. Overall, food at BaanRimNam isn't the reason to come and eat in the resort — it's a well-done extra that fits a style of stay where you use the resort as a base and head out to explore town.
Service — service is the most consistently praised point in real reviews, and a big reason the overall score is high. Being a small, owner-run resort, the staff and owners look after guests with individual care. Reviews talk about friendly, smiling staff who are helpful and quick to answer questions — whether recommending places to visit, restaurants in town, and crucially, helping with travel arrangements. Many guests tell of the resort calling a taxi, booking ferry tickets to the islands and arranging transfers to the piers, making the chain of cars and ferries to Koh Chang, Koh Kood and Koh Mak go much more smoothly. The airport transfer is another point praised by guests who fly into Trat, since they don't have to worry about finding a ride from the airport into town. This kind of care is hard to find in stays at the same price, and it's why many guests say they'd come back. In fairness, because it's a small team, response can be a bit slower at times when the resort is full or several rooms are checking in at once — but overall it remains a clear strength.
What real reviews say (the good and the not-so-good) — gathered from Trip.com, Booking.com, Agoda and TripAdvisor, the picture is fairly consistent and positive. On the praise side: rooms are very clean and larger than the price suggests, the canal-side atmosphere is quiet and calm with birdsong in the morning, the location is a few minutes' walk to Trat Museum and the old town, the staff are friendly and excellent with travel arrangements, the beds are comfortable, the water pressure is good, there's free parking, and it's great value. Many even call it "the most charming in-town stay in Trat," and it's why TripAdvisor ranks it the #1 specialty stay in Trat. On the not-so-good side: being a wooden house, soundproofing between rooms isn't as thick as a concrete building, so you sometimes hear the next room or the surrounding nature; there's no pool or gym; it's a small resort without the full range of facilities of a big hotel; and the lane into the canal-side soi is fairly narrow for those driving themselves. These criticisms are understandable for a small riverside stay in the old town rather than being major problems, and most are solved by setting expectations to match the style of the place.
"A small place but warm and homey, the room very clean, and a lovely canal view in the morning. My one gripe is there's no pool, and since it's a wooden house you hear the next room a little — but for this price and staff who look after you this well, it's more than worth it. Next time I'm in Trat I'll definitely come back."
Price and value — BaanRimNam's starting rate is around THB 600/night for an entry-level room, rising to roughly THB 1,000–1,500/night for larger rooms like the Rimchon Room sleeping 3–4 guests, or during high season and long holidays. Compared with other stays in Trat town, this rate is great value among charming riverside stays, especially once you factor in the cleanliness, spacious rooms, canal-side atmosphere, airport transfer and free parking. Compared with an in-town hotel that has a pool, like Trat City Hotel starting at around THB 900/night, BaanRimNam comes in cheaper to start and sells a riverside atmosphere instead of a pool — a different angle to choose by style. For people using Trat as a one-night base before the islands, the few hundred baht spent on a clean room, a nice atmosphere and a service that sorts out the ferries is money well returned. And for those who want to stay longer to explore Trat's old town, this rate still leaves room to stay several nights without straining the wallet.
Good to know before you book — a few things help make the stay go smoothly. One, this is a small stay of around 17 rooms and very popular, so during Trat's high season (November–April) and long holidays the rooms fill up fast — book ahead. Two, because it's a wooden house, if you're a light sleeper or sensitive to noise, ask for an upper-floor room or one not by the main walkway, and bring earplugs just in case. Three, if you're heading to the islands, tell the counter in advance to help book ferry tickets and arrange a transfer to the pier, because the speedboat sailings to the islands are limited and the last one is usually in the afternoon. Four, if you drive yourself, take it slow going into the canal-side soi as the lane is fairly narrow, and you can use the resort's free parking to leave your car while you're on the islands. Five, since it's a small stay that isn't on as many platforms as big hotels, if you can't find availability on the OTAs, try contacting the resort directly via BaanRimNam Resort's Facebook page or LINE to ask about availability and rates. Six, pick a free-cancellation option if your plans aren't firm, because island plans often change with the weather and the ferry schedule.
The verdict — from everything the real reviews say, BaanRimNam Resort Trat is the best fit for people who want a quiet, charming Thai-style riverside resort in central Trat town at a budget price, while still being a few minutes' walk from Trat Museum and the old town. Clean rooms that are larger than the price suggests, canal views in every room, a leafy garden, and attentive staff who help sort out the ferries to the islands make it good enough value to be ranked the #1 specialty stay in Trat. If you're after a stay with a pool, gym and the full set of facilities of a big hotel, or you want to wake up to the sea by the beach, this may not be the answer — and you should look instead at beachfront resorts on Koh Chang, Koh Kood or Koh Mak. But for a stay in Trat town where you want a calm riverside atmosphere, a homey feel and warm service at a light price, BaanRimNam answers that need almost perfectly — and it's why many guests say they'd come back.
Summary from Booking & Agoda
- ✓ Very clean rooms, larger than the price suggests, with comfortable beds
- ✓ Quiet canal-side atmosphere, canal and garden views in every room
- ✓ A few minutes' walk to Trat Museum and the old town
- ✓ Friendly staff who sort out the ferries to the islands and the airport transfer
- ! Wooden house — soundproofing between rooms isn't as thick as a concrete building
- ! No swimming pool, gym or on-site spa
- ! The lane into the canal-side soi is fairly narrow for those driving themselves
- ✓ Great value among charming riverside stays
- ✓ Warm Thai wooden-house atmosphere that feels like staying at home
- ✓ Free parking, handy for leaving the car while you're on the islands
- ✓ Easy to get around, close to the old town and local restaurants
- ! A small resort without the full range of facilities of a big hotel
- ! Rooms fill up fast in high season since there are only around 17
- ! Not by the sea — you'll need a car and ferry to reach the islands
- 💡If you're a light sleeper who needs total quiet — the wooden house has thin soundproofing between rooms, so you sometimes hear the next room or the surrounding nature → ask for an upper-floor room or one not by the main walkway, and bring earplugs just in case.
- 💡If you want a pool, gym or a beachfront stay — this is a canal-side resort in town, with no pool and not by the sea → use it as an in-town base before and after the islands, and book a beachfront resort on Koh Chang, Koh Kood or Koh Mak separately.
- 💡If you're taking a morning ferry to the islands — speedboat sailings to the islands are limited and the last one is usually in the afternoon → tell the counter in advance to help book ferry tickets and arrange a transfer to the pier, and check the ferry schedule before you plan.