BanRai ChernMa Resort — a single-storey garden resort by a lotus pond in Mueang Tak
In Mueang Tak, where most stays are riverside hotels along the Ping River or hotels in town, there is a small garden resort that reviewers keep coming back to for its calm home-garden feel and the fact that you can park right in front of your room: BanRai ChernMa Resort, also known as Banrai Chernma Resort · It is a set of roughly 17–22 cottage-style houses spread through a garden beside a lotus pond full of fish and lotus flowers, with Khao Phra Men in the background. It sits in Wang Hin, Mueang Tak district, and has been open since 2012 · What many reviews point to is that it is a single-storey resort where you can park at your door without climbing flights of stairs, pets are welcome, and breakfast comes as free Tak-style rice porridge · Prices start at around THB 350–500/night, with an overall score of about 7.7 from 327 real reviews on Agoda
Who BanRai ChernMa Resort is for — to put it as simply as possible, Banrai Chernma Resort is a place for people who would rather sleep in a quiet home-garden setting than in a high-rise hotel downtown · It is not a luxury riverside resort selling Ping River views, and it is not a brand-new boutique hotel selling that just-opened sheen · Instead it is a small single-storey resort with roughly 17–22 cottage-style and half-brick, half-timber houses spread across a wide garden by a lotus pond stocked with fish and lotus flowers, with Khao Phra Men as a backdrop · It has been open since 2012 under BanRai ChernMa Co., Ltd., owned and run by Colonel Anek Tapin, a Tak native · The philosophy the resort sets out is "we begin our thinking with the heart, we do our work with the heart, and we look after every guest with the heart," and plenty of real reviews echo that the staff and owner genuinely treat guests in a warm, down-to-earth way · The people who say it suits them most are families with older relatives or larger groups, drivers passing through Tak who want to stop for one quiet night, travellers bringing pets along, and anyone who prefers a home-garden feel over the conveniences of an in-town hotel · The ones it may not suit are people who want to step out of their room and find restaurants, coffee shops or a mall right there, because this place is down a lane where you need a car to get out almost every time
Location and getting there — Banrai Chernma Resort sits at 190 Moo 6, Wang Hin, Mueang Tak district, Tak province, down a lane off Phahonyothin Road · It is on the town side of Tak, not far from the Ping River and the government centre · The route the resort recommends is to come from Bangkok along Highway 1 into Mueang Tak, cross Kittikhajorn Bridge (over the Ping River), reach the traffic-light intersection at the Tak Highway Development Centre, turn right onto Highway 104 for about 200 metres, then turn right into the lane near Tak Central Prison and continue for about another 700 metres · That distance reflects how the resort sits well back in the lane rather than on a main road, which is both a plus and something to note — the upside is that it is quiet, with no traffic noise from the main road, while the catch is that you can't walk anywhere and always need a car to get out · In terms of distance, the resort is about a 5–10 min drive from the centre of Tak and the in-town markets, close to the King Taksin the Great Shrine and the Ping River dam embankment that locals like to stroll along, and a short drive from the Tak municipal market · For anyone using Tak as a stopover heading north or down to Mae Sot, this location is convenient for a quick break, since you can join the highway right out of the lane · Many real reviews agree on one thing you should know first: "there's nothing within walking distance here." You should have your own car or arrange a ride in advance, because without a car it is hard to find food in the evening
"It's a quiet home garden, you can park right at your door, no dragging suitcases up stairs. My elderly parents got around easily. We woke up to hot rice porridge in the morning. The atmosphere was lovely, like visiting relatives in the countryside."
Room types and decor — what sets Banrai Chernma Resort apart from an ordinary hotel is that it isn't a building of rooms in a row but separate houses spread through a garden, with several types to choose from depending on group size and budget · The first group is the standard houses called "Ban Rai 1–10," with a spacious interior, one standard 6-foot bed, a table-and-chair set and a front porch to sit out on · The second is "Ban Chern Ma 11–12" in a Thai-modern style, with a 6-foot bed, a sofa set and a front porch looking out to Khao Phra Men · Next come the contemporary cottage-style houses such as "Ban Chern Ma 13," with two 3-foot single beds and a multipurpose sofa that converts to an extra bed, and "Ban Chern Ma 14–17," which are similar but use one 6-foot bed plus a sofa bed · The largest with the best views is "Ban Chern Ma 18–19," family-style houses with a connecting common area, suited to families or groups of friends, with the best lotus-pond and mountain views in the resort · Every house has air conditioning, a water heater, an LCD TV (with over 200 channels), a refrigerator/minibar and free Wi-Fi · Reviews on the positive side say the houses look as cute as dolls' houses in a garden, are clean for the price, and have very convenient parking right out front · Those with criticisms say plainly that the buildings and furniture are showing their age in line with the opening year, with some parts looking old and worn, and the in-room decor fairly plain rather than luxurious — so it's best to set your expectations to "a clean, simple home garden" rather than "a brand-new luxury resort"
Facilities, the garden and the lotus pond — the heart of the atmosphere at Banrai Chernma Resort is the wide garden by a lotus pond with fish and lotus flowers, which many reviews call the most relaxing part of the stay · The pond has a small rowing boat you can try, a waterside pavilion to sit in, and big shade trees throughout the garden — good for a morning stroll or an evening coffee · Beyond the garden there is a surprisingly varied set of facilities for a small resort in Tak: an on-site restaurant and cafe, a barbecue area for groups who want to grill together, a massage room to unwind, a karaoke room for groups out to socialise, a laundry service and a car rental service · Parking is free and right in front of your room, a point reviews mention often as a real convenience for people who drive themselves · The thing to be upfront about is that there is no swimming pool here, so if you're planning to swim in a pool, this place doesn't have one · Its charm is the home-garden feel and the open space for kids to run and pets to walk, rather than being a resort with a full slate of recreational activities
Food and breakfast — food at Banrai Chernma Resort is simple but wins a lot of people over · What reviews mention most is the breakfast of Tak-style rice porridge served hot in the morning, a local dish that suits the cool Tak mornings well, and some reviews say the resort is flexible about timing — you can have breakfast until around 10am without rushing down at the crack of dawn · Beyond the porridge there is also a corner where you can make your own toast and coffee, which puts late risers and people who like to help themselves at ease · There is an on-site restaurant and cafe for other meals, but being a small resort, the menu isn't as extensive as a big hotel's · For lunch and dinner, most people choose to drive out and eat in town, where there are plenty of restaurants and markets to pick from within a few minutes · One thing worth knowing is that if you arrive in the evening without a car, finding food at night is hard, because the area around the resort is residential and garden land with no late-opening shops — so it's best to bring some food along in the car, or plan to have dinner in town before heading back · Overall, food here isn't a reason to come and eat at the resort itself, but a warm, homey extra that fits the home-garden concept
Service and friendliness — service is the point that draws the most consistent praise in the real reviews of Banrai Chernma Resort · The most common note is that the front-desk staff and team are "so lovely," looking after guests in a warm, down-to-earth way like relatives rather than the stiff formality of a hotel · One review tells of asking to change rooms because the first one wasn't to their liking, and the resort happily sorting out a new one · This friendliness matches the owner's philosophy of "looking after every guest with the heart," and is one reason many guests say they'd come back even though the rooms aren't new · Another point that earns praise is the pet-friendly policy, which draws people travelling with dogs and cats since this kind of stay isn't easy to find in Tak · But to be straight about it, because this is a small, family-run resort, at quieter times when fewer people are on hand the response can be slower than at a big hotel with full-time staff around the clock — so it's best to call ahead if you're arriving late or have a special request
What real reviews say (praise and criticism) — gathered from Agoda, Trip.com and TripAdvisor, the picture is fairly consistent · On the praise side: the quiet home-garden atmosphere by the lotus pond with mountain views; parking right at your door and being a single-storey resort with no stairs, which suits older travellers and people with a lot of luggage; friendly, helpful staff; the warm Tak-style rice porridge breakfast with flexible timing; the wide space for kids and pets to roam; and prices that are easy to afford · On the things to note: the most-mentioned point is that the buildings and rooms are starting to show their age, with some houses looking old and worn in line with having opened back in 2012 · Next is the bathrooms — some reviews say the toilet flush has weak water pressure, and that the bathroom doors in some houses are designed fairly small and feel cramped · The location deep in a lane with nothing within walking distance also comes up, and some reviews feel the price is a bit high relative to the room condition at certain times · And there's no swimming pool · Most of these criticisms are understandable for a small, budget garden resort rather than dealbreakers that put people off returning, because those who like this place like it mainly for "the atmosphere and the care"
"The rooms aren't new, you have to come to terms with that first, but it's clean and the garden is really beautiful. Lots of fish in the pond, you can row a boat. The staff are genuinely lovely. Great for a quiet getaway, you can bring your dog, and it's good value for a night's stop along the way."
Price and value — Banrai Chernma Resort starts at around THB 350–500/night for a standard house, rising with house size and season, with the larger family houses that have better views costing a bit more · Compared with other hotels and stays in Mueang Tak, this sits in the budget bracket · What makes it good value, in the eyes of those who like it, is that you get a separate house in a garden with parking at your door, a quiet atmosphere and warm, down-to-earth care at a price lower than many in-town hotels · But you have to accept that if you measure by how new the rooms are and by facilities such as a swimming pool or a breakfast buffet, this place can't compete with a brand-new boutique hotel in Tak · So whether it's worth it depends on what you value — if you value a home-garden feel, quiet, bringing your pet and friendly care, the money is well spent · But if you value a crisp new room and a full set of facilities, you may need to add to your budget and stay at an in-town hotel instead · We'd suggest comparing prices directly across Agoda, Booking and Trip.com before every booking, since prices shift with the season and promotions, and at some times the rate direct with the resort may even be cheaper
Good to know before booking — a few things make a stay at Banrai Chernma Resort smoother · One, you should have your own car or arrange a ride, because the resort is deep in a lane with no food or shops within walking distance · Two, set your expectations to "a clean, simple home garden" rather than "a new luxury resort," since the buildings have been open since 2012 and some are showing their age · Three, if you want the best views, ask for the "Ban Chern Ma 18–19" group with lotus-pond and mountain views, or the 11–12 group facing Khao Phra Men · Four, if you're bringing a pet, tell the resort when booking to confirm the conditions · Five, if you arrive in the evening, bring some food in the car or have dinner in town first, because there are no late-opening shops around the resort · Six, check-in is from 3:00 PM, check-out around 12:00 PM–1:00 PM; if you're arriving late, call ahead, since this is a small, family-run resort · Seven, there's no swimming pool here, so if you want to swim in a pool you should consider another stay
The verdict — from all the real reviews, BanRai ChernMa Resort, or Banrai Chernma Resort, is the best fit for people who want to sleep in a quiet home-garden setting in Mueang Tak, at a budget price, with warm, down-to-earth hospitality · Its genuinely tangible strengths are the garden by the lotus pond with mountain views, parking at your door with no stairs, the pet-friendly policy, the warm Tak-style rice porridge breakfast, and attentive staff · If you're after a crisp new room, a swimming pool, or a location where you can walk straight out to restaurants and coffee shops, this may not be the answer, and you should consider a boutique hotel or a riverside hotel along the Ping River in town instead · But for drivers passing through Tak who want to stop for one quiet night, families with older relatives, or travellers with pets who value atmosphere and care over how new the room is — Banrai Chernma Resort answers that need in a way that isn't easy to find in Mueang Tak
Summary from Booking & Agoda
- ✓ Quiet home-garden atmosphere by a lotus pond with mountain views
- ✓ Park at your door, a single-storey resort with no stairs
- ✓ Friendly, down-to-earth staff and pets welcome
- ✓ Tak-style rice porridge breakfast and easy-to-afford prices
- ! Buildings and rooms are showing their age, some houses look old
- ! Deep in a lane, no food or shops within walking distance
- ! No swimming pool, simple facilities
- ✓ Cottage-style houses in a garden, calm and relaxing
- ✓ Wide space for kids and pets to roam
- ✓ Lovely, helpful staff, flexible about room changes
- ✓ Budget price, good value for a night's stop along the way
- ! Some bathrooms have weak water pressure and fairly small doors
- ! Furniture and decor are simple and aging with the years
- ! Hard to find food around the resort in the evening, best to bring your own
- 💡If you expect a crisp new room and a full set of facilities — the buildings have been open since 2012 and some houses are aging, with no swimming pool → set your expectations to a simple home garden, or add to your budget and stay at a boutique hotel in town instead
- 💡If you don't have your own car — the resort is deep in a lane with no food or shops within walking distance → you should have a car or arrange a ride, and bring some dinner along in the car
- 💡If you're bringing a pet or travelling with older relatives — this is a single-storey resort with parking at your door, no stairs and pets welcome → tell them the pet conditions when booking and ask for the most easily accessible house