Chivapuri Residence Trat — a roomy residence in central Trat that makes an easy stopover before the boat to the islands
Picture this: you drive or take a coach into Trat in the early evening, you haven't yet caught a boat to Koh Chang, Koh Mak or Koh Kood, and you just want a clean, roomy room in town for the night to recover, with dinner at the market and night market within walking distance — Chivapuri Residence Trat is a small residence of just 23 rooms in central Trat, in the Wang Krachae sub-district, that fits this kind of traveller perfectly · it's a "home-from-home" style place with roomy, clean rooms, a balcony, a fridge and a small in-house cafe · it's about a 15-minute walk to the indoor market and Trat City Museum, and only around 600 metres from the bus station · prices start at roughly THB 1,150/night · the average review score sits around 8.2 from real reviews across several platforms (the number of reviews per platform is still modest, since it's a small place).
Who Chivapuri Residence Trat suits — to put it as plainly as possible, Chivapuri Residence Trat is a small residence-style place that positions itself as a "base in central Trat", not a beachfront resort where you'll lie in the sun all day · it's a part-residential, part-hotel building that has been open since 2014, with just 23 rooms, in the Wang Krachae sub-district right in the centre of Trat town · by the real reviews, the people it suits best are travellers about to cross over to Koh Chang, Koh Mak or Koh Kood who need a night in town before or after the boat, people arriving by coach or in their own car who want a clean, sensibly priced room near the bus station, people in town for government paperwork or other errands, and easy-going travellers who want to soak up the unhurried feel of a small eastern border town · on the other hand, if you're after a beachfront resort with a pool and a full set of water activities, or you want five-star luxury, this won't be the answer, because it's a simple place that focuses on cleanliness, roomy rooms and an in-town location rather than fancy facilities · so its real selling point comes down to being "good value and stress-free" for a one- or two-night stay, rather than a destination in its own right.
Location and getting around — location is the main reason people choose to stay here · Chivapuri Residence Trat is at 1148/8-11 Moo 1, Wang Krachae sub-district, Mueang Trat district, which counts as being inside Trat town · from the property it's about a 15-minute walk to the Trat municipal indoor market and Trat City Museum, the two spots travellers in town tend to head for to stroll around and find food · what matters most for travellers is that it's only about 600 metres from the Trat bus station, so people arriving by coach or minivan can walk to the property easily without paying much for extra transport · within 1–2 km you'll also find the Trat City Pillar Shrine, the provincial hall, a Tesco Lotus and Bangkok Hospital Trat, which keeps food, shopping and emergencies all close to hand · for those heading to the islands, Trat's main piers — such as Laem Ngop and Ao Thammachat (for Koh Chang) — are around a 20–30 min drive away, while the piers for Koh Mak and Koh Kood are within a further connecting ride · Trat airport (TDX) is about 35 km away, or roughly a 33 min drive · one thing to note is that Trat is a small town with limited public transport, so having your own car or a rented motorbike makes getting around much easier — but if you're only staying in town for a single overnight, walking is enough.
"Came in by coach to the Trat bus station in the evening, wheeled my bag just a few hundred metres to the place, and the room was clean and roomier than the price suggests. The staff booked me a car to the pier the next morning — really good for anyone connecting onward to the islands."
Room types and decor — with only 23 rooms, Chivapuri Residence Trat doesn't offer the long list of room types you'd get at a big hotel, but it has enough to cover real needs · the main rooms you'll find on the booking platforms range from a Superior King Room for couples or one to two guests, a Deluxe Room for three set up with one queen bed plus a single bed, good for a group of friends or a small family, and a Deluxe Family Room for families who want more space · the point real reviews agree on most is that the rooms are roomy and clean — many say they're bigger than expected for the price, and look fairly new compared with similarly priced places in town · the decor is warm and simple, giving the "home-from-home" feel that many Thai-language reviews mention · every room is air-conditioned with a private balcony, fridge, minibar, flat-screen satellite TV, free drinking water and a bathroom with a shower · there are power outlets on both sides of the bed, a small detail that travellers who charge a lot of gear appreciate · that said, to be straight about it, some reviews note that bed comfort in certain rooms may not suit everyone, and that the bathroom amenities and free drinking water can be sparse at times, so it's worth bringing some of your own toiletries just in case · overall the decor and room condition are well done for a budget residence.
Facilities, pool and spa — it has to be said up front that Chivapuri Residence Trat is a small place, so there is no swimming pool and no lift, two things worth knowing before you book, especially if you have older travellers in the group or need to haul a heavy bag upstairs · what it does have is a complete set of basic facilities for a one- or two-night stop, including a 24-hour front desk, free Wi-Fi in the rooms and common areas, and free parking (very handy if you drive yourself), a massage room to unwind after travelling, a small in-house cafe/snack bar, plus a city-view terrace and a little garden to sit out in during the evening · on top of that there's laundry service, help booking a car/taxi to the pier or airport, and currency exchange — services that travellers connecting onward to the islands actually use and praise · the free parking and help arranging onward transport to the pier are what make this place "easy to use" for a stopover trip · but to say it again, if you're expecting a pool, a gym or a full spa, they're not here, and that's exactly why the price is so reasonable.
Food and cafe — Chivapuri Residence Trat isn't a place that sells itself on its in-house food, but it has a small cafe/snack bar serving drinks and light snacks, and at times offers breakfast for guests (check the package terms when booking to see whether breakfast is included, since some rates are room-only) · the real charm of staying here when it comes to eating lies in the in-town location, because it's a short walk to the Trat indoor market and the town's restaurant strip, with made-to-order dishes, noodles, rice porridge, desserts and local coffee shops at small-town prices that are cheaper than the big tourist towns · Trat is also known for seafood and local dishes like moo chamuang (pork in chamuang-leaf stew) and boat noodles, plus seasonal fruit such as rambutan, mangosteen and durian, all easy to find at the markets and shops around town · so many people staying here choose to head out for food rather than eat in, which fits the "use the place as a base to explore the town" style of easy-going travellers · in short, the in-house food is only a small bonus, but the location within walking distance of the town's food makes up for it easily.
Service — service is the thing most consistently praised in the real reviews here · the front-desk staff are often described as friendly, helpful and attentive, especially with the things travellers actually run into, such as suggesting and booking onward cars to the pier to cross to Koh Chang, Koh Mak and Koh Kood, helping with SIM cards and travel, and giving tips on restaurants and places to see in town · because it's a small, owner-run place, the feel is warm and friendly rather than like a big chain hotel, which many say is a plus that makes it feel like being welcomed at a friend's home · to be straight about it, since the team is small and there's no luxury-hotel level of service, some extra services may need to be arranged in advance or come at an added cost, such as airport or pier transfers · but overall service is a strength that has many guests rating it highly and speaking of it positively.
What real reviews say (the good and the bad) — pulling together the voices from Trip.com, Booking.com, Agoda and Tripadvisor, the picture is fairly consistent · on the praise side: rooms that are clean and roomier than the price suggests, a place that looks fairly new and is decorated in a warm, home-from-home style, a central location within walking distance of the market and museum, walkable from the bus station, free parking, friendly staff who help book onward cars to the pier and advise well on travel, and good value for a stopover before the boat to the islands · on the watch-out side: the most mentioned thing is the lack of a lift, a problem for older travellers or anyone hauling a heavy bag upstairs, followed by street noise in rooms on the road-facing side during the day, weak shower pressure in some rooms, and free in-room items such as drinking water and toiletries being sparse at times · a few mention that bathroom cleanliness or bed comfort in certain rooms could still be improved · most of these gripes are matters of managing expectations and aren't a big deal for a one- or two-night stop, since the overall score is still good and most people say it's worth what they paid.
"Big room, clean, like it had just opened. The staff were lovely and helped with a SIM and a car. The only downside is there's no lift, so you carry your bags upstairs yourself — anyone with heavy luggage or travelling with older people should ask for a ground-floor room in advance."
Price and value — room rates at Chivapuri Residence Trat start at around THB 1,150/night for a Superior King in the normal price range, which on international platforms usually shows as roughly USD 21–42 a night depending on room type and timing · larger rooms like the Deluxe for three or the Deluxe Family Room move up a little more with the number of guests and the size · compared with other hotels and places in central Trat — such as Trat City Hotel, Trat 101 Hotel or Avada Hotel Trat, which play in the same budget bracket — Chivapuri stands out for roomy rooms and a fresh, clean feel at a similar price · its real value lies in being a "good-quality place to stay en route" — you pay a little over a thousand baht and get a clean, roomy room, free parking, a spot near the bus station, and staff who sort out an onward car to the pier for you · for travellers who see Trat as a gateway to the islands, every baht comes back as convenience and peace of mind, rather than paying a lot for a resort you'll only sleep in for one night.
Good to know before you book — a few things help make the stay go smoothly · one, there's no lift here, so if you have a heavy bag, are travelling with older people, or can't easily manage stairs, ask for a ground-floor room when you book or at check-in · two, if you're sensitive to noise, ask for a room that isn't on the main road to avoid daytime traffic noise · three, check clearly whether the rate you book includes breakfast, since some rates are room-only · four, if you plan to take a boat to Koh Chang, Koh Mak or Koh Kood, tell the staff in advance so they can help book a car to the pier and check the boat times, since sailings are limited, especially outside the tourist season · five, bring a little of your own toiletries and a backup bottle of water, in case the free in-room items are sparse at times · six, if you drive yourself you can rest easy about the free parking, but if you come by public transport, the roughly 600-metre walk from the bus station is doable in daylight · seven, over long holidays and in the tourist season (November–April), Trat town and small places like this fill up fast, so book ahead and pick a free-cancellation rate while your plans are still loose.
The verdict — going by all the real reviews, Chivapuri Residence Trat is the place that suits best for anyone who wants a clean, roomy, budget room in central Trat for a one- or two-night stop before or after the boat to the islands · its strengths are clear: an in-town location within walking distance of the market and museum, close to the bus station, rooms that are roomy and look new and clean, free parking, and friendly staff who sort out an onward car to the pier, all of which make it good value in the en-route accommodation bracket · but you do have to accept that there's no swimming pool and no lift, the free in-room items can be sparse at times, and rooms on the road side may get traffic noise · if you're after a beachfront resort with a pool and a full set of activities, this isn't the answer — consider a resort on Koh Chang or Koh Kood instead · but for a trip that sees Trat as the gateway to the eastern islands, and you want a base in town that's clean, comfortable and inexpensive, Chivapuri Residence Trat does that job well, which is why its review score has stayed at a satisfying level all along.
Summary from Booking & Agoda
- ✓ Roomy, clean rooms that look new for the price
- ✓ Central location, walk to the market and Trat City Museum
- ✓ Near the bus station, about 600 metres, within walking distance
- ✓ Friendly staff who help book onward cars to the pier and advise on travel
- ! No lift, awkward with a heavy bag or older travellers
- ! Road-side rooms may hear traffic noise during the day
- ! No swimming pool
- ✓ Good value, handy for a stopover before the boat to Koh Chang, Koh Mak and Koh Kood
- ✓ Free parking, convenient if you drive yourself
- ✓ Warm, home-from-home feel, friendly atmosphere
- ✓ Has a massage room and a small in-house cafe, 24-hour front desk
- ! Weak shower pressure in some rooms
- ! Free in-room items (drinking water/toiletries) can be sparse at times
- ! Bed comfort in some rooms doesn't suit everyone
- 💡If you have a heavy bag or are travelling with older people — there's no lift here, you take the stairs yourself → ask for a ground-floor room when you book or at check-in.
- 💡If you're after a beachfront resort with a pool and activities — this is an in-town residence with no swimming pool → consider a resort on Koh Chang or Koh Kood instead.
- 💡If you're sensitive to noise and free in-room items — road-side rooms get traffic noise, and drinking water/toiletries can be sparse at times → ask for an inner room and bring your own toiletries.