Phakawan Hotel Maha Sarakham — a quiet hotel in a garden that won't break the budget
If you're driving into Maha Sarakham and want somewhere easy to park, quiet, affordable and not cramped like the in-town options, Phakawan Hotel in Waeng Nang is a name that keeps coming up. It's a 20-room, 3-star hotel set in a leafy garden, with an on-site restaurant and free parking. Rooms start from around ฿490/night — the trade-off being a location a fair way out of the town centre.
Phakawan Hotel sits in Waeng Nang, on the outskirts of Maha Sarakham town — a small 20-room property set in a garden rather than a tall block in the market district. The thing guests mention most is the quiet: no street noise, and free parking right outside the rooms, which makes it a sensible fit for anyone arriving by car.
There are three main room types: a Standard double, a Deluxe Double and a Deluxe Twin. Several guests note the rooms feel more spacious than the price suggests, with a balcony, flat-screen TV, fridge, bottled water, tea and coffee, and air conditioning. Bathrooms are simple wet-and-dry setups — nothing fancy, but fine for a night or two.
"The room is very cute, lovely staff, nice and quiet — for the price it's really good value." — from a real guest review
On breakfast, don't expect a big buffet. It's a simple set — rice soup, toast, coffee, tea, fruit and a few biscuits. Some guests find it fair for the price; others wish there was more choice. If you want a proper meal, it's easier to drive into town and eat at a market stall.
The location needs spelling out clearly. Waeng Nang is outside the centre, a fair distance from the main market and the university area — without your own vehicle you'll be relying on a motorbike taxi or a regular taxi most times you go out. Kaeng Loeng Chan reservoir is about 5 km away and the Maha Sarakham model railway museum roughly 3 km. It suits self-drivers who don't plan to wander the town centre every evening.
To be straight about it, Phakawan isn't a brand-new hotel. Some reviews mention rooms that look dated and could use an upgrade, and a few guests hit patchy Wi-Fi, an unreliable TV or air-con, and a shower that drained poorly. There has also been a report of arriving on a paid booking and being told the hotel was full — so it's worth calling ahead to confirm your reservation for peace of mind.
In short, Phakawan Hotel is a budget stay that does its job well within its price bracket — quiet, with parking, decently sized rooms and friendly staff. It's a good fit for self-drivers passing through, business travellers working in the province, or parents dropping a student at the university who just want a peaceful bed. If you'd rather be in the centre, within walking distance of the market, look at the in-town options instead.
Summary from Booking & Agoda
- ✓ Quiet and peaceful — easy to sleep, good for resting
- ✓ Rooms feel more spacious than the price suggests
- ✓ Free parking, convenient for self-drivers
- ✓ Friendly, helpful staff
- ! Located outside the centre — tricky without your own vehicle
- ! Some rooms look dated and could use an upgrade
- ! Simple breakfast with limited choice
- ✓ Good value for a short overnight stay
- ✓ Leafy, calm garden atmosphere
- ✓ Cute, clean-enough rooms for the price
- ✓ Works well for workers or parents visiting the university
- ! Wi-Fi and air-con unreliable in some rooms
- ! Shower/drainage issues reported in a few rooms
- ! A report of a booking found full on arrival — confirm ahead
- 💡If you don't have your own vehicle — Waeng Nang is out of town and you'll need a taxi most outings → choose a market-area stay within walking distance of restaurants instead.
- 💡If you expect brand-new rooms with full amenities — rooms here are simple and some are dated → look at a 4-star option in the town centre.
- 💡If you book through an online platform — there's been a report of arriving to a full hotel → call the hotel to confirm your booking a day ahead.