Phu View Resort Khao Yai — A Hillside Resort With Mountain Views and Cool Air, Cheaper Than Most in Khao Yai
If your budget is tight but you still want mountain views and that cool Khao Yai air without paying luxury-resort prices, Phu View Resort Khao Yai is one of the cheaper options travellers stop at. It's a hillside resort in Pak Chong with bungalows and rooms dotted around a garden, each with a private balcony, plus an outdoor pool and a view-terrace restaurant. The draw is the breezy hilltop setting and the quiet. From approx. ฿1,500/night — but there's something about room condition you should know before you book.
What keeps Phu View on the list for budget Khao Yai stays is its hilltop location and price. The resort sits in Pak Chong district, about 8 km from town, on leafy garden grounds. Bungalows and rooms are spread through the garden, and many have private balconies looking out over the mountains and greenery around them. The thing guests mention most is the cool, breezy hilltop air, especially in the mornings and through the cool season.
On site there's an outdoor swimming pool in front of the restaurant, and a view-terrace restaurant (Krua Rabieng Chom View) where you can eat with the view. There are gardens, parking, room service and a meeting room for groups. The rooms are plain and functional — air conditioning, a fridge, a TV, a desk and a balcony — not designed to impress, but enough for a night or two while you explore Khao Yai. Wi-Fi is free, though some reviews say the signal is weak in places.
"Nice atmosphere, cool breeze, a pool in front of the cafeteria, and the lady running the cafe was really helpful. Good value — but the room was a bit old and the water heater didn't work, we had to ask them to come and look."
We have to report honestly what guests flag: room condition and maintenance are the most-mentioned complaints. Reviews note non-working water heaters, toilet issues and mattresses that are too hard. Some mention a musty smell and dated fittings. Set your expectations accordingly before booking — Phu View is a budget resort that buys you the location and the view cheaply, not a brand-new place where everything is pristine.
Another point that comes up is that the photos may not quite match reality — some guests felt the resort was smaller and more worn than the booking photos suggested. The best move is to look at real guest photos alongside the promo shots, not just the marketing images, and to ask to see the room before checking in if you can. The upside most guests agree on is that the staff are friendly and helpful, particularly whoever runs the restaurant/cafe — which lifts the overall experience even when the room itself isn't perfect.
The location works well if you have a car — it's in Pak Chong district, near Thong Somboon Club, Chokchai Farm and Outlet Village Khao Yai, easy to reach those attractions. But it isn't on Thanarat Road or in the Mu Si cafe belt like some resorts, so getting to Khao Yai National Park or the vineyards means allowing some drive time. It suits people who drive in and use the resort as a low-cost base to relax, rather than walking out to the sights.
Straight talk: Phu View Resort Khao Yai suits you if you're on a budget, want mountain views, cool air and a quiet garden setting at a low price, and can accept rooms that aren't new. For a couple or small family who drive in and stay a night or two while touring Khao Yai, it's good value. But if you expect new rooms, a working water heater and everything in order, or you want a stylish resort in the cafe belt, your budget is better spent elsewhere.
A tip from reading the reviews: before booking, message ahead to confirm the room condition and the water heater, and ask for a recently renovated room if there is one. Pack a backup power/data option since the Wi-Fi is weak in spots. Come in the cool season (Nov–Jan) when the hilltop air is at its best — and remember the resort mainly takes cash, so bring some with you.
Summary from Booking & Agoda
- ✓ Hilltop setting, cool air, breeze and pretty mountain views
- ✓ Budget price — good value for a mountain-view stay in Khao Yai
- ✓ Friendly staff and a helpful cafe host
- ✓ On-site outdoor pool and a view-terrace restaurant
- ! Rooms and fittings are dated; some water heaters have problems
- ! Mattresses fairly hard; a musty smell in some rooms
- ! Wi-Fi signal weak in some spots
- ✓ Mountain views and a quiet garden atmosphere, good for unwinding
- ✓ Accessible price for a resort in Pak Chong
- ✓ Spacious grounds with parking — handy for those who drive in
- ✓ Near Thong Somboon Club, Chokchai Farm and Outlet Village
- ! Room condition and maintenance are inconsistent — expect some wear
- ! Promo photos can look newer than reality
- ! Away from the Mu Si cafe belt and Thanarat Road — you'll need to drive
- 💡If you expect new rooms with everything working, including the water heater — reviews note dated rooms and faulty fittings → ask about room condition before booking, or move your budget to a newer resort.
- 💡If you don't have your own car — the resort is on a hill away from town and the cafe belt, so you'll need to drive to the sights → it suits self-drivers better.
- 💡If you only look at the promo photos when booking — some guests found reality more worn → check real guest photos too, and ask to see the room before check-in if you can.