Sa-Bai-Dee Condo — a budget daily-rental condo near Burapha University with a rooftop pool on Bang Saen Sai 3
Picture a budget stay that's only a few minutes' walk from the gates of Burapha University, with a private balcony to sit out and catch the breeze, and a small rooftop pool to soak in come evening — Sa-Bai-Dee Condo is a condominium in the Saen Suk area of Bangsaen that rents some of its rooms by the day. It sits on Bang Saen Sai 3 Road, only about a 3 min walk from Burapha University and close to Laemtong Bangsaen mall · This isn't a luxury hotel and it isn't a beachfront resort — it's a compact condo room with a balcony and a fridge in every unit, suited to parents visiting a child who studies here, people in town for short stints of work or errands, and travelers on a tight budget · Prices start at around THB 800/night · Review scores land in the middling range across sources, and we'll tell you straight — both the upsides and the things to watch — before you decide to book
Overview and who it suits — Put as briefly as possible, Sa-Bai-Dee Condo is a condominium in the Saen Suk area of Bangsaen that rents some of its rooms out by the day at budget prices, rather than being a full hotel or resort · The building has been open since around 2013 and has about 50 rooms, each with its own balcony and fridge · Its main selling point isn't luxury or sea views, but a location within about a 3 min walk of Burapha University and close to Laemtong Bangsaen mall · Real reviews line up on who fits here best: parents traveling to visit a child studying at Burapha, people coming for short-term work, training or errands around Bangsaen-Chonburi, students and relatives in town for graduation, plus budget travelers who just want a clean enough room to sleep in at a low price · On the flip side, anyone after a beachfront resort, a stylish room or hotel-grade service may find this isn't what they're looking for, and should consider other options in Bangsaen or over on the Pattaya side instead · In plain terms, Sa-Bai-Dee sells affordability and a location near the university first — not luxury or a seaside getaway — and that's the expectation to set from the start, because most people who end up disappointed here were expecting more than a room at this price can deliver
Location and getting around — This is the main reason people pick Sa-Bai-Dee Condo · The stay sits on Bang Saen Sai 3 Road on the Saen Suk side, a residential and dormitory neighborhood around Burapha University · The standout is being about a 3 min walk from Burapha University and roughly a 7 min walk from Laemtong Bangsaen mall, which makes it very handy for anyone with business at the university or who wants to walk out for food and shopping nearby · Bangsaen Beach, the main draw for visitors, is about 1 km away, or roughly a 5 min drive — close enough to drive or hop a songthaew for a quick swim, but too far to walk comfortably on a hot day · Within less than a kilometer of the stay there are dozens of restaurants — made-to-order spots, seafood places, cafes and cheap student eateries — so food is never a problem · Other nearby sights such as Khao Sam Muk, the Institute of Marine Science and the well-known Nong Mon Market for local treats are about an 8-12 min drive away · From Bangkok the distance is around 90-100 km, roughly an hour and a half by car, and it's about 80 km from Suvarnabhumi Airport · The honest caveat is that this location leans on convenience to the university and the mall more than being a seaside spot, so if your main aim is spending the whole day at Bangsaen Beach, factor in the trips back and forth to the beach · Driving yourself is easiest since there's free parking, while those without a car can use Bangsaen's regular songthaews or, at certain times, hail a ride through an app
"We picked this place because you can walk to Burapha University so easily. We came to drop our kid off at the start of term and stayed several nights — the room was clean for the price, the balcony was nice to sit out on, and the staff were kind · You do have to take a ride out to Bangsaen Beach, but Laemtong mall is close enough to walk to for meals."
Room types and decor — Sa-Bai-Dee Condo rents out several room types by the day, as shown on the online booking channels · The main ones are the Standard Twin Room, with two single beds, good for friends or relatives traveling together who want separate beds; the Superior Double Room and Standard Double Room at around 28 sqm, with one double bed, suited to couples or solo travelers · Room size is about right for a budget condo room — not spacious or plush, but with enough usable space to sleep and set down your bags · Every room is simply furnished, with a private balcony, a flat-screen TV with cable channels, a fridge, a safe, free drinking water, and a bathroom with a shower, water heater and basic toiletries · What real reviews praise is that the rooms are kept clean to an acceptable level, the balcony opens out to a pleasant breeze, and the in-room amenities are enough for a short stay · But to be straight with you, there are points raised in reviews too — the clearest is that some rooms have a connecting door to the room next door, and a few reviews mention that this door can be opened from the other side, which makes them feel a bit unsafe or lacking in privacy; if this worries you, ask for and request a room without a connecting door at the time of booking · There are also voices saying some furniture and fittings are starting to show their age and wear given the building has been open since 2013, and room quality isn't consistent across the board — some are well kept, some are more dated — so landing a good room comes down partly to timing and to spelling out what you want when you book
Facilities and the pool — One upside of staying in a condo rather than a small guesthouse is access to the building's common facilities · Sa-Bai-Dee Condo has a swimming pool (several sources describe it as a rooftop pool) to soak in and relax, which gives it an edge over other budget stays in the same area that often have no pool · There's a gym for those who want to work out, an on-site restaurant, luggage storage, laundry and dry-cleaning service, a small garden, and free Wi-Fi in the common areas · A key point for those driving in is the free parking, plus security staff, which many reviews say adds peace of mind · That said, set your expectations right: these facilities are condo-style for residents, not resort-style — the pool isn't large and is meant for a relaxing soak rather than serious lap swimming · Some reviews note the cleanliness of the pool and common areas can be inconsistent at times, which is worth knowing before you pin too much hope on the pool · Overall the facilities on offer are about right for the price and enough for a short stay, but they're not the reason to choose this place if you're mainly counting on the pool or gym
Food and nearby eats — Sa-Bai-Dee Condo has an on-site restaurant per some listings, but its real strength on food isn't inside the stay — it's the location surrounded by university-area eateries · Because it sits in the heart of the dorm district near Burapha, within walking distance you'll find made-to-order shops, noodle joints, chicken-rice spots, cafes, milk-tea shops and dozens of cheap student eateries to choose from · Near Laemtong Bangsaen mall, about a 7 min walk away, there's a food zone and more convenience stores · For famous local treats, Nong Mon Market — selling khao lam (bamboo-cooked sticky rice), hoi jor (crab rolls) and Chonburi souvenirs — is about a 10-12 min drive away, while the seafood restaurants along Bangsaen Beach are a short drive off · An upside of having a fridge in every room is being able to buy snacks or drinks to keep, with a convenience store nearby · In short, food at Sa-Bai-Dee isn't about eating at the stay itself — it's an advantage of a location where you only have to step out to find cheap eats everywhere, which fits a style of using the stay as a base and heading out to eat and explore
Service and staff — Service is a point that draws fairly consistent praise in real reviews, which helps offset the caveats elsewhere · Many reviews say the staff are friendly and kind, helpful with check-in and good at giving tips about the Bangsaen area, and there are security staff who add peace of mind · For parents visiting a child or people in town for short errands, the team's warmth comes up in a positive light · But for balance and to be straight, some voices in the reviews reflect that certain aspects of management aren't always smooth — such as a room mix-up at first, drinking water or in-room supplies sometimes not getting refilled, and on-the-spot problem solving that at times isn't as responsive as it should be · This reflects a place run more like a rental condo than a fully professional hotel, where service quality can depend on the time and the person on duty · Overall the staff's friendliness still counts as a plus, but don't expect the tightly run service of a hotel
What real reviews say (good and bad) — Pulling together Trip.com, Tripadvisor and other online booking channels, the picture is fairly consistent and shows a budget stay with clear strengths and clear limits · On the praise side: the location within walking distance of Burapha University and close to Laemtong mall is very convenient, the budget price is good value for a short stay, every room has a balcony and a fridge, the neighborhood is fairly quiet, the staff are friendly and there's security, and there's a pool and free parking that are hard to find at this price point · On the watch side: the most-discussed and most worth-knowing point is that some rooms have a connecting door to the room next door that can be opened from the other side, which leaves some reviewers feeling unsafe or lacking privacy; next is that parts of the building and some rooms are getting old and worn given it's been open since 2013 with inconsistent quality across rooms, plus room and pool cleanliness that's inconsistent at times, and some management hiccups such as room mix-ups or in-room supplies not getting topped up · The review scores therefore sit in the middling range (Trip.com around 6.6 from a small number of reviews, and Tripadvisor around 3.6 out of 5, near the bottom of the specialty lodging group in Chonburi) · The takeaway from the reviews is that if you set expectations to the price and purpose (short stay, near the university, budget), most people are fine with it and satisfied, but if you expect luxury or hotel standards, you'll usually be disappointed
"Cheap, great location, you can walk to the university, and the staff are lovely · But the room we got had a connecting door to the room next door that could be opened from the other side, so it felt a bit lacking in privacy. I'd suggest asking for a room without a connecting door when you book, and checking the room's condition when you arrive."
Price and value — Nightly rates at Sa-Bai-Dee Condo start in the budget range, around THB 800/night on weekdays for a standard room, climbing to roughly THB 1,200-1,500 over long weekends, festivals or graduation periods when crowds are high and rooms in the university area fill up fast · What makes this place good value is that you get a room with a balcony, a fridge, a shared pool and free parking at a price close to or cheaper than an ordinary guesthouse in the same area · For parents visiting a child or people with business around Burapha University, paying this much in exchange for a 3 min walk to the university gates is very good value · But compared with beachfront Bangsaen stays that lean on sea views and a relaxed vibe like BBG Seaside, or design-led places like Kalm Bangsaen that cost more, Sa-Bai-Dee loses on views, looks and the getaway experience, but wins on price and a location near the university · In short, the value here depends entirely on your purpose — for a budget room near Burapha University it's good value, but for a seaside getaway the same money may go further elsewhere
What to know before you book — A few things help the stay go smoothly and cut the odds of disappointment · One, ask for a room without a connecting door to the room next door at the time of booking or check-in, because this is the most-discussed caveat in the reviews, and if you do get a room with a connecting door, check that it's locked securely · Two, the building has been open since 2013 and room quality is inconsistent, so set expectations to price and location first, inspect the room on arrival, and if you're unhappy ask to switch right away · Three, this place is about 1 km from Bangsaen Beach — it's not a seaside stay, so if your main aim is the beach, plan for the trips back and forth · Four, driving yourself is easiest thanks to the free parking, while those without a car can use Bangsaen songthaews or hail a ride through an app · Five, during graduation periods and long weekends rooms in the university area fill up fast and prices rise, so book ahead and compare rates across platforms · Six, since it's a daily-rental condo, confirm the check-in/check-out times, key collection and the various services with the manager clearly before you travel
The bottom line — From all the real reviews, Sa-Bai-Dee Condo is the best fit for anyone wanting a budget room near Burapha University in the Bangsaen area, especially parents visiting a child, people in town for short-term work or errands, and budget travelers · Its strengths are a location 3 min on foot from Burapha University, close to Laemtong mall, a budget price, plus a balcony in every room, a shared pool and free parking that are hard to find at this price point · But you have to accept honestly that the review scores are middling, with caveats about rooms that have a connecting door to the room next door, parts of the building and some rooms getting old, and cleanliness and management that are inconsistent at times · If you're after a beachfront resort, a stylish room or hotel-grade service, this may not be the answer, and you should consider a beachfront Bangsaen stay or the Pattaya side instead · But for anyone who knows exactly what they want — a budget room, clean enough to sleep in, near the university, with a walk out for meals — Sa-Bai-Dee Condo does its job for the price, and it's a sensible choice when you set your expectations right from the start
Summary from Booking & Agoda
- ✓ Walking distance to Burapha University and near Laemtong mall
- ✓ Budget price, good value for a short stay
- ✓ Every room has a balcony and a fridge
- ✓ Has a shared pool and free parking
- ! Parts of the building and some rooms are getting old (opened 2013)
- ! Some rooms have a connecting door to the room next door
- ! Not on the beach — you have to travel to Bangsaen Beach
- ✓ Near Burapha University — ideal for parents and short-stay visitors
- ✓ Friendly staff, with security on site
- ✓ Low starting price, good on a budget
- ✓ Fairly quiet neighborhood with plenty of restaurants around
- ! Room quality is inconsistent — some rooms are more dated
- ! Room and pool cleanliness inconsistent at times
- ! Some management hiccups, such as room mix-ups
- 💡If you're worried about privacy and safety — some rooms have a connecting door to the room next door that can be opened from the other side → ask for a room without a connecting door when booking, and check the lock on arrival
- 💡If you're after a beachfront stay or a relaxed vibe — this place is in the university area, about 1 km from Bangsaen Beach, not a seaside stay → if views and the beach are the priority, look at BBG Seaside or a beachfront Bangsaen stay instead
- 💡If you want a new room and hotel standards — the building opened in 2013, some rooms are getting old and quality is inconsistent → set expectations to price and location first, inspect the room on arrival and ask to switch if you're unhappy