Sabuy Best Hotel Phayao — a 300-metre walk to the lake, clean rooms, easy on the wallet in central Phayao
If you want to wake up and stroll out for fresh air by Kwan Phayao lake without ever getting in the car — Sabuy Best Hotel Phayao is a name that budget travellers to Phayao pick again and again, because it sits right in central Phayao, only about 300 metres' walk from Kwan Phayao lake · It's a budget hotel that opened in 2016 with 25 rooms, on Phahonyothin Road, near Wat Li and Wat Luang Ratchasanthan · What guests agree on most is that the rooms are clean, breakfast covers both Thai and Western dishes, there's free parking out front, and the staff speak good English · Rooms start at around THB 612/night, it's rated 8.4 from 38 reviews on Trip.com, and TripAdvisor ranks it #3 of 11 hotels in Phayao city
Who Sabuy Best Hotel is for — to put it as simply as possible, Sabuy Best Hotel Phayao is a budget hotel for people who want to stay in central Phayao and genuinely walk to the lake, on a very light budget · It's not a lakeside resort selling sweeping water views, and it's not a heavily designed boutique selling a pretty shot from every corner · It's a small, 25-room hotel placed in a good spot in town — a few minutes' walk to the shore of Kwan Phayao, Wat Li, Wat Luang Ratchasanthan, and the King Ngam Mueang Monument · It has been open since 2016 and is still running today, doing well among the budget options, with TripAdvisor ranking it #3 of 11 hotels in Phayao city and a score of about 8.4 from 38 reviews on Trip.com · Real reviews line up to say the people it suits best are couples, solo travellers, and drivers passing through Phayao who want a cheap but clean overnight stop in town, more than anyone chasing a resort feel or a full set of facilities · Another group that says it left a good impression is foreign travellers riding motorbikes or renting cars around the north who stop in Phayao for one night, because there's parking out front, the staff speak English, and it's easy to walk out for food and a wander by the lake · You could say it plays the "great location for a light price" card to the hilt, trading off the fact that the building and rooms are plain and practical rather than brand-new and luxurious
Location and getting around — this is Sabuy Best Hotel's number-one selling point, no question · The hotel sits on Phahonyothin Road in Tha Wang Thong, central Phayao, and is only about 300 metres' walk from the shore of Kwan Phayao, which is very hard to find at this price · Waking up to stroll out for the cool breeze by the lake, watching the sun rise over the water, or heading out to wander the morning market — all of it without driving · Within walking distance there are several important temples — Wat Li is about 120 metres away, Wat Luang Ratchasanthan about 300 metres, and the King Ngam Mueang Monument by the lake is walkable too · Phayao's food, from noodle shops and cafes to local restaurants, is within walking distance or a short drive · Longer trips are convenient too: Phayao bus station is close, a few minutes' drive away, and Wat Sri Khom Kham (Phra Chao Ton Luang) is about a 5–7 min drive · Anyone driving in from Chiang Rai or Nan gets into town easily, since it's right on a main road · One small note: because it's on Phahonyothin Road, a main road, rooms facing the street may catch some traffic noise at times — light sleepers should ask for an interior room
"Great location, only a few minutes' walk to the shore of Kwan Phayao — you can step out in the morning for the cool breeze. Clean room, parking right out front is handy, the staff are lovely and speak English, and it's very cheap for what you get."
Room types and decor — Sabuy Best Hotel has 25 rooms in all, split into a few easy-to-understand types · It starts with Standard King and Standard Twin at around 24–30 sqm, the standard rooms, comfortably roomy for two · And the largest is the Standard Triple at around 35 sqm, with one king bed and one single, good for three people or a small family · The decor is a plain, practical style in warm tones — not heavily designed, but it looks clean · Every room has air conditioning, a flat-screen TV, a fridge, a bathroom with a shower, and free toiletries · Many reviews agree the rooms are clean, the beds comfortable, and roomier than expected at this price · What makes it feel a step above the usual budget place is that the building has a lift, which helps a lot when hauling luggage upstairs — a small detail many hotels at this price don't have · That said, to be straight with you, the building has been open since 2016, so some reviews say parts of the rooms and finishes are getting old and could use an upgrade — things like stained silicone around the bathroom, or small details that look well-used · This isn't a big problem for anyone after a clean bed at a light price, but if you expect a flawless new room in every corner, set your expectations accordingly
Facilities — being a small budget hotel, the facilities lean toward the essential and the practical rather than the luxurious · Free parking out front is a frequent compliment, because it's easy to park and you can see your car from the front of the hotel — great for self-drivers or motorbike tourers · There are free bikes to borrow, which fit the lakeside location perfectly — cycling along Kwan Phayao in the evening is something many guests enjoy · On site there's a restaurant, a 24-hour front desk, room service, a lounge corner to relax in, and a small garden area · The building has a lift to help carry things upstairs · To be honest, there's no pool and no gym here, which is normal for a hotel at this level in Phayao · As for Wi-Fi, it's free throughout the hotel, but some reviews say the internet signal isn't always stable — if you need to work online seriously, keep a mobile data package as backup · Overall the facilities may not be flashy, but they're enough for a comfortable one- or two-night stay
Breakfast and the restaurant — one thing that wins over many guests at Sabuy Best Hotel is breakfast with both Thai and Western dishes · Many foreign reviews praise the morning spread as more varied than expected for a small hotel, with eggs, fruit, toast, coffee, and local Thai dishes to choose from · It's served in the morning, roughly 7:00–10:00 AM, in the hotel restaurant · For anyone who likes to start the morning with a warm meal before heading out for a walk by the lake, that's a nice plus · That said, some reviews feel the breakfast choices are still limited in their eyes — it's a matter of expectation, where people comparing it to a big-hotel buffet will feel it's small, while those comparing it to the room price will feel it's good value · Another upside is that the central location helps a lot, because if you want a proper meal otherwise, a short walk or drive gets you to plenty of noodle shops, cafes, and local Phayao restaurants · So many people use the hotel breakfast as a starter meal and then head out to explore the town's food, which is part of the charm of staying in central Phayao
Service — service is another point that earns consistent praise in real reviews, especially from foreign travellers · The staff speak good English, are friendly, and helpful — with check-in, with tips on what to see and eat, and with getting around Phayao · Many reviews mention a smooth check-in and a warm welcome that makes you feel at ease the moment you step in · There's a 24-hour front desk and room service too · For a small budget hotel, a team that looks after you at this level is a real strength, and one reason people come back to write good reviews · To be straight, since it's a small hotel with a modest staff, busy periods may mean some waiting, but overall service is an area Sabuy Best Hotel does well, and one of the reasons it ranks near the top in town
What real reviews say (the good and the not-so-good) — pulling together Trip.com, Booking.com, and TripAdvisor, the picture is fairly consistent · On the praise side: a central location within walking distance of Kwan Phayao and the major temples, clean rooms, comfortable beds, breakfast with both Thai and Western dishes, handy free parking out front, free bikes and a lift, English-speaking and friendly staff, and a price so low that many call it more than worth it · On the watch-out side: the most-mentioned point is that parts of the building and rooms are getting old and could use an upgrade, since it opened back in 2016 · Next is Wi-Fi that's unstable at times, a noisy air-conditioner compressor in some rooms, small upkeep details such as stained silicone around the bathroom, and traffic noise from Phahonyothin Road in rooms facing the street · These gripes are manageable by picking the right room and setting your expectations correctly, rather than being big problems that keep people away — you can tell from the overall score still sitting at a good level and ranking near the top in Phayao city
"Clean room, breakfast has both Thai and Western dishes, great value. My only gripe is the room air-con was a bit noisy at night and the internet was slow at times — I'll ask to switch rooms next time, but overall I was happy with what I paid."
Price and value — the starting price for a Standard room is around THB 612/night in normal periods, climbing to about THB 750–900 on long weekends or during festivals · A bigger room like the 35 sqm Standard Triple runs from around THB 900 up, depending on size and season · Compared with other budget hotels in Phayao, what gives Sabuy Best Hotel the edge is a location you can actually walk to Kwan Phayao from, at the same price — several budget places like Dee Hotel or Hop Inn sit on a main road but you have to drive to the lake, whereas here you walk · Add in the Thai-Western breakfast, free parking out front, free bikes, and a lift, and the value per baht is very good for anyone focused on location and cleanliness · If you plan to spend most of your time strolling by the lake and exploring Phayao's old town, the money you put toward this location pays back in full
Good to know before you book — there are a few things that make the stay smoother · One, if you're a light or noise-sensitive sleeper, say so when booking or at check-in that you'd like an interior room not facing Phahonyothin Road, and if possible ask about a room where the air-con isn't noisy · Two, if you need to work online seriously, keep a mobile data package as backup, since the Wi-Fi isn't always stable · Three, make the most of the location — walk to the shore of Kwan Phayao morning or evening, take the hotel's free bikes along the lake, and stop by Wat Li and Wat Luang Ratchasanthan, both within walking distance · Four, if you drive in, the free parking out front is an advantage, but since it's a small hotel with limited spaces, arrive not too late when it's full · Five, because it's a small property, prices can differ across platforms, so compare Agoda, Booking, and Trip.com before every booking, and pick free cancellation if your plans aren't firm
The bottom line — from everything in the real reviews, Sabuy Best Hotel Phayao is the best fit for people who want to stay in central Phayao, walk to the lake, at a cheap but clean price · A location about 300 metres' walk from Kwan Phayao, Thai-Western breakfast, free parking out front, free bikes, a lift, and staff who speak English and care make it good value enough to rank near the top in town · If you're after a lakeside resort feel with full water views, or you want a flawless new room in every corner with a pool, this may not be the answer, and you should consider M2 Hotel Waterside or Naga Tara by the lake instead · But for a trip to Phayao where you want the best location at the lightest price, with cleanliness and warm service — Sabuy Best Hotel answers that need well, and it's why it still holds a top spot among places to stay in Phayao city
Summary from Booking & Agoda
- ✓ Central location, walking distance to Kwan Phayao and the major temples
- ✓ Clean rooms, comfortable beds, good value for what you pay
- ✓ Thai and Western breakfast, free parking out front
- ✓ Friendly staff who speak good English
- ! Parts of the building and rooms are getting old and could use an upgrade
- ! Wi-Fi is unstable at times
- ! No pool and no lakeside resort atmosphere
- ✓ About 300 metres' walk to the shore of Kwan Phayao, central location
- ✓ Clean rooms, a lift, and free bikes
- ✓ Varied breakfast with both Thai and Western dishes
- ✓ English-speaking staff, helpful and easy-going
- ! Noisy air-conditioner compressor in some rooms
- ! Small upkeep details, such as stained silicone around the bathroom
- ! Rooms facing Phahonyothin Road catch some traffic noise
- 💡If you want a lakeside resort feel with full water views — this is a budget place in town within walking distance of the lake, not right on the water → try M2 Hotel Waterside or Naga Tara in the same town instead
- 💡If you're particular about polish and newness — the building opened in 2016 and some reviews say parts are getting old and could use an upgrade → check the room condition at check-in, and if you find anything, tell the front desk to move or fix it
- 💡If you need to work online seriously or are noise-sensitive — the Wi-Fi is unstable at times and some rooms have air-con and street noise → keep mobile data as backup, and ask for an interior room not facing the street