The Imperial Hotel and Convention Centre Korat — a luxury downtown hotel in Korat that's been part of the city for years
When people talk about the big hotels that have been part of Nakhon Ratchasima for years, The Imperial Hotel and Convention Centre Korat is one of the first names that comes up · a 5-star hotel on Suranarai Road in the city centre, open since 1993 and still one of the places that Korat locals and business travellers trust · what most people mention is the rooms that are bigger than your average hotel, comfortable beds, and a large convention centre that holds up to 1,000 people — good for seminars, weddings, and banquets alike · the location is easy to reach too, near Terminal 21 Korat and the Thao Suranari Monument · 186 rooms and suites, from about ฿1,000/night, scored around 8.6 from more than 1,000 real reviews
Who The Imperial Korat suits — the shortest way to put it: The Imperial Hotel and Convention Centre Korat is a hotel for people who want to stay "in the heart of Korat" at a 5-star level without paying big-city prices · it isn't a trendy new boutique hotel chasing a certain look, and it isn't a quiet suburban resort selling silence — it's a large hotel that has been part of the city for years, open since 1993 and given a major renovation in 2007 · its identity is clear: a hotel for conferences and seminars, weddings, banquets, and business travellers who want spacious rooms, comfortable beds, and an easy-to-reach location · it's still open and operating normally, and doing well — TripAdvisor ranks it #4 of 60 hotels in Nakhon Ratchasima · real reviews line up on who fits here: families visiting Korat who want to stay in the centre, people attending a seminar or banquet held at the hotel itself, and travellers who value a big room and warm Thai-style service more than a brand-new building · another group that says they were impressed is people driving along the Mittraphap highway who want a single reliable night in the city centre — easy to find, easy to park, with food all around
Location and getting around — The Imperial Korat sits on Suranarai Road (no. 1137) in Nai Mueang, Mueang Nakhon Ratchasima, a central district that's very easy to get around · the highlight is being close to several key spots — Terminal 21 Korat, about 3–4 km away, a big mall that gathers restaurants, a cinema, and shops in one place, just a few minutes' drive · the Thao Suranari Monument (Ya Mo), a landmark and the spiritual heart of Korat, is around 3 km away · the night market and night bazaar are within easy reach, perfect for an evening stroll to find something to eat · for getting a little further out, Thanon Chira Junction station is around 6 km and Nakhon Ratchasima railway station around 7 km · anyone driving in will be very comfortable, since the hotel has a large free car park and sits right on a main road that's easy to find · one small note: traffic in downtown Korat gets fairly heavy at rush hour, so if you have an evening appointment somewhere, leave a little extra time — but overall this is one of the most convenient locations in the city
"Stayed right in the centre, drove in and parking was super easy, just a few minutes out to Terminal 21 and Ya Mo, and in the evening you can walk to the night market for food. Great value for the price."
Room types and decor — The Imperial Korat has 186 rooms and suites across several tiers · it starts with the Deluxe Room at 27–29 sqm, which, even as the entry-level room, is bigger than the standard rooms at many hotels — choose one big bed or two single beds, good for couples and solo travellers alike · next is the Deluxe Twin Room, two single beds for friends or colleagues · stepping up is the Junior Suite at 56–58 sqm, very spacious with a king-size bed · and the largest is the two-bedroom Imperial Suite at 109–116 sqm for big families or important guests · the decor is a classic-luxe style of a well-kept older hotel rather than modern minimalist · the point reviews agree on most is that the rooms are spacious and the beds very comfortable — many say they slept better than expected · many bathrooms separate the shower and tub, with both a large shower and a full-size tub · every room has a flat-screen TV, fridge, free drinking water, and Wi-Fi · the honest note: because this is a building that has been open a long time and was last renovated in 2007, some details such as the carpet or fittings look dated with age — but cleanliness and room size remain strengths that reviews mention often
Facilities, pool, and spa — The Imperial Korat has full facilities for a 5-star city hotel · the highlight is the outdoor pool, shaded and pleasant, good for kids to splash in or for adults to soak and cool off after a full day out · there's The Imperial Spa for relaxing massages and treatments, and a fitness centre for those who want a workout · but what really sets this hotel apart is the large convention centre, one of the biggest in the city, holding up to 1,000 people, along with several smaller banquet rooms for events of 40–150 people and a boardroom for executives · that's why it has been a top choice for Korat's seminars, weddings, and large banquets for years · there's also car rental, taxi booking, free parking, and free Wi-Fi throughout · to be honest, the pool and fitness centre are the kind that work well at a standard level, not as luxurious as newer resorts, and a few reviews say the pool could use more upkeep at times — but overall it's still complete and enough for a relaxing stay in the city
Food and restaurants — food is another strength that real reviews mention a lot · the hotel has several restaurants serving Thai, international, and Chinese food · the standout praise goes to the breakfast buffet, which many call "first class" for both variety and taste, with Thai dishes, Western options, and plenty of fresh items to choose from · the hotel's Chinese restaurant is also popular with locals for Chinese banquet tables at events and family meals · there's also a snack bar and a bar for an evening drink · the upside of a central location is that if you want to eat out it's easy, since there are restaurants and a night market within walking distance of the hotel · overall, the food at The Imperial Korat genuinely impresses guests, especially breakfast, which a lot of reviews score highly — and it's one reason many guests come back to stay again
Service — service is something that earns consistent praise in real reviews · many front-desk staff and team members are mentioned as friendly, warm, and helpful, the kind of genuine Thai service · plenty of reviews say staff greet you with a smile, are happy to recommend places to go and eat, and handle travel arrangements well · for conferences and banquets, the hotel's events team is highly experienced and runs big functions smoothly — which is why organisations and agencies in Korat keep coming back · to be fair, a few voices in reviews say service can slow down a bit when the hotel has a big event or lots of guests — but overall, service is still a strength that leaves guests feeling warmly looked after throughout their stay
What real reviews say (the good and the not-so-good) — pulled together from Trip.com, Booking.com, TripAdvisor, and Hotels.com, and the picture is fairly consistent · on the praise side: rooms bigger than your average hotel and very comfortable beds, clean rooms, tasty food especially the breakfast buffet that many call excellent, friendly and helpful staff, a central location near Terminal 21 and Ya Mo, a large free car park, and great value for a 5-star hotel · on the watch-out side: the most-mentioned point is the building and decor looking dated with age, since it opened in 1993 and was last renovated in 2007, leaving the carpet, furniture, and some details looking original · next is the pool, which could use more upkeep at times, and service that can slow down when the hotel has a big event · these gripes are more about "showing its age" than a major problem that keeps people from returning, and most people find them acceptable given the price and room size you get
"Huge room, the bed was incredibly comfortable, breakfast was tasty and varied, and the staff were lovely and helpful. The only knock is the building looks a bit dated, but at this price it's more than worth it."
Price and value — the entry-level Deluxe Room runs about ฿1,000–1,200/night at normal rates, which is very cheap for a hotel with a 5-star label and a 27–29 sqm room · a larger room like the Junior Suite is around ฿2,000–2,500, and the two-bedroom Imperial Suite goes up from there depending on size and season · compared with newer-built hotels in the same city such as Centara Korat or Kantary Korat, The Imperial Korat feels good value in terms of room size and price per night, especially once you factor in the highly praised breakfast, rooms bigger than the price suggests, and a central, easy-to-reach location · if you weigh "big room, soft bed, good breakfast, low price" over "a brand-new building," this is one of the best-value choices in Korat · but if you're willing to pay more for newness and modern design, you may want to consider one of the city's newly opened hotels instead
Good to know before booking — a few things help make the stay smoother · one, if newness matters to you, ask for a room that has been most recently refreshed, since room condition can vary slightly by zone · two, if you come when the hotel has a big conference or wedding, the lobby and car park can be busier than usual, so allow extra time to check in and ask about the event schedule ahead if you want quiet · three, check-in is 2:00 PM and check-out 12:00 PM as standard · four, if you drive in, you can relax about parking — there's a large free lot · five, breakfast is a highlight, so it's worth including breakfast in your package, and pick free cancellation if your plans aren't firm yet, since prices vary by platform — compare Agoda, Booking, and Trip.com before you book
The bottom line — from all the real reviews, The Imperial Hotel and Convention Centre Korat is the best fit for people who want to stay in central Korat at a 5-star level, at a low price, with big rooms, soft beds, and a good breakfast · its central location near Terminal 21 and the Thao Suranari Monument, large car park, warm service, and big convention centre make it a choice Korat locals and business travellers have trusted for years · if you're after a hotel with brand-new design in every corner, or a modern boutique vibe, this may not be the answer, since it's a building that has been part of the city for years and shows its age · but for a central stay with a big room, tasty breakfast, and warm service at a price that's hard to match at the same level — The Imperial Korat answers that need well, and it's why it has kept guests coming back for years
Summary from Booking & Agoda
- ✓ Rooms bigger than your average hotel, very comfortable beds
- ✓ Central location, near Terminal 21 and the Thao Suranari Monument
- ✓ Varied and tasty breakfast
- ✓ Friendly, helpful staff and a large free car park
- ! Building and decor look dated with age (opened 1993, renovated 2007)
- ! Pool could use more upkeep at times
- ! Service can slow down when the hotel has a big event
- ✓ Great value for a 5-star city hotel
- ✓ Clean, spacious rooms, good for families and business travellers
- ✓ Large convention centre and banquet rooms handle big events well
- ✓ Easy to reach, easy to park if you drive in
- ! Furniture and carpet in places look original to the building's age
- ! Decor is classic-old rather than modern in style
- ! Lobby and car park get busy during big events
- 💡If you want a brand-new room with modern design — this is a classic hotel that has been part of the city for years, with carpet and furniture that look original in places → ask for a room that has been most recently refreshed, or consider a newer hotel in the city
- 💡If you want peace and quiet — the hotel often hosts conferences and large banquets, and the lobby gets busy during events → ask about the event schedule ahead and request a room zone far from the banquet rooms
- 💡If the pool matters to you — it's a standard outdoor pool that could use more upkeep at times → better for a cooling soak than serious swimming, so set your expectations on the rooms and food instead