Trat 101 Hotel — an old-house boutique in the heart of Trat Old Town that gives you both vintage charm and the care of a friend's home
Most people who come to Trat skip the town and rush straight to the islands, but spend a night in the old quarter and you'll see that Trat has the charm of a quiet border town you won't find in the usual tourist spots — and Trat 101 Hotel is one of the places that captures that charm best · it's a small boutique hotel with just 8 rooms, renovated from a wooden house over 100 years old, keeping some of the original furniture and details while adding clean, modern rooms with king beds, plus a garden and balcony to sit and sip coffee · the location is on Thana Charoen Road, right in the old town, about a 5-min walk to the City Pillar Shrine, near the morning market, night market, 7-Eleven and the noodle shops down the lane · what reviews mention most is the owner (Khun Kajit), who looks after guests like friends, helping arrange cars from Bangkok and ferries to Koh Kood, Koh Chang and Koh Mak · from around THB 1,000/night, rated 8.7 from about 103 reviews · genuinely good value and warm, but you have to understand it's an old house, with fairly firm beds and basic-style bathrooms.
Overview and who it's for — to put it as simply as possible, Trat 101 Hotel is for people who want to "sleep with the town" rather than escape to a beachfront resort · it isn't a large hotel with a pool and a breakfast buffet, and it isn't a cheap guesthouse where you just crash for the night · it's a small boutique hotel with just 8 rooms, renovated from an old wooden house over 100 years old on one of Trat's oldest streets, open since 2017 · the owner deliberately kept some of the original structure and furniture and then added modern comforts like king beds, air conditioning and en-suite bathrooms, creating a place that has the feel of an old home but is comfortable to stay in · from real reviews, the people who suit it best are couples and travellers who like a quiet atmosphere, enjoy architecture and the stories of a town, plus those using Trat as a stop before or after Koh Kood, Koh Chang or Koh Mak who want somewhere that can help sort out cars and ferries · those looking for a luxury stay with full facilities, a pool, or a flawless brand-new room may need to adjust their expectations, because the charm here is in the old house and the friendly, personal care, not luxury or perfection in every corner.
Location and getting around — this is one of the top strengths nearly every review agrees on · Trat 101 Hotel sits on Thana Charoen Road, Bang Phra subdistrict, Mueang district, in the heart of Trat Old Town, down a small lane that leads straight into the centre of town · from the hotel it's about a 5-min walk to the Trat City Pillar Shrine, an important landmark and the starting point for exploring the old town on foot · within walking distance you'll find a morning market selling fresh produce and local dishes, a night market for dinner, long-running noodle shops, Thai milk-tea stands and a 7-Eleven that's an easy walk away · many international reviews praise how you can "walk everywhere" from here, making it feel like you're really living in the town rather than just sleeping there · for trips further afield: Trat town is the launch point for the island piers — Laem Ngop pier for Koh Chang is around a 30 min drive, while Laem Sok / the natural-bay piers for Koh Kood and Koh Mak are around a 30–45 min drive · Trat Airport (TDX) is around a 20–30 min drive away · the big plus is that the owner and team can help arrange cars and ferries, making it much easier to connect onward to the islands.
"An old house turned into a hotel with so much charm, quiet and peaceful like an oasis in the middle of town · the owner is incredibly kind — arranged a car from Bangkok all the way to Trat, then sorted the ferry to Koh Kood for us, and it's a five-minute walk to the market and the City Pillar Shrine — it felt more like staying at a relative's house than a hotel."
Rooms and decor — Trat 101 Hotel has just 8 rooms, which keeps the atmosphere quiet and private · each room is decorated differently, playing with colour concepts and antiques — for example the white-toned room (White Suite) and the black-toned room (Black Suite), which give clearly different moods · what reviews agree on is the large king beds, clean rooms, blackout curtains, and better soundproofing than you'd expect for an old house · rooms have air conditioning, a flat-screen TV, a fridge/minibar, and an en-suite bathroom with a walk-in shower · some rooms look out onto a private garden or an old-town corner, so you wake up to an easy-on-the-eyes view · the charm that sets this place apart from a typical hotel lies in the details of the original house — the woodwork, the old furniture and the decorative pieces the owner has kept from a home over 100 years old · but to be straight with you, the rooms aren't very big (the entry-level rooms are around 20 sqm), the furniture is fairly minimal and pared back, and some reviews say the beds are fairly firm and hard, which some people like and others don't · anyone who prefers a soft, plush bed like at a big hotel should be prepared, or ask the owner about the mattress firmness when booking.
Facilities, garden and common areas — as a small boutique, Trat 101 Hotel doesn't have a pool or gym like a big hotel, and it isn't trying to · what it does have is a shady garden and balcony to relax, sip coffee or read a book in a quiet setting in the middle of town, which many reviews call an "oasis in the old town" · there's free Wi-Fi in the common areas, a 24-hour reception, laundry service, currency exchange, and bicycle rental for exploring the old town · importantly for anyone driving their own car, there's free private on-site parking, which helps a lot when you want to leave the car and head to the islands · there are also airport transfers and help arranging cars and ferries to the islands (these are run by outside operators that the hotel helps arrange) · overall, the facilities focus on simplicity and close, personal care rather than quantity, which fits the character of a small place that's all about atmosphere.
Food and nearby spots — Trat 101 Hotel is a small place, so it doesn't have a large dining room or a breakfast buffet like a typical hotel, but that's actually part of the charm, because the old-town location means just a few minutes' walk gets you to local food everywhere · many reviews say the owner and team point you to a tasty noodle shop down the lane for breakfast, a walk to the morning market for local dishes and sweets, or the town's famous Thai milk tea · in the evening there's the night market for a variety of local-priced eats · eating like a real Trat local around the hotel is an experience many people enjoy more than dining inside · if you want coffee or a simple meal, the owner is usually happy to help find and recommend something · the bottom line on food: this isn't a place you come to eat at the hotel, but it's an excellent base for heading out to good food around the old town, which fits the live-with-the-town style of stay perfectly.
Service and the owner — this is the real star of Trat 101 Hotel and, without question, what reviews mention most · the owner (whom many guests call Khun Kajit) earns repeated praise for warm, above-and-beyond care · reviews describe him arranging a car from Bangkok to Trat, helping coordinate ferries to Koh Kood, Koh Chang and Koh Mak, giving tips on where to go and eat, and looking after guests like a friend visiting his home · being a small place means the service is close and highly flexible, something big hotels can't manage · but to be fair, there's one point that shows up in reviews — some car and ferry fees that a few people feel are fairly expensive, such as an airport transfer that one guest noted at around 500 baht per person · the hotel explains these are run by outside operators and the prices are stated clearly in advance · so if you plan to use the car or ferry service, it's best to confirm the price clearly before deciding, so nothing feels like a surprise.
What real reviews say (the good and the not-so-good) — pulling together Trip.com, Booking.com, Agoda and TripAdvisor, the picture is fairly consistent · On the praise side: the owner and team give warm, very helpful care, which is the most frequently mentioned point; the old-house atmosphere is charming and quiet like an oasis in the middle of town; the location is a walk from the City Pillar Shrine, the market and old-town restaurants; rooms are clean with large king beds and free parking; and they help sort out cars and ferries to the islands easily · TripAdvisor also rates it highly and it has held a Travelers' Choice badge · On the watch-out side: the beds are fairly firm and hard for those who like a soft mattress; the bathrooms are basic-style and could use some updating in places; the room furniture is fairly minimal and pared back; and some car and ferry fees that a few people see as expensive · most of these points are about setting your expectations to match the character of a small old-house boutique rather than problems that put people off returning — because many reviews that note minor gripes still give a high overall score and say they'd come back.
"Clean, quiet room, big bed, and such a lovely old-house atmosphere · the only downsides were that the bed was fairly hard for us and the bathroom looked a bit plain · but the owner was so lovely it made up for everything, an easy walk to the market and the City Pillar Shrine, genuinely good value for the price."
Price comparison and value — room rates start at around THB 1,000/night in the regular season and can climb to roughly THB 1,500–2,500 in high season or on long weekends, depending on the room type and timing · compared with other places to stay in Trat town, this sits in the mid-range — a little pricier than a basic guesthouse, but what you get in return is a one-of-a-kind old-house atmosphere, the privacy of only 8 rooms, and the close, personal care of the owner that you won't find at a big hotel · compared with an in-town hotel that has a pool and fuller facilities like Trat City Hotel at a similar price, the two are playing different games — one sells the convenience of a fully equipped hotel, the other sells the charm and experience of an old house · for people who value atmosphere, story and friendly service over a long list of facilities, the money you spend at Trat 101 Hotel is good value and buys an experience you'll remember far longer.
Things to know before booking — a few things help make the stay smoother · one, because there are only 8 rooms and it's a popular old-town spot, you should book ahead, especially in high season (November–February) and on long weekends, as it fills up fast · two, if a soft mattress matters to you, ask the owner about the bed firmness and request a room that suits you right at booking · three, if you plan to use a car from Bangkok or a ferry to the islands, let them know and confirm the car and ferry prices clearly in advance, since these are outside services, so the price doesn't feel like a surprise · four, if you drive your own car you can use the hotel's free parking and leave the car there while you head to the islands, which is more convenient and reassuring than parking at the pier · five, set aside about half a day to explore Trat Old Town, because the area has old buildings, temples, markets and lovely cafés that many people overlook.
The verdict — from all the real reviews, Trat 101 Hotel is the best fit for people who want to experience the charm of Trat Old Town in a warm, old-house setting, with friendly, personal care from the owner, at an affordable price · the old-town location, a walk from the City Pillar Shrine, the market and local restaurants, plus the owner's help arranging cars and ferries to the islands, makes this both a charming stop and a convenient base for trips to Koh Kood, Koh Chang and Koh Mak · if you're after a luxury stay with a pool, a spacious room with full furnishings, or you need a soft, plush bed and a spotless modern bathroom in every corner, this may not be the answer, and you should consider a bigger in-town hotel or an island resort instead · but for people who value story, atmosphere and a welcome like a friend's home — Trat 101 Hotel is a small place that does exactly that, well enough to become a fond memory of a Trat trip, and the reason it earns high scores and repeated praise for the owner from guests who have stayed.
Summary from Booking & Agoda
- ✓ Owner and team give warm, above-and-beyond care
- ✓ Charming old-house atmosphere, quiet like an oasis in the middle of town
- ✓ Old-town location, a 5-min walk to the City Pillar Shrine, near the market and restaurants
- ✓ Clean rooms, large king beds, free parking
- ! Beds are fairly firm and hard for those who like a soft mattress
- ! Bathrooms are basic-style and could use updating in places
- ! Some car and ferry fees that a few people see as expensive
- ✓ In the heart of Trat Old Town, a walk to the market and the City Pillar Shrine
- ✓ A small, private place with an old-house atmosphere
- ✓ Staff and owner help sort out cars and ferries to the islands
- ✓ Clean rooms, free private on-site parking
- ! Room furniture is fairly minimal and pared back
- ! No pool or gym like a big hotel
- ! Confirm the transfer price clearly before using it
- 💡If you like a soft, plush bed like at a big hotel — many reviews say the beds here are fairly firm and hard → ask the owner about the mattress firmness and choose a room that suits you right at booking
- 💡If you want a luxury stay with a pool and full facilities — this is a small old-house boutique with 8 rooms and no pool or gym → consider a bigger in-town hotel like Trat City Hotel or a beachfront island resort instead
- 💡If you'll use a car from Bangkok or a ferry to the islands — these are run by outside operators, and some people see certain fees as expensive → confirm the price clearly in advance before deciding to use the service