10 Most Popular Hotels
in Phayao Province
That We've Already Reviewed

We open our 10 Phayao stays with an option that's clearly different from the rest — Zen Home Resort & Garden @ Phayao is a small garden resort of about 9 rooms, opened in 2023 in Mae Ka subdistrict on the Phayao University side, that many reviews single out as the kind of stay that wins over the right kind of guest. What gets people talking isn't the view or a pool, but something rare in an upcountry stay at this price: several of the rooms are spacious house- or cottage-style units that feel like a home, with a separate living room, their own kitchen, a big fridge, and a microwave, so you can comfortably cook or reheat your own meals. The decor is warm Japanese style — wood finishes, natural tones, and Zen-like simplicity — set in a leafy garden that several reviews describe as "more like staying at a Japanese-style guesthouse than a hotel." The thing praised most often in real reviews is the service — the owner is a Phayao University lecturer who looks after the place personally, along with student interns whom many guests describe as attentive and warm, like family. Prices start at around ฿1,200/night, with a real review score of about 8.2. Honest caveats from the reviews: the Mae Ka location is about 18–20 km (25–30 min drive) from town and Kwan Phayao, which isn't convenient without your own car; there's no pool; and as a new resort, some corners are still being finished. Best for families who want a large space with a kitchen, couples after quiet, and parents visiting or dropping off Phayao University students.

Among the 10 Phayao stays, if you go by real review scores, Phuglong Hotel is the top scorer in this article — Trip.com rates it about 9.6 from around 41 real guest reviews, and TripAdvisor ranks it #1 among B&Bs/guesthouses in Mueang Phayao. It's a modern boutique building of about 30 rooms on Chai Kwan Road in Wiang subdistrict, the lakefront road that's considered the heart of town. The number-one selling point reviews agree on is the location — only about 210 meters' walk to the Kwan Phayao waterfront, and under 5 minutes' walk to the Phayao night market and the city pillar shrine. Many guests say they love that you can "walk to everything," barely needing to call a ride the whole trip. The rooms are in a new building that many praise as clean, with big windows that let in light, and some rooms have a private balcony looking out over Kwan Phayao — the corner guests love most, opening the curtains in the morning to mist drifting over the water. There are bikes to borrow for riding along the lake, free parking, and free Wi-Fi. Standard rooms start at around ฿850/night. Honest caveats from the reviews: there are few power outlets in the rooms and the light switches aren't near the bed, Wi-Fi can be slow at times, some breakfast dishes arrive not very hot, and there's no pool. Best for couples, families, and city-walkers who want to use Phayao as a base for strolling, eating, and sightseeing by the water.

M2 Hotel Phayao is a 3-star, 28-room hotel on Pratu Klong 1 Road in Wiang subdistrict that does the job of "a good in-town hotel" thoroughly, and has ranked among the top hotels in Mueang Phayao on TripAdvisor for years. Open since around 2015, it scores about 8.2 on Trip.com from over 50 reviewers. The main selling point is its city-center location — close to Kwan Phayao, the bus station, and the restaurant area, a short walk or drive of about 5 minutes to the lakefront. What road-trippers like most is that it has free private parking and even an EV charger, which isn't common at a small hotel at this price. Another quiet favorite is the breakfast at Happy Mori Cafe, served à la carte with a choice of over 30 menu items, and reviews often mention the "better-than-expected coffee." On the rooms, reviews agree they're clean and tidy, the beds are more comfortable than expected, and it's fairly quiet. Prices start at around ฿700/night. Honest caveats from the reviews: the building is starting to show its age and has no elevator, so rooms on floors 3–4 mean climbing the stairs, parking is limited when full, the à la carte breakfast means a wait when it's busy, and there's no pool or lake view from the rooms. Best for budget travelers who drive themselves, and anyone using Phayao as a stopover before heading on to Chiang Rai, Nan, or Chiang Mai.

If the other downtown Phayao stays have no pool at all, Green Hill Hotel Phayao fills exactly that gap — a 3-star hotel of about 78 rooms on Phahonyothin Road in Wiang subdistrict, whose key difference from the other in-town stays is that it has an outdoor pool and a poolside cafe. And among these 10 stays, Green Hill is also the one with the most reviews, around 120, averaging about 8.1 — a sign that it's a busy, well-known place in town. The location is good for city sightseeing, a few minutes' walk to Kwan Phayao, near Wat Sri Khom Kham, and right by the Phayao night market held along the lake on Fridays and Saturdays. There are several room tiers, from Standard City View up to the Pool / Lake View rooms that look out over the pool and Kwan Phayao, the popular view room here. There's free parking for those who drive. Prices start at around ฿900/night. Honest caveats: it's a larger hotel than the other in-town boutiques, so the feel is more general hotel than small and cozy, and the average score sits at "good" rather than memorable — best for those who want an in-town stay with a pool to swim in on a modest budget, more than those after distinctive character.

If there's one stay in this set the kids won't want to leave, many reviews give it to MonSamKien Homestay — a treehouse farmstay in a teak forest in Mae Ka subdistrict, on the Phayao University side, that sells an experience more than just a bedroom. It scores about 9.0 on Booking and about 8.7 on Agoda from around 42 real guest reviews. What gets people talking is that it isn't a typical hotel or resort, but houses and treehouses with balconies reaching out over the teak forest, in a farm setting with plenty to do. Reviews mention horse riding, kayaking, and a homemade-pizza workshop that keep families and groups of friends busy all day without going anywhere. There are several room types, from a Budget Double up to a Suite where some packages include breakfast, drinks, homemade pizza, and horse riding, plus two-bedroom houses for larger families. The location is about a 6-minute drive from Phayao University. Prices start at around ฿1,290/night. Honest caveats: like the other Mae Ka stays, it's about a 15–25 minute drive from town and Kwan Phayao, best for those who drive; it's a farmstay built around nature and activities more than luxurious rooms; and with only a few units it fills up fast on holidays. Best for families with kids, groups of friends who want a farm experience, and anyone who wants a slow-life stay in nature.

Among the 10 Phayao stays, if you go purely by average score, I Ya Guesthouse is the top scorer in this article — about 9.8 on Agoda and about 9.7 on Booking, which is very high even from a small base of around 16 reviews. It's a 2-star boutique guesthouse of just 4 rooms in Mae Puem subdistrict on the Phayao outskirts, run by an owner who looks after it personally. The reason for scores this high at an easy price is something reviews agree on — the rooms are spotless, almost new, with clean minimalist decor and a large bathroom, plus the owner's attentiveness, easy with only 4 rooms to mind. Many reviews say it feels like staying at a relative's house where the room has been prepared with care, more than a typical guesthouse — clean linens, a well-kept room scent, and quick, friendly replies when booking. The Mae Puem area is quiet, with the Mae Puem reservoir near the stay, and there's free parking at your door. It suits anyone who wants a clean, quiet bed from around ฿700/night. Rooms range from Standard Double and Standard Twin up to a more spacious Deluxe Room. Honest caveats from the reviews: this is a small guesthouse, not a hotel — no resort-style facilities, no pool or on-site restaurant — and it's on the outskirts, about a 15–20 minute drive from town and Kwan Phayao, so it's better for those with a car; and with only 4 rooms it fills up fast, so book ahead. Best for couples or travelers who value cleanliness, quiet, and the owner's close care over a central location or full facilities.

DD Garden Home Phayao is a small resort-style garden guesthouse in the Ban Tam area by the Ing River that many reviews say feels more relaxing than its price suggests. It scores about 8.8 on Agoda and about 8.6 on Booking from around 18 real guest reviews. What sets it apart from a typical guesthouse is that the rooms are spacious, around 28–36 sq.m., and every room has a private balcony looking out over the garden — noticeably larger than a standard guesthouse room — and the grounds have a landscaped garden with a faux waterfall that's a popular spot to photograph and sit. Reviews mention the freshly made breakfast and the friendly, attentive owner as what makes it feel as warm as staying at a relative's house, with several noting the owner helps recommend restaurants and sights around the lake. There are several room types, from Standard Twin Beds and Deluxe King Bed up to Deluxe 3 Single Beds that sleeps more, good for a small group or a family who want to share one room. Prices start at around ฿900/night. It's in the Ban Tam area by the Ing River, about a 12–15 minute drive from town and Kwan Phayao — noticeably closer than the Mae Ka area — so it's an option that gives you both garden quiet and reasonable access to town. Honest caveats from the reviews: it's a small stay outside the center, better for those who drive than those without a car; the feel leans toward garden quiet more than full facilities; and with not many rooms, book ahead. Best for couples and families who want a spacious room with a balcony in a quiet garden setting that's still easy to reach town from.

Baan Suan Siri (Siri Garden) is a stay that differs from the others in this set by location, since it isn't in Phayao town or on the university side, but as far out as Chiang Muan district, by Highway 1091, which is halfway between Phayao and Nan. It's a garden homestay of bungalows in a mango and dragon-fruit orchard, scoring about 8.9 on Booking and about 8.7 on Agoda from around 41 real guest reviews. What reviews mention is the bungalows with balconies looking out at the mountains, the quiet garden setting, and the English-speaking owner — so a fair number of foreign guests stop here while traveling. Breakfast is included with the room, and there's free parking and free Wi-Fi. A location highlight is that it's only about 3–4 km from the Chiang Muan Dinosaur Museum, a fitting stopover for those driving the Phayao–Nan route, or a base for visiting Phu Langka. Prices start at around ฿1,150/night. Honest caveats: it's about a 1.5-hour drive from Phayao town and Kwan Phayao, so it isn't ideal if your main goal is to see the lake, and it's a small garden homestay built around a natural setting more than luxury. Best for those driving the Phayao–Nan route who want a quiet one-night stay in a mountain-view garden, or anyone visiting Chiang Muan district and the dinosaur museum directly.

Sabuy Best Hotel Phayao is a 3-star budget city hotel of 25 rooms on Phahonyothin Road in Tha Wang Thong subdistrict, aimed at those who want to sleep in town within walking distance of the lake on one of the easiest budgets around. It scores about 8.4 on Agoda and Trip.com from around 38 real guest reviews. The main selling point is its location — only about 300 meters' walk to the Kwan Phayao waterfront — in an old-town area only about 120 meters from Wat Li and about 300 meters from Wat Luang Ratchasanthan, both easily walkable, with the King Ngam Mueang monument within about a 5-minute walk, so it's well-suited to anyone who wants to walk between temples and soak up the old-town atmosphere by the lake without driving. Rooms are about 24–35 sq.m., a good size for a hotel at this price, with King-bed, Twin, and 35 sq.m. Triple rooms for three people or a family. Reviews mention clean rooms, cold air-con, and bathrooms with a shower, all at a level that's good value for the price. There's breakfast and free parking out front, and the Phayao bus station is about a 5-minute drive away, so it's convenient whether you drive yourself or arrive by coach. Prices start at around ฿612/night, among the lightest budgets for a walk-to-the-lake location. Honest caveats from the reviews: it's a budget hotel focused on value and location more than atmosphere or bold design, there's no pool, and the parking out front is limited when the hotel is full. Best for budget travelers who want to sleep in town within walking distance of the lake and the major temples, without paying a lot and without minding the lack of luxury facilities.

We close the 10 Phayao stays with the lightest-priced option in this article — Kanlaya House Resort is a small 2-star bungalow resort of about 10 rooms in Tha Wang Thong subdistrict, outside Phayao town, where prices start at only about ฿500/night, the cheapest in this set. It scores about 8.0 on Agoda and Booking from around 12 real guest reviews. What makes people choose it is that it's single-storey bungalows with a garden, quiet, with free parking at your door, very handy for those who drive and want to park right in front of their own room, plus free bikes to ride around the grounds for anyone who wants an easy spin. There are several room types, from Standard Double and Standard Twin for couples or friends up to a Garden View room with a private balcony where you can sip morning coffee in the garden. The rooms have the essentials for the price — air-con, TV, fridge, kettle, and free Wi-Fi. The location is about 4 km from Kwan Phayao (around an 8-minute drive), with the Phayao city center and restaurant area about 7–10 minutes' drive, so it's not too far if you have a car. Honest caveats from the reviews: this is a small budget bungalow resort with simple facilities for the price, no pool or on-site restaurant, the review base is still small so compare a few sites before booking, and it's out of town, so it's better for those with a car — not a walk-to-everything location like the lakeside stays. Best for very budget-minded travelers who drive themselves and want a quiet, private bungalow with a garden at the lightest price in Phayao.