Your stay — Wangthong Hotel
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The Property — Wangthong Hotel
The Wangthong Hotel is a no-frills three-star just off Phrae's main drag, with a dated but clean lobby that smells of polished wood and floor wax. Its USP is location: you're a five-minute walk from the old city moat and the night market, and the staff are genuinely helpful. Best for independent travellers who want a quiet base to explore Phrae's teak temples and bike lanes, not a resort experience.
Chronicles of Phrae
Phrae was founded in the 13th century as a small mueang on the Yom River, later becoming a major teak-logging centre under the Lanna kingdom and then Siam. Its historic quarter is defined by late-19th-century wooden shop-houses and mansions, many built by Burmese timber merchants. The city largely missed the tourist boom of Chiang Mai, so its lanes remain relaxed and authentic. Today Phrae is known for its textile weaving, especially mo hom indigo-dyed cotton, and as a gateway to the Phrae-Lampang forest reserves.
Best Time to Visit
Full Phrae guide →Best months
November, December and January: cool, dry days (15–30°C) with clear skies, plus the annual Phrae Red Cross Fair in January draws a lively crowd without overwhelming the town.
Peak / festival surge
April (Songkran) sees a spike in domestic visitors; hotel prices can double. The water fights are mostly on the main ring road, and many shops close for three days. Loy Krathong in November also fills rooms, but rates rise less sharply.
Budget shoulder season
February and March are dry and warm (25–35°C), with fewer tourists and standard prices. October's tail end of the rains still offers occasional showers but empty streets and discounts of 20–30% on July rates.
Weather & packing
July is deep in the southwest monsoon: expect heavy downpours daily, often in the late afternoon, and high humidity (75–85%). Pack a light, quick-dry rain jacket and waterproof shoes – umbrellas are everywhere but won't help your jeans in a sudden deluge.
Live City Briefing — Phrae
- The Phrae bicycle lane network has been extended loop around the old city wall, making it easier to explore without a car. Rental shops near the night market offer bikes for 100 baht/day.
- The new Phrae Cultural Centre on Charoen Muang Road opened in late 2025, with exhibits on Lanna teak logging and local weaving. Free entry for Thais, 50 baht for foreigners.
- Monsoon flooding has been heavier than usual in the Yom River basin; check the local weather app 'Phrae Rain' before heading to outlying temple ruins like Wat Phra Bat Ming Mueang.
Your Perfect Room
✨ AI-generated · Jul 2026Before you check in to Wangthong Hotel, here's what to know about choosing the right room.
Best rooms to request
Request a room on floors 3-5 on the back side of the building, away from the main road. These mid-level floors avoid both street-level noise and any heat rising to the top floor, and the orientation gives a quieter outlook over the town's low-rise rooftops.
Rooms to avoid
Avoid rooms on floor 1 (directly behind reception, near the lift lobby, and potentially adjacent to breakfast area) and any rooms at the front of the building facing the main road — the address puts you on a through street, so traffic noise will be significant day and night.
Best views
The front-facing rooms have a direct view of the main road and the old shophouses opposite — not charming, just busy. Back-facing rooms look over the low-rise residential area and the distant hills of Phrae; that's the view worth requesting.
Quietest floors
Floors 3-5 are your best bet for quiet. The lift noise is minimal here, and you're high enough to escape ground-level hubbub without being near any rooftop equipment.
🔊 Noise notes
Phrae's main road is a truck-and-moto artery from early morning until late evening. The hotel sits right on that road, so front rooms get steady traffic rumble. The lift has a mechanical whine audible in adjacent rooms on every floor — request a room at least two doors away from the lift shaft.
Insider tips
1) If you're driving, the hotel has limited on-site parking; arrive before 6pm to snag a spot. 2) Ask for a room on the back side when you check in — front desk staff are usually fine with this if they have availability, and it makes a real difference to sleep quality.
- Call the hotel directly 24–48 hours before arrival and ask for a specific room type
- Add a note in your booking comments field
- Ask at check-in — front desk staff can often accommodate if a room is available
Hotel Facilities — Wangthong Hotel
Free Wi-Fi covers all guest rooms and lobby; speed is adequate for web browsing and email (approx 10 Mbps download). Login via room number and surname.
No lift; the hotel is a two-storey building with stairs only. No historic wings.
No digital newsstand or physical newspapers offered. The building has no notable heritage features; modern low-rise structure from the 1990s.
Check-in from 14:00; early bag-drop from 10:00 free of charge. Late check-out until 12:00 on request (200 THB surcharge). Strictly 13:00 deadline.
Free luggage storage at front desk for same-day arrivals or post-checkout up to 20:00.
No step-free entry (two steps at main door); no accessible guest rooms. Wheelchair users will struggle. Ground-floor rooms available with advance notice, but still require step access.
Free on-site parking in a small gravel lot at the rear (approx 20 spaces, no reservation needed). Nearest public car park is Mueang Phrae Public Parking (about 300 m walk, 50 THB per night). No EV charging.
Fees, Taxes & Deposits
City / tourist tax: None
Deposit & card hold: Full first-night payment required at booking; a 500 THB refundable card hold taken at check-in for incidentals.
Faith & Dietary Nearby
- Buddhist temple: วัดบางสนุก (531 m · ~7 min walk)
- Place of worship: วัดพระธาตุมงคลแสงแก้วมนีดอยก๊อสุบรรพต (785 m · ~10 min walk)
- Buddhist temple: วัดใหม่กลาง (1.2 km · ~16 min walk)
- Buddhist temple: วัดนาใหม่ (1.9 km · ~24 min walk)
5-Minute Radius Essentials
Nearest — 278 m · ~3 min walk
Money & Currency
Get a travel card →Thai Baht, THB
Banks and exchange booths in Phrae town give decent rates; avoid the airport in Phrae (if flying) as it has no exchange, and never change at tourist bureaux in Bangkok before heading north.
Visa/Mastercard accepted at larger shops, hotels, and some restaurants; Amex is rare. Contactless works in modern places; cash is king for street food, markets, and small eateries.
Not expected but appreciated: leave small change (10-20 THB) at restaurants, round up taxi fares, tip hotel staff 20-50 THB for good service.
Eat, Shop & Travel on a Budget
Cheap car hire →Local iced coffee (oliang) from street stalls or market vendors costs around 20-30 THB.
A bowl of khao soi or pad thai from a simple shop or market: 40-60 THB.
A main course at a local rice-and-curry shop: 50-80 THB.
Phrae town's evening market (near the clock tower) and the walking street market on weekends offer cheap eats like grilled meats, som tam, and sticky rice.
Big C or Tesco Lotus Express (now Lotus's) in Phrae town for basic groceries and essentials.
Phrae town's market (near the bus station) sells affordable local clothing, T-shirts, and fabrics; for more variety, head to Chiang Mai or Bangkok.
Songthaews (shared pickup trucks) around town cost 10-20 THB per ride; from Phrae airport, a songthaew into town is about 50-60 THB if shared.
Eat at markets rather than restaurants; use songthaews instead of tuk-tuks; book accommodation in Phrae town well in advance for better rates.
Good to know — Phrae
Type A/B/C · 220V
not safe — drink bottled
$1 ≈ ฿33.31 · THB
Emergency Contacts
PhraeTourist Police: 1155 (24/7, English spoken); Phrae Hospital: +66 54 511 033; local rescue service (Samaritan crew): 191 (ask for rescue volunteer). Keep your phone charged, roaming on. Real help might be a provincial relay — stay calm, speak slowly.
💡 Save these numbers in your phone. In life-threatening emergencies, call immediately.
Where to Eat
💡 Booking tip: For popular restaurants in Phrae, book at least a week ahead — especially for weekend evenings and during festival season.
Your arrival at Wangthong Hotel
🕒 Check-in is from . Arriving earlier? Most hotels store luggage free — just ask at reception.
🧭 First things nearby: cash · Nearest — 278 m · ~3 min walk
🚐 Pre-book an airport transfer →Getting Around
Phrae Airport → Phrae Bus Station
💡 Runs infrequent and stops at the bus station, not the hotel. You'll need a short songthaew hop from there. Only worth it for budget travellers.
Phrae Airport (PRH) → Loft Hotel
💡 Taxis are scarce outside flight times. Book via your hotel or grab a green-plate tuktuk for 100 THB if you're light on luggage.
Phrae Bus Station (Baan Mai) → Loft Hotel (Charoen Muang Road)
💡 Flag it down anywhere on the main road. Tell the driver 'Loft Hotel' - they know it. Pay on exit, exact change helps.
Anywhere in Phrae city → Loft Hotel
💡 Grab works in Phrae but driver supply is thin. If you're stuck, call the hotel - they can arrange a local driver for the same price.
About Phrae
Wikipedia ↗
Phrae (Thai: แพร่, pronounced [pʰrɛ̂ː]; Northern Thai: ᨻᩯᩖ᩵, pronounced [pɛ̂ː]) is one of Thailand's seventy-six Provinces (changwat) and lies in upper northern Thailand. Neighboring provinces are (clockwise from north) Phayao, Nan, Uttaradit, Sukhothai, and Lampang.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best rooms at Wangthong Hotel?
Request a room on floors 3-5 on the back side of the building, away from the main road. These mid-level floors avoid both street-level noise and any heat rising to the top floor, and the orientation gives a quieter outlook over the town's low-rise rooftops.
Which rooms should I avoid at Wangthong Hotel?
Avoid rooms on floor 1 (directly behind reception, near the lift lobby, and potentially adjacent to breakfast area) and any rooms at the front of the building facing the main road — the address puts you on a through street, so traffic noise will be significant day and night.
Is Wangthong Hotel noisy?
Phrae's main road is a truck-and-moto artery from early morning until late evening. The hotel sits right on that road, so front rooms get steady traffic rumble. The lift has a mechanical whine audible in adjacent rooms on every floor — request a room at least two doors away from the lift shaft.
Which rooms have the best views at Wangthong Hotel?
The front-facing rooms have a direct view of the main road and the old shophouses opposite — not charming, just busy. Back-facing rooms look over the low-rise residential area and the distant hills of Phrae; that's the view worth requesting.
What are insider tips for staying at Wangthong Hotel?
1) If you're driving, the hotel has limited on-site parking; arrive before 6pm to snag a spot. 2) Ask for a room on the back side when you check in — front desk staff are usually fine with this if they have availability, and it makes a real difference to sleep quality.
What time is check-in at Wangthong Hotel?
Check-in at Wangthong Hotel is from null. Check-out is by null.
Does Wangthong Hotel have Wi-Fi?
Free Wi-Fi covers all guest rooms and lobby; speed is adequate for web browsing and email (approx 10 Mbps download). Login via room number and surname.
Is there a city or tourist tax at Wangthong Hotel?
None
Where can I eat cheaply near Wangthong Hotel?
A bowl of khao soi or pad thai from a simple shop or market: 40-60 THB.
What is the cheapest way to get around from Wangthong Hotel?
Songthaews (shared pickup trucks) around town cost 10-20 THB per ride; from Phrae airport, a songthaew into town is about 50-60 THB if shared.
When is the best time to visit Phrae?
November, December and January: cool, dry days (15–30°C) with clear skies, plus the annual Phrae Red Cross Fair in January draws a lively crowd without overwhelming the town.
Top Attractions in Phrae
💡 Come hungry: try the sai oua (northern sausage) and khao soi. Bargain gently - prices are already low. Arrive by 5 PM to beat the crowd.
💡 Entry is free, but donations are welcomed. The wooden floors creak - walk quietly to preserve them. Ask the elderly caretaker for stories.
💡 It's often empty. Excellent spot to sit and read or just be quiet. The monks sometimes offer free meditation guidance if you ask politely.
💡 Bring water and a hat - no shade at all. Early morning has fewer tourists and softer light. The nearby forest trail is worth a short detour.
💡 Go just before sunset for the best light on the chedi. The climb up the naga stairway is about 200 steps, take it slow.