Your stay — The Phant Hotel
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The Property — The Phant Hotel
The Phant Hotel is a straightforward 3-star in central Surin, with a clean, modern lobby that feels more corporate than cosy. It suits practical travellers who want reliable air conditioning, decent WiFi, and a room that is just a base for exploring the city and nearby temples. The USP is simple: it offers good value and a central location near the train station, without any fuss.
Chronicles of Surin
Surin was founded as a Khmer outpost, later becoming part of the Ayutthaya kingdom. Its architectural character is a quiet mix of wooden shop-houses, Chinese-influenced shophouses, and a few remaining Thai-style buildings near the old market. Today, the city is best known for the annual Surin Elephant Round-Up, which started in the 1960s to celebrate the region's deep ties with domesticated elephants. Culturally, the city remains a friendly, slow-paced centre for Isaan life, with a strong sense of local pride and a calendar built around agricultural and Buddhist festivals.
Best Time to Visit
Full Surin guide →Best months
November to February: dry, cool mornings and evenings, comfortable for day trips to Phanom Rung or exploring the city's markets, with few tourists outside the round-up weekend.
Peak / festival surge
November (especially the third weekend for the Surin Elephant Round-Up) — the city swells with visitors, hotel prices double or triple, and rooms book out months in advance. The round-up itself (parades, shows, banquets) is the main driver.
Budget shoulder season
March and October — March is the start of the hot season but still manageable, and October brings the tail of the wet season with lower rates and far fewer travellers. Rain is usually short and heavy, not all-day.
Weather & packing
Surin has a tropical wet season (May–October) where downpours often arrive at 4pm sharp. Pack a lightweight rain jacket and always carry a small umbrella, even on sunny mornings.
Live City Briefing — Surin
- Surin's main bus terminal has been upgraded with new ticketing kiosks and a covered waiting area, making long-distance travel easier.
- The city's pedestrianised walking street (every Saturday evening) has expanded to include more food stalls and local craft vendors, now running from 5pm to 10pm.
- A new direct train service from Bangkok to Surin (the special 'Elephant' express) now runs on Fridays and Sundays during the tourist season, reducing travel time to about 6 hours.
Your Perfect Room
✨ AI-generated · Jul 2026Before you check in to The Phant Hotel, here's what to know about choosing the right room.
Best rooms to request
Request a room on the 2nd floor or higher facing away from the main road. The 2nd floor is high enough to avoid ground-level bustle but still within easy stairs-walking distance if the lift is busy.
Rooms to avoid
Avoid ground-floor rooms, especially those near the entrance or reception area—they tend to pick up lobby noise and foot traffic. Also skip rooms directly above the bar or restaurant if you plan an early night.
Best views
Rooms on the front side (facing the main road) offer a view over the street and surrounding Surin low-rise buildings. Rear-side rooms look out over the garden or courtyard, which is greener but less interesting. Pick front for activity, back for calm.
Quietest floors
Floors 3 and 4. These sit above the street-level noise and below any potential roof-level machinery or water-tank hum.
🔊 Noise notes
Surin is a provincial town, so street noise is limited to motorbikes and the occasional songthaew. The hotel's own bar/restaurant may play music until 22:00. Also note that a busy temple nearby can broadcast announcements early in the morning.
Insider tips
Check if the hotel offers a free motorbike parking spot at the rear entrance—ask at check-in to save faffing on the street. Also ask for a room on the 3rd floor if you want to skip the lift wait; it's only two flights up from reception and often quieter.
- 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 — The Phant Hotel
Free for all guests. Speed is around 20 Mbps (adequate for browsing and streaming on one device); no login required.
One lift serves all three guest floors; no stairs-only sections.
No digital newsstand. Complimentary physical copies of the Bangkok Post are available at the front desk each morning.
Standard check-in is 14:00. Early bag drop can start from 10:00 (subject to room availability). Check-out is 12:00; late check-out until 14:00 costs ฿500, until 18:00 costs ฿1,000.
Free; available from arrival time until departure.
Step-free access to the lobby via a ramp; guest floors are lift-served, but room thresholds are slightly raised. No specially adapted bathrooms.
Free on-site parking for about 30 cars. No EV charging. Nearest public car park is at Robinson Department Store, 500 m away (฿15 per hour).
Fees, Taxes & Deposits
City / tourist tax: None
Deposit & card hold: A 50% advance deposit is charged at booking; a ฿500 incidental hold is taken on a credit card at check-in but not charged if no extras are used.
Local Lifestyle & Recreation
Robinson — 588 m · ~7 min walk
5-Minute Radius Essentials
Nearest — 1.9 km · ~24 min walk
7-Eleven — 609 m · ~8 min walk
Money & Currency
Get a travel card →Thai Baht, THB
Most travellers use ATMs for the best rates; avoid exchange counters at airports and tourist bureaux as they give poor rates.
Cards accepted in hotels, larger shops and restaurants; street stalls and local markets are cash-only. Contactless is common in mid-range places.
Not expected but appreciated: round up taxi fares, leave 20-50 baht for good restaurant service, and tip hotel staff 20-100 baht for exceptional help.
Eat, Shop & Travel on a Budget
Cheap car hire →Simple iced or hot black coffee from street stalls or local cafés — around 25-40 baht.
Plate of rice with stir-fry or curry from a neighbourhood food stall — about 40-60 baht.
Simple Thai main dish such as pad thai or fried rice at a basic restaurant — roughly 50-80 baht.
Street food is everywhere, especially along main roads and near markets; grilled meats, som tam and noodle soups are common finds.
Budget supermarkets include 7-Eleven, Tesco Lotus Express and Big C Mini; for fresh produce visit local markets.
Local markets and shops around Suranaree Road offer affordable clothing; expect simple cotton items and souvenirs.
Songthaews (shared red trucks) cost about 10-20 baht per ride within town; the cheapest way from airport is a local bus or shared minivan to the bus terminal.
Eat at food stalls for maximum value; use local buses or songthaews instead of tuk-tuks; buy bottled water and snacks at 7-Eleven rather than tourist spots.
Good to know — Surin
Type A/B/C · 220V
not safe — drink bottled
$1 ≈ ฿33.65 · THB
Where to Eat
💡 Booking tip: For popular restaurants in Surin, book at least a week ahead — especially for weekend evenings and during festival season.
Your arrival at The Phant Hotel
🕒 Check-in is from . Arriving earlier? Most hotels store luggage free — just ask at reception.
🧭 First things nearby: cash · Nearest — 1.9 km · ~24 min walk
🚐 Pre-book an airport transfer →Getting Around
Surin Bus Terminal → Suanpa Resort (stop: Suanpa Road)
💡 Not all buses stop directly outside the resort – ask the driver to let you off at the Suanpa turn-off, then walk 5 mins.
Surin Airport → Suanpa Resort
💡 Best for one person with light luggage - drivers wait near the airport exit; negotiate firmly as tourist prices are common.
Surin town centre (Thanon Tha Sae) → Suanpa Resort
💡 Flag them down anywhere on the main road heading south; they’ll drop you at the resort entrance if you say 'Suanpa'.
Surin Airport → Suanpa Resort
💡 Book through the resort in advance; local taxis from outside the airport often quote 500+ THB.
About Surin
Wikipedia ↗
Surin (Thai: สุรินทร์, pronounced [sù.rīn]; Northern Khmer: ซเร็น, pronounced [sren]) is a town in Thailand, capital of Surin province, 431 km east-northeast of Bangkok. It is the site of the annual Surin Elephant Round-up. As of 2019, Surin has an estimated population of 39,179.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best rooms at The Phant Hotel?
Request a room on the 2nd floor or higher facing away from the main road. The 2nd floor is high enough to avoid ground-level bustle but still within easy stairs-walking distance if the lift is busy.
Which rooms should I avoid at The Phant Hotel?
Avoid ground-floor rooms, especially those near the entrance or reception area—they tend to pick up lobby noise and foot traffic. Also skip rooms directly above the bar or restaurant if you plan an early night.
Is The Phant Hotel noisy?
Surin is a provincial town, so street noise is limited to motorbikes and the occasional songthaew. The hotel's own bar/restaurant may play music until 22:00. Also note that a busy temple nearby can broadcast announcements early in the morning.
Which rooms have the best views at The Phant Hotel?
Rooms on the front side (facing the main road) offer a view over the street and surrounding Surin low-rise buildings. Rear-side rooms look out over the garden or courtyard, which is greener but less interesting. Pick front for activity, back for calm.
What are insider tips for staying at The Phant Hotel?
Check if the hotel offers a free motorbike parking spot at the rear entrance—ask at check-in to save faffing on the street. Also ask for a room on the 3rd floor if you want to skip the lift wait; it's only two flights up from reception and often quieter.
What time is check-in at The Phant Hotel?
Check-in at The Phant Hotel is from null. Check-out is by null.
Does The Phant Hotel have Wi-Fi?
Free for all guests. Speed is around 20 Mbps (adequate for browsing and streaming on one device); no login required.
Is there a city or tourist tax at The Phant Hotel?
None
Where can I eat cheaply near The Phant Hotel?
Plate of rice with stir-fry or curry from a neighbourhood food stall — about 40-60 baht.
What is the cheapest way to get around from The Phant Hotel?
Songthaews (shared red trucks) cost about 10-20 baht per ride within town; the cheapest way from airport is a local bus or shared minivan to the bus terminal.
When is the best time to visit Surin?
November to February: dry, cool mornings and evenings, comfortable for day trips to Phanom Rung or exploring the city's markets, with few tourists outside the round-up weekend.
Top Attractions in Surin
💡 Buy a 10-baht flower garland from vendors outside and tie it on the fence for good luck. Watch your step—devotees kneel on the floor.
💡 Go early (around 8am) to see monks receiving alms; they're happy to accept small food donations but keep your distance.
💡 Take a songthaew (shared taxi) from the market for about 20 baht. Ask to see the dyeing process in the back courtyards—the women are happy to explain if you show interest.
💡 Visit just before sunset—the light on the water is beautiful and you'll see egrets flying to roost. The on-site noodle stall sells cheap bowls (30 baht) of kuaytiaw.
💡 The English signage is limited; hire the audio guide for 50 baht or take photos and ask a local friend to translate later.