Centara Hotel Udon Thani — Walk Through the Mall to the Lobby, a Hotel That Really Is in the City Centre
If you're heading to Udon Thani and don't want to waste time in a taxi getting anywhere, Centara Hotel Udon Thani is the answer guests keep pointing to. The building connects directly to Central Plaza Udon Thani — you walk from the mall straight into the lobby without ever stepping outside. It's a city high-rise with 259 rooms, a large convention centre, the Isaan-leaning Ban Chiang restaurant, and Spa Cenvaree from the Centara group — together earning 9.2 from 1,305 reviews on Trip.com, with the location category hitting 9.6.
What gives Centara Udon Thani its edge over other hotels in the city is the location. The tower sits on Prajak Sillapakom Road, attached to Central Plaza Udon Thani, the biggest mall in town. You walk from the shopping floor straight into the hotel — no worrying about rain or midday sun. UD Town is about a 9-minute walk, the train station is under a kilometre away, and Nong Prajak Park, where locals go to run in the evenings, is a short ride. For travellers passing through Udon to continue on to Nong Khai or Vientiane, or anyone here for a conference, this place removes city travel time entirely. That convenience is the single biggest reason why repeat guests return year after year, and why the location sub-score on Trip.com sits at a standout 9.6 — the highest of any rating category for this property.
The hotel itself has been a fixture in the upper tier of Udon Thani's accommodation market for well over a decade. The 259-room building rises over multiple floors and divides its inventory into six room categories: Superior, Deluxe, Premium Deluxe, Grand Deluxe, Junior Suite, and Centara Suite. The standard Superior rooms begin on the 5th floor at 32 sqm — a generous footprint for a city hotel at this price point — and come fitted with a comfortable bed, rain shower, cable television, a small work desk, and a minibar. The furniture is functional and warm in tone, though some guests find the styling in the Superior category a little dated compared to newer hotels in Thailand's northeast. The Deluxe category, occupying floors 11 through 14, was refurbished more recently and shows it: lighter finishes, brighter rooms, and a noticeably fresher feel. Many reviewers on both Trip.com and Booking.com specifically mention that upgrading from Superior to Deluxe for a few hundred baht more per night is one of the better decisions you can make when booking here. Higher still, the Premium Deluxe rooms on the upper floors offer city views that stretch across the Udon skyline toward the market district and, on clear evenings, all the way to the horizon. The Centara Suite adds a separate living area and a substantially larger footprint for those who need the extra space or are staying several nights. Regardless of category, all rooms include free Wi-Fi throughout, though a handful of guests on lower floors have noted the signal can be slower than on the upper levels — worth requesting a higher floor at check-in if that matters to you. Air conditioning, blackout curtains, and an electronic safe are standard across all room types. The hotel also provides a 24-hour front desk, luggage storage, laundry service, and a currency exchange counter in the lobby — practical touches for both business guests and those transiting through the city before continuing to Laos or the northern provinces. Car parking is available beneath the building and in the adjacent Central Plaza car park, though during large convention events the spaces fill quickly — if you are driving in, factor that in and arrive early or use a nearby street-level lot.
There are 259 rooms across 6 types, from Superior up to Suite. The standard rooms run 32 sqm from the 5th floor up, finished in warm tones with a comfortable bed, a separate rain shower, and cable TV. Several guests who booked the Superior felt the design was on the plain side and upgraded to the Deluxe, which is more recently refurbished and brighter. Worth saying upfront — if your budget stretches a little, the Deluxe is clearly the better value.
"You finish shopping in the mall, take the lift back to your room, and never need to call a car — for anyone here on business, that's as convenient as it gets."
Dining centres on two restaurants. Ban Chiang is the all-day venue, serving Thai, international, and proper Udon-style Isaan dishes — the breakfast buffet here draws praise for its Thai desserts and hot pan eggs. Luk Fatt is a Cantonese Chinese restaurant where locals come to take a table as a family. The walls of Ban Chiang carry artwork based on Ban Chiang pottery, the province's UNESCO World Heritage site, which gives the room a distinct northeastern character rather than generic hotel decor.
The shared facilities cover what you'd expect at this level. The outdoor pool sits on an upper floor with a Jacuzzi and sun loungers, and you can order a drink and a burger to eat poolside. Spa Cenvaree, the Centara group's spa brand, runs treatment rooms styled as Thai pavilions, focused on traditional Thai massage and aromatherapy. The fitness centre is fully equipped and includes a sauna. The other standout is the 2,900 sqm convention centre, which makes this one of the first choices in Udon for seminars, weddings, and large events.
The overall score is 9.2/10 from 1,305 reviews on Trip.com. Location leads at 9.6, while cleanliness and service both sit at 9.1. On TripAdvisor it holds 4.2/5. What guests praise most often is the front-desk staff — friendly and quick at check-in. The honest gripes are that the Superior rooms look dated and plain, and some street-side rooms catch city noise at night. Worth knowing so you can pick the right room.
On price, the Superior starts around ฿1,500/night on weekdays, climbing to ฿2,500–2,800 over long weekends or when a big event is in town. For what you get — a mall-linked location, pool, spa, and breakfast at a low-four-figure rate — it's strong value for a 4-star city hotel. Rooms fill quickly during concerts or the Udon Red Cross fair, so book at least 2–3 weeks ahead in those periods.
The bottom line: Centara Udon Thani suits anyone who wants to stay in the centre, walk to the mall without relying on a car, and have full facilities at an accessible rate. It works for business travellers, conference attendees, and families stopping in Udon before continuing to Nong Khai or Loei. If you want a newer, quieter room, book a higher-floor Deluxe on the inner side — it pays off more than you'd think.
Summary from Booking & Agoda
- ✓ Excellent location — connects straight into Central Plaza
- ✓ Friendly staff, fast check-in and check-out
- ✓ Varied breakfast with Isaan dishes and Thai desserts
- ✓ Pool and fitness centre well-kept, good value
- ! Superior rooms look older and plainer than expected
- ! Some street-side rooms catch city noise at night
- ! Parking fills quickly during convention events
- ✓ Central location, walkable to the mall and night market
- ✓ Spa Cenvaree traditional Thai massage gets praise
- ✓ Spacious 32 sqm rooms with comfortable beds
- ✓ Strong choice for conferences — large convention centre
- ! Overall design leans classic, not a brand-new hotel
- ! Lobby gets busy during major events
- ! Wi-Fi on lower floors slower than higher floors
- 💡If you want a newer, brighter room — skip the Superior and book the Deluxe → the Superior is cheaper but dated, and many reviewers say upgrading to the Deluxe is worth it
- 💡If you're a light sleeper — request an inner-side room away from Prajak Sillapakom Road when booking → street-side rooms catch traffic and city noise late at night
- 💡If you visit during a convention — check the events calendar first → during large seminars or weddings the lobby and parking get busier than usual