Charoen Hotel Udonthani — The City's Veteran Hotel, Known in Udon Since the 1960s
Ask anyone in Udon Thani which hotel has been around the longest and Charoen Hotel — "Rongraem Charoen" to locals — almost always comes up first. It opened in 1969 and had its last major renovation in 2015. What guests keep coming back to are two things: a central location that puts Central Plaza three minutes away on foot, and a large outdoor pool tucked under a grove of palm trees that feels far greener than you'd expect from a downtown hotel. Be clear going in — this isn't a brand-new property. It's an old-school Thai hotel that's been kept up reasonably well, priced low, and sitting on one of the most convenient corners in town.
Charoen Hotel has been open since 1969 — old enough that locals use it as a landmark for giving directions. The building is a 70s-80s era tower that got a major refresh in 2015. There are 213 rooms in total, ranging from Deluxe Rooms up to a Royal Suite. The renovated suites lean on wood panelling and green tones, with large beds and thick blue carpet — a classic older-Thai-hotel look that's been maintained well. That said, a handful of rooms haven't been touched yet, so several guests recommend asking specifically for a renovated room category when you book.
The one thing returning guests agree on is the outdoor pool. It's a long pool set in a palm garden with mature trees and lantern-style lights around the edge. Switch the lights on in the evening and the setting is leafier and calmer than you'd guess for a hotel this central, with a lounge area and an open-air restaurant beside it. Breakfast is a buffet included in most rates, with several local Isaan-style Thai dishes to try. Most reviewers call the food decent for the price, though the spread isn't huge and some items are clearly pre-cooked and held.
"Repeat guests say the location is unbeatable — you can walk to Central, and waking up to swim in the pool under the palm trees is genuinely good value for the price."
There are three restaurants on site — Mayfair, Poovieng, and the poolside garden restaurant — plus a fitness room, a bar, karaoke, and a nightclub inside the building. That cuts both ways: handy if you want a late bite or a drink without going out, but if you land a room near that zone or close to the road, you may hear some noise at night. The hotel also has the Udondusadee Grand Ballroom, which hosts weddings and large banquets for over a thousand guests — part of why so many Udon families have a long history with this place.
Location is the strongest card here. The hotel sits on Phosri Road in the centre of town. It's roughly a 3-minute walk to Central Plaza Udon Thani (about 760 metres). The Krom Luang Prachak monument is 650 metres away, Udon Thani railway station is around 1 kilometre, and Udon Thani International Airport is about 6.4 kilometres — roughly 16 minutes by car. The night market and plenty of restaurants are walkable too, which makes it a very practical base if you've arrived without a car.
The overall score sits at 8.6/10 from 378 reviews on Trip.com. The most common praise is for the location, the cleanliness of the renovated rooms, and friendly staff. The recurring complaints are honest ones: the building shows its age and feels a little faded in places, there's road and motorbike noise late at night, and some bathrooms are on the small side with shower heads mounted fairly low. Worth knowing up front so the expectations are right.
On price — Deluxe Rooms start around ฿880/night, which is genuinely cheap for a hotel this central. Step up to a Grand Deluxe or Junior Suite for more space or a bigger bed and you're still in the low thousands. Rooms fill up fast when there's a provincial event or festival on, since locals book the ballroom too, so a week or two of lead time is a good idea during busy periods.
Bottom line — Charoen Hotel works best for travellers who want a central Udon base within walking distance of the mall and markets, at an easy price, and who aren't fussed about the building being brand new. If you value location and a real pool over polish, it's strong value. If you want a modern, recently built hotel with a roomy bathroom, you'll want to look at one of the newer options in town instead.
Summary from Booking & Agoda
- ✓ Central location — walk to Central Plaza and the night market
- ✓ Large outdoor pool with a leafy, relaxed setting
- ✓ Excellent value for the location
- ✓ Friendly staff and free parking on site
- ! Older building, faded in some corners
- ! Road-side rooms catch motorbike noise late at night
- ! Some bathrooms are small with low-mounted shower heads
- ✓ Easy walk to the mall and railway station — good if you're not driving
- ✓ Renovated rooms are clean with comfortable beds
- ✓ Buffet breakfast includes local Isaan Thai dishes
- ✓ Restaurants and on-site facilities are well covered
- ! Some rooms not yet renovated — ask for an updated one
- ! Nightclub on site — rooms nearby can be noisy
- ! Lobby gets busy when a large banquet is on
- 💡If you want the best-condition room — specify a renovated category (Grand Deluxe or above) when booking → some of the cheapest rooms are still the older, un-refurbished type
- 💡If you're a light sleeper — request a higher floor on the pool or garden side, away from Phosri Road and the nightclub zone → road-facing rooms pick up motorbike and traffic noise at night
- 💡If you're travelling as a family or group — the Family Suite and Junior Suite are far roomier but still only low thousands of baht → better value than booking several separate Deluxe Rooms