Phayao Lake Hotel — A Tall Tower with City Views for a Few Hundred Baht near Phayao Lake
If you want a cheap bed in town and the chance to wake up to a sweep of city rooftops and distant hills, Phayao Lake Hotel (listed on booking sites as Phayao Northern Lake Hotel) is an older six-storey tower about 1 km from Phayao Lake. Let's be upfront: this is not a luxury stay. It's a budget hotel that guests keep mentioning for two things — rooms that are far bigger than the price suggests and upper-floor views across the whole town — traded against a building that clearly shows its age.
Phayao Lake Hotel opened in 2004 as a white six-storey tower on Rop Wiang Pratu Khlong Road. It has around 70 rooms split between Superior and Deluxe categories, in both double and twin layouts. The one thing guests agree on is that the rooms are noticeably larger than you'd expect for a few hundred baht — two beds and still plenty of floor to walk around, tiled floors, air conditioning, a small fridge and a TV covering the basics. The furniture is older dark timber that matches the age of the building rather than anything recently refitted.
The real draw here is the view from the upper-floor rooms. Because it's a tall building in a low-rise town with nothing blocking it, the road-facing rooms look out over Phayao's rooftops to the line of hills behind. On a clear morning that outlook is worth more than the room rate. The ground-floor lobby is the other spot people photograph — a carved timber reception desk, frosted glass with Lanna motifs, and a high ceiling that carries the feel of an older provincial Thai hotel you rarely see preserved now.
One guest summed it up as rooms "far bigger than the price," opening the curtains to a town-and-mountain view and calling it genuinely good value for a few hundred baht a night.
It needs saying plainly — the most common complaint is cleanliness and upkeep. Several reviews mention dust in the corners, a musty or damp smell in some rooms, and tired fittings like taps or showerheads that have not been repaired. A few guests asked to change rooms because of the smell. It is not every room, but you should know going in, so the expectations match reality: treat this as a budget bed, not a relaxing retreat.
The location works well for seeing Phayao. From the hotel it's a 12–15 minute walk down to the shore of Phayao Lake, where locals stroll in the cool of the evening and watch the sunset. Convenience stores, simple Thai eateries and a market are all within walking distance, and Wat Sri Khom Kham (home of the great Buddha image) is a short drive away. Driving yourself is easy — there's free parking in front of the hotel.
The Trip.com score sits at 7.3/10 from 47 reviews. Location and value earn the praise, while cleanliness is clearly what pulls the number down. There is no pool here and no breakfast included in the room rate. What you do get is a small coffee shop off the lobby, a lift, and a meeting room used by tour groups. Reception staff draw repeated compliments from international guests for being friendly and able to communicate in English.
On price, Phayao Lake Hotel starts around ฿500/night and rarely tops ฿700 even on weekends. Newer in-town options such as M2 or Green Hill are cleaner and more modern, but cost a bit more. Choose this one when budget is the priority and you want a large room with a good view and can accept an ageing building. If cleanliness is a sticking point for you, look at the newer properties in town instead.
The bottom line: Phayao Lake Hotel suits budget travellers, cyclists doing a loop of the lake, or anyone stopping over in Phayao for a night who wants a big, cheap room with a city view rather than polish. Understand what a few hundred baht buys here and it does its job well. Before booking, always compare Agoda, Booking and Trip.com for the latest rates and current room photos.
Summary from Booking & Agoda
- ✓ Very cheap — a few hundred baht a night, strong for tight budgets
- ✓ Rooms larger than expected for the price
- ✓ Walkable to the Phayao Lake shore and local eateries
- ✓ Free parking in front of the hotel
- ! Cleanliness in some rooms is poor — dust and a musty smell
- ! In-room fittings are old and not consistently maintained
- ! No breakfast included in the room rate
- ✓ City and mountain views from upper floors well above the price
- ✓ Lanna-style timber lobby with real character
- ✓ Reception staff friendly and able to speak English
- ✓ In-town location near a market and convenience stores
- ! Building and rooms look dated for their age, not refitted
- ! Some rooms carry a damp smell — ask to see the room first
- ! No swimming pool and no fitness room
- 💡If smells and cleanliness matter to you — ask to see the room before checking in and pick a higher floor on the road side with better airflow → some lower rooms carry a damp, musty smell that several guests have flagged
- 💡If you want breakfast — none is included in the room rate · there are simple eateries and a market within walking distance → plan to eat nearby, or pick a hotel that includes breakfast if you need it
- 💡If the view is your priority — request a higher floor facing the road when booking → you'll get the Phayao town-and-mountain outlook, while lower or inward-facing rooms only see the building next door