Sun Hotel Phetchaburi — A Budget Base Below Khao Wang Where You Cross the Road and Ride the Cable Car
If you're planning a trip to Khao Wang (Phra Nakhon Khiri) and want a base where you can wake up and reach the cable car in a few steps, Sun Hotel Phetchaburi is the name that comes up first. It's a budget 2-star hotel sitting right at the foot of Khao Wang, only about 140m from the cable car station — under a 2-minute walk. Let's be straight: this isn't a luxury property and there's no pool. But the thing guests agree on is a location that scores 9.5 on Trip.com, plus rooms that come out larger and cleaner than the price suggests — and it ranks #1 of 10 Phetchaburi hotels on Tripadvisor too.
Sun Hotel opened in 2005 and had a major renovation in 2011. It's a three-storey yellow building with large white "SUN" letters and a red Thai sign out front — easy to spot if you're driving. There are 52 rooms in total, ranging from 29–30 sqm Deluxe rooms to a 33 sqm Family Room and up to a 54 sqm Suite roomy enough for a family. What guests mention most is that the rooms run wider than you'd expect at this price, with large beds and comfortable mattresses. Some front-facing rooms have a balcony that looks straight out at Khao Wang and the chedi crowning the hill.
The real draw here is the location. Sun Hotel sits at the base of Khao Wang, about 140m from the Phra Nakhon Khiri cable car station. Cross the road, under 2 minutes on foot, buy a ticket, and you're riding up to the hilltop palace — no driving, no hunting for parking. Wat Tham Kaeo is 170m away, and a short walk further takes you to the markets and the famous Phetchaburi dessert shops. Travellers here mainly to see Khao Wang barely need a car all day — which is exactly why the location rates a full 9.5 out of 10.
On breakfast, plenty of guests are surprised it's better than expected for the price. There's an American set (fried eggs, ham, sausage) alongside Thai options like hot congee, served in the dining room from 6:00–10:00. The dining area is a semi-open, high-ceilinged space with wooden tables and ceiling fans, open to the breeze. To be honest, the spread isn't a big-hotel buffet with endless choices — it's simple, enough to fill you before heading out — but most guests say the food itself is decent.
"Had breakfast, walked across the road, and rode the cable car straight up — no driving around looking for parking. A location this good at this price is hard to find."
Facilities are right-sized for a budget hotel. There's free parking on the grounds (though spaces are limited, so it can fill up if you arrive late), free Wi-Fi, a 24-hour front desk, a lift, an ATM, and a Thai restaurant open into the evening. Every room has air conditioning, a fridge, a TV, and a private bathroom with a shower. There's no pool and no airport transfer — so if you're after a resort with a pool, this isn't it, but for a clean bed near Khao Wang at a budget rate, it covers what matters.
The overall score sits at 8.6/10 from 58 reviews on Trip.com, which is high for a 2-star hotel. Location leads at 9.5, followed by service (8.6) and cleanliness (8.5). The honest complaints cluster around three things — early-morning garbage-truck noise and traffic from Phet Kasem Road out front, limited parking spaces, and weak Wi-Fi signal in some rooms. Worth knowing so you don't expect more than it offers — but against the price, the positives clearly outweigh the negatives.
The bottom line: Sun Hotel works best for travellers visiting Khao Wang or stopping over in Phetchaburi for a night who want a clean bed near the sights at a budget rate. Rooms start around ฿900/night, which is very cheap given the width, the large beds, and the walk to the cable car. Ask for an interior room if you're sensitive to road noise, and request a front room if you want a Khao Wang view from the balcony. For a trip built around Khao Wang, it's one of the best-value bases in town.
Summary from Booking & Agoda
- ✓ Excellent location — 2-minute walk to the Khao Wang cable car
- ✓ Rooms spacious and clean with large beds, good value
- ✓ Staff helpful and friendly
- ✓ Free on-site parking
- ! Traffic noise from Phet Kasem Road out front
- ! Parking spaces limited, can fill up if you arrive late
- ! Weak Wi-Fi signal in some rooms
- ✓ Right below Khao Wang — walk up to the cable car, no driving
- ✓ 54 sqm Suite is roomy and suits families
- ✓ Breakfast has both American and Thai options, better than expected
- ✓ Budget rate · ranked #1 of 10 Phetchaburi hotels on Tripadvisor
- ! Garbage-truck noise some early mornings
- ! No pool and no airport transfer
- ! Breakfast choice not as varied as a larger hotel
- 💡If you're sensitive to noise — ask for an interior room away from Phet Kasem Road → front rooms catch traffic and early-morning garbage trucks; flag it when booking
- 💡If you want a Khao Wang view from the balcony — request a front-facing Deluxe room with a balcony → not every room sees the hill; interior rooms look out over the town instead
- 💡If you're driving on a long weekend — arrive early, as the free parking spaces are limited → late arrivals may have to park on the street outside