อ่านภาษาไทย
Tha Ruea Daeng Guesthouse is a great Ayutthaya accommodation with Pa Sak River views that I highly recommend. The word "guesthouse" might sound like it's only for foreign tourists, but Thais love staying here too—especially at authentic guesthouses where owners share various parts of their home for overnight guests, usually providing a small communal area for travelers to meet and chat.
I have to brag a little—in my younger days, "Sookjai Weekend" was a regular at guesthouses across Thailand. They were cheap, 200-300 per night, owners were friendly, and you could exchange stories with other travelers who shared the same passion.
As for the name "Tha Ruea Daeng" (Red Pier), it's because this alley used to be the site of a mail boat pier, and those boats were red.
Tha Ruea Daeng Guesthouse even features shared bathrooms. To be honest, when we pay 500-600+ for a hotel, we might not even use the bathroom much except for a quick morning wash before heading out (haha). But the location is beautiful, featuring Pa Sak River views (specific to riverfront rooms) and a rooftop for chilling in the evening. You can bring up a couple of beers from 7-Eleven; the owner won't mind since the guesthouse doesn't sell them. Sipping beer while watching the river for a long time gives a real slow-life vibe.
Both AC and fan rooms are available—take your pick—but there are no televisions or refrigerators in the rooms!
Overall, cleanliness is excellent (the owner does it all herself as there are no staff due to COVID, haha). The air conditioning is ice cold since it's a new opening. The owner (Khun Ann) rented this riverside building and converted it into a guesthouse just as COVID arrived, so many things had to be slowed down. From our chat, she mentioned she might add a dormitory-style hostel room as well.
Other advantages besides the river view: the alley is near Chan Kasem National Museum (just across the street) and close to the old Ayutthaya prison, which is now a park. It's part of Toyota's White Road project, with electric vehicles available for photos. Not just EVs, even the park toilets are smart, energy-saving "Number 5" toilets.
It's also right next to the Chan Kasem Palace market or Hua Ro night market. There's plenty of food available both at night and when you wake up—very convenient. In the early morning when you're hungry, there's pork blood soup by the river and healthy porridge to fill your stomach before another day of exploring.
This market by the Pa Sak River turns into an amulet market and a flea market on Saturdays and Sundays. From the palace pier or Chan Kasem Museum, there's a ferry to visit Wat Mon Thop.
And if you have time, I want you to walk around and take photos at the Crown Property Bureau market. Especially at Hua Ro, the market is curved like a movie set; it's very eye-catching and unlike any curved market I've seen before.
Highly recommended for those who like unique, friendly accommodation for a relaxing holiday in Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya.
