Udon Cabana or Silver Reef Udon Thani

Thanks much to the board members for helping me secure lodging in Udon last week. When the Irish Clock was fully booked, I had alternatives due to the postings on this board. Since someone asked for additional details on hotels, I will list my impressions:
Udoncabana:
Rooms: Excellent, clean and spacious
Rate: 450B
Guest policy: Don't know, but do not think they have one
Safe Deposit Box: None, but I did not have a problem
Location: Ban Hoy Market, not very convenient for eating.
Staff: A mixture of friendly and not, and speaking English and not.
Internet: Free LAN connection in room if have laptop; works intermittently
Additional: Putting green in front, nice new hotel, and a bargain. Quiet except for barking dogs in AM.


Silver Reef:
Rooms: very nice
Rates: Was 550B, with a caveat that if a guest stayed past midniight, the price would increase to 650B. Now they appear to want to charge everyone 650B on the premise that too many people were bringing guests when only security guards were on duty.
Safe Deposit Box: in lobby
Location: Excellent, behind Bus Station #1, near Robinsons
Staff: Tony and Tiffany are very helpful and are fluent English speakers.
Internet: Free wireless WiFi, in lobby, if have laptop. Signal, excellent
Additional: Good location and pleasant place to stay

As a new member and visitor to Udon, I don't feel qualified to speak about subjects other than these two hotels, but will say that I liked Udon enough that I plan to return next week. Again, thanks for the wealth of information on this board.

Glad to hear you enjoyed your stay

Recently I stayed a week at the Silver Reef and agree with InAsia's comments.

The main reason I selected Silver Reef was that they offered FREE wireless internet connection and the location was good. I desire to connect to the internet several hours during the day, waching stocks and reading forums such as this one.

Free internet in the lobby is a bit misleading. You should have access in your room also. The management advised that there were occasions when a guest failed to establish connection in his room. Supposedly the guest could always establish connections while in the lobby. The internet connection is dependant on satalite. During heavy rains, expect to lose your connection. There is also a computer on the main floor available for SR guests.

The two nearby british-run hotels, The City Lodge and Irish Clock, have excellent locations. IMO these two offer better ambiance. You have the advantage of socializing with the many English speaking guests and locals patronizing their bars and restaurants. I stayed at The City Lodge for 6 weeks last year. It is one of my favorites. I've spent a few dozen evenings at the Irish Clock and have toured the rooms. The posh Irish Clock rooms are 850 baht. The City Lodge has two rooms at 600 baht and bigger rooms at 700, 800 and 900.

The City Lodge offers their customers the free use of their single internet computer located in the restaurant area. The Irish Clock has internet connections in the rooms but there is a fee for their use.

Both The City Lodge and the Irish clock hotels have a pool table for free use by customers. The Clock has a fine slate table. Both are in an air conditioned room.

The City Lodge and the Irish Clock offer western meals that have received good reviews on this forum. I believe The City Lodge still provides a free breakfast to their guests. Two weeks ago Silver Reef was still in the process of hiring staff and finishing the outfitting of their kitchen.

In the past year a half dozen bars and restaurants have opened up in the couple hundred meter stretch between the Irish Clock and The City Lodge. Most of these are falang managed. There is a bit of happening moving between these bars. Several have Thai ladies eager to strike up a convesation.

My main disappointment with the Silver Reef was the spartan nature of the furniture. The closet is a box with one shelf. For tables there are two small bedside stands and a coffee table.

I moved to the SR from the Jan Condotel because Jan Condotel was three miles out on Phosri Road. I was tired of explaining to tuk-tuk drivers how to return to the hotel. However, shortly after transferring to th Silver Reef, I felt that I had made a poor choice.

The Jan Condotel attracted me because they offered free wireless internet at a rate of 350 baht per day. It was new. The rooms were nicely fitted out. There was substantial storage with a closet featuring a half dozen drawers. The room desk was convenient for using my laptop which plugged into the room's lan-type socket. The hotel had most facilities but was without estaurant or a pool. They had a laundry. I really felt comfortable at the Jan Condotel. There was a popular Thai open-air restaurant (called oyster hot pot) nearby on Phosri road across from the Udon Thani Province Museum which satisfied my craving for good Thai food. The Good Everything restaurant nearby provided a great selection of western and Thai food. There were Thia shops across the soi that stayed open late and sold cold drinks and snacks to the hordes of young Thia girls, students at the nearby schools.

I'll likely stay at the Jan Condotel when I next return to Udon Thani. I recommend it for everything except the scarcity of local falang-bars.