Carmelia Resort: Riverside Repose

UPDATE : 15 November 2010
Youthapong Charoenpan

Nestled alongside Maenam Khwae Yai (‘the Kwai River’) in Kanchanaburi province, Carmelia Resort enjoys a splendid setting by the historic bridge that provides the title of the classic World War II movie 'The Bridge On The River Kwai'.


The budget level accommodation is both practical and affordable, while the Middle Eastern cuisine offered in the resort's restaurant is also of a high standard. The resort provides an ideal base for visitors wishing to explore the historical and natural attractions located around Kanchanaburi province.


Basic But Comfy
The budget resort has 42 air-conditioned rooms, comprising twin and double bed options, located in seven, three-story buildings. While the rooms include basic furniture, I was disappointed to discover that the floor in our en suite bathroom was slippery and, therefore, not particularly functional.


My companion and I spent two nights at the resort in a double room (800 baht [US$26] per night), which was located on the top floor towards the left side of the property.


The balcony offered a stunning view of the surrounding area, including the river and expansive lawns. My companion and I opted to spend some time there to enjoy the fresh air and do some reading, while indulging in a few refreshing glasses of beer. Before we knew it, the sun was setting, highlighting the wonderful mountainous surroundings.


Poolside Perks
The resort includes a large outdoor swimming pool (see photo, below), which is handily located near an outdoor restaurant. My companion and I found this to be a great spot to enjoy some sunbathing. On picking up the mouthwatering aromas from the restaurant’s food delivery business during the afternoon, we chose to order some snacks.


Initially, the resort was co-owned by a Thai investor and an Israeli national, so most of the resort’s customers tend to be Thais or Israelis. Although the Israeli co-owner subsequently left to start his own resort, he left behind an impressive Middle Eastern menu, which the resort has maintained.


We found the hummus (‘garlic and chick pea dip’), which is served with warm pita bread (100 baht) to be nice and velvety, while the falafel (deep fried balls of chick peas and seasoning [250 baht]) looked and tasted delicious. My traveling companion from Argentina, who is Jewish, vouched for the authenticity of the restaurant’s Middle Eastern fare. However, I should note that while the members of staff were reasonably courteous, they were not particularly helpful.


For further information, or to make a reservation, call Tel: +66 (0)34 624 884, +66 (0)89 547 7384, or +66 (0)89 836 8670.

Transport Connections:
Carmelia Resort is located about 20 meters inside Soi Cambodia (Soi Maenamkwai 15) on Kanchanaburi’s Maenamkwai Road (International Road).


Car: Take the westward branch of Highway 4 (Phetkasem Road) from Bangkok in the direction of Nakhon Pathom province. Once you're in Nakhon Pathom province, look out for signs for Highway 323 and follow them. After passing through Ratchaburi province and Kanchanaburi’s Thai Maka district, you will arrive to Kanchanaburi’s downtown area.


Bus: Air-conditioned and regular buses leave Bangkok's Southern Bus terminal (Sai Tai Mai) about every 15 minutes. Departures begin at about 5 am and continue until 10 pm. The journey takes between two to three hours and a single (one-way) fare costs 150 baht.

Alternatively, you can take a minivan from Khao San Road or Victory Monument (BTS: Victory Monument). The fare is 150 baht, but the journey using this method is slightly quicker (about two hours) than the bus journey just described.

Train: Trains to Kanchanaburi depart Thon Buri's Bangkok Noi Railway Station twice a day (at 7.45 am and 1.35 pm). A single (one-way) fare costs 100 baht and the journey takes between three and three-and-a-half hours.


source: Tannetwork.tv