Navalai River Resort

This hotel is housed in an attractive, white-stucco building, which abuts a small road on one side and overlooks Pier 13 on the other. The facade resembles a smart and tidy low-rise apartment structure, and a similarly no-nonsense -- though comfortable and welcoming -- feeling continues inside. The brightly lit common areas are styled with red-cushioned wicker furniture, Thai-themed contemporary paintings, and modern wall and ceiling hangings in dark earth tones and bright yellows. The lobby's shiny, white marble floors and white walls and ceilings, along with modern recessed lighting, amount to a clean look, while wood latticework lends the space an easygoing appeal. Aquatini, the riverside restaurant, has a simple yet elegant terrace furnished with wicker and wood tables and chairs, accented with standing lanterns, potted tropical plants, and umbrellas. The rooftop pool, lined with blue-cushioned wooden loungers and beige umbrellas, is another lovely gathering place for guests, who include many couples and some families and business travelers. 

This hotel is located on a bank of Chao Praya River in the old town area, directly overlooking Pier 13, which is practically joined to the property via a metal gangplank on the river-facing side. The few office buildings in the immediate area are all low-rise, so the area doesn't feel too corporate. Khao Sarn Road, a major pedestrian area full of shops and restaurants, is an 11-minute walk, and Grand Palace is 18 minutes away on foot, or a five-minute boat ride. Wat Pho is a 25-minute walk or accessible easily by boat. Taksin Pier is also easily reached by boat. 

Rooms here are decorated, if minimally, according to one of four different themes -- Artist, Thai, Colonial, and Rattanakosin -- though the categories don’t make for great variation. Orange or purple bed runners, queen Anne chairs, and '80s-style makeup vanities add some atmosphere to bright, minimal rooms, which have linoleum floors and lacquer furnishings. Modern or Thai-patterned hangings adorn the walls over the beds. Bathrooms are generally more modern than the living areas, with wood doors and vanities, basin sinks, and shower/tub combos. Many rooms have tiled balconies with deck chairs and some have river views. All rooms have air-conditioning, minibars, safes, two free bottles of water, electric kettles, and flat-screen TVs. Slippers and hairdryers are also provided. 

Aquatini, the restaurant on the ground floor, serves an American-style buffet breakfast and Thai dishes for lunch and dinner. Room service is also available, but it has limited hours. Adjacent to the restaurant, through a set of large patio doors, is an outdoor deck with tables and chairs that gives direct river views. The outdoor swimming pool and pool bar are located on the sixth-floor roof. There's a computer area in the lobby for guest use, and Wi-Fi is free throughout. A massage place and convenience store can be found in front of the hotel, as well.