Zen Next Condo Khao Yai

We rented a two bedroom apartment for a night as a way stop on the way home to Isaan. At the price of over 6,000฿, we expected 5* excellence. We partially got it. If I had read a September 2022 posting on Tripadvisor before reserving (very critical of the place) I would not have stayed here. I think that review was somewhat off the mark. It is better than that portrays, but not as good as it is made to appear online. I think a Japanese architect designed the resort. The rooms have lavish natural wood cabinetry, quite elegant. The beds are very firm-hard, which is popular in Asia (not cushy pillow top western). Harder than I like. But as I will touch on later, the maintenance has been neglected so not all features work well. Tall cabinet doors stick or are falling out, or scratching the bamboo flooring. I fear it will not age well. All this natural wood requires frequent maintenance to stay looking good. So far, inside the rooms is OK. Outside, not so much so. The exterior areas are inexplicably not of high quality or workmanship, and deteriorating. The pool area and onsen were clearly designed by someone who knows Japan, yet were poorly built and falling apart. There is no hot water in the showers you are supposed to bath in before entering the onsen, and on leaving, and it all has an abandoned look. The onsen pools are at about 104°F (40°C) which is OK. The pool seems adequate. There is another half-completed building next door that got framed up and left out in the weather. The construction apparently has stopped, perhaps a victim of Covid-19. The natural setting is lovely. Kind of a shame for so much potential to be poorly used and left to deteriorate. I would not recommend buying a unit here, as the deferred maintenance is very extensive, and the upkeep will be high. The staff is doing their best to provide friendly Thai service.

My family and I stayed at Junior Suite Room. It was really good for family (4 pax). The room had almost everything that you needed (like service apartment). The view from balcony was superb and very cooling in December 2021. It would be nice to workation there !!!