I had booked a family room here for 4 nights. Our room was right at the top of the front building of Somjai Place and had room for 6 people to sleep we are a family of 5 ; a double and 3 single beds were lined up side-to-side in a very long row just like a dormitory room. The room was okay; very basic and quite dark, as the only natural light came from a strip of glass high up near the ceiling along one end-wall.
We considered the room adequate for the price as we are always out all day and only just use it for showering and sleeping. The bathroom was very basic, but also dirty and run-down, with thick dust and mouse or gecko droppings on ledges.
The worst, and unforgivable experience of staying at Somjai Place proved to be renting their bicycles, of which they have 2 types; the older models offered at 40 Baht a day, and "newer" presumably better bicycles at Baht a day. On the first day we selected our bikes carefully, and my husband; under the watchful eye of the female manageress, who provided spanners etc; adjusted seats and handle-bars On the first day we selected our bikes carefully, and my husband; under the watchful eye of the female manageress, who provided spanners etc; adjusted seats and handle-bars to our heights and requirements, checked brakes poor to non-existent and tyre-pressures too we are all experienced cyclists who cycle daily.
My husband and our 12 year old son choose newer models to fit them best, as they are tall. Reluctantly, I was told I could not hire the cycles without leaving all of our passports deposited with the manager. Then, we set off to explore Ayutthaya and its temples! All was well until out in the countryside, one of my son's bicycle pedals fell off! Without any tools, my husband was unable to replace it, but instead swapped cycles and had to hold onto the parcel rack of another of our cycles to be towed along until we came to some shops and houses where eventually we found someone with a spanner to loan so my husband could re-attach the pedal.
Luckily my husband is very capable and we are seasoned cyclists and travellers, but I nontheless felt a little perturbed by the situation in as much Somjai Place obviously do not maintain the cycles they rent out and have little consideration for guests' safety and well-being. Can you imagine being stranded in the countryside of a foreign country,10kms away from your hotel with 3 children? Once my husband had repaired his cycle we continued on our cycle-tour for the rest of the day without further problems.
