Best Western Royal Buriram — A Blue Block Downtown with Roomy Rooms, a Saltwater Pool, and the Stadium Minutes Away
If you're after a base for a Chang Arena match day or the MotoGP weekend at the Chang Circuit, the name Buriram locals tend to mention first is Best Western Royal Buriram. Two bright-blue four-storey blocks on Jira Road, visible from a distance and easy to find. What guests repeat most is rooms larger than the price suggests, a curved outdoor saltwater pool, and plenty of free parking — which matters a lot if you've driven yourself in.
Best Western Royal Buriram opened in 2013 as a 3-star property under the Best Western brand. The hotel is two deep-blue four-storey blocks holding 79 rooms in total. Most are Standard and Deluxe categories with King or twin beds, cool tiled floors, and a pink floral feature wall that a lot of guests remember the place by. The point reviewers agree on most is that the rooms run larger than you'd expect at this rate — comfortable beds, strong hot water, and Wi-Fi that reaches throughout.
The courtyard between the two blocks holds a curved outdoor saltwater pool ringed by palms and wooden sun loungers. Saltwater is gentler than standard chlorine, so families with kids tend to single this out. Next to the pool sits Chic Restaurant & Coffee, serving Thai dishes and à la carte food plus a buffet breakfast. Worth saying plainly — several recent reviews mention the breakfast spread has thinned out compared to before, so if breakfast is a deal-breaker for you, set expectations accordingly.
Guests describe a "room much bigger than expected, parking right out front, and a quick drive to the circuit — genuinely good value for the price."
The real draw here is the location paired with the parking. It's a 5-minute drive to Chang Arena, home of Buriram United, and only a little further to the Chang International Circuit that hosts MotoGP. On race and match weekends the rooms fill fast, because guests know the drive to the venue is short and getting back to bed afterwards is easy. The free parking in the front lot is generous — no circling the block the way you do at many downtown hotels.
Front-desk staff check guests in quickly, and plenty of reviews describe them as friendly and helpful, though a few note English is workable rather than fluent. The hotel runs Buriram Airport transfers (the airport is about 34 km away) and train-station pickups (around 2.7 km), but both carry an extra fee and should be arranged ahead. There's a small business centre and meeting room for working travellers — but no fitness centre and no spa, which is worth knowing before you arrive.
The score sits at 8.2/10 on Trip.com, and the hotel ranks #3 of 23 hotels in Buriram on Tripadvisor from around 190 guest reviews. Cleanliness and amenities score well. The honest complaints from lower-rated reviews flag inconsistent food quality at the restaurant, some worn linens, and the occasional brief power cut. The other caveat is that the hotel sits a fair way from the evening food-and-drink scene — roughly a 20–30 minute walk to restaurants outside the hotel, so without a car, have Grab ready.
On price — a Standard room starts around ฿1,050/night on a normal weekday, which is very cheap for a branded hotel with a pool and free parking. But during MotoGP or a big Chang Arena fixture, rates climb several times over and the place sells out months ahead. If you're planning around those dates, book at least 1–2 months in advance or there will be next to nothing left.
The bottom line: Best Western Royal Buriram works best for drivers who want a roomy, clean base close to the circuit and Chang Arena at a budget rate. It isn't a luxury hotel and the design is plain, but you get the essentials for the money. If you're chasing a polished atmosphere or standout dining, look elsewhere — but for stadium proximity, parking, and value-for-size rooms, it delivers.
Summary from Booking & Agoda
- ✓ Rooms larger than the rate suggests, clean, comfortable beds
- ✓ Plenty of free parking — great if you've driven in
- ✓ Outdoor saltwater pool, fine for kids
- ✓ Very short drive to Chang Arena and the Chang Circuit
- ! Restaurant food quality is inconsistent
- ! Far from the evening food scene — without a car you rely on Grab
- ! Some worn linens and occasional brief power cuts
- ✓ Strong value for a branded hotel
- ✓ Friendly reception, fast check-in
- ✓ Bright-blue block is easy to find, central location
- ✓ Strong hot water, Wi-Fi reaches throughout
- ! Breakfast selection has thinned compared to before
- ! No on-site fitness centre or spa
- ! Rates spike and rooms sell out fast around MotoGP
- 💡If you're coming for MotoGP or a big fixture — book 1–2 months ahead at minimum → rooms sell out fast and rates climb several times over during those dates
- 💡If breakfast matters to you — recent reviews say the spread has thinned → heading out to a rice-soup spot or the morning market in town is a solid alternative
- 💡If you don't have a car — the hotel is a 20–30 minute walk from the evening food scene → keep Grab ready, or use the hotel's transfer service (extra fee)