We love Thailand's homestays for their unique character and personalized service. So when we were introduced to this homestay in Samut Songkhram called Baan Suan Krua, it was love at first sight. In a town not far from the southwestern outskirts of Bangkok, it's the perfect place to spend a long weekend getaway for 1500 baht (about $45 USD) per night.
Kicking Back at a Homestay in Samut Songkhram
This charming homestay in Samut Songkhram is called Baan Suan Krua (บ้านสวนครัว), which literally means House Garden Kitchen. Tucked away from the main road, we arrived there just after sunset and walked into an outdoor dining area surrounded by lush greenery, soft lights, and an overall wonderful ambiance.
The property hugs the banks of a canal and features a privacy fence made of blossoming foliage. There are several lounge chairs and umbrellas that overlook the canal. That area also features an outdoor grill and prep area if you'd like to do some cooking outside. There's an above ground pool, swings and hammocks, and even paddle boats to take a scenic trip up the canal.
The homestay was once a two-story traditional Thai teak home. The owners of Baan Suan Krua live on the top level of this Thai stilt house and later converted the open-aired lower level into three separate spacious units.
Modern Garden Rooms
A few steps past the formal outdoor dining area, we entered into what was perhaps the largest accommodation in Thailand we've ever been in.
Bright, clean, and simple. And cold AC! The room even came with a second mattress that we used while getting our Thai massages that evening. It's not in the picture, but there's also a huge flat screen TV mounted on the wall in front of the bed as well as a fan.
There's a desk area within arm's reach of a mini fridge. It's stocked with soda, beer, and water. There is also a hotpot and a selection of tea and instant coffee, as well as some snacks (for a small fee).
Much to our surprise, there are several different ambient lighting options. There is also a large window that lets in a lot of natural lighting.
The Western style bathroom is bright and large. It features a modern toilet and a hot water shower complete with a rain shower head and a shower curtain. Wow! That's something we rarely see in Thailand! The shower also included dispensers of shampoo and body wash that can double as hand soap.
Alms to the Monks
An incredibly unique feature of this homestay in Samut Songkhram is being able to give merit to the monks as a guest. Every day in the early morning between 6:00am and 6:15am, monks from a nearby temple silently make the journey up the canal in their long canoes and pass by Baan Suan Krua.
The homestay has a small set of stairs that lead down into the water. Making prior arrangements with the owners, we gave offerings to the monks of steamed rice and a small bag of a stir-fry or curry dish, in addition to orchid flowers, incense, and candles.
Dining Options
Guests at Baan Suan Krua are welcomed to shop at the local market and bring the goods back to cook dinner themselves. As an alternative, the owners are happy to whip up a few of their Thai favorites using whatever is in the kitchen at the time, which is open from 7:00am to 9:00pm.
Breakfast is included in the price of the homestay and includes fresh local fruit, freshly baked bread(!) with butter and jam spreads, and instant coffee and hot tea. The owners also offered us a hot plate of fried eggs, garlic toast, and ham and sausage with a small side salad. If you prefer a Thai breakfast of rice porridge ( kao dum), they have that, too. They offer fresh espresso and tea drinks from their drink menu in addition to their breakfast options.
The service was excellent and the grounds and room were well taken care of. We could really tell that the owners, Pee Tim and Pee Rong, take pride in their business and home and present it well to their guests.
Baan Suan Krua Amenities
- Thai kitchen open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner; breakfast included
- Mini fridge with cold beverages, snacks
- Powerful AC, fan, and flat screen TV
- Hot water rain shower(!)
- Laundry facility onsite
- Thai massage - two hours for 400 baht
- Wooden boat with paddles to explore river
- Free reliable Wifi
- Clothes drying rack
- Queen size bed; an extra bed is available on request
Overall Stay
We had a wonderful experience at the Baan Suan Krua homestay in Samut Songkhram. We enjoyed having meals outside in their beautiful garden area, the quaint privacy of the property, and the one-of-a-kind experience of giving merit to monks along the canal.
We also enjoyed some of the best Thai massages we've ever had in Thailand, which were conveniently hosted onsite. We highly recommend getting one during your stay at a going rate of 400 baht per two hours.
Location and Contact Information
Baan Suan Krua is near the city center of the Samut Songkhram province, which is about an hour and a half drive southwest from Bangkok. The best way to book this homestay is by contacting them directly through Facebook or email, as they are not listed on major hotel booking sites.
If you are looking for a quiet and relaxing place to spend a few days, whether you are traveling alone, with a significant other, or with family, Baan Suan Krua is the place to go. It's places like this that showcase the amazing hospitality of the people of Thailand and we're glad to have found it.
DISCLOSURE: We received a one-night stay compliments of TBEX (Travel Bloggers Exchange) Asia 2015. Although we were not obliged to write a review about Baan Suan Krua, we thoroughly enjoyed our time there and wanted to pass along the details of this homestay in Samut Songkhram to our readers.
