Patong Beach, Phuket – 2006
by Mike Myers
 

Staying at the Yorkshire Inn
I've been visiting Patong Beach every year for the past six or seven years, sometimes a couple of times a year. I used to stay at different hotels, some of which I liked, and some of which I got a bit uncomfortable at. On the recommendation of one of the local people, I found myself at the "Yorkshire Inn" several years back, and that was the end of my searching for where to stay.

I don't think many people know about this place. I'm beginning to think it's one of the very best places in all of Patong Beach to stay at, and I'd like to give a few reasons for why I feel that way...

Way up on my list is "convenience", and with the Yorkshire Inn on Soi Sansabai, right at the end of Bangla Road, it's convenient to all the nightlife, restaurants, the beach, and all the fun things in Patong Beach. A lot of hotels are equally close, so this isn't 'the' reason for going to the Yorkshire, but it would be hard to find any place more convenient...

Much higher on my list is "security". Well, the rooms are furnished as nicely as the rest of the hotel, the walls are nice and thick, so you aren't bothered by others, and the door locks are such that there's no thought whatever of someone breaking in. Besides that, there are security cameras on the entrance doors, so people who might have bad ideas will probably select some other place. There are two entrances, one that goes through the main hotel entrance, where someone is on duty all night to check who's coming and going, and a separate door to a side building, where you get an extra key to the outside door and you're responsible for who comes and goes. Anyway, one of my biggest concerns about traveling anywhere, is the security of leaving my stuff in my room, and there's a very comforting feeling at the Yorkshire. There's also the safe deposit box down in the lobby, which is big enough to hold a camera, extra stuff, and all your paperwork. If you drink a lot, it's nice to just leave your stuff there and not worry about it. You can't access it after 11pm or so until the next morning, but that's never been a problem.

Something at the very top of my list is "internet access", which used to mean going around to one of the Internet Cafes and using their computers. Then the Yorkshire put in a computer, and allowed guests to use it. This was good for me, but I always wanted to be able to plug in my own computer. Now they've got "wireless access", which means that someone like me, who brings along their own laptop, has full high-speed access to anything and everything, 24 hours a day - right from the room! I don't think most people would bring a laptop, but if you do, this is a major plus! ....and if not, there's still the computer downstairs by the restaurant, so you can check email and stuff whenever you want.

The last thing on my list is the "feel" of being there, which is enhanced by the nicely designed wood layout - it was all done by the previous owner, who had some expert carpenters set it all up. It gives you the feeling of being in a real luxury resort, not just a rented room. Maybe some people aren't concerned about this, but as I see it, it just makes the room more comfy. There are single rooms, double rooms, and these huge apartments which are more like a suite! If you want people to think that you're a VIP, the suites are almost beyond description.... but no, I've never stayed in one...

Other miscellaneous stuff is pretty nice, but probably not unusual any more. There's a tv with lotsa stations, but most hotels have that. There's a bathroom with hot and cold running water, which is no big deal except it's great that when you start taking a shower, the temperature of the water remains the same - you don't go from ice-cold to burning, and back... I remember that problem from years ago. There's a mini-bar of course, but I tend not to use it too much. On the other hand, if at 5am you want a beer or a water, it's there!

Other things I know of, but haven't used all that much. There's a swimming pool not too far away that you get access to, but I always ended up going to the beach, not the swimming pool. There's a fairly nice restaurant in the hotel lobby, and I can easily say the breakfasts are as good as anywhere else, if not better, with the steak dinners being better than the specialty steak houses I've also visited. I didn't eat there too often, as I usually found myself at one of the local seafood restaurants, but on the days when I just didn't want to go anywhere, the restaurant menu was as pleasing as much more expensive places. The service was better too - like as in immediate. And you can either eat "inside", or as I liked to do, on the outside balcony overlooking the street.

I'm guessing the staff at most hotels is really nice to the guests. I don't remember ever being treated badly at any place I've stayed. I can't say that the staff at the Yorkshire are "better" than other places, but they're certainly excellent. They take good care of you, and are real helpful. They're even nice to you if it's approaching noon, they want to clean the room, and you want a bit more sleep... I'll say this - no place I've been at in the US got me as friendly a hotel staff as the Yorkshire!

I'm probably saying way too much here.... I just got back yesterday, and now that I'm home, I wanted to pass on this information to others. If you're in Patong Beach, check out the place in person, and you'll see just what I've described. If you're out of town, you can check their website - http://www.yorkshireinn.com and see some of the piccys, packages, and so on. I took several photos of the hotel among the other pictures I took - will try to post some of them here in a few days.

Oh yeah - one last thing... the local people must know how good this place is, 'cause when I used to take the shuttle bus from the airport to Patong Beach, we made this stop where one by one, the staff running the shuttle bus tried to get everyone to switch to one of "their recommended hotels". They tried this with me too - asked me where I was going. I showed them the brochure that said Yorkshire Inn at the top, and they didn't even try to persuade me to switch!!! 

 

Sawadee!!