The Englishmans Retreat - Udon Thani

[Propagator]

Back in Udon again and as the usual place that I stay was fully booked I had to find another. Met Marmite and he recommended this place though I believe he has not stayed there.

It is a little way off the beaten track and you would definitely need transport to get to and from it. It is situated off the Udon ring road and is difficult to find first time, I will post a map later, when I can find the ruddy thing.

I even drove past the place not realising it was a guest house as there are no signs for it.

Place is owned and run by a Welshman and his missus. Very pleasant and made you feel welcome. Staff were good, pleasant and very polite. Has a pool and a small fitness club, pool table, bar and meals etc, and not expensive. The only meal I had there was the breakfast which was good. The owner runs a quiz night some evenings and I was invited to join in, but after a couple of beers and knowing what was waiting upstairs for me declined.

I stayed in the studio room, which is large, airy with A/c, TV and mini bar, also has Wi Fi ascess. This was 600 baht a night. The room was clean with plenty of storage space. Toilet and shower with hot water, a little cramped but more than adequate.

Has 8 other double rooms, with fan or A/c, and all rooms either overlook or open on to the pool.

Web site

Welcome to The Englishmans Retreat Guest House and Leisure Club

I was impressed and would stay there again, but reiterate the fact that you would need transport if you want to visit the town of Udon.

Now the photos

The pool taken from the studio room, not deep and about 15 metres length



The studio room looking from the bed



Same studio looking towards the bed, sorry about the mess but had just got up and remembered to take photos for the report




and of course the all imprtant loo area



The bar area



and lastly the pool table. The owner keeps it regularly cleaned and brushed. Level but a tad slow for my liking

[sabang]

Nice looking place. But it's called 'The Englishmans Retreat' and run by a Welshman.

Do any of their guests mysteriously disappear I wonder. Or have I been watching 'Hostel' too much?

[dirtydog]

Noticed that you actually had to go out on the balcony to take the picture of the bed, I suppose compact is a polite way of saying tiny

My mistake, missed the second inner set of curtains.

[Marmite the Dog]

But it's called 'The Englishmans Retreat' and run by a Welshman.

Indeed. I mentioned this to Glyn (the owner) and he did give me a suitable reply, but I can't remember what it was now.

[hillbilly]

For English people, I would think it would be quite lovely.

[sabang]

Maybe he's worried that some English nationalist might come and burn down his home, for a change.

[panama hat]

and knowing what was waiting upstairs for me declined.

So you post a picture of the bed after the nightly romp yet a photo of the romper is missing . . .

[isdatu]

Wonder if you asked him about the lack of signage? Maybe he's happy with web-page bookings or word of mouth. Is handy however to find a nice place away from the hustle and bustle just by stumbling along and finding a signpost etc.

[dirtydog]

^Could be one of those "Swingers Resorts" and he wants to keep it low profile.

Maybe propagator should have gone in for the quiz night, also he mentioned sports facilities.

[Bexar County Stud]

Nice halfway house ambiance. Mighty grim for a "retreat" I would think, even for an englishman.

[Marmite the Dog]

Nice halfway house ambiance. Mighty grim for a "retreat" I would think, even for an englishman.

Depends who you're there with and whether your mates are wankers or not.

[peterpan]

Dunno why someone would think building a "hidden resort" 14 k's away from the centre of Udon and way from any main road would work. Ahhhh I know, wifey thought its was good idea.

[Bexar County Stud]

Nice halfway house ambiance. Mighty grim for a "retreat" I would think, even for an englishman.

Depends who you're there with and whether your mates are wankers or not.

Why should one's own opinion depend on others? How very English - put some balls on and get a mind of your own FFS.

[Marmite the Dog]

Nice halfway house ambiance. Mighty grim for a "retreat" I would think, even for an englishman.

Depends who you're there with and whether your mates are wankers or not.

Why should one's own opinion depend on others? How very English - put some balls on and get a mind of your own FFS.

You missed the point.

I don't go to bars on my own if I can help it as I'm not a sad old ackie, but I do enjoy going to bars to meet my friends.


So I guess you're a sad old alkie, your friends are wankers, or you don't have any.

[R2D2]

Anyway.

Nice report. Btw, was it quiet at the resort? I believe there is a miltary base nearby...hear anything?

ps. Why do you live in Runcorn?

[jandajoy]

Why do you live in Runcorn?

Someones got to.

[red67]

Dunno why someone would think building a "hidden resort" 14 k's away from the centre of Udon and way from any main road would work. Ahhhh I know, wifey thought its was good idea.

I think the problem is so many people believe that their way of living, situation, frame-of-mind, etc. is the same as that of others. In reality if your idea of a night out is crawling bars to oggle pretty ladies, then purhaps the retreat is not for you, but believe it or not we are not all built the same way, some of us actually go out for just being with friends and enjoying good conversation, and for that the retreat is perfect. Glyn is very anti-prostitution and runs a clean establishment for clean-minded people (yes most of his guests are happily married couples). The Retreat is actually only 6kms from the Robinson complex and usually takes me 10-15mins on a bike, so for day-time shopping that's not a great deal. The atmosphere at the retreat is brilliant most nights, this probably has something to do with Glyn not tolerating bullshitters or idiots. I know- with filtering out those type of customers it's hard to believe there is a customer base left, given the sad expats that Thailand seems to attract. If you are a desent person, happily married (or just loved up) and go out to enjoy good conversation you will love the retreat.

"Ahhh I know" there you go again assuming everyone is in the same situation as you. You obviously don't know, not Glyn, not his wife, not his situation, and you obviously don't get the retreat - TF for Glyns filtering system of not making idiots welcome.

Go to youtube and watch video watch?v=SzFgp6-S9jk

There are orange signs indicating where to turn, they have been in place for over a year. But at the retreat, the only sign is embedded into the concrete as you come over the draw-bridge it says "The Retreat" so when looking for it get out of your mind what you think a guest house should look like, and think caste wall, draw bridge, castle gate, then you'll find it no problem

On a final note Glyn was born in England, but he likes to point out that the name is to imply the retreat is for his customers to retreat, and not for him - if that makes sense.

[Marmite the Dog]

On a final note Glyn was born in England

But still points out that he is Welsh to everyone. Not that it bothers me as Wales has been part of England for about 700 years now.

[Wayne Kerr]

Just realised this was bumped, how about map then red? Planning an Isaan sojourn this Songkran and quite like these types of places.

If you are a desent person, happily married (or just loved up) and go out to enjoy good conversation you will love the retreat.

Ummm ... is is the beer cold??

Oh, good little thread Pops

oh just see the map here - http://www.englishmansretreat.com/Map.html

[Thetyim]

how about map then

[Marmite the Dog]

^ What a crap map. They've missed my road off completely.

Planning an Isaan sojourn this Songkran

Better lock up the beer...