If you ask what kind of accommodation we look for when we travel, the answer for me is not difficult. It is a pool villa or a room with a bathtub. Because we feel that traveling is like changing our sleeping place, changing the atmosphere, opening our eyes and mind, and most importantly, it is a way to relax from our work as salaried employees. Having a pool villa or a bathtub to soak in comfortably is therefore our top choice for relaxation. Of course, it also depends on our budget. For this trip, I got a voucher for a 50% discount on the room rate. It was close to our wedding anniversary, and we were looking for a place to stay near Khao Yai because it was the rainy season. We didn't want to travel too far, and Khao Yai, which is close to our home, was a good choice for this occasion. After we agreed on the price, I would like to inform you of the price. I stayed for 1 night, which was Friday, July 8, 2016. The full price for that day was 12,500 baht (excluding tax and service charge). The price I had to pay was 6,250 baht. After adding tax and service charge, the price was 7,356 baht. This price does not include breakfast. I asked and the price of breakfast was 900 baht per person, which I did not include. I asked my husband's opinion and he was okay with it, so we went ahead with it. It's a special occasion, so the price is about the same as when we travel to other provinces. So it wasn't a difficult decision.

The day of the trip was exciting as usual, as it was the wedding anniversary of Som and her husband.

It was already exciting enough, and this year, we were staying at a resort that Som had been following for some time, so we were even more excited.

During July 6-7, it rained in Korat and the sky was gray all day. Som was even more stressed that the weather wouldn't cooperate.

But it was a very good thing that on the morning of the 8th, the sky was very clear and there was no rain at all.

Som left home in Korat city around 10 am. For this trip, Som planned to go find food in Khao Yai.

Stop by and visit the area around Khao Yai, and then check into the accommodation. Because the check-in time is 2 pm.

The first destination was to stop for breakfast and lunch at a restaurant called "Pen Lao".

On the way, the staff at The Private Pool called to ask how far we had come.

This is the first thing that impressed me. Most accommodations don't call to ask.

Som arrived at Pen Lao around 11 am. There weren't many people yet. The restaurant has a lot of parking space.

But I don't know if it will be enough on weekends or holidays.

The restaurant offers both indoor and outdoor seating. However, the staff recommends sitting inside as it is air-conditioned.

Due to the large number of flies recently, there weren't many people when I arrived. There were only a few tables, but after a while, the place was full.

This is my first time eating at Som's Lao restaurant. I'm looking at the menu based on the staff's recommendations.

The menu for that day included spicy pork bone soup with young bamboo shoots, herb-grilled chicken, pork waterfall salad, 2 plates of plain rice, and 1 bottle of water for a total of 380 baht.

It's not expensive and very delicious. Som loves tom yum soup very much. The soft bones are crunchy. After finishing the meal, I thought about where to go next.

Oh, the Lao restaurant is right across from Birder's lodge, isn't it? It's really popular right now, but I didn't go in.

As I'm still full from the previous meal, as I mentioned, I was thinking of stopping by Khao Yai, but I changed my mind.

So I decided to check into the accommodation right away. It was almost afternoon then. Looking at the map, the distance was about 40 kilometers.

The map takes us to the road that goes up to Khao Yai and turns left to Wang Nam Khiao. So we follow the map.

After driving for a while, there will be a fork in the road where you should turn left to reach the accommodation. However, I would like to point out that if you come this way,

Be prepared, the road is not very good and there are no cars running at all.

On the way back, Som took the Nong Sala Rae route and then went straight onto Mittraphap Road. It's a much better road.

Before entering the resort, Som stopped to buy ingredients for breakfast, as she did not opt for the resort's breakfast option.

She prepared her own provisions, having read in reviews that the resort provides kitchenware like a microwave, which was convenient.

The entrance has clear signage, but the access road is in poor condition with quite a few potholes.

Not far from the entrance of the alley, you will pass the resort's parking lot first, but drive to the lobby first.

We arrived at the resort almost at two in the afternoon. It was not yet time to check in, so we walked around taking pictures.

Come on, Som will take you to see our special accommodation.

The entrance to The Private Pool Villas at Civilai Hill is here. The staff will ask you, and you can tell them that you are here to check in and drive straight ahead.

Upon arrival, there was a welcome drink. Som didn't ask what kind of juice it was, but it was probably butterfly pea with lemon. It was served with a very fragrant cold towel.

The lobby and check-in area are located in the same space as The Pavillion restaurant, as the hotel only has 5 rooms.

This area may not need to be very spacious, but it is well-arranged. Most importantly, the cool breeze and the nearby hills are a sight to behold.

The staff here are very friendly. While I was waiting, they came over to chat with me about my travels.

May I ask if you have had lunch yet? I can suggest some accommodation options for you.

You must park your car in the designated parking area. You are not allowed to park in front of your room.

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Upon arrival, Som went to check in, while her husband had the staff bring down their luggage and the staff would drive the car and park it for us.

The distance between the lobby and the accommodation is not far at all. But there are golf carts available, which is convenient.

When it's time, the staff will take us to the room. Let me give you a brief overview of the resort.

When they drop you off at your room, the staff will give you a mobile phone that you can use to contact the lobby at any time.

I used it to call for a golf cart to pick me up on the day I checked out. It was very convenient.

There are a lot of trees here, the whole resort is green. Let me show you the way from the lobby to our room.

Som's room today is the first room, type pool villa.

There are 2 type pool villas, 2 deluxe pool villas, and 1 panoramic pool villa.

The difference is that this room has a larger garden area than all other rooms.

Each room is named after a flower. The resort is planted with trees and flowers all the way, making it very cool and comfortable.

The accommodation is surrounded by trees, which are used as a fence.

Calling this place a room is a bit of a stretch, because the space is so large and expansive. It would be more accurate to call it a building.

The large inner door will be locked with a knob and an additional chain.

Opening to the left will be the kitchen counter area. I'll show you a picture of the kitchen here first.

Kitchen amenities include a refrigerator, microwave, toaster, and wine cooler.

Coffee maker, juicer, dishwashing, plates, spoons, glasses, complete.

The refrigerator contains a variety of beverages, including mineral water, soft drinks, and alcoholic beverages. Prices are clearly displayed. Oranges are not included in this service.

The room comes with 6 bottles of complimentary water, with the option to request more. There are also free snacks and welcome fruits.

The bathroom is on the right-hand side and it's quite spacious.

The bathroom has 2 sinks, a wardrobe, a safe, and a toilet with a bidet spray.

The bathroom has a bathtub and a rain shower.

There is a garden corner to see and the outside can see the pool. The bath products are l'occitane, which smells good.

Let's take a look at the relaxation corner. The bed here is soft and comfortable, with several pillows provided.

However, if you prefer large pillows like me, you might find them a bit inconvenient, as the pillows here are on the smaller side.

The room has a very high ceiling, making it feel spacious and airy.

One thing I really like about this place is that the pillows, blankets, towels, and all the fabrics smell amazing. The room is clean, indicating that it is well taken care of.

On both sides of the bed, there are work desks and simple decorations that match the rest of the room.

At the end of the bed, there is a large sofa set where you can comfortably lie down and watch TV.

This time, Som takes us to the highlight of this place, which is the private pool.

I have to say that it is really private because this place is surrounded by dense trees and the view in front is the mountain.

Don't worry about anything, the pool will have both a waterfall and a jacuzzi corner. The waterfall corner will be open from 8.00-20.00 hrs.

As for the jacuzzi, we can open it ourselves. On the side, there will be a seat for us to sit and lie down to enjoy the atmosphere.

Next to it is a wooden bathtub and this place has a private sauna. However, we did not use both of them.

The sun was setting and the wind was dying down around 6 pm, and my stomach started to growl.

For dinner, we decided to eat at The Pavillion, the resort's restaurant. The staff informed us during check-in that the kitchen closes at 8 pm.

Dinner tonight was another impressive experience.

The service was excellent. The staff was very attentive, refilling our water glasses and asking if we were enjoying our food and if we needed anything else.

And most importantly, the food was delicious and affordable.

For dinner, we had stir-fried pork ribs with green peppercorns, creamy tom yum soup with shrimp, and fish cakes.

We finished off the meal with a sweet treat: brownie served with vanilla ice cream.

After dinner, we took a walk around the resort and took some photos.

Before going out to prepare dinner, a staff member came to the room and informed me that they were here to open the bed.

I came back to find a cute cookie jar placed on the bed. Oh, that's great! Som loves it so much.

After dinner, Som will send you a picture of the bedroom.

Let's cut to the morning, shall we? This morning is another day with clear skies here. The sky is clear.

I woke up early to breathe in the fresh air and prepare breakfast. As I mentioned earlier, I bought simple ingredients to make my own breakfast.

Let's take a look at Som's breakfast.

After breakfast, we sat around, played, and went for another swim before heading back. We kept complaining that we didn't want to go back.

We loved this place so much. It was perfect for us, even though the price was a bit high. But it really impressed us.

Our wedding anniversary, where we got to spend time relaxing together, was great for us working people.

Even though we get to be together every day, it's not often that we get to have time like this, in a special place like this.

Okay, that's the end of my Valentine's Day trip. I hope our trip will inspire many people to want to go out and travel.

Spend time with your family, okay?