We booked this hotel online via a discount website. When we arrived, we were more than a little disappointed to learn that the main pool was closed. We learned later that, being right on the river, the hotel had suffered some flood damage last year and was undertaking some renovations, including building a retaining wall to ensure that this wouldn't happen again.

The issue for us was that we'd booked for three nights and we have a not quite yet 2 and a half year old. This hotel is near nothing and without the pool, we were worried that three days of indoor entertainment would drive us all bonkers.

Luckily, this hotel boasts an innovative and proactive assistant manager who, seeing our predicament, quickly and quietly worked out a solution. She upgraded us from a Junior Suite to two "pool villas" at no extra cost. While she no doubt saved us a lot of money, she more important saved us a lot of time and hassle. And her hotel, instead of having to refund us our money, gained three and a half very satisfied customers. This is the kind of service minded professional that, frankly, one doesn't come across very often. Give this woman a raise!!!!

The villa itself was fantastic and ideal for our little family. We stayed in Pool Villa 422 which is at the very end of the resort next to the organic herb and vegetable garden (so very quiet!). The villa is enclosed by a fence and ours had a rather generous grassy area (both in front and round back) for our little guy to run around in. The villas on this side look out onto the man made pond.

We brought our own bicycles with us but the hotel also rents bikes. There are some really nice roads around the resort to explore. You can choose to cycle through the nearby village, rice paddies or around the lake.

I also had a massage at the Chivana Spa. My masseuse was also a trained physiotherapist. I thought that the prices at the spa were very reasonable. I paid 1,000baht for a massage that would cost me maybe 900baht in Bangkok. That's good value in my books!

Sunday morning there was a buffet breakfast on in the restaurant. I'm not sure if this is only a weekend thing, I forgot to ask, but breakfast was a la carte Monday and Tuesday (although still included in the room price). I have to say that we ate breakfast and ordered room service diner every night and there were no complaints from anyone. The food was well above par. Personally, I found their "deep fried sun dried beef" the best that I've had in Thailand in the last 5 years. I ordered it so often that they finally ran out LOL! The pork version is also good.

If you are driving, be aware that the highway leading to this resort is currently being widened and therefore all signs have been temporarily removed. Coming from highway 2, you want to turn left onto a very nondescript road directly in front of the Singha factory.

This was an amazing resort.
The place and area was really beautiful, the rooms clean and with a lovely style. The food extremely delicious, with both Thai and fusion style.
And the staff was really helpful and tended to all your needs.
If you want a relaxing and lovely stay near Khon Kaen choose this place!