Tongtara Riverview Hotel in Bangkok

Disappointed and Disrespected – A Shocking Decline at Tongtara Hotel

I’m writing this review with deep disappointment after my second stay at Tongtara Hotel. Our first visit last year was genuinely wonderful—great service, warm hospitality, and a memorable experience. Sadly, this time was the complete opposite.

We arrived at 13:00, only to be met with indifference. No welcome drink, no greeting—just a curt instruction to sit on the sofa and wait until 15:00. Meanwhile, other guests were treated to drinks and ushered into the lounge. The contrast was glaring and frankly insulting.

When we finally received our room, it was configured with one proper bed and a flimsy extra mattress that wouldn’t be suitable for a toddler, let alone an adult. We contacted reception to request a change, and that’s when things took a turn for the worse.

A staff member named Namphol responded with hostility and zero professionalism. Instead of resolving the issue calmly, she became visibly agitated, raised her voice, and acted as though our presence was a personal inconvenience. Her behavior was appalling—lacking basic courtesy, empathy, or any sense of customer service. She refused to let us speak to a manager and insisted that she was the only person we could deal with. That’s not just bad service—it’s a power trip.

To make matters worse, we lost $200 USD from the drawer, 1,000 THB, and a Liverpool shirt worth nearly 12,000 THB. When we tried to address this, we were met with more aggression. Namphol even whispered to the housekeeping staff, saying, “If they’re not happy, why the hell are they here? Leave!”—with our door wide open. That level of disrespect is beyond unacceptable.

Ultimately, she forced us to leave the hotel. Yes, forced. As if she owned the place and we were trespassing. Her behavior was disgraceful, and if Tongtara Hotel values its reputation, they need to seriously reconsider who they allow to represent them.

To the management: You have a duty to ensure your staff treat guests with dignity and respect. What we experienced was not just poor service—it was outright hostility. Tongtara used to be a place we recommended. Now, we’ll be warning others to stay away.

The rooms are really dated. The bathroom is old, has seen a lot of repairs and the shower is not high enough. The mattresses are with springs and uncomfortable. The general atmosphere is also from a few centuries ago. Ceilings are low in the hallways and the wifi is unstable. The view from the room is gorgeous.