Centara Udon

Udon Thani is a working city more than a vacation one, and this is the kind of hotel that reflects that, with conference rooms, a ballroom, two restaurants, and rooms built for people who arrive with a laptop bag rather than a surfboard. If you're in town for a trade fair or a run of meetings, it's the straightforward answer. The Centara name means you know roughly what you're getting before you walk in, which counts for a lot in a place where standards vary wildly from one property to the next.

That said, it's not purely corporate. There's an outdoor pool and a spa, both of which earn their keep if you're using Udon as a base rather than just a stopover. And it's a decent base. Nong Khai and the Lao border are an easy run north, and the rock paintings at Phu Phra Bat Historical Park make a good day out. Book early if your dates line up with a major regional event, because the whole city fills.