Concerned about my stay in Hat Yai City (where it seems travellers come to leave rather than stay) and how I was going to make the transition to my ultimate destination, I booked a room at the Tune Hotel in Hat Yai to give me a respite from a 14 hour train journey and some fully WiFi’d space to do some onward planning and lip gnawing.

To give it its due, the Tune Hotel did just that. Featureless, functional and clean with the type of service provided by a faceless corporate hotel, I faced none of the uncertainties and eccentricities of an independent guesthouse (although I’ll confess, I did feel I was cheating somewhat).

The staff were polite, the rooms spacious and clean. They all have WiFi, AC and a flat screen television and the entire environment is anonymised in Tune’s trademark white and red.

The hotel is within walking distance of the train station and a 50 THB motorcycle taxi ride of the bus station. At a cost of £18/night (50% the normal price) I was a satisfied customer.