With such a busy and crowded city like Bangkok, travelers will find no shortage of choice in accommodation. With hostels and hotels on almost every corner, businesses have to do something a little different to grab the attention of potential customers. And that’s exactly what Here Hostel has done. The best hostel near Khao San Road, they’ve created a unique setting with a flair for design and, wait for it… a slide!! Yes, there is a legitimate throw-your-hands-up-in-the-air, unleash your inner child, slide! How many hostels do you know that have a slide? Slide aside, the team at Here Hostel work hard to maintain facilities that are clean, quirky and fun. Here’s what else we loved about it:
Facilities
Here Hostel doesn’t have your standard cookie-cutter layout, which is one thing we love about boutique hostels. It was originally a residential home and much of the original Thai architecture remains. The common areas definitely have a “hipster” vibe with wood floors and eccentric knick-knacks placed around including an old typewriter and two glass jugs with fish in them (say hi to Ethan and Panda for us!).
The bathrooms have the same old school vibe with antique pipes and décor. The showers are awesome (although admittedly a bit confusing to operate), but have fantastic water pressure with complimentary shampoo and soap.
And did we mention the slide??
Rooms
The rooms are clean and simple. We stayed in a 12-bed dorm room, which sounds like it would be a room packed with beds and luggage everywhere, but it was surprisingly orderly. Beds have a thick curtain that provides privacy while you’re sleeping. Each bed also comes with large storage space to put your backpack. This keeps the room looking clean and uncluttered, no easy feat for a 12-bed dorm! Extra luxuries include a thick, soft comforter and some of the most comfortable pillows we’ve ever used. I seriously almost stuffed one into my backpack to keep.
Private rooms are super simple, with just a bed and bedside table. If you prefer privates, you’ll have more space to yourself in this room. However, we felt that the curtains in the dorm bed gave us enough privacy. Our only complaint was that the overhead lights are kept very dim, but each bed has a bright light so it’s not really a problem.
Location
The location, near Democracy Monument, is a little bit out of the way from certain areas, but it’s still in central Bangkok. We even had one tuk-tuk driver ask us why we wanted to go all the way out there. But in the end, we really enjoyed the location. The hostel is set on a quiet street. The party and craziness near Khao San Road is only a 10-minute walk, but it’s far enough way to be able to sleep peacefully. There’s actually a bit to do in this area including Golden Mount Wat Saket and Wat Pra Kaeo. Famous hole-in-the-wall restaurant, Krua Apsorn, is just around the corner. Apparently it’s a favorite of the royal family.
Value For Money
Prices at Here Hostel are standard for a boutique Thailand hostel. If you’re concerned about money, we recommend a dorm bed rather than a private as it’s still very nice.
The price of the stay includes a free breakfast (that’s actually going to fill you up). The breakfast includes eggs, toast, salad and fruit. Complimentary tea, coffee and water are available throughout the day for caffeine addicts like myself.
There are also appreciated little extras like a fridge to keep leftovers in and brochures in the lobby with information about local sites.
Traveler Vibes
The hostel has plenty of common space for socializing. Other travelers usually congregate late morning for a sleepy breakfast and it’s a good time to meet buddies for exploring the city. The “dining room” is big with plenty of chairs and benches to sit back with a beverage or write that belated email to your mom.
Here Hostel isn’t exactly a party hostel (at least not when we were there), but it definitely has a social vibe and it’s not uncommon to see travelers congregating around a table for pre-drinks before heading out. The staff are super friendly and will sometimes pull out a sneaky bottle from the back to keep the party going. Sometimes it can be difficult to meet locals when you travel, so we appreciate staff that go out of their way to befriend travelers.
Overall we really enjoyed the quirky vibe of Here Hostel. From the design to the thoughtful extras, we would recommend this hostel as a great place to stay in Bangkok.
