So you’re planning a trip to London. You’ve got your itinerary down (Big Ben, London Bridge, anything Harry Potter related, etc), you know exactly what you want to eat and drink (fish ‘n chips, cold beer from the pub), and you know exactly where you’re going to stay. Hold up, you don’t know where you’re going to stay? We get it, finding accommodation in London can be a headache. You want to stay close to the sights, but don’t want to pay upwards of 100 pounds per night for a dingy room in a run down apartment. Fair enough. Luckily, we’ve got you covered.
We chose the Palmers Lodge Swiss Cottage because it checked all of our boxes for London. Close to the city? Check. Affordable? Check. Awesome vibes without being an all out party hostel? Check. It was an awesome experience, without breaking the bank. What more could you ask for in foggy London town? Here’s why we loved it so much:
Rooms & Facilities
When you first enter the building, you’d swear you just stumbled into a room in the Hogwarts castle. The hostel itself is located in a beautiful Victorian building that screams traditional London. The dark wooden doors and red velvet upholstery give it a classy, almost luxurious feeling you don’t usually find in a hostel. There’s a large common room with free coffee and tea all day long, perfect for that caffeine boost you’ll need after a long day of sightseeing. The bar and restaurant downstairs has a variety of food on offer, including a buffet breakfast. The rooms themselves are fairly average size. Dorm beds have big curtains for some extra privacy. Our private was small, but cozy. Bathrooms were clean, which is always a plus, and unisex, which is good to know when you step out of your shower and come face to face with a 6’5” Swedish man.
Location
The location was fantastic. The Palmer’s Lodge is in a good neighborhood with plenty of food options around. When you want to go into the city center, the tube is just a few minutes walk and pretty easy to navigate. On a good day it took us only 10 minutes or so to get to the main sights. We found this really useful on days when we wanted to come back to the hostel and rest for the afternoon before heading back out at night.
If you’re flying in from Stansted Airport, the National Express drops you off just a short walk from the hostel. We had a late flight into Stansted and instead of finding a pricey hotel room near the airport, or pulling a full backpacker and sleeping in the uncomfortable chairs in the airport, we were able to bus to the hostel. Palmers Lodge has 24 hour check-in and even at 3 am the front desk staff was very welcoming.
Value for Money
The Palmers Lodge is great value for money. London is really expensive. Finding a cheap room in the city is almost impossible. It’s very common for backpackers and budget travelers to stay just outside of the center. Breakfast isn’t included but you can purchase a full continental buffet breakfast for just a few pounds. It’s a great way to start a big day of sightseeing and much cheaper than anything you’ll find near the tourist sights.
The big common rooms mean there’s plenty of space for relaxing at the hostel and meeting new friends. They have games and computers available for use. Breakfast in the morning is a great place to meet fellow travelers to explore the city with.
At night, there’s always music and at least a few people enjoying a mug of fresh cold beer. We had a room on the lower level and never had any problems sleeping at night because of loud revelers. When you find a hostel that you can both party at or get a good night’s sleep, you’ve hit the jackpot.
Overall we had a fantastic time at the Palmer’s Lodge Swiss Cottage. From the moment we booked our reservation to the time we finally said goodbye, the staff was attentive and friendly. It’s no wonder the Palmers Lodge has won so many awards for the best hostel in London. From great value in price to excellent facilities, it’s definitely our top pick for budget accommodation in London.
In the middle of Bangkok’s busy business district, the Amari stands as a serene haven from the city’s chaotic streets. As soon as you step through the doors to the expansive air conditioned lobby, you’ll feel a sense of relief escaping the sticky humidity outside. For us, the Amari was not just another hotel on our Thailand tour, it was the last place we’d stay before flying home after 10 months in Southeast Asia. It was also our last weekend together before separating for a month. After our two nights at the Amari we would both be catching flights to our respective homes, so we wanted to make our last few days together special. We weren’t sure if a “romantic weekend getaway in Bangkok” would be an oxymoron considering the city usually leaves us exhausted, sweaty and a bit grumpy, but the Amari Watergate was a perfect oasis for our time together.
Executive Club
We had a room located on one of the Executive floors and let me tell you, it is so worth it. The entire hotel is beautiful, but staying in an Executive Club room will make you feel like royalty. When we first entered the hotel we were brought to the private Executive check-in on the 24th floor. While they prepared our room we waited in the Executive lounge area, enjoying complimentary fresh juice and cookies and cooling off with a refreshingly cold hand towel.
Our room was spacious with a plush king size bed. The bathroom was luxurious with a huge bath, perfect for a post-happy hour soak with a glass of champagne in hand, of course. We were grateful to find a box of chocolates on the table with a note welcoming us to the Amari. The floor to ceiling windows revealed a view of the cityscape.
The room had free wifi (available throughout the hotel) and a big desk to work that went unused during our stay because #VacationLife. In the morning we had access to the larger buffet breakfast downstairs, as well as a private buffet in the lounge. Complimentary snacks were available throughout the day, then from 5 to 7pm Executive Club guests had a happy hour with complimentary drinks, hors d’oeuvres and a light dinner buffet. So basically we were eating all day. We especially enjoyed getting a bit dressed up for the happy hour and sipping champagne overlooking the gorgeous skyline of Bangkok at night. Does it get any classier than that?
We knew we would love the staff at the Amari before we even arrived. Our email correspondence with Ari, the Social Media team leader, was refreshingly down to earth and friendly. After the second or third email exchange Jules and I turned to each other and said, we want to be friends with this girl! Luckily she was available when we arrived at the hotel and we were able to chat with her before settling in. The rest of the Amari staff were just as sweet. From the lounge staff who never let our wine glasses empty, to the hotel salon’s hairdresser who not only gave me an amazing haircut but also a Thai geography lesson, we always felt well taken care of.
The Facilities
The facilities at the Amari Watergate are so accommodating that we literally did not leave the hotel during our entire weekend. I know that may make us sound like bad travel bloggers, but we’d done Bangkok before. We’ve seen the Buddhas and had enough 25¢ street Pad Thai to last a lifetime. This was our weekend for some pampering. We lounged by the pool, taking in the view of skyscrapers, a fun reminder that despite the serenity we’re still in the middle of Thailand’s biggest city. At the Amari there’s a poolside restaurant and bar, where the servers will bring your food to you, so you can enjoy it in your lounge chair, kicking back by the water. Across from the pool is a full gym with exercise equipment, squash courts, Jacuzzi and steam room. Jules enjoyed a full workout one afternoon while I sat by the pool and ate. Don’t judge me!
On the same level is Amari’s luxurious Breeze Spa. We had a calming Jacuzzi bubble bath in our private room followed by a foot soak and heavenly one-hour massage. The spa was beautifully designed and our room was spacious. Following our treatment we were given a delicious refreshing beverage, which we sipped, basking in the calm post-massage relaxation.
Overall our stay at the Amari Watergate was exactly what we were looking for in a hotel for our last weekend together. The facilities kept us entertained when we wanted something to do and the room was luxurious, perfect for snuggling in on our down-time. We loved being Executive Club guests and felt like absolute royalty. Thanks to the Amari staff for such a fabulous stay!
Headed to Bangkok and looking for luxury? Book a trip to the Amari Watergate from anyone of the booking sites below for guaranteed best prices!
Tucked away in the mountains of Chiang Mai in Northern Thailand, the Panviman Resort and Spa is a paradise for guests that are looking to escape the noise and pollution of Thailand’s big cities. And after spending 10 months traveling through Southeast Asia, Jules and I were in desperate need of some personal care. We had had several friends who stayed at the resort and one after the other they would come down the hill back into town with a restored sense of calm and peaceful energy. We absolutely could not wait for our weekend at what seemed like a magical healing paradise. And I can tell you now that we were not disappointed.
Our luxury spa and resort weekend began with a private shuttle that picked us up from our apartment and drove us the hour or so up the windy hill. We arrived excited, if not a bit car-sick, and stepped into one of the most beautiful hotel lobbies I’ve experienced in all my travels. We had seen beautiful photos of the property before coming, but seeing it in person was truly stunning. Throughout the weekend we became more and more impressed with every well thought out detail of the Panviman Spa Resort, and we’re convinced that it truly is one of the most relaxing resorts in Thailand.
The Property
The only “stress” I felt during my stay at the Panviman was my indecisiveness about whether to stay in our gorgeous room or be outside in the incredible resort. The property of the Panviman is simply breathtaking. The Chaing Mai Panviman is perched high up in the mountains and the view looking out over the valley from the dining room is incredible. We spent most of our meals overlooking this gorgeous view, looking out in awe over the serene landscape.
The rest of the resort is equally gorgeous. With a sprawling property, you could seriously spend weeks here without getting bored. Panviman is the perfect resort if you’re looking to rest your mind and rejuvenate your body. The meditation cave and yoga studio are always open to provide yourself some peace and quiet. The well-equipped gym overlooks the gorgeous 2-story pool if you’re looking to get your sweat on before taking a dip. Guests with children will enjoy that the resort has plenty to offer kids (or kids at heart) including mini-golf, giant chess, archery, pool table and ping pong. Or if you’d rather just kick back with a good book there are lounge chairs and gorgeous outdoor beds overlooking their beautiful lake.
I’ll be honest and say that good food is not hard to come by in Thailand. Chiang Mai especially is brimming with restaurants, street stalls and carts that sell incredible meals for even better prices. Or you can even sign up for your very own Thai cooking class. During our month in Chiang Mai we were spoiled with the tasty choices just on our block, so food wasn’t what we were looking forward to most at the Panviman. That was before we tried their cake. When we first arrived we joined the hotel’s manager, Charles, for coffee and some homemade desserts. I ordered the caramel cake and Jules had the banana fritters. Holy deliciousness. All of the desserts are made in house and they are fantastic. The cake was moist and not overly sweet while the bananas were fried to perfection.
During the rest of our stay we were equally impressed with all of the meals we had. Buffet breakfast in the morning was a lovely mix of traditional Thai breakfast items with Western choices. We opted for beautiful fresh fruit (including local Thai dragon fruit), piping hot omelets made to order and delicious locally made jams with toast.
The adjoining restaurant served huge portions for dinner and we especially enjoyed the Caesar salad and vegetable curry and the complimentary appetizer of fresh cut veggies. Everything tasted healthy and local, not surprising since much of the produces comes from an organic garden within the resort. If you find the food particularly delicious, the resort also offers cooking classes to learn traditional Northern Thai recipes. Yum! And surprisingly, for a big fancy resort, the prices are very very reasonable.
Depending on how long you’re staying at the resort, you may want to bring some snacks up with you. While the restaurant is fantastic, the resort’s location means there aren’t many options for switching it up, grab some snacks before you arrive. We brought cheese and crackers and stopped off at a local strawberry stand on our way up.
“If the Panviman resort is heaven, the masseuses are certified angels.”
The Spa
As we mentioned, Panviman Spa Resort is tucked away up in the mountains, making it a bit difficult to leave. They have free shuttles down to Chiang Mai and can organized nearby activities, but because the property itself has so much to offer, we recommend savoring every moment you have up in the hillside. The Panviman is a place for relaxing, healing and pampering yourself. And how better to do that than get a spa treatment?
If the Panviman resort is heaven, the masseuses are certified angels. The spa has a selection of treatments but we opted for the 90 minute Aromatherapy Well-being Massage. The treatment started in the spa’s gorgeous lobby where Jules and I had the opportunity to choose our favorite scent. We then met our masseuses who sat us in two reclining chairs overlooking the beautiful lake. Our feet were gently dipped into a wooden bowl filled with warm water and floating flowers. We had a relaxing foot massage before we were taken to our massage room for a 20 minute sauna. After the steam our 90 minute full body massage began. I can tell you honestly, without exaggeration, that this massage was the best of my life. There is an obvious attention to detail as everything from the music, to the decoration, to the bed was perfectly organized for a relaxing treatment.
The Hospitality
Anyone who has visited Thailand before knows the Thais are incredibly hospitable. The reputation as “the land of smiles” is well earned. As a five-star establishment, the Panviman takes that hospitality to the next level. From the gracious driver that picked us up from our apartment, to being welcomed with warm tea and a cold towel at reception, we always felt like royalty. Charles, the hotel manager, gave us a lovely tour of the grounds and it was apparent that he is very passionate and proud of his work. The staff were courteous, from the gardeners always greeting us with a “saweedi ka” to the maids fulfilling our requests for more tealight candles to line the jacuzzi. We never felt dismissed or looked down upon because of our age or well-worn clothes. And that’s the way it should be.
The Rooms
The only thing that could pull us away from exploring the incredible property of Panviman Resort was our equally gorgeous room. We stayed in the Jaccuzi Villa. Emphasis on the word villa. Our room was huge. Double the size of an average hotel room and then some. The interior design was beautiful and heavily influenced by traditional Thai architecture. We had a beautiful outdoor deck overlooking the lush countryside, but our favorite part of the room was the private Jacuzzi located on the deck. If anything says romantic weekend, it’s a private Jacuzzi looking out into the Thai jungle.
The Panviman has a selection of rooms for guests on varying budgets. They have more budget friendly options in their main building, with something for everyone. Although a bit smaller than our villa, these rooms are still gorgeously decorated and have their own private balcony. For those that want a bigger splurge there are also bigger villas with private infinity pools, which would be are perfect for families that would like to have multiple bedrooms. What we really appreciate about the Panviman Spa Resort is that they cater to a variety of budgets for any luxury resort goer. And despite your room choice, every guest has access to the stunning grounds and extra amenities around the resort. That’s a massive tick in our books!
What are you waiting for? To book your stay at the best resort in Northern Thailand compare the following search engines for the cheapest prices hands down.
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Looking for the perfect birthday or holiday gift for the traveler in your life? Let’s face it, travelers already have limited space in their bags and usually value experiences over physical items. That’s why you have to be thoughtful in choosing the perfect gift for your travel-loving friends or family members. Luckily we got you covered in our gift guide for the traveler that has everything.
Moleskine Passion Hard Cover Journal
Travelers know that even long trips can go by in a blur. Even the most incredible memories fade and it can be difficult to remember exactly what you did, when and with who. Writing in a travel journal is without a doubt the best way to keep those travel memories as fresh as the day you experienced them. Moleskine is well known for their quality journals and notebooks. This travel passion journal includes pages for your bucketlist, packing checklist and lots of free space to write down your thoughts and experiences. The hardcover means its durable for all those crazy adventures!
Even the most well-traveled people need some inspiration from time to time. Travel + Leisure is packed with gorgeous editorials on tons of destinations, from popular destinations to lesser-known places to visit. The magazine tends to focus on swanky getaways, but travel-lovers with enjoy getting lost in the beautiful photography and fanaticizing about one day experiencing that overwater bungalow in the Maldives. Sigh…
Traveling can have you sleeping in some pretty uncomfortable situations. Tiny plane seats (seriously, could they get any smaller?!), rickety 3rd class train benches, airport floors. Between the baby crying in seat 4A and the man on his phone at the airport check in desk, you might never get any sleep. That’s why we’re dying to get our hands on some Sleepphones! Sleepphones are headphones tucked neatly into a soft, lightweight fabric headband. You can fall asleep easily while listening to music without getting that uncomfortable soreness in your ear.
Music-loving travelers will know the pain of kicking back at the top of a volcano, fresh off a 5-hour hike, knowing the perfect song that would compliment the moment, but stuck with singing it in their head! Unfortunately most good quality speakers aren’t durable enough to withstand outdoorsy activities, so taking them on an adventure doesn’t quite work. The Ultimate Ears WONDERBOOM 2 is fresh off the press and ready for an adventure. 13 hours battery life, 360 degree sound, dust proof, waterproof and even floats in the pool. This outdoor speaker is perfect for travelers that love hiking, beaches and sailing.
For the National Park nerd in your life, National Geographic’s Atlas of the National Parks is the perfect coffee table book. This atlas is the definitive guide to the best of the US parks. It’s filled with gorgeous photos, maps and great tips for visiting each national park.
Lonely Planet’s Ultimate Travel: Our List of the 500 Best Places to See… Ranked
As much as people like to say that guidebooks are on their way out, Lonely Planet still reigns supreme as the trusted grandfather of travel advice. Instead of taking a gamble and choosing a location-specific book as a gift, give your travel-obsessed friends the holy grail of Lonely Planet books. This is their list of the 500 best places to see around the world. You can compete and see who’s been to the most on the list.
We were gifted a Chromebook (the Pixelbook) from Google earlier this year and absolutely love it! It’s small, lightweight and easy to use. We love taking this thing traveling when we don’t want to lug our heavy Macbooks around. The keyboard can be flipped up to turn the device from a laptop to a tablet. The screen is excellent, making it the perfect device to take on airplane to watch movies.
There’s no better travel companion than a good travel book. Unfortunately the selection at the hostel book exchange usually doesn’t cut it. You’re lucky to find the a battered copy of the same travel book de jour that everyone is reading. Thank goodness they invited the e-reader. Travelers can now get pretty much any book they want instantly. And can we just say an amen for how light the Kindle is? The last thing you want taking up room in your backpack is heavy books. Even the most traditional travelers will forgo their paperbacks for the convenience of an Amazon Kindle.
GoPro’s have always been high on the list for snowboarders and other adventure sport junkies, but the company has really upped their game on quality with the HERO7 Black. Now this tiny, yet powerful, action camera is a must-have for all travelers. Whether you love to snorkel, play around in the snow, or just take shots around town, the GoPro is perfect. It fits in your pocket, so it couldn’t be easier to take around. The HERO7 Black version is waterproof (without a casing), has incredible built in stabilization and shots 4K at 60fps. It also has Wifi and Bluetooth capabilities, so you have no excuse not to stay in touch with regular photo updates.
Every traveler knows how important a durable pair of sunglasses is. Most backpackers go for the cheapo knock off Raybans found at pretty much any market around the world. Unfortunately these can be doing your eyes more damage than going without sunglasses. Having polarized lenses is crucial for protecting your eyes. But investing in expensive sunglasses can be a gamble when there’s such a high chance they’ll be broken during one of your adventures. Thank goodness SunGod has us covered. Not only do they have quality sunnies, but all of their products have a lifetime guarantee! If your pair breaks, they’ll send you out a new one for free! And the best part? They are fully customizable! From the lens color to the pattern, to the style. You can make them completely YOU!
Ah the old trusty hammock! An ideal piece of equipment on every traveler’s wish list, but very few travelers have a decent one that stands up to the harsh demands of a nomadic lifestyle. Lucky Hobo Hammocks have you covered. Hobo Hammocks was started by an avid hammocker and traveler, who saw a creative way to combine his love for hammocks and helping those in need. Not only are these hammocks high quality, practical items, but they’re also helping give back to homeless by using part of the proceeds to buy meals. Each hammock comes with straps, clips and a pledge to help use your contribution to feed the poor. Talk about a double deal. And if you’re concerned at all about the political correctness of the term ‘hobo‘ (like we initially were), simply do a quick search to discover the interesting origins and history of the word.
If you’ve never traveled with packing cubes, get ready to have your packing game brought to another level. It may seem counterintuitive to add more to your bag, but these cubes help organize and separate your clothes and accessories like you wouldn’t believe. No more taking out every item to get to your last clean pair of undies. Now you can sort your clothing and travel essentials to make packing and unpacking much easier. I honestly can’t believe we traveled for so many years without!
Even the biggest travel lovers need a break while they’re on the road. Sometimes you just need to curl up in a hotel bed and have a Breaking Bad marathon. Keeping your computer stocked with downloaded movies is impractical when you need extra room for all those travel photos. Cue online streaming. Netflix is the old favorite. The have amazing original shows and movies that you can only find on their site. Amazon streaming is a bit overlooked, but it comes with so many other awesome benefits. If you buy an Amazon Prime account, you get free two-day shipping on your orders, access to the music and Kindle online lending library and a streaming selection of over 40,000 choices.
Very rarely will you find a pair of reliable action sunglasses that you can really trust while traveling the world or taking on crazy adventure sports. Sure, those fancy sunglasses might look great in all the selfies you’re taking, but give them a little wear and tear and before you know it you’ve got popped lenses and cracked frames. Believe us, we know. We’ve been down that road too many times, often opting for the same cheap Ray Ban knock offs that you find littered around the world. Honestly if we weighed up how much we’ve spent on cheap sunglasses over the last 5 years of travel we really should have just invested in a decent pair to begin with.
Not only are cheap sunglasses terrible value, but there’s also some scary stories about fake sunglasses UV protection, or lack of, and the damages it can do to your eyes. Many of the street vendors flogging knockoff sunglasses will try to tell you the lenses are UV or ‘polarized’, but really they just use a clever shade to disguise tinted plastic or glass. Tinted lenses tell our eyes it’s dark and open up your retinas, letting in UV rans that aren’t protected from the lenses, which ends up giving you sun damage.
So with UV protection, durability and longevity in mind we set out to find some quality travel sunglasses that weren’t going to pack it in at the first sign of adventure. Thankfully we found those very sunglasses in SunGod, the best action sunglasses for travel. They’re tough, stylish and have a warranty that you won’t beat!
Fully Customizable Sunglasses For Your Style
Ok before we talk about SunGod’s amazing durability let’s look at all of the awesome designs that you can build with SugGod customizable sunglasses. To begin with there are a couple of choices for design. You can go the Classic blues brother type design, or look sleek with an aviator style called the Maverick.
Each design of sunglasses also has three customizable parts. For the Classics you can choose the lenses, the arms and the front frame. For the Mavericks choose between lenses, frame and tips. Match those choices with a dozen odd options for colors and lens tints and you start to discover a lot of awesome combinations to build. Their website has a really sweet sunglass builder feature that lets you make changes on the spot and see what your new shades are going to look like.
When picking out a couple of pairs recently the hardest part was choosing what combination to go for. I kept changing my mind and swapping up my styles, switching between the different colors and lens tints, attempting to find my perfect match. Eventually I settled on some classy, yet adventurous shades that haven’t left my side.
Best Unbreakable Sunglasses for Travel
We’ve talked style, but now let’s have a look at the real talking point of SunGod adventure sunglasses. If you’re looking for some strong sunglasses then SunGod have what it takes for all kinds of adventure activities. From skiing and snowboarding, to rock climbing and white water rafting… or maybe just relaxing on a beautiful island!
Flexible frame material makes the sunglasses super tough, but also light and comfortable to wear. After wearing them all day you’ll barely notice them on your face anymore: they’re that comfortable! Durable frames also mean you can bend and twist them without snapping the arms, so you’ll be safe if you happen to take a fall next time your shredding the slopes. All lenses are impact resistance, with triple-layer scratch resistant coating, as well as offering top shelf 100% UVA and UVB. There’s also an optional polarized option for those seeking enhanced optical clarity and glare reduction.
As well as traditional sunglass, SunGod have also recently released new sunglass goggles for snowboarding and skiing, which are wicked. We haven’t had the chance to road test them (not too much snow in Southeast Asia), but are keen to grab a hold of pair for some slopes in Tahoe over the winter.
Amazing Warranty Service
So, think it doesn’t get any better than customizable unbreakable sunnies? Let’s talk lifetime warranty. SunGod are so confident in their durability and design that they’re offering a lifetime warranty of all SunGod Classic sunglasses that cover manufacturer defects and accidental breakage (one year for the Mavericks).
Now obviously if your new puppy gets a hold of them, or you happen to drop them in the path of a steamroller, that’s a different story: but generally speaking, if your frames break, SunGod will replace your sunglasses free of charge. Anywhere in the world! Not only will you travel in style, but also with the confidence of some seriously strong sunglasses backed up by an even stronger warranty policy that supports your adventurous lifestyle.
Final Review
If you’re on the hunt for some quality sunglasses for sports or travel then you can’t go past SunGod. We’ve been absolutely loving our shades and have given them some solid testing while trekking through the countryside of northern Thailand, white water rafting and zooming through the hectic streets of Bangkok. I’ve even accidentally sat down with them in my back pocket. Thankfully I haven’t had to put that warranty to the test. They’re so good, they’re even elephant proof!
SunGod ships globally using Royal Mail and have a tracking code for you to watch your order. They’re dispatched on the same day as you order and will make it to you within a week. Which means, what are you waiting for? For more info on SunGod sunglasses, their designs and their incredible warranty you can check out their website.
If you search accommodation in Bangkok on Hostel World, you’ll undoubtedly find Lub D Hostels in one of the top spots. Now normally when a hostel is rated so highly, there’s a chance that they may start resting on their laurels. With such good reviews, they can probably afford to relax on the quality of their hostel. Luckily the Lub D (both the Silom and Siam Square locations) is NOT one of those places and it makes a continual effort to stand out as the best hostel in Silom Bangkok. Aside from all the comfortable and homely features the staff at Lub D go above and beyond to make your stay even better.
Rooms & Facilities
First off, Lub D is huge! There are a ton of rooms, yet somehow it manages it’s space really well and doesn’t feel crowded. Each floor is big so it doesn’t feel like a million rooms are squished into one space. The industrial design gives the whole hostel a sleek, clean look. Rooms are simple and comfortable with key cards that you slot in to power the electricity (two thumbs up for being eco-conscious!). Lub D also has something that I don’t think I’ve seen in any hostel in my entire travels- a flashlight! They have flashlights in every room in case of emergency. Smart. They also have a ladies room only floor that requires key card entry so women can feel extra secure!
There are also plenty of common spaces at Lub D. When you first walk in there are tables and chairs out front that will most likely be filled with guests planning their day in Bangkok or sharing beers before going out. Past those doors is another common area with a huge table and plenty of couches, chairs and desktop computers for guest use. There is a bar downstairs that also sells food. While we were staying at Lub D many guests would gather around the big table and have breakfast together, a perfect way to find a buddy for exploring the city.
Location
Lub D has two locations in Bangkok, Silom and Siam Square. We stayed in Silom, but heard the Siam Square one is an equally fantastic hostel. The Silom location is a quick 7 minute walk to the nearest metro station. The neighborhood is a good spot to be, with plenty of cafes and bars to keep you entertained. There’s the infamous Patpong Night Market just a 10 minute walk down the street where you can find anything in the lines of shopping, and probably a few things you aren’t looking for in regards to seedy bars and dodgy sex shows.
Value For Money
Lub D isn’t the cheapest hostel in Bangkok, but if you are looking for a clean, comfortable hostel with an awesome social vibe, it’s worth the price. The staff go out of their way to make you feel at home. They add little extras like freshly popped popcorn from an old school machine and services like free luggage storage! When you’re splitting hairs trying to decide if it’s worth the extra dollars let us help you… it is! Sometimes it’s the little things that really make the difference in a hostel and Lub D goes that extra mile to make your stay memorable.
Because Lub D is so highly ranked on Hostelworld, and other review sites, it’s no surprise it attracts a social crowd. If you’re a solo traveler or with a group looking to make more friends, this is a great spot for it. The staff at Lub D host events almost every night to get people together. Friday nights they run a club crawl and Saturday nights are reserved for beer pong. An adjoining tour company is located downstairs and they hold free walking tours. Even if there’s nothing “official” going on, the common room is always full of guests gathering around the downstairs bar. Overall, Lub D is a great spot if you’re looking for a quality hostel with a fantastic social vibe.
If you’re looking for the best hostel in Sukhimvit area that has the perfect combination of class, atmosphere and price then you can’t go past The Blocks Hostel. Located in a prime location for shopping, nightlife and transportation, you’re only ever a short distance to the best attractions in Bangkok, regardless of the hectic traffic.
Before we arrived at The Blocks we’d actually met people who were staying there, so we were already really excited about checking it out. On arrival we walked up the steps to the hostel, kicked off our shoes, entered and were immediately met with a good feel about the place. First impressions indicated a clean, spacious and fun hostel, and over the next few nights we can definitely confirm those feelings as correct.
Facilities
The Blocks has a nice open common space downstairs, where we were immediately met with other friendly travelers before we even got the chance to check in. Downstairs the hostel offers some quiet passive working stations (as well as computers) before two big doors open up to a chill out cinema area with scattered bean bags across the floor. There’s also a washing machine and dryer at hand (for free), which is a great extra feature when you need a quick turnaround on that stinky laundry.
After checking in we headed for our room. With rooms spread out across a number of floors we boarded the old service elevator to reach the top. Equipped with a double-sided sliding screen door, this elevator is one for the ages. Hesitantly we jumped inside, but we arrived safe and sound.
Rooms
In classic boutique fashion there are some really awesome features on offer at The Blocks Hostel in Bangkok. The rooms are set up with comfortable and wide beds, perfect pillows and soft sheets. There are individual charging stations for each bed, as well as a light. Spacious lockers round off the room’s features, with enough space to put your whole bag in if needed. It’s another testament to the good quality thinking that is going into hostel designs these days.
Location
The Blocks Hostel is located in an amazing position. Just a short walk from the ever-interesting Sukhumvit Rd you’re only a 5min walk to the Nana BTS station. From there it’s quick access to the shopping district of MBK and Central World. Or head somewhere different and check out Terminal 21, only a short walk from The Blocks. This shopping centre is based off the concept of an airport, with each floor representing a different world destination, workers dressed like flight attendants and escalators looking like departure gates.
Vibe
One of the best things about The Blocks is the chilled out vibe. You can really be as social as you want to. The kitchen is a great place to mix pre-drinks and make friends before heading out for the night. And the next morning, nurture your hangover in the movie room. The keep this area super dark and have tons of pillows to lay down on, basically made for hangovers. The staff here are super friendly and always down to hang out and give recommendations for the best attractions in the area. Ask Pixie if you plan on going shopping in the city, he knows all the best markets.
Overall, we loved our time at the Blocks Hostel. The management has done a terrific job designing a practical and visually appealing hostel with a chilled out social atmosphere. If you’re looking for the best hostel in Sukhumvit, make a reservation at The Blocks.
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 Hostelwork 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.
The first time we heard of Z Hostel was from a friend living in Makati who suggested we visit a roof top party there one weekend. He had never stayed there, didn’t know anyone that had, but had still heard, through pure reputation, about the amazing features of Z Hostel. After visiting that night we were hooked and just had to stay there to check it out for ourselves.
Staying at Z Hostel in the Philippines is not just staying at a hostel, it’s an experience. From the moment you walk in the front door and check in with the amazing staff, right up until you unhappily leave for your next destination. Z Hostel is mixing luxury hotel features with all the perks and facilities of a social hostel. And they’re it right! There’s little surprise that Z Hostel is emerging as the best hostel in Makati Manila, and here are a few reasons why.
Rooms and Facilities
On the outside Z Hostel is modern and edgy, but the inside has a much softer, personal touch. Immediately after stepping into the building the industrial chic exterior makes way for a clean, crisp and comfortable feel on the inside. Careful consideration has gone into the interior design, as beautiful photographs hang from the walls and stylish leather couches make up the lounge area.
Inside the rooms, in the style of true boutique hostels, Z Hostel offers its guests some of the most comfortable beds and pillows you’ll find in all of your travels in the Philippines. After sleeping on thin foam mats for the last 5 months it’s almost too difficult to describe how comfortable they were. Once we laid our heads on the pillows it was basically bed time. Only downside is you might not want to leave the room! Each bed has a charging station, equipped with a power socket and USB plug, as well as a light. It’s a nice touch, and another confirmation that the little things are often the most appreciated.
Unlike traditional dorms that have external share bathrooms, all of the privates and dorms in Z Hostel have their own bathrooms inside the room. Modest showers and toilet facilities provide all you’ll need in the sanctity of your own room, which is a surprisingly nice change from walking around a hostel in your towel waiting for a shower to free up.
Location
Not only is Z Hostel within a prime location of the ever interesting Makati, but the hostel itself boasts an exciting array of social events on its roof top bar. From live DJ sets till the early hours, to private acoustic shows at sunset, there’s always something happening at Z Hostel to entertain the traveller and local alike. If you want a night out exploring, the heart of Makati’s nightlife (predominantly red light district near Z Hostel) is only a short walk away. From oiled up midget boxing (personally not our thing, but we’re not judging) and ladyboy cabaret shows, to sports bars and some tantalizing restaurants.
If the grungy side of Makati isn’t your scene than take a short Jeepney or taxi ride to the ritzy shopping area of the Greenbelt malls. Here you’ll find more glamour and glitz than you’d ever imagine. This high end shopping center is worth a visit, even just to see the sheer contrast of socio-economic status in Manila.
Value for Peso
Dorm bed prices range from 1000PHP to 1300PHP per person depending on the number of beds in the room and privates start at 2400PHP. This may seem a little pricey for South East Asia, but for the Philippines it’s very reasonable considering the serious lack of budget/comfort options available. The all female dorms have a few added extras like bathrobes and vanity mirrors, to make any scrubby traveler feel like a princess for a night. There’s also a decent breakfast included in the price, which is enough to get you started for a big day around Manila.
Believe us when we say this, prices are very reasonable for the Makati area. After walking around Makati checking out a few places for comparison purposes we can confidently say that your options are very slim when looking for budget and comfort. Actually make that budget in general. Even the “budget” rooms were charging at least 1500PHP a night for a double, and they definitely didn’t invoke a sense of comfort.
That’s why at Z Hostel you really get a lot of bang for your buck. Hotel luxuries and hostel social life really do make for a brilliant combination and Z Hostels manages to pull it off with an elegant charm. Without a doubt making it our definite pick as the best hostel in Makati Manila.
Thanks a lot to everyone at Z Hostel for making our time memorable. If you’d also like to stay at the best hostel in Makati Manila then you can book your stay here.
