I always booked hostels, but a friend's tip about guesthouses in Bangkok changed my trip

For years, I stuck to big hostel chains thinking they were the cheapest and best for meeting people. Last month, a friend who travels to Thailand a lot told me to look at local guesthouses in the Banglamphu area. I found a clean, quiet room with a fan and private bathroom for $12 a night, which was the same price as a bunk in a loud 12-bed dorm. The owner gave me a free map and pointed out cheap local food stalls I never would have found. I saved money on earplugs and sleep aids, and actually felt rested to explore. Has anyone else found a spot where a guesthouse beat a hostel on price and comfort?

3 comments

3 Comments

kim.jake2d ago

Banglamphu area" - how did you even find that guesthouse online?

betty_wells2d ago

My cousin found a place there through some old travel blog.

torres.thea2d ago

Totally agree. That area is full of those little family-run spots. Found a similar place in Chiang Mai right by the old city wall. It was just a simple room with a cold water shower, but the lady who ran it made amazing iced coffee every morning and left it out for guests. Cost less than a dorm bed and you could actually hear yourself think. Sometimes the simplest places make the whole trip better.