Great Khao San Road Area Guest Houses and Hostels

By Travel & Places Last updated Sunday, March/31/2019

Khao San Road in Bangkok is one of the region’s best known backpacker ghettos, a somewhat notorious designation that can put off budget travelers looking to experience the “real Thailand.” Aside from all the stuff that comes with having thousands of mostly younger backpackers around, such aggressive touts, often less-than-friendly customer service, and mostly mediocre food (plus Starbucks and Burger King, which is either a plus or a minus depending on how you look at it), the neighborhood is a wonderful place to stay. It’s convenient to the city’s most important cultural sights, including the Grand Palace, Wat Phra Gaew, Wat Arun, Wat Po and the national museum, it’s right next to the Chao Phraya River, and if you can get past the neon signs and advertisements on Khao San Road, it’s a very pretty place with lots of old style low-rise buildings and plenty of trees. And though the food right on Khao San Road is mostly disappointing, a few blocks away are some of Bangkok’s best authentic Thai eating spots.

Luckily, if you’re looking for a cheap place to stay in the area, it doesn’t have to be all about banana pancakes. There are some very cool, interesting, and very inexpensive places to stay just a block or two away from Khao San that are definitely worth looking at. All accommodations below are under $20 per night as of May 2013.

1. Tubtim Bed and Breakfast

This favorite guest house is just a block away from Khoa San Road on Rambutri Road, so it’s not quite removed from the whole scene. However, it’s got loads of shop-worn, mis-matched, charm. Rooms are air conditioned, which is a luxury at this price point, and there are shared bathrooms for men and women. There is also a small bar/restaurant on the premises that serves breakfast in the morning.

Address: 82 Rambutri Road, +66 2 629 1535.
Price: From 450 Baht ($15) for an air conditioned single room.

2. Phiman River Guest House

This old-fashioned guest house is right by the river off of Samsen Road. Rooms and facilities are very basic and somewhat rickety but for under $10 a night for a single and around $5 per night if you stay in one of the shared rooms, which is basically a bunch of mattresses on a platform, it’s one of the best deals in the neighborhood.

Address: 125 Samsen Road Soi 5.
Price: From 150 Baht ($5) for a bed in a shared room.

3. Three Howw Hostel

This new hostel has clean shared rooms and modern, minimalist décor. There’s a shared living room where you can lounge on bean bags, watch movies and check your email. There are also a few private rooms with shared bathrooms. Three Howw is about ten minutes on foot from Khao San Road in a very old school neighborhood.

Address: 316/5 Samsen Road soi 4.
Price: From 500 Baht ($17) for a room in a dormitory.

4. Suneta Hostel Khaosan

Suneta Hostel is another clean, modern hostel with style! There are clean, air conditioned bunk bed dorms and also private capsules with their own televisions in shared rooms, basically a bed with a sliding door you can close, which they call deluxe cabins. There is a lounge/lobby area where you can watch TV, talk to fellow travelers and take advantage of the free WiFi. The location, just a block off of Khan San on a busy commercial street, is very convenient, but removed enough from the craziness to offer guests a little peace and quiet.

Address: 209-211 Kraisi Road.
Price: From 400 Baht ($13) for a bed in a dormitory.

Source: ...