Monsoon Boutique Hotel

The shower pressure was a bit weak but usable. I was on the third floor, so keep in mind there’s no elevator. My central room blocked most of the music, though earplugs are a good idea. The guests were okay, and one staff member kindly looked after my motorbike overnight. I’d left a couple hundred dollars in the safe as I was leaving. The cleaner found it, told the receptionist, and got it back to me intact just in time. Great affordable hotel in the middle of the action.

There’s a lot that works here. My bunk was large and comfortable, with a light, outlet, and shelf, and the room had a big lockable locker. The room itself was spacious, with a table, desk, and fridge. Laundry took less than a day: I dropped it off at 9AM and it was ready before 6PM, though I was told it would take 24 hours. Staff were mostly friendly and helpful, and you can pay online by credit card. The balcony has a river view if you lean your head just right. Otherwise, you’re looking down at the bar girls calling out to foreigners walking by. There were a few annoyances. My bunk had a room light inside it, so whenever someone turned on the main light, mine lit up too. At least one other bunk had the same setup. The $10 towel deposit is absurd. Bathroom and shower stalls are tiny, and there are leaks everywhere, leaving the floor constantly wet. AC condensation drips onto the floor and tables. It’s four flights of stairs to the dorm, and the internet wasn’t working when I arrived.

The room smelled awful and was dirty, and being in a red-light district made me feel very unsafe and uncomfortable. I’d booked a “mixed dormitory” but ended up in a room with only teenage boys and men. I left at 11 PM and booked somewhere else, which was the best decision. I went back the next morning to cancel my second night, which I’d paid for directly at the hostel at a higher rate. At first the staff told me to return the following day. When I did, the manager refused to refund anything. I lost over $15 on a horrible stay. I strongly recommend avoiding this place.

The beds were good and big, the lockers were nice, and there was a pleasant balcony. But the water stopped working, then the shower head broke too. There were cockroaches in the bathroom and mould on the bedroom floor. It’s also a lot of stairs if you’re on an upper floor. The place is in the red light areas, and walking around outside at night felt really uncomfortable.