168 Hostel

The people working there were gentle and respectful, and the bedroom and bed were good and comfortable. They didn’t give me a towel, though I saw other people had one. Maybe I just had to ask, but I like using my own anyway. Very good, cheap hostel. I’d recommend it. Not a 10, more like a 9.

A very appealing hostel with clean rooms, nice bathrooms, and helpful staff who speak good English. Great location too. I’d recommend it to young backpackers and travelers.

The hostel has some real conveniences. It’s right in the middle of Chula, with cheap food and restaurants everywhere, Lotus within walking distance for groceries, and National Stadium BTS less than a ten-minute walk away. The bathrooms were clean. Still, the bad parts stuck with me much more. The receptionist seemed to be running the whole hostel alone, doing everything from reception to cleaning. She couldn’t speak English, so I had to use a translation app. When I checked in, she couldn’t find my booking and insisted I hadn’t reserved anything. I showed her my paid Agoda confirmation email, but it clearly meant nothing to her. After several calls, she reluctantly put me in a first-floor room facing the street, with a very annoyed look. There was no soundproofing. Traffic noise was so chaotic that it felt like sleeping on the sidewalk, and I was kept awake all night. The AC barely blew cold air. I was sweating and couldn’t sleep because of the noise. The next morning I returned my card and explained it had expired, and that I’d almost been locked out overnight. She didn’t understand, and handed me her own access card with an annoyed gesture, trying to explain in Thai that I should use it and return it afterwards. I tried to explain I needed a working card of my own to get in and out, and couldn’t understand why she wouldn’t just replace mine. I left early to avoid more trouble.

The owner was really kind and friendly, and you can ask them for recommendations. There’s an amazing smoothie bar at the entrance, with pieces of fruit on top. Everything was clean and organized, including the common area, rooms, and bathrooms. It’s about an eight-minute walk to the BTS, with lots of food vendors and restaurants nearby. Probably one of the best hostels I stayed at on my trip to Thailand. I’d definitely stay here again.