BRB Hostel Bangkok Silom

The most convenient thing about this place is its location right in Silom. I chose it because so many hotels were full or overpriced during Chinese New Year. The photos made it look much better than it was in person. Everything seemed old, worn out, and heavily used. It’s a hostel, and maintenance and appearance don’t seem to get much attention. The priority feels like keeping guests moving through. I was on the third floor, where the shoe smell from the first floor was less of a problem. Down there, all the shoes are stored together and the smell spreads across the whole level. My bed linen also felt as if someone had already slept in it, though that was just my impression. The men’s shower and toilet are on both the second and third floors, for some reason. I’m not sure why they’re arranged that way. It was inconvenient going up or down a floor, especially with an almost always empty toilet right across from my room. The toilets themselves were dirty, with trash, towels, and paper scattered around, and there was mold. The shower had no hot water, although toiletries were provided. The reception staff seemed indifferent, and they only took cash. I didn’t have any, but I did have a Thai bank account. They were reluctant to accept that, then eventually did because there wasn’t another option. At checkout I didn’t get my deposit back right away. They said an accountant would transfer it within a few hours, and I’m still waiting to see how that turns out. The deposit was 500 baht, almost twice the roughly $10 nightly rate. Checkout at 11 a.m. felt very early, even compared with most hotels. At 11 on the dot, the cleaners opened doors and started working on all the floors at once, even if guests were still inside resting. There was no flexibility. The walk-in rate was 1000 baht, around $30, which is already the cost of a decent hotel room. They also have private rooms. I only walked past them, but they looked really sad, like a set from a very cheap adult movie. I don’t know what they cost. It was an interesting experience, but I wouldn’t stay here again. Maybe it suits someone, but those photos look a lot better than reality.