Podstel Hostel Bangkok By RedDoorz

I'm not sure if I'd return. It’s cheap and has good connections to and from Rajadamri, Central Ladphrao and Kasetsart, but the whole place feels unusual. The Podstel rooms are under 5m², very tight even for one person and awkward for two, though the mattress was fine and the pillow okay. The section was packed with SEA Games attendees, and there are only two elevators for section A. They were often full by the time they reached the third floor. You can try the elevators that are always switched off, but that feels strange. Getting everyone out in an emergency would be a nightmare. The bathroom is a long walk away. It has seven shower stalls, and I never had to wait, but there was a slight sewer smell and mosquitoes. The stalls had no locks, which seemed especially odd given the “no sexual activity” warnings. There’s another toilet near the start of zone A, but no bum guns there. I started calling it Hostel VerPODen, after the German word “verboten,” because there are so many signs banning things. The property seems to run along a narrow plot, from zone A just past the upscale hotel to zone S, where its own 7-Eleven is. There’s also a small Starbucks and a McDonald’s. Inside, the shops farther from Podstel had fewer and fewer customers, then came a stretch of empty storefronts with almost no foot traffic. Outside, restaurant staff tried to get me to eat at their many restaurants.

The place is spacious and has complete facilities, so it felt comfortable for a short stay. The affordable price makes it a handy Bangkok stopover, and it’s convenient for airport trips. Lumpini Park is close by too, a nice spot to relax. Just be aware that check-in is strict and early check-in isn’t allowed, which can be inconvenient if you arrive ahead of time.

There’s no air conditioning in the room. One exhaust fan pulls cooler air in from the hallway, so the upper bunk stays cooler while the lower one gets extremely stuffy. I have to say, the hotel is really good at figuring things out!

The room was very clean, and the air conditioner cooled it well. It’s a good hostel, especially the bathroom, but there are no lockers for guests.