Lida 1946 Hostel

The shower was good, and the location was, maybe, okay. The staff seemed family-oriented or family-owned. But check-in was disorganized. I was in the lobby, which also seemed to be the breakfast room and a children’s day care, and had to call my booking agent, “Agoga,” then make an international call to the property. The bed felt like sleeping on rocks. There was no garbage bin in the room, no TV or cable, and the daily rate was very high at 700-800 BHT per night. A male staff member was happy to call the police because I checked out after one night instead of four. Guests have the right to check out early, especially after one night, as a global hospitality business standard. He said, “Please go back to my country.” As a Black North American and visible minority, I know how hurtful a comment like that is. I feel my generosity was abused because I paid for one night, even though my booking agent’s policy would have given the family nothing from my Agoda booking. I have mixed feelings because the two staff serving me from Jan 2 to Jan 3 2020 were a new family with a newborn. I can pass off the “go back to my country” comment as a lack of knowledge and understanding that if all 20 million foreigners per year stayed in their own countries, they couldn’t make money for their business and newborn. I tried to explain what they could improve for North American guests like me who might want to stay, but they preferred to call the police. I’d suggest finding another hostel. The nearby Golden Pagoda Hostel was black and white compared with this property. Golden Pagoda saved my Bangkok experience with the welcoming smile known from Thailand 🇹🇭.