Tales Khaosan Cafe & Hostel

This place is a chair. The café was dead, with nobody at the front. I wandered in and out, then decided to use the washroom. On my way out, someone questioned me about whether I was staying at the hostel. I hadn’t seen a single guest, so I doubt I could’ve passed as one anyway. They told me I had to come back and pay 20 baht to use the washroom. That was a one-star experience too. At that price I’d bring my own toilet paper, though it was only one-ply, so maybe not. I’m a two-ply minimum kind of girl. 💅 I didn’t pay, on principle. There was no sign, no agreement beforehand, and nobody spoke to me when I came in. Being asked for money as I left, when no service terms had been made clear, explains to me why it was so empty despite being in the busy tourist area around Khao San Rd’s night life. If you want a budget hostel in Bangkok, I’m sure you can find a better one, with staff who have more personality than a rusty spoon. Avoid this place, and safe travels. ✌🏼 Update: The business response missed the point. My complaint wasn’t about the tissue, it was about being charged for an exchange where no goods or services had been provided. The main takeaways from their response: 1. I’m supposedly discourteous for not asking about a washroom fee when there was no staff around. 2. They consider extortion an acceptable business policy. Brilliant.

I spent two nights here in a dorm with a friend, and we had a wonderful stay. The bathrooms were clean, the bed was comfortable, and it had curtains for privacy. The double security doors are locked overnight. Best of all, you can book a bus to chiang mai right through them and get picked up at the hostel. Could it be any more convenient? 10/10, good job tales team!!!✨

The interior is so fun, it looks like a train carriage, and I absolutely loved it. I had breakfast there, and even if you’re not staying upstairs in the hostel, they offer useful services: airport taxis🚕, layover packages🧳, luggage storage, and showers for just 150 THB. The restroom costs only 20 THB to use, which is so affordable. Great location!

If it’s your first time in Bangkok, the location is perfect for getting to the temples and tourist areas. I didn’t get to try breakfast, though it looked tempting. The bathroom was very clean, but I found the mattresses extremely hard and not necessarily clean.