The BOB Hostel

My buddy and I took the larger room upstairs on the third floor so his friend could stay with us for a few days while we explored Bangkok. The bigger rooms there have private bathrooms and toilets. The other people at the hostel were chill, and the staff were really kind. The location in downtown thonglo is the best part, and the price is affordable. There’s a 7-Eleven across the street for late-night cravings, and it’s right beside don doni donki. I’m not sure that’s the right spelling, but it had pretty much everything for travelers. I mostly went there for food and cheeky snacks. The roof was super close too, where we could spark up a jay or some ciggies.

The staircase alone makes this place hard to recommend. The only way in is up a steep, narrow spiral stairway, which is dangerous and impossible for many people. That wasn’t advertised. I left two suitcases at reception, including an expensive branded one with a combination lock. When I came back, its lock, zipper, and slider were damaged, as if someone had tampered with it. A new jacket was missing from my carry-on, and documents and other belongings had been carelessly packed and wrinkled. Staff said they knew nothing, although there are cameras. I wouldn’t trust them with my things. The shower also had barely any water pressure. There was hardly anyone at the desk during my three days. At check-in they asked for a 200 baht cash key deposit, but when I checked out after 9AM, nobody was there to give it back, and I never got it. Staff were terrible. It’s far from tourist attractions. There are a couple of bars nearby, but even those are about a 25-minute walk. Everything else means a long taxi ride, so getting around made the cheap rooms costly. The hostel was filthy despite all its posted cleaning rules. One bathroom notice told guests not to pee in the shower, which struck me as a strange rule. There were several betta fish kept in terrible conditions in reception, and a taxidermied turtle. Where did they get that turtle? I’ve stayed in bad hostels before and usually only need somewhere to leave my bags and sleep. This one had lazy, disrespectful staff and appalling standards and service. It deserves to fail.

I stayed in the dorms, where at least the beds have curtains and lock boxes. The online photos really are old, though. The building feels cluttered, run down, and grimy. You get what you pay for, so I’d only stay if you’re prepared for that.

The location is great, it’s cheap, and the room air conditioning runs well from night until noon. But the place smells awful and feels dark and filthy. I found a dead roach, and everything seemed gross and stank. The photos don’t match what you get. It’s really old and dirty, and there’s no common space except a run-down rooftop. I wouldn’t recommend it.