The Mixx Hostel

A decent, inexpensive hostel for backpackers, though hauling heavy bags up all those stairs is a workout. The showers are good, and the toilets are clean, but keep your flip-flops on. Staff are nice, towels are free, and the lounge has free water, tea, and coffee. The iced coffee was great. Live bands downstairs can make noise through the night.

There are cheaper places on the nearby streets, and I wouldn’t recommend this hostel, mainly because of the staff. I never felt welcome. Once, a staff member kept switching off the fan in the communal area even though it was hot and I’d asked him not to. It felt like he cared more about the tiny cost of running it than guest comfort. The road and bars downstairs are noisy at night, even though the hostel isn’t right on Khao San road. I expected more of an atmosphere given the location, but staff didn’t seem to encourage one and appeared to cater to families instead. We were told to keep the noise down in the lobby at 10 pm, and for a few nights I shared a dorm with a whole family, from grandparents to young children. The bed was okay but not especially comfortable, and the staff weren’t very friendly. There’s free drinking water and the location is useful if you want to go out, but don’t count on a good night’s sleep. The showers and toilets were dingy and often didn’t work. They were regularly being cleaned or repaired, and I’d be told they’d be ready in half an hour, but sometimes they were still unavailable three or four hours later. It’s okay if you need a place to stay, and the price isn’t too bad, but nearby options are cheaper.

The building gets hot, and the hostel sits among loud party spots, so the noise can be annoying. Still, it’s a good budget place for backpackers. The rooms are cheap and well maintained, the staff are friendly, and the other guests were very chilled. The bathrooms are the classic cement-capsule kind.

Really cheap, and the place was neat and clean. The staff were friendly, and booking included free breakfast. The toilets were clean too, and it’s close to khoa San road. For that low a price, it almost felt like staying for free.