Thalay Cha-am by THA - Hostel

The women running the place were lovely. Everything was clean and comfortable, with lots of spots to hang out. There’s free coffee, a nice view, and a good breeze.

Right on the beachfront, with a great view. I liked the rooms, especially the curtains on each side and the really spacious closets. I fit all my bags inside, and having a key to lock the closet was great since most hostels don't offer that. The huge bathrooms feel modern, with shampoo and body wash in each stall. Laundry is free, and there’s a place to hang clothes. It would work well if you're working abroad, since there are good spaces to work, and I also met some nice people. The front desk closes around 19:00, but they left my keycard and a note with the guard at the parking area, which was thoughtful. It was the cheapest option for me on agoda, and a great place.

You really need to see the view from this penthouse hostel. My first reaction was, wow, am I dreaming? The dorm was on the 17th floor, by a window facing the ocean. My bunk had a comfortable mattress, a storage cabinet, light, socket, and curtain. You need one keycard for the building and another for the hostel. There are big bathrooms and showers with hot water, soap, and shampoo. Plenty of places to relax or work, with comfy seating, tables, a TV, books, and table tennis. You can use the microwave and hot plate, and have as much coffee and tea as you like all day. The outdoor pool on the 2nd floor is free and great for cooling off. Big thanks to the awesome staff, they made my stay more memorable.

The high floor gives you a great view and a nice breeze, with no mosquitoes. You can use the pool downstairs, and I think there's a gym too. Breakfast costs 60 baht, and you cook and clean up yourself. It includes eggs, toast, jam, butter, milk, cereal, orange juice, and coffee. Sometimes they forget to give you a towel, so you have to ask. The rooftop floor rarely gets swept, and there's a lot of sand and hair that the wind gathers into a big tumbleweed-like ball. Also, the dishwashing area looks through a window into the women's toilets, which feels a bit weird.