Phukhao Hostel

The location is ideal, just a few steps from the old town gate, and it was so quiet during my stay because I was the only guest. My room had its own bathroom and toilet, and there was a huge locker. The bed was comfy, and I could use the washing machine for free. I arrived around 11 in the morning, and the friendly female staff member let me check in early even though we had a language barrier. She used Google Translate to make things easier. I can't think of anything else I'd need, and I'd definitely stay again.

They gave my room away on check-in day and emailed me at 6 pm, just as I was getting ready to board my flight to chiang mai. Then they tried to persuade me to stay at a completely different hostel that looked run down and had bed bugs, according to a Google Maps review. I eventually found somewhere else, but dealing with the staff was really stressful, and I never got my deposit back.

The stay was comfortable overall and good for the price, as long as you're not expecting much in the way of luxuries. I spent five nights in a private room. It was incredibly clean, with plenty of toilet paper and tissues, and the large queen bed was comfortable with the AC above it. There was a fridge too, but together the bed and fridge left very little space to move around. The room had no windows, which I hadn't expected, and felt a bit like a jail cell. After the first day, the bathroom developed a strong drain smell, so I had to keep the door closed. Running the AC helped a little. The front door was locked and could only be opened with a room key, so I called when I arrived. She came to let me in quickly, and I had no trouble. Check-out was quick since I left during regular business hours. If your tourist SIM can't make calls, try to arrive during the day to avoid a long wait or confusion.

The staff went out of their way to make me feel welcome and accommodate my late arrival, and the free washing machine was a great extra. It was a very pleasant stay, with excellent service and good value for money. The hostel seemed brand new and sits near one of the main attractions, close enough to everything else but far enough from the hippie hostels. It's at the edge of the old city, which is handy if you want to shop at some of the malls.