Rada Arak Hostel

We stayed with a group of friends in November and thought this was great value. It’s an easy walk to all the sights, and there’s plenty of space in the lobby and breakfast area, which worked well for a group. The staff were helpful, and the hotel has an onsite gym. There’s also a shuttle to another location with a pool, though we didn’t use it. We did use the laundry service and had no issues. Complimentary umbrellas are available. We had Superior Twin Rooms and Deluxe Double Rooms. Both types were spacious, but the Deluxe seemed to be in a newer part of the hotel, so I’d choose it if you can. It had large windows, especially the one in the bathroom, and a huge bathroom. Breakfast was massive, with eggs cooked to order and several other buffet options.

The bed was huge, and the rooms were decent. The lobby and walkways had no AC and a bit of an unpleasant smell, but the people and location made up for it. It isn’t a 5 star hotel, but it suited what we wanted: a clean, comfortable, authentic Thai hotel at a nice price, with great access to everything.

We booked the Presidential Suite for 7 nights, but after an unbearable 2 nights we had to leave and find somewhere else. The bedroom had no windows or airflow, and a strong sewage smell kept getting trapped there. It was so bad and frequent that it woke us at night. There was no way to air it out. The shower wasn’t draining. We thought that might be the cause, and the next day the front desk staff kindly fixed something so it drained. We gave the hotel another chance, but spent the second night on the lounge room couch trying to escape the smell. There was no escape. When we complained again, staff spent 30 seconds flushing the toilet and cleaning the urinal. Neither was the source. The smell was clearly coming from the shower drain. There were 3 separate air fresheners around the room, which to me was a telltale sign they knew about the problem. After we’d packed everything and booked another hotel, they finally offered us a different room, far too late. The on duty staff were helpful, but didn’t have the authority to properly assess or fix the issue. We were refused a refund for the 4 nights we couldn’t stay. Later, the hotel blamed the smell on us not flushing the urinal, which we’d never even used. The photo they sent looked like it had drainage issues just like the shower. There are serious plumbing and drainage problems that need to be sorted out before this room is used again. Breathing that smell all night is a serious health hazard. Don’t book the "Sewer Suite" (President Suite).

For 900 baht a night, I got a comfortable, spacious room with some thoughtful touches. I stayed here in July 2025, and the Guest Arak Boutique Hotel was basic but very good value for money. The décor is dated, noise can be an issue, and the bathroom needs work. Still, I’d recommend it to budget travelers who want a convenient base in Chiang Mai. My full review is in my Video Diary in my YouTube Channel!