Sylvis Hostel Chiangmai

The beds were the worst I’ve had in more than ten years of staying in hostels. They felt like sleeping on a rock, and if you don’t sleep flat on your back, you’re in for a world of pain. I’ve had more comfortable nights on dorm mattresses, broken couches, and forest floors. After one awful night, I was so hunched over that I couldn’t explore much during my three days here. It really disrupted my plans. The party hostel is decently loud, but the music reliably stopped around 12:30 and the noise didn’t bother me. There’s almost no kitchen setup, so reheating food or making anything beyond a PB&J is a struggle, with no plates or cutlery. Staff were friendly, but often busy hanging out with each other, so it could be hard to find someone or know who was working. For the lantern festival, they seemed frazzled and disorganized. It’s probably hard to manage such a big group, but there was barely any instruction and nobody seemed to know what to do with the lanterns. The event means a lot to people who travel to Thailand for it, and I think more care could’ve gone into it. One day, all the dorm doors were left open while it seemed they were fixing the AC units, which made it too easy for someone to get in and steal things. The lockers barely fit a 40L backpack, and there wasn’t a small locker for valuables. On the plus side, the washrooms and showers stayed clean, and both the AC and outlets in my room always worked.

Of the several hostels I tried around chiang mai, Sylvis was my favourite and the best I’ve stayed in here. The rooms and toilets were immaculate, and Bo, the owner, was lovely and welcoming. I’d happily come back.

Run by great people, Sylvis is very clean, well located, and has a good social scene. It doesn’t push organized activities on you every night like some hostels do. I’d call it the best hostel in Chiang Mai, and probably in Thailand.

It felt like a home away from home, with a sociable atmosphere and staff who made us feel welcome. Manny and Ruby were the highlight of my stay, and the two friendly cats were adorable.