The Park Society - Hostel

The one thing I appreciated was being able to use the washing machine for free after buying 5 baht worth of detergent. Everything else made me regret booking so many nights ahead. After years living and traveling in SE Asia, this was the worse hostel I’ve stayed in, and checking out to move somewhere descent was the best part. The place looks nothing like the pictures. It’s worn down, with a peeling ceiling, stained and mouldy walls, thick dust, and marks on the room walls I don’t want to think about. I never once saw the breakfast table cleaned. The reception staff seemed completely uninterested and were very unfriendly. Being beside the channel meant mosquitoes and sewage smell all the time. The rooms smelled bad too, and there was no airing them out with the channel right there. Showers leaked and water ran constantly. Some barely ran and only got lukewarm, if you were lucky. Breakfast was eggs, toast, artificial margarine and jam or jelly, and some fruit. Fine for one day, but by day two I wanted to eat out. People hardly interacted, and the common area felt lifeless even with people in it. I’m shocked by all the good reviews. It feels like they came from people who never stayed here.

The outside decor looks trendy, and there’s free breakfast with fruit and eggs. You can also do laundry for free, paying 50 baht for the dryer, and there are plenty of travelers around if you’re hoping to socialize. Our private room was cramped for two people and our bags, dark, and had ants. The mattress was so thin and uncomfortable that I couldn’t sleep well. Service was lacking too, with staff who weren’t very friendly or approachable. I accidentally booked an extra night. Reception said to ask booking.com to cancel, but after booking.com contacted the hostel, they didn’t reply or approve it, so I couldn’t get a refund. This might work for a one night stay, but for longer I’d look for somewhere more comfortable.

For 56 days, this hostel was a lovely home during my trip. The atmosphere was warm, the room comfortable, and the staff were always friendly and helpful. I met so many great people there and had a wonderful stay. I know I’ll come back someday. Highly recommended 🥰🥰

I’ve stayed in more than 20 hostels in Chiang Mai, and this is one of the worst. I’m not picky, but the condition is really poor for the price. At Agoda’s price I don’t think I’d return, and Booking.com would be even harder to justify. Socializing depends on luck and personal preference anywhere, so I’ll leave meeting good people out of it. The place looks very different from the photos, which show a fancy interior. In reality it’s just an outdoor prefabricated accommodation. I think the difference reflects the host’s personality too, since the kindness wasn’t that good when I got there. The smell coming from the river behind is disgusting. My clothes stank when I sat in the public area or dried laundry there, and the air was damp and humid. The bedding was okay, but the whole area was messy. There are plenty of toilets. The breakfast was really terrible. Don’t be fooled by the old pictures like I was. I’m writing this because someone might still go, as I did. If you don’t want a bad experience, take this into account.