Vanlisut Hostel

The owners are very friendly, and they have a cat, a bird, and some fish, which I liked. It’s a lovely, cozy hotel tucked along a quiet side road despite being near the main road, so it’s good for a quiet night’s sleep. The bed is positioned so the early sun won’t shine straight in your eyes. I also liked the cute stained glass window in the shower door and the decent sized fridge/freezer. My one complaint is that the bed is quite hard, though maybe that’s just a Thailand thing. I’d happily stay again and recommend it.

I lived at the Vanlisut for 1.5 years, and the main reason I stayed was that I taught in Nonthaburi and had a small dog. It was the only hotel in Nonthaburi I knew of that accepted small dogs. I moved out on Sept 11, 2020, only because my job was far away in Hua Lamphong. Otherwise, I’d still be there. You can stay for just 1 or 2 days too, but there are clearly many long-term residents. Don’t judge it by the exterior, it’s a hidden gem. The rates are affordable for the quality, and it feels safe even for a woman walking at night. It’s close to two malls with lots of food, clothing, and grocery shops. Pantip Plaza, the technology mall, has six levels, with places like Mr. DIY, Tops, Cafe Amazon, KFC, Texas Chicken, and Oishii. There are also lots of fruit and vegetable sellers and clothing and fashion vendors a few minutes away on foot, plus a 7-11 downstairs. The Mall Ngamwongwan is an 8 min walk, and has places like Tim Hortons, Mos Burger, Sushi a Seki, and Aka. I was born and raised on O'ahu, Hawai'i (USA), and know how much good hospitality and customer service matter. The Vanlisut genuinely values its customers, and the warmth and care are why I stayed so long. I have high standards for cleanliness, and throughout my 1.5 year stay it was consistently clean. Chanchai and his mother do a great job keeping the place welcoming and respond when you need something. There’s daily cleaning if you want it, or you can just let them know what you need, and the service is prompt, sincere, and caring. They work incredibly hard, 7 days a week and nearly 12+ hour days, to keep improving the hotel. They recently added a cute koi pond at the front. Chanchai's mother keeps lots of lovely green plants around, which make walking through the hotel feel calming, like a little oasis. This hotel is their livelihood and they clearly care about both it and their guests. I love the Vanlisut, hope they do well, and would love to visit again. Lol.

The rooms are comfortable and clean for the price, and there’s a convenient 7/11 about 100 meters away, but the mattresses have some serious problems. For a taxi, it’s easier to give the driver the 7/11 address. The hotel is on a one-way little street, and Google Maps may send them in a circle to reach it. Bus 522 goes to Victory Monument, a square near many central spots, including the BTS station. The closest MRT is Nothanburi civic center, but it’s about 4km away and too far to walk, so you’ll still need a taxi from there.

For what I paid, the room was great, spacious, and quite clean, and the people were super friendly. The location was the downside, especially since food delivery costs so much here. I’d recommend it unless you need somewhere central. Still, I had a great stay.