No. 8 Pai

Hans, Sol, and Lisa made this feel like home for the three weeks or so I stayed. They joked around with each other and the guests, while still being warm and looking out for everyone. I felt safe and comfortable, and they helped with all sorts of things, from figuring out the hospital to calling the Henna shop and getting a really bad henna tattoo removed in an hour instead of a week. They shared unfamiliar fruit and vegetables with me too, including Snow lotus, which was delicious. I loved the fabulous coffee, full kitchen, and fridge guests can use. Across the street there's a water refill station for 1Baht/L, and the laundry service there is great too. The covered outdoor seating is good in any weather. The location suited me perfectly: I could run into the mountains each morning and reach walking street in minutes. I usually didn't need a scooter, and there are several rentals nearby. I'm grateful to this family for my time there.

A close friend recommended this hostel, and I'm glad I stayed. The owners are a lovely family, and I spent a couple of days in a dorm. The location is very convenient from the bus station, especially when you're carrying a heavy backpack. The hostess took great care with the room's tidiness, bedding, and towels. I did miss having free drinking water and tea or coffee, although there was a water station just across the street.

It was a cozy stay, and the woman managing the place was nice. My five-bed room had separate beds rather than bunks, which made it feel more spacious. There was a fridge for drinks and snacks, plus two toilets and a shower, though the shower could have worked better. You can park out front. Bring warm clothes or extra blankets: it gets cold around 5 a.m., and the thin blankets meant I needed two. Everyone was sleeping in their clothes.

Good value and an easy choice for backpackers. The owners are kind and helpful, the dorms are nice, and you're close to everything. There are fans in the rooms, which were enough for us. We didn't spend much time inside during the day anyway, since the wooden cabin gets hot.