Luang Poj Boutique Hostel

It’s easy to reach the hot springs on foot or with a short public pickup taxi ride. The springs in the public park are free, and the wellness spa across the street gives phenomenal massages. Ranong is a relaxed town that feels underrated, with plenty to do nearby, and I plan to stay longer next time. Service was great, and the hotel is thoughtfully decorated in a central spot near the market that stays quiet. Manager khun "Boy" speaks great English and helped us with travel logistics.

The mattress was hard, but the rooms are nice and small, and the shared bathroom was very clean. Each room has its own design and color. Two rooms have a fan and six have air conditioning.

The cute decor might appeal if you like that style, and the place looks nice at first. But paying 600 baht for a room with no air conditioning, no private bathroom, and only a bed, mirror, and wall hook felt like daylight robbery. There’s no breakfast, and the staff weren’t very friendly, though they did try despite speaking little English. The building was noisy, with street sounds and the person at reception singing and playing guitar under our room until nearly midnight, so I couldn’t sleep. The internet was very patchy, and a few hours after we arrived they turned off the faster connection. Half the building seemed derelict, with a leaking roof, and the place was mouldy. Only two of the eight rooms have windows, and those have no glass, making them feel like prison cells. For up to 16 guests, there were two working sinks, since a third was broken, two toilets, and three showers. The showers were cold. After a while, I got lukewarm water from one, and the boy at the desk said the others didn’t work. Waiting for a toilet and using a cold shared shower made 600 baht feel like a lot. The signs at reception and on the room door said they could charge up to 1,000 baht if anything got on the sheets or duvet, which didn’t feel welcoming. Similar standard hotels on the same street cost 200-400 baht and have private bathrooms. It felt like you were paying for a paint job.

There’s no window in the air-conditioned room, but the place has a good atmosphere. Everything was clean, housekeeping came daily, and the staff were friendly.