Budget Accommodation – The Smart Choice for Staying in Thailand

Hostels are the go-to accommodation option for backpackers worldwide.

Thailand stands out as a premier shopping destination in Southeast Asia, drawing in a multitude of young travelers. When it comes to accommodation, ensuring affordability, convenience, and safety is paramount. Let's explore how to make the most out of staying in the Land of Smiles.

In Thailand and various other countries, there's an intriguing accommodation choice – hostels, the beloved hub for backpackers. Offering a pocket-friendly stay, hostels are renowned for their vibrant atmosphere and practicality. Let's delve into what makes hostels unique.

The most distinctive feature of hostels is the dormitory-style accommodation. Each individual occupies a designated space in a spacious room equipped with beds, blankets, pillows, and a lockable locker (or you may need to bring your own padlock). The pricing is calculated per person per night. For larger groups (2 people or more) seeking privacy, private rooms are available. In these cases, pricing is akin to regular hotel rates.

Staying in hostels offers a plethora of experiences not typically found in traditional hotels.

1. Affordability

Usually, without major festivals, you can easily find accommodations at very favorable prices on popular online booking platforms like Mytour.

If you've planned your trip, try to book early; sometimes, you may get discounts of up to 70 – 80% if you're lucky.

2. Convenience

Some hostels offer complimentary breakfast consisting of simple items like sandwich bread with jam, milk, cereal, etc. Others may have ice cream or snacks; you can also buy additional items like Milo powder or coffee to sprinkle in. Show off your ice cream-making skills during your trip; what could be more fun?

Furthermore, hostels typically have a fridge stocked with items like chocolate, boxed milk, fruit juice, instant noodles, all at a reasonable price compared to hotels. You can fill your stomach anytime because all hostels are open 24/7.

Essentials for women such as hair dryers, towels, even shampoo and shower gel are sold, rented, or provided for free. Hostels also have washing machines and dryers available for rent at very reasonable prices for backpackers. For just 50 baht (~ 35,000 VND), you can wash and dry clothes for the whole group.

3. Sharing

One great aspect of hostels is the sharing of information. Hostels provide plenty of useful information such as train station maps, train schedules, interesting places to visit... in common areas, you can easily refer to them on the spot, or even take them back to your room for further study.

Previous travelers often leave maps, brochures in places they've visited. In Bangkok, for instance, you might find travel guides for Bali (Indonesia) or intriguing books about Japan.

Some hostels even set up a notice board in common areas where anyone can jot down their plans and invite others to join. This way, you save on transportation costs and make new friends at the same time.

4. Self-discipline

Staying in a hostel fosters a high degree of self-discipline. You'll need to adhere to its general rules, respect privacy, and maintain decorum in communal areas. Since hostels cater to backpackers who primarily seek a place to crash, housekeeping services are usually limited.

Moreover, you may share a room with several others. Keep your area clean, or at the very least, refrain from disturbing the communal space. Actions like speaking loudly, joking around, littering, or even being overly familiar should be avoided when sharing a room with strangers.

In the communal dining area, there are plenty of plates, bowls, cups ready for your use, provided you clean up after yourself. The same goes for complimentary food; take only what you need and store it in the fridge for others to use. It's also a way to maintain the good image of Vietnamese people.

You're free to use the hostel's communal fridge; just label your items with your name and room number, or else someone might take your food.

5. Fun

Every hostel has a common area equipped with DVDs, computers, games like chess, and Jenga... all available for free use. It's a great opportunity to make international friends, improve your communication skills, and find new travel companions for city tours.

Don't be afraid of your English skills; be confident, bold, and utilize your body language as well. Most people are very friendly towards you.

Tips for Choosing the Perfect Hostel in Thailand:

- You can trust the safety level of hostels. For added caution, consider getting your own lock and storing your belongings at the reception whenever you go out.

- In Thailand, the primary mode of transportation is the BTS skytrain rather than the MRT as in Singapore. Day passes cannot be used interchangeably between these two modes. Therefore, opt for hostels within walking distance to the nearest BTS station to save both energy and money on commuting.

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Source: Travel Handbook by Mytour - According to Ione