265 Khaosan Rd. Taladyod Pranakorn, Bangkok, Thailand | (888) 616-5829
In the heart of Khao San Road, Bangkok's busy backpacker strip
Rooms have hardwood floors, Thai antiques, minibars, and flat-screen TVs
Rooftop swimming pool with lounge chairs
Fitness center with cardio and weight-training equipment, steam room, and sauna
Thai boxing ring on-site
Buddy Beer serves breakfast in a separate building
In a large complex with coffeeshops, restaurants, shopping, and entertainment
Front desk staffed 24/7
Free Wi-Fi throughout
Rooms, especially those on lower floors, can pick up noise
Rooms have some worn and dated furnishings
Fitness center equipment needs update
The 76-room Buddy Lodge Hotel is a solid mid-range property smack dab on Bangkok's Khao San Road. There are two room types -- Superior and Deluxe -- all with balconies and dark-wood floors and furnishings; Deluxe Rooms have extra tea- and coffee-making facilities. Facilities include a gym with a Thai boxing ring, treadmills, and weight-training equipment, a sauna and steam room, and a lovely rooftop pool with fountains -- but the area is small and can get crowded at times. Some room rates include a breakfast at Buddy Beer, which is in a separate building down the road. The neighborhood has a party vibe and some of the noise can reach the rooms. Travelers seeking a quieter location or more modern rooms might want to try the similarly priced Glow Trinity Silom Hotel in the business district.
Disclaimer: This content was accurate at the time the hotel was reviewed. Please check our partner sites when booking to verify that details are still correct.
Scene
Mid-range hotel in a lively, self-contained shopping, dining, and entertainment complex
The Buddy Lodge Hotel sits right in the middle of Bangkok's busy backpacker-friendly Khao San Road, making it a lively spot throughout the day and well into the night. Rooms are a tad pricier than some of the area's ultra-cheap budget haunts, so while backpackers do stay here, the hotel tends to attract a wider range of travelers. Guests enter through a shopping-center-style complex housing a McDonald's and a coffee shop, along with a few silver and tailor shops. The reception desk, which is staffed 24 hours, sits in an enclosed room on one side of the building's main corridor; there's a separate, glassed-in area for guests to lounge on the opposite side, but it's rarely occupied. A set of stairs leads to the main elevator and a second elevator is located at the end of the building, next to a pay toilet and a small concert venue that attracts a local crowd, but this elevator shuts down at the end of the night.
Location
At the east end of Khao San Road, a short walk from the Emerald Buddha Temple
The Buddy Lodge Hotel is located at the east end of Bangkok's major backpacker strip -- Khao San Road -- surrounded by restaurants, bars, clothing stalls, and shops. The area gets incredibly crowded in the evening, when street food vendors and evening revelers descend on the street to party it up. The Emerald Buddha Temple (Wat Phra Kaew), within the grounds of the Grand Palace, is a 15-minute walk from the hotel. It's about a 30-minute drive to the heart of Sukhumvit Road and to Don Mueang Airport, where many of Thailand's domestic flights depart. It can take more than an hour to reach the larger Suvarnabhumi International Airport (BKK), depending on traffic.
Rooms
Thai Colonial-style rooms with dark-wood furniture, flat-screen TVs, and minibars
Of the 76 rooms at the Buddy Lodge, 62 are Superior and 14 are Deluxe. Decorated in a colonial and Thai style, all rooms have dark-wood floors and furnishings, plus green glass lamps and jewel-toned accent pillows on the beds. Free Wi-Fi, safes, 32-inch flat-screen TVs, minibars, kettles, and balconies are also standard. Deluxe Rooms have additional coffee- and tea-making facilities, and a selection of hot drinks. Marble bathrooms have showers, hairdryers, and toiletries. Bedside tables have built-in alarm clocks that control the lighting around the room, TV, and the air-conditioning. Be aware that rooms, especially on lower floors, can get noisy (higher-floor rooms can get noisy too if there's a concert going on).
Features
In a huge complex with lots of dining and drinking options, plus free Wi-Fi, a gym, sauna, and rooftop pool
The highlight for many guests at the Buddy Lodge Hotel is the rooftop pool, which while on the small side, is a pleasant place to cool off or meet other travelers staying at the hotel. The fitness center, which is open to outside members, has treadmills, a steam room, sauna, and a Thai boxing ring, but the weight-training equipment is dated and worn. Although the hotel doesn't have a full restaurant, Buddy Beer (located in a separate building down the road) serves breakfast and provides a relatively calm environment to nurse a cool one away from the bustle of the street. There are also several restaurants and shops in the complex. The 24-hour front desk can help guests book local or long-distance travel, and Wi-Fi is free throughout the property.
