Chern Hostel

Many guests say that this hostel feels more like a hotel than a bare-bones budget property, and we have to agree. It's housed in an open and airy four-story building with lots of natural light reflecting off of the white surfaces (which are everywhere). The style is simple and without clutter, featuring quirky drawings and sayings on the walls to add a bit of personality. The lobby area smells of lemongrass and fresh herbs, providing a nice welcome for arriving guests. Additional seating is available outside. With its convenient location and budget rates, this place attracts all sorts of travelers, including couples, families, individuals, groups, and even businesspeople. 

This boutique hostel is located on a gritty side street in Bangkok's old town. This part of town is also known as Rattanakosin, and is where major tourist attractions such as The Grand Palace and Wat Pho are found. The area is filled with local shops, restaurants, banks, historic buildings, residences, and a police station. Guests can walk to The Grand Palace in 20 to 25 minutes, or get there by car in seven minutes, and the complex also holds Wat Phra Kaew (Temple of the Emerald Buddha). Wat Pho, which houses an impressive huge reclining Buddha, is next to The Grand Palace. The popular backpacker mecca of Khaosan Road is about a 10-minute walk from the hotel. Keep in mind that there are no skytrain or metro stations nearby, so getting to areas like Silom and Sukhumvit Road will require taxi rides, which can take as long as 45 minutes in Bangkok's frequent gridlock. With that in mind, budget up to an hour to reach either major airport by cab.

Both private rooms and dorm rooms are available at this hostel. Dorm rooms feature two or four sets of bunk beds, along with lockers, free Wi-Fi, personal lamps, and air-conditioning. Bathrooms are shared in these units. Private rooms have two or three twin beds, or king-size options. Amenities in these rooms include air-conditioning, flat-screen TVs, mini-fridges stocked with water, safes, and free Wi-Fi. Small private bathrooms offer showers with soap and shampoo in large wall-mounted bottles. Unfortunately, some that we visited were showing mildew stains in and around the showers. Deluxe Rooms add a bathtub. Decor in all of the rooms is simple, with clean-lined wooden furniture, white walls, white tile floors, and white bedding. The most notable feature in all the rooms is the wall art that incorporates Thai idioms and proverbs. Views are of the run-down adjacent buildings.

This simple hostel offers all of the basics needed for a stay in Bangkok. Breakfast until quite late in the coffee shop, which is an open, airy space with greenery growing along one wall. The meal isn't included in room rates. A common area upstairs has a giant dart board plus a long communal table, a stack of games, and bean bag chairs. Books are available on a shelf, and there's a computer for guests to use. Floor-to-ceiling windows provide plenty of natural light, but the views of adjacent buildings are less than than desirable. The self-service laundry room has two coin-operated washers and dryers and doubles as a mini-kitchen, with a sink, microwave, and coffeemaker. A vending machine dispenses drinks and snacks. Whimsical signs for restrooms show male and female dogs doing their business, with the male hiking his leg and the female squatting. Some on-site parking is free, and Wi-Fi is free throughout the hostel.