Rikka Inn

The Rikka Inn fits right in on its packed, busy street. It's in a narrow, six-story white building, but the 7-Eleven sign out front outshines the hotel's more discreet signage. ATMs flank the small entrance, and there's also a small Western-style coffee shop. There's nothing fancy about this part of Bangkok -- in fact it's known as the backpacker enclave -- and as such the clientele up and down the street tend to be young, spendthrift, and ready for a party. The hotel is no exception, though it is a bit nicer on the surface than many of the dives in the area. The lobby is small, with just the front desk, an internet corner, a bench, and a couple of small desks with chairs. A montage of black-and-white photos of Thailand covers one wall. There's no restaurant on-site, but that doesn't seem to stop the lively vibe from making its way into the hotel, which attracts young, budget-conscious travelers who want to be in the heart of the action on Khaosan Road. 

This inn is located in the heart of Bangkok's old town on the famed Khaosan Road. It's a gritty block packed with activities, entertainment, restaurants, street food, shopping, and lots of rowdy nightlife. There are plenty of convenience stores as well as American chain restaurants like Subway, KFC, and McDonald's. The area is not for everyone, but the hotel is ideally located for travelers who want to experience the intense Bangkok backpacker scene. There's nothing in the way of public transportation within an easy walk, though the slow-going canal ferries that can take travelers near Sukhumvit Road's malls and nightlife is a 15-minute walk from the hotel at the Phanfa Bridge. It's also a 15-minute walk to the Grand Palace, which is home to the revered Emerald Buddha, and the Golden Mount. On paper, Suvarnabhumi and Don Mueang Airports are about 30 minutes away by car, though traffic in Bangkok is an actual nightmare and they can both take at least an hour -- or frequently longer -- to reach. 

The hotel has a few categories of rooms to choose from, though all are relatively compact. On the surface everything is modern and sharp, and all rooms have details ranging from wood-veneer paneling mounted with vintage tinted photographs of old Bangkok to colorful retro Thai signage. Upon closer inspection, though, there is a bit of wear on the contemporary dark wood veneer furniture, and we saw plenty of nicks and scratches. Otherwise, things are pleasant enough, with light tile floors, and pops of color in fabrics and accent walls. Deluxe Double Rooms are the most modern of the lot, with flat-screen TVs and tasteful Thai decor. They also have small balconies furnished with teak chairs and a table. All rooms feature air-conditioning, safes, TVs (some of which are tube units), mini-fridges, and private bathrooms with showers. Free Wi-Fi is also included. The tiny bathroom has an open shower and comes with hairdryers, towels, and toiletries. It's worth noting that the bathrooms are wet rooms, meaning showers are not partitioned off from the rest of the room and that the entire bathroom will get wet when the shower is used. Given the Khaosan Road location, it won't be surprising to know that noise is an issue here, both from the street and from boisterous hotel guests.

There's not much in the way of features here, but the small rooftop pool with an elephant statue spraying water is a bonus -- and one that not every budget hotel on Khaosan will have. Weathered wooden lounge chairs surround the pool, but there are no umbrellas. Potted plants and flowers add color, and views are of adjacent rooftops and the city in the distance. There's also a tiny bar that supplies drinks and the rooftop terrace features a Thai pavilion -- it's a nice place to hang out and relax with a view of the city. The hotel also has an internet corner in the lobby with two computers for guests to use, though Wi-Fi is free throughout the hotel.