Saphaipae Hostel

The two-pearl Saphaipae Hostel is a large backpacker hostel aimed at a younger party crowd looking for budget accommodations. This hostel is a step above many of the budget offerings in the city, though, and has a cheerful, modern aesthetic that's fresh and clean. The lobby is large and can handle the crowds that the hostel draws, greeting visitors with an artfully deconstructed tuk-tuk at the entrance, along with a giant billboard showing a map of Thailand, a list of the Full Moon Party schedule on the islands, and plenty of tourist information. There are several groups of couches and chairs for anyone looking to kick back, and there's a computer area as well. The lobby is the communal hub of the hostel, and there's also a large TV here, plus another sitting area, and a pool table and game area to complete the setup. The hostel is practical, cheerful, and a good spot for meeting other travelers. It's a;so an especially attractive budget-friendly choice for this prime area of Bangkok. 

The Silom/Sathorn area of Bangkok has multiple personalities. By day, it's the business heart of the city and filled with plenty of shopping malls. At night, the area comes alive with trendy dining spots, lively night markets, bars, and nightclubs. The Saphaipae Hostel is only five minutes on foot from the Surasak Skytrain station, which provides traffic-free access to the rest of the city, a highlight in gridlocked Bangkok. Surasak Road, where the hotel is located, gets backed up throughout the day, although if guests need to escape the hostel without the train, they can always grab a motorcycle taxi from outside. There are some excellent Thai restaurants to be found just around the corner on Srivieng Road, and it is a 15-minute walk up to the main restaurant area on Silom Road. Patpong Night Market is home to great street food and plenty of vendors selling everything from Viagra to tapestries and T-shirts, and the area is filled with bars and nightclubs. It's about 20 minutes from the hotel on foot and near trendy dining on Convent Road. The city's main backpacker area, Kaosan Road, and the historic sights near the Grand Palace, will require a cab to reach though, a trip that can take at least 30 minutes. Expect 30 to 60 minute drives to both of the city's airports, Don Mueang and Suvarnabhumi. 

There are 56 rooms at the Saphaipae Hostel, and most of them cater to the budget and backpacker crowd, as many have shared bathroom facilities. The cheapest rooms are the 10-bed dorms, which have five sets of bunk beds, reading lamps, small bookstands, bedside outlets, air-conditioning, and large lockers for backpacks. These rooms are basic, but roomy enough not to feel cramped, and have a more modern style than many of the drab hostels in the city -- there's even a large window looking out to the street. The hostel also has smaller four-bed dorms, plus Private Twin and Double Rooms with the same shared bathroom facilities as the dorms. These rooms cost double the dorm price, but do have a flat-screen TV, electric kettle, and a few chairs. The public bathroom facilities are large and have modern hardware, with private shower stalls and plenty of sinks and toilets in each -- they are cleaned daily.

Moving up in price, there are also private Superior and Deluxe Rooms, both of which have en-suite bathrooms, with a walk-in shower with a rainfall showerhead. These rooms are on par with regular hotel rooms, as they come with nice features including DVD players, 40-inch flat-screen TVs, safes, and electric kettles, along with minibars. The style is also bright and fresh, with colorful accent panels, dark wood veneer furniture, and sharp laminate floors. 

While many hostels stop at providing a living room and kitchen for their guests, the Saphaipae goes further. The hostel has a small restaurant which serves free buffet breakfasts, and then opens for lunch and dinner serving Thai food. It's open most nights for lunch and dinner except, but guests should check ahead regarding closings. Breakfast is included in room rates, though dorm guests may opt out and save additional money. It's a varied spread and made-to-order options are available. Next to the restaurant is a small terrace, where guests can also order restaurant meals or smoke; the area serves as a bar in the evening. Inside the lobby, there is a small coffee stall with baked goods, instant noodles, and drinks available. Guests will find public computers to use, a pool table, and some board games in the lobby, plus a TV corner with video games and controls available. The hostel has tons of DVDs that can be borrowed, and also has a few TV lounges on different floors. There is a small sun terrace upstairs, and guest laundry facilities as well. Wi-Fi is free throughout.