About Sukhumvit Soi 1Backpackers Hostel
Hello Fellow Travelers,
(please read all info as it's detail will help your trip!)
'Soi 1 Guesthouse' is an Independent Australian/American influenced, Thai owned guesthouse, and youth hostel, with 24 hour access and manned reception, now being over-seen by our diligent, on-site English speaking owner, Nai. The Friendships made and the Adventures shared are what we are about. It's partly but, more than just the Parties, Game-room, Bar, Live Sports from Satellites, Free Wi-Fi, Free maps, Hi speed internet, Clean rooms, New linen and Mattresses, Plush towels and Hot showers (did we mention that 'Nai' keeps the place clean enough to walk bare-foot in?) It's Really all about the Good Vibe, Good People, Casual Atmosphere and the Adventure that makes Great Memories Priceless! Let us help you to a good start. With our easy access Location (Sky train, subway, bus stop, canals, Free Bag storage. Relax. Get rid of the jet-lag, we got the location. And a love for anyone with the spirit of travel. Be friendly, Be happy, Be helpful. If your flight leaves late in the day, you can secure your luggage till departure time for free; relax in our Air-conditioned game room/bar/TV or internet lounge.
WE are proudly a Real Hostel. Not a place with 1 dorm and the rest Higher priced pvt rooms.
No hidden Fees. There are no extra charges for any of these items like with some other hostels! Most common being the added tax that is not in the bed price offered, You get there and they say ' 7% on top' not nice eh..? Our price has the ABF (VAT) included. We could hide it like others but we don't play those games. Our beds cost the price you see listed.
No Day Fees while waiting for your late night departure. Continue to use our common room, store your Bags for free.
NO Extra$ for use of Air-con (You have 24 hr control).
NO Linen or BS wash yer sheet fees.
NO Late or Early Check-in Charges!!! We are Open 24 hrs. Kinda a dirty trick to charge for that as A lot of Planes do arrive in the early AM hours and then the Taxi ride to town. What kinda Place would we be running here to Charge you Extra to check you in on your arrival. ( Not a Hostel we'd stay at).
Or stay in a outside location that increases transport cost. We keep your cost down. Our Location Rocks! We try to supply you with all you need, and we keep the Majority happy, but we cannot be everything to everybody. What we promise for the money you pay for a bed here is... Bed and Linen, towel included with real Mattress in an air-conditioned room ( You control the A/C), Hot showers and a Clean, Safe environment with 24 hr access, 24 hour reception, a 24 hr common room & bar, the ever popular Free long term storage and onward travel Tips. In the Central Location.( that may save you the amount you spent on sleeping here.)
There are other perks mentioned below that we have added because as travellers ourselves we see the usefulness these provide to travellers. We are NOT responsible for.. The weather, The pollution, the Low season, the smells of the city, your personality, your love life or anything else that happens outside of soi1guesthouse. But we do give you a safe, comfortable retreat from these. If you read the info on our walls you will save money. This is Officially what you get when you stay at soi1. All our other perks are free and available to travellers even if not staying here, including our help.
Soi 1 Guesthouse has - Triple private with shower and air-con, 4 person PVT with shower and Aircon, 8 bed dorm (female only and I'll add a favorite dorm) 4 & 10 person dorm rooms. All beds are in a good Air-conditioned room. A total of 43 beds. The 3 person private room has A/C and shower. 4 bed private has shower and AC. All toilets are shared, Western in style (We keep them Clean, check our rating for cleanness, Toilets can tell a lot about a place.) The triple room has beds that are double on the bottom and single on top and can be booked to accommodate up to three people. 4 bed PVT dorm is has 4 bunks and a shower w/Air-con. A Private room as defined by us, each bed must be secured (paid for) and the room needs a key for entry...all linen is supplied including towels at no extra cost. AC is controlled by you and the room needs a key for entry...
** To note, from the High-season management-- Hi you don't know us...yet lol**
Things are a bit quite in Bangkok during the low season, but the High season in Thailand starts in November and last thru Feb and then again Late May thru August..Our High season management team is out exploring other places during low season ( Low seasons are-Sept-Oct and March-April. Hey, We deserve a bit of getting around time ourselves and take off ourselves to Travel and learn more...) And during the peak periods will help you discover Thailand, Cambodia, Lao and Vietnam. We also know Bangkok WELL From Massages to Parties, Temples to Tailors and Shopping to the Shows (Siam Niramit (Google it) to the infamous Ping Pong ball show....all tried and true with us and our past guest.) We've done the trips you'll do and can give you all the options (time/$) you need for you to choose the ones that best suit you. We look for the outgoing, Social, extroverted Open-minded types of travelers that want to learn and share and have Bombastic fun but of course we welcome anyone that is traveling. READ THE WALL INFO .You go ahead and read the rest down below, we back it, but the important bit is over. Oh last thing Bring your Music we'll play it and we love to add new tunes to the many gigs we have just ask the desk.
We take great pride in the condition of Soi 1 Guesthouse. Clean describes it best. We have new mattresses, sheets, pillows on every bed and Air-Con in every room. The Owner Nai, ( lived in Europe for 5 yrs ) is a lovely Buddhist Thai lady who can speak English, German , and of course Thai, A real Bonus as plenty have found and, you'd find too, if you need to call locally to Airlines, Tour companies, Show bookings etc...). She knows the best of the best from tailors to temples!
At Soi 1 Guesthouse you have Unlimited time, Free, Strong Signal Wi-Fi (wireless internet) that can be received (now on all 4 floors, in all rooms and roof top balcony.) by anyone with his or her own laptop/ wireless device. No day fees or membership required.
If your are 'wireless deviceless', We have the laptop and connection for you for 1 baht a min.
Free lockers, (bigger than a laptop), but smaller than a big backpack. Free short and long term storage for larger items. (Blue Door next to the 24 hr manned reception desk), which is unbelievably helpful to lighten your load while doing Thailand. Often used to its capacity but always room for a few more. (June 24 2009 - our security rating has been low. not that anything has happened but some don't realize how on the ball we really are.(Deceptively Casual) SO to help us in this we have just added CCTV security camera's in our free storage room and on the Lockers located at reception. That should do the trick...
Here in Bangkok We are being noticed. We being a 43 bed Hostel are midsized and have the time for each Guest. We have set a standard of Service, Cleanliness and Care for our Guest to such an extent that Some Hostels/ Guesthouses are finally getting a clue and finding that they best start 'Cleaning up their acts' and providing a 'guest-friendly hostel'. Feel good, get here feeling comfortable from the start and it will be a help to your entire trip. The condition of our atmosphere is one that is relaxed, Open minded, Comfortable, Secure, Clean, and Happy. We keep it that way.
'Guest Friendly Management'
We are different. Well traveled ourselves we understand the curiosities, needs, and dislikes of being on the road, so we are ahead of the game. Come see. We are dedicated to supply an informative, up-beat, inexpensive Haven for our guest, Compare our location on the map and our customer reviews to others and you will see we are Unique in location and services provided. We help people come together and relax cheaply. We see many people from many places with many likes and dislikes... We try to keep everyone happy but we do keep the Majority happy. We are a Hostel not a Hotel. The difference is a Hostel can be a more social environment.
In our Air-Conditioned Licensed Bar,
We serve Heineken and Local beers such as Singha, Chang, Leo and Chang draft all reasonably priced. Dave's Tip; try the 'Red Horse' beer - large bottle 100 Baht 6.9 % with flavor and of course various spirits.
We also have the cheapest Laundry service, for our guest, in the area...
Staying In Bangkok? Want to go to Khao San Rd (18 baht), Grand Palace, and Temple of the Dawn, Wat Po, Emerald Buddha and China Town… We've put together directions of different, budget minded, full day excursions. Ask about our 'Adventure around Bangkok,' you'll be glad you did! It includes the top 3 tourist places in Bangkok; total transportation cost will be less than 80 Baht. (Struth mate) But you won't know unless you read the wall or ask us how! No accommodation east of us can do it any cheaper. We specialize in helping you move onward with current advice, tips and a few tricks we know, shared by ourselves or our patrons who are fresh from their run through South East Asia.
Moving on from Bangkok? We show you how to get to everywhere, on your own and save you the $ that the tour agency would normally get for them booking your tour. Do it our way. Yes, there are times when a tour agency is your best option, mostly when you are limited on time, but with the proper knowledge (i.e. where to go buy tickets) you're able to book your own. Save money, do more! Here are just some of the destinations we make available for you.
One of our Favorites is....
Kanchanaburi, including the floating market, war cemetery, and bridge over the River Kwai, Tiger Temple ( (ever touch a tiger? walk beside tigers, don't run or move to fast.) Elephant riding and washing(ever wash an elephant?) , Erawan Falls-The best water falls in all of Thailand( swimming allowed) Hot springs, Hell Fire Pass- ('Lest We Forget') - monkey training zoo, the big tree and bamboo rafting are also available! We Can get you there for 200 baht at the most, includes a scenic train ride
Make it a 3 day run and you can add three Pagoda Pass, Viwagaram Temple, underwater temple, orphanage, and long wooden bridge.
We show you how and where to book your own bus, train, plane to… The Islands of Thailand-Koh Chang (romantic), Koh Kut, Koh Wai, Koh Mak and Southern Islands - Koh Tao (the Island of the turtle, diving), Koh Phangan (Full Moon Party) Koh Samui - South - Phi-Phi, Krabi, Phuket, Had Yai, Koh Lak, We can get you there as we have done for many already…and for the least amount possible! SAVE MONEY DO MORE!!
Northeastern Thailand has Chang Mai (We recommend you staying at Spicy Thai backpackers If there, Why? We have no connection to them, I just like the way they do It.!! = Guest-friendly!!) Laos - Vientiane. Vietnam. The (Burma) Myanmar border is opening up more now than ever. Cambodia - Siam Reap, Angkor Wat, Phnom Phen and the southern beaches of Cambodia.
Canal routes - which you should do at least once when you are here. Want to go to Khao San Rd? We'll get you there from the front door of Soi 1 for less than 20 Baht. We also have more detailed maps, which include Sukhumvit, China Town, Banglampoo. The Chatuchak (the huge weekend market) from Soi1 you can get there for less than 40 baht. Update; just ask us how to get to the places you want to go. Our location is as good as we say. (See our location comments overall) the only people who think our location is bad are folks that have not asked us how to get somewhere and have jumped in a taxi or tuk tuk with no idea and have been overcharged. (Beware of tuk tuks) from Soi 1 guesthouse front door and back to the major tourist sites (I.e. Grand palace , Wat Po, Emerald Buddha) We can tell you how to get there and back for less than 80 baht in Transportation cost. For your happiness, please ask us how if we have not already showed you. Be a traveler, not just a tourist.
At 'Soi 1 Guesthouse' we happily help you find what you're looking for and can offer many Suggestions to you no matter what your budget or time restraints... Oh we also have a nice library of travel reference books that deal with all of S.E.Asia and other countries, that are most Traveled to by our guest exiting Thailand. (I.e. Australia, India, Cambodia etc...) And a Free book library you don't have to exchange. We call it the 'Buddha Bookshelf'
Want a Real Traditional Thai massage?( i.e. no boom boom) 1 Block away- 1 hour Traditional Thai massage cost a flat 200 Baht, and the full Body oil massage is 300. Well worth it and they are addicting!! And a fraction of the cost charged at home.
There are so many things with-in Walking Distance around like....
Temples, shops, Markets, Parks, Cheap Transport from here to anywhere in the city. We are centrally located, near (1 block) from the highway that takes you to/from Airport. From here that makes it almost impractical to take anything but the taxi (less than 350 baht. many do it for less. 200 on meter and 65 baht in tolls is normal) as there is no in-town traffic (Bangkok rhymes with gridlock) to contend with. Waking distance to Embassy row. Two minute walk to Sky train and the canal. The Night life of NANA and Soi Cowboy is just down the road. Major cinemas (go on a Monday cheap) and Shopping centers BMK- Siam -Central world, Pratnum plaza, Pantip plaza (a leg shaking 5 stories of computer and IT goods.) -Baiyok Tower = tallest building in Bangkok with a rotating platform for a full 360 degree look at the city, it also has what I think is the greatest buffet in Bangkok bit pricey at 600 baht but worth it, what a selection!! This is a great place to impress.
Located next to the Bumrungrad Hospital, (They have a great gym that can be used for a small fee.) so many patients from around the world they just opened a Thai Immigration office there, no lines as of yet - convenient for many of my guest.
Don't be misled; being next to a World class hospital our street is quiet and safe. There is not a 'girly bar' on the street (Soi 1). The sleaze factor is 0. Two blocks east of here all that changes.
Two International Phones at our front door and a 24 hr 7-11 beside us 2 ATMs along with Street Carts selling Thai foods, drinks and fruit stalls are everywhere
BTS (sky train) and Canal. Both 2, minutes from us.
Embassies:
Walking distance to the British (6 blocks), Australian, American, Dutch, and Spanish and Vietnam (8 blocks), Cambodian, Danish, Finnish, Swedish, New Zealand, Swiss, German, Austrian, Polish and South African embassies heaps of other embassies in walking distance.
Kick-boxing: (the real deal)
If you're interested in Thai Boxing, here's the places where it happens. Not far from here (again walking distance) is the main venue in the world to watch kick-boxing 'Lumpini stadium'. If you buy your tickets yourself at the door they often try to upgrade you at a cheaper cost than you would of paid if you pre-booked your ticket. It's something to see, mad crowds. Here's a bit about fight times--
Main venue Lumpini Stadium, Rama IV Road.
Open: Every Tuesday and Friday at 18:30 p.m. - 23:00 p.m. and Saturday at 17:00 p.m. -20:00 p.m. and 20:30 p.m. - midnight.
Ratchadamnoen Boxing Stadium, Ratchadamnoen Nok Road. Open: every Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday at 18:00 pm.
We can't make you more aware. Want hassle free arrival? Listen to us! We feel we are the best located Hostel / Guesthouse in Bangkok, Compare our easy accessible location and our short walking distance to the major modes of cheap transportation (BTS = Skytrain , Canals, subway and with the best hospital in Thailand one block (Bumrungrad) from us, taxis are always about no matter the A.M or P.M.) Compare, you will see that the savings per day in transportation to and from 'Soi 1 guesthouse" while visiting Bangkok, will pay for your nights stay in any hostel here. We are in central Bangkok you can see on the map, locate others on the map that claim the same and compare.
We ask all Visitors, who book accommodation on the web, read the reviews and To Rate their accommodation experience on the web. We are making big Changes here by setting higher standards and your help is greatly appreciated. (3 year+ open and we see it working) Many guests that come here have left other hostels upset by inaccurate descriptions and Grumpy management. We'll tell you like we tell them, there's only one way to help others avoid the same mistake-- Make a review!!
If a hostel is consistantly Rated in the low 60's or less Buyer Beware..There is a Reason.
We've won a few awards,
Top 10 for Fun (07) , Another booking site
Best Cleanliness Award (6/08) another booking site.
The latest is from this-site, in recognition of being a Top Rated Hostel in Asia for 2007 as defined by our guest that has rated us. Thanks to all.
Stay at Soi1guesthouse and you'll be back!!
Come by no matter where you stay, have a look. Our resources are open to every traveler.
You learn from your environment, expanding that environment by traveling is the greatest thing you can do for yourself and the world.
Bangkok is STILL one of the safest cities of its size in the world. Thai people truly deserve their country being called "The Land of Smiles!!!
See the world before it Seizes you!!!
Soi1Guesthouse
This last part is just a note to Non-Travelers !!!!!!!!!
that are just looking for cheap Lodging next to the Hospital.
You will Not Be Happy here. Your Sick, You want peace and quiet and Most of the time, I have found, you want to be alone. YOU will Not Be Happy here and when you leave you will give us a bad review.
You want to be well, and as a Hostel we want reviews that reflect our Customer Base. Simple as that - you have been notified. Unless you are comfortable with this description, save yourself hassle and Find a Hotel.
If you are A TRAVELER and you need the hospital (bad motorcycle, bad motorcycle) then DO call on us for lodging and Help.
We are a HOSTEL, A Travelers Safe-Haven, A social environment. Not a Hotel.
Thank-you for your understanding and we hope you get better.
Team Soi1
Use Directions Tab to get a print-out in Thai of airport arrival. The Airport Sky-Train is not working as yet (NOV 18) but they are preparing.
I wonder how much they will charge and if it would be better with a metered cab as even thought the Airport sky-train is 90 seconds from soi1 it may be better with alot of gear just to get the taxi. (just one of the many things we are working on to make your trip better and we don't even know you yet :P