Thailand’s capital city is home to more than 10.8 million people, making it among the biggest cities in Southeast Asia. It’s one of the most visited cities in the world, with almost 40 million tourists in 2019.
Bangkok is also a backpacking mecca — the city is especially popular among backpackers for its affordability, world-famous nightlife, and delicious street food.
Since I started covering the backpacking beat for Insider, I’ve stayed at hostels in Singapore and Malaysia. But I wanted to experience what hostels are like in a backpacking capital like Bangkok, so I traveled to the city in late July to experience it for myself.
This part of Chinatown is known for the motorcyclists who dash through narrow alleyways, where hundreds of sellers peddle everything from street food to household items.
While doing my research for the trip, I found hundreds of hostels in Bangkok on websites like Agoda and Booking.com. They ranged from a one-star hostel that appeared to be located in a back alley to highly rated hostels with amenities like swimming pools and bars.
Luk Hostel is one the luxurious hostels. It has a cafe-cum-bar and a rooftop lounge where backpackers host parties. It’s also one of the most highly rated hostels in the city — it has a 4.5-star rating on Google Reviews. One guest who stayed at hostel in 2020 described the hostel as the “best” they’ve ever stayed at. Another guest who stayed at hostel in June said it was “clean, big, and equipped with everything” they were looking for in a hostel.
Luk Hostel did not reply to my requests for comment. Insider paid for my stay in full, as is standard with our reporting trips.
I had just arrived in Bangkok on a train from Chiang Mai. On first impression, the hostel’s cafe and bar, Rise, looked outstanding.
Many of the hostels I’ve stayed at in the past have had cramped or non-air-conditioned lounge spaces. This one, in contrast, seemed like a boutique hotel: It was air-conditioned, spacious, and clean. Backpackers were lounging about and having breakfast.
My room wasn’t ready when I arrived, as the check-in time was at 2 p.m., so I ordered an iced mocha and settled in to do some work at the cafe.
Eating in the rooms isn’t allowed, a staff member told me, adding that guests should eat on the rooftop. Unlike the hostel I stayed at in Malaysia, which had a midnight curfew, Luk offered 24-hour access using a keycard.
The industrial architectural details made the hostel stand out from the rest of the hostels I’ve stayed at.
A few guests were chatting along the staircases, talking about their plans for the day. There seemed to be a sense of camaraderie among the guests, something I didn’t see during my stays in hostels in Singapore and Malaysia.
There was also a laundry area in the lower floors where guests could wash and dry their clothes for a small fee.
It looked a lot like the female-only room I stayed in at Dream Lodge, the best-rated hostel in Singapore.
The price gets you only the basics — in other words, just a bed — but it was quiet, clean, and cool.
I wanted to check out the local nightlife during my trip, and I was in the perfect place for it. The hostel is just a few minutes from the bustling night market near Chakkrawat’s main road. The area around the hostel is also full of shops, so there’s plenty to explore.
I didn’t get back to the hostel until 3 a.m., but slept well enough that I was ready to go sightseeing in Bangkok by 8 a.m. the next day.
As far as public restrooms go, the hostel had some of the cleanest I’ve seen. The shower stalls had soap dispensers, which were convenient for guests traveling ultra-light.
The water pressure and the heater worked well enough for a quick shower, and the toilet had an attached bidet.
There was also row of sinks for guests to wash up, and two large mirrors.
The spacious rooftop lounge, which had indoor and outdoor seating, is a luxury that many hostels don’t have. I preferred the outdoor seating, as I was bitten by mosquitoes indoors while conducting an interview.
Before I left to check out a local nightclub, I heard that several guests were hosting a party at the rooftop — some guests described it as a “chill-out afterhour feel” rather than a wild party like the ones on Khao San Road.
It’s no surprise that a highly rated hostel in Bangkok is better than many hostels in Singapore and Malaysia, as Thailand’s capital city is tailor-made for backpackers.
Even so, I was surprised at how luxurious it was for a budget accommodation. Not only were the essentials in good shape, but the rooftop deck and the quality of the cafe felt like nice bonuses for travelers who need some to chill out between legs of their journey.
If you’re looking for no-frills accommodation in a lively, vibrant part of Bangkok, Luk Hostel is one to check out.
Keep reading