Viengtai Hotel Bangkok

location, location, location. this is just one of the things that i can say is good about this hotel.
it's not that expensive, about 1500 baht ($30-$35 US) but the best feature is that it is one block away from the famous Khaosarn Rd.

being this close you can play with friends all day and night and never have to step foot inside some of the hostels that are so famous for backpackers and the noise all day and night.

second plus to this place is it's driver. he is the hotels taxi driver, and the prices you pay to go all over the city are cheaper and more convenient then any tuk tuk in thailand.

The Viengtai in Banglamphu used to be very good value if you wanted comfort in this part of town, mostly devoted to guesthouses and budget accommodation. But my last stay there convinced me that too much is taken for granted there these days. The breakfast is tired, the staff are not interested,the supply of pool chairs inadequate and often broken, the bathroom supplies are diminishing, and I couldn't even find a power point in my room for hairdryer, travel iron, MP3 or phone charger. My bathroom taps didn't function properly. For the price, there is much better value.

The Viengtai was by far the "nicest" place I stayed on my Thailand and Cambodia trip. My friend paid $80 for the double room and couldn't go, so I got the room for free (price may be inflated due to it being NYE). The room itself was great -- cozy, clean and with a real bathroom with a tub. Most showers in Southeast Asia, even in better budget to midrange options, are just machines installed in the toilet room, meaning you shower on the same floor surface as the toilet. The Viengtai's awesome bathroom was a welcome change. The location of the hotel is a block from Kho San Road, which came off as pretty tourist-trappy to me, but I didn't stay long enough to really form a concrete opinion.

So why is this a one star review? I have never felt so ripped off by a hotel. I got there after a long day, and they tried to tell me there was no reservation made by my friend. They eventually found it, but then tried to convince me they had given her a refund, when they had sent her an email telling her that they had a strict no refund policy. They tried to make me pay for the room all over again. It was 30 minutes before they finally gave in and gave me the room.

The next morning, I had to get a cab at 5AM. Cabs are supposed to be 200 baht, but the hotel colludes with taxis -- they sell the rides for 500 baht.


In short, staying at this hotel would be nice if you don't mind paying tourist prices for *everything*. I'm sure there are nice options with good rooms and nice bathrooms elsewhere.