Hostels are starting to pop up in Southeast Asia, an area previously dominated by guesthouses and hotels. Open last year in Bangkok, Lub*d (despite the ridiculous name) continually nails 95%+ customer ratings on booking sites and rave reviews. Here’s why:
Design
This is the big shocker, the amount of time that went into laying the hostel out. Its nouveau-industrial look gives off the feeling of a white-hot advertising agency rather than a bunk bed emporium. High ceilings, distressed wood, blasted concrete and wide stairs all work exceedingly well together.
Rooms
Not the hugest but certainly the neatest. Big, thick mattresses and bedding that feels like it comes from The Martha Stewart Collection. Couple that with unbelievably efficient air conditioning and that new-hotel smell…it’s a winner.
Safety
Lub*d is smartly located away from the Koh San Road glut, a safe walk from the Chong Nonsi BTS/Skytrain. A digital room card taps open your room, as well as the main entrance. Each room has a big safe.
Bathrooms
A girl staying here told me that let out a moan when she saw them for the first time. A huge sink, with actual mirrors, sits dead in the middle of the room. It’s surrounded by sizeable showers, each with overhead spray-age and honest-to-Jesus hot water.
Computer Friendly
Nine laptops sit in the lobby, with free use for all guests. Speedy WiFi is available in all of the rooms, free of charge. Bigger plus – all rooms have oodles of electrical outlets.
Touches
The little things add up, from the way that the electrical outlets match items in the room, to the fun atmosphere of the lobby (which stocks board games showing no sign of disrepair, as well as a bar).
The Only Downside
Lub*d isn’t cheap, compared what you can find at guesthouses. 650 Baht will swing you a dorm bed. A better bet is splitting a “twin rail room” with a friend, which ran two of us $1,200 Baht. I felt that paying an extra 200 Baht was worth it, just so that I could go a whole night without seeing bamboo.
Lub*d. 4 Decho (pronounced “Day-Show”) Road, Bangkok. +66 (0) 2 634 7999 www.lubd.com
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I stayed at Lub D back in January and it IS an awesome hostel…but if you are traveling with someone and do some research, you can actually find hotels in the same area (Silom) that cost the same amount or slightly less (for two people) and include private bathrooms. A few even have pools and fitness rooms. It definitely pays to do your homework.
I will say that if you’re a single traveler, Lub D definitely has a social element that is missing from some of the hotels in the area.↵ -
Tom, this place looks ‘effin great! Will definitely be on my list the next time I find myself backpacking around Thailand.
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Stayed here last spring just after they opened. Awesome place, and an awesome staff. Have recommended it for every friend who travels to Bangkok, and they have all said the same.
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I heard from a friend that this place was awesome, and after reading this, I’m sold!
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I was there last week! Was sat at the Love table pictured.
Currently its 550tbh per night in a dorm, so your infomation is a bit dated. Also current offer to end of July is buy one night get one free, so only 225tbh per night!
Breakfast is decent enough too at 80tbh and you get a banana as well as the advertised egg, toast and tea/coffee which is a nice addition to start a day with.
I say the only downside is the monitoring of internet useage through their log in system means it’s a little restricted and more time consuming to get online with.
Great for meeting people like other hostels. The theatre room is like a decent home audio set up too.
Cool? Yes it certainly is up there and thought has seriously gone into the design, but there are other cool hostels in SEA that would give it a run for it’s money.
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