Sawasdee Bangkok Inn = Hellhole

**njdesi** · 30-09-2006, 06:21 AM

I was heading to Kanchanburi and needed a place to stay near the Western Bus Terminal. I thought I would save a few bucks and book an $11 (US) hotel on precisionreservation.com. Bad move.

Here is a review from one Mr. Tan Siok Hui:

"The hotel is quite clean, better than expectation, worth for the money we paid. Very good location that we can start our bargain activity when we walk out of the hotel. Easy to flag a meter-taxi. I will consider to stay in this hotel again."

Obviously, this is a fokwit backpacker or a friend of the place who neglects to mention one major flaw with the room. You remember the movie "Spinal Tap", where Stonehedge was only two feet tall and the dancing midgets knocked it over? Well, the rooms at the Sawasdee were built to comfortably accommodate only dancing midgets. Anyone else would feel cramped. The rooms are so small that I don't think these pics do it justice.

And here is the bed. The blanket felt like worn out sandpaper.

For those interested in the sciences, the staff have kindly removed the light cover so that you examine loose wires and the latest in Thai lightbulb technology. The rest of us will try to sleep hoping that the thing doesn't collapse on our bed.

And now for the hotel description:

To discover most of Bangkok with ease, guests can use Sawasdee Bangkok Inn Hotel as their home base. Every room is equipped with the home comforts you would expect from a hotel of this class (class equals backpacker hellhole). Each guestroom has telephone, television, television (cable) (One movie channel, one sports channel, and a bunch of useless Thai channels), mini bar (bullshit, no fridge. Just a pack of shrimp snacks and some peanuts) and air conditioning. To suit all guests' convenience, this elegant hotel in Bangkok features 24 hour room service, laundry service, car rental, bar, tour desk and restaurant. Visitors to Bangkok will see that the hotel is the right choice with its convenient location and complete service and facilities.

Maybe for a backpacker who is used to sleeping in a 150 baht fan room, a room with A/C and cable TV is the lap of luxury. For normal human beings, avoid this dump. You have been warned.

**MeMock** · 30-09-2006, 06:27 AM

Crikey for 400 baht what did you expect?

I am assuming you were in banlumpoo? If so which one was it as there are three in the area.

**njdesi** · 30-09-2006, 06:35 AM

^
Not much, but no fire hazards, a decent blanket, and being able to open the door without it hitting the bed would have been nice.

**Rigger** · 30-09-2006, 06:40 AM

I paid 750bht once in soi one forget the name of the joint but it sucked big time. I prefur to pay a bit more and stay some where a bit nicer 2,000bht is a good starting price. but I have notice the differents between a 4,000bht hotel and a 2,000bht is nothing at all.

**MeMock** · 30-09-2006, 07:12 AM

I am assuming you were in banlumpoo? If so which one was it as there are three in the area.

**njdesi** · 30-09-2006, 07:16 AM

Err, it is called the Sawasdee Bangkok Inn. I believe the others are called Banglumpu Inn and just Sawasdee Inn.

Here is the street address:
126/2 Khaosan Rd.
Banglumpu
Bangkok,Thailand

**Rigger** · 30-09-2006, 07:19 AM

Then one with the swimming pool out the front as you walk in i think it was pink

**MeMock** · 30-09-2006, 08:07 AM

Desi, is that the one where you walk off actual khoa san road down a small alley way about 50 metres?

**stroller** · 30-09-2006, 08:28 AM

The Sawasdee is good value - aircon room with private bath for 400bt - must be the lowest in BKK, and you could do far worse in the area. It's clean and quiet. The major downside is that it is very small, but if you only use it to sleep for one night, so what?

You're obviously not used to staying in budget accomodation in Asia. What danger is there from a ceiling lamp without cover? Afraid you're gonna put your fingers in while you sleep?
Boy, I wanna see your reports if you ever travel around the Philippines or Laos, for example.

**ChiangMai noon** · 30-09-2006, 09:13 AM

Actually ndjesi was the author of probably the best travel log on this board detailing his Cambodia trip.
I think I'll bump it.

**RandomChances** · 30-09-2006, 12:27 PM

Originally Posted by Rigger

I have notice the differents between a 4,000bht hotel and a 2,000bht is nothing at all.

I think you will find it's 2000 baht

**njdesi** · 30-09-2006, 05:33 PM

Originally Posted by stroller

The Sawasdee is good value - aircon room with private bath for 400bt - must be the lowest in BKK, and you could do far worse in the area. It's clean and quiet. The major downside is that it is very small, but if you only use it to sleep for one night, so what?

You're obviously not used to staying in budget accomodation in Asia. What danger is there from a ceiling lamp without cover? Afraid you're gonna put your fingers in while you sleep?
Boy, I wanna see your reports if you ever travel around the Philippines or Laos, for example.

I have backpacked through Laos and India and stayed in far worse places. But now, I am too old to romanticize roughing it anymore. Also, I work as an auditor and hate to give compliments. My job is to find fault with everything.

**Chalk face** · 30-09-2006, 09:44 PM

Years ago I stayed in a Sawasdee hotel near Ekkami BTS station. It was a 'short time' rat hole and we checked out at about 6 am to go and get some sleep. Worst deal for the price I have ever experienced.

**dirtydog** · 30-09-2006, 09:50 PM

Originally Posted by Chalk face

Worst deal for the price I have ever experienced.

what she was no good

**Spin** · 30-09-2006, 11:09 PM

Originally Posted by njdesi

My job is to find fault with everything.

That should n't be too difficult in Thailand!

**Marmite the Dog** · 01-10-2006, 12:25 AM

I stayed at one of the Sawadee hotels in Payttaya once. Full of drunk twats fighting. Never again.

**Fabian** · 03-10-2006, 11:26 PM

So I guess all Sawasdee hotels are to be avoided?

Speaking of that, there is a Sawasdee hotel in Khon Kaen as well which is only good for parking.

**njdesi** · 04-10-2006, 07:35 AM

Originally Posted by Fabian

So I guess all Sawasdee hotels are to be avoided?

The Woraburi Sukhumvit Hotel,which is part of the sawasdee group of hotels, isn't bad for a low end hotel (rooms range from Bt850 to 2,500).

**NickA** · 04-10-2006, 07:42 AM

^I'll second the Woraburi is OK although a little on the grubby side.

**RandomChances** · 04-10-2006, 08:13 AM

^ thirded

**Fabian** · 14-10-2006, 05:16 AM

Hell, you auditors are really cheapskates. Pay 2,000 a night and get a nice hotel.

**njdesi** · 15-10-2006, 02:50 AM

^
There is no challenge in doing that. Trying to a find those rare hotels that are a great value for your baht is more fun.

**northerner** · 01-03-2007, 10:29 AM

i seem to remember that some of the rooms in the banglumpoo sawasdee have no windows, so the staff have thoughtfully painted a window, with a view of blue sky and trees, onto the wall. which may be more appealing that the actual view in banglumpoo.

**dantilley** · 17-07-2007, 10:17 PM

Sawasdee Smile Inn round the back of the temple on Soi Rambutri is good value, a room like the one pictured is only 290 Baht last I was there and if you spend 500 Baht or so you get a decent, proper sized hotel room with mini bar, big TV and a few other bells & whistles.

Has a alightly odd restaurant manager though who alwyas gives your change back in as many different denomination coins as possible to try and engineer a tip. And if you give him the correct change, he'll try and get you to buy him a beer!

**extras** · 08-10-2007, 02:31 AM

seems it's not just me. i, too, stayed at one of those sawadee hotels in pattaya once.

not impressed.

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