Bangkok. The city of Angels. Host to some of the best food in the world and enough to keep you busy even if you spent a lifetime there. With a huge number of lodging options in the city, there can be quite the range in price, from double-digit to quadruple-digit prices for hotels. Earlier this year, I stayed at two different spots on the polar oposite end of the spectrum. I stayed a night at the $1,000 a night five-star Mandarin Oriental Bangkok and I stayed a few weeks at the $32 a night (for a private room) The Yard Hostel – easily the best hostel in Bangkok. How did they stack up? Read on!
A $1,000 Five-Star Hotel: Mandarin Oriental Bangkok
The five-star Mandarin Oriental Bangkok opened in 1876 as the first luxury hotel in Thailand (then known as Siam). Perched on the Chao Phraya River, it has some of the best room views in Bangkok. Walking through the original wing of the building or taking tea in the Author’s Lounge, you feel the history of the storied hotel. Breakfast on a patio overlooking the river is a luxurious affair with a buffet that features everything from smoked salmon to fresh coconuts to miso soup to a chocolate fountain.
Perhaps my favorite thing about the Mandarin Oriental is the fact that they are aware of and take action against one of the biggest pitfalls you find in hotels in Thailand: The smell of mildew. Due to the humidity and heat in Southeast Asia, you sometimes find that the hotel room you paid hundreds of dollars for has a rank moldy stench to it. One of the things that causes this problem is the air conditioning turning off when, for example, there is no guest staying in the room. At the Mandarin Oriental, they keep the room temperature below 73 degrees Fahrenheit at all times to ensure that no mold grows on the furniture and that the air stays fresh and clean. You can really tell the difference and this is one of the things that you get at a hotel the caliber of the Mandarin that you won’t find elsewhere.
The rooms at the Mandarin are absolutely spotless and the mini bar is stocked with everything from Thai whisky to French champagne. There are two relaxing pools on the property and even a cage that houses some pet parrots. The bar is full of the ghosts of eras past and people watching in the lobby is second to none. You brush elbows with Thailand’s finest here, and everyone who is able should experience it at least once in their lives.
A $32 Hostel, The Best Hostel in Bangkok: The Yard
One of the great things about The Yard is its location. It’s situated in hip, fairly residential neighborhood called Ari. While you get a little bit away from the hustle and bustle of downtown, you’re just a couple light rail stops away from Siam, Chit Lom, and Phloen Chit. Still, with great bars, restaurants, massage and shops in the Ari neighborhood, there’s plenty to do.
The yard is special because of the connections you make there. It’s not a party hostel, but I have stayed up late, sharing beers with new friends, some of whom I have kept in touch with to this day. Everyone is friendly and I’ve never met someone I didn’t like or witnessed someone who appeared to be having a bad time. The staff will help you with everything from finding a way to get to Chiang Mai to recommend the best all-night restaurant in the neighborhood if you’re looking for something to soak up all the Singha beer.
I started staying at The Yard because of its proximity to Or Tor Kor Market. The market is one of the largest fresh markets in the city, and is a step above some of the other markets in terms of quality (and price). It has an open-air food court and is one of the few places in the city where you can find durian and other Thai fruits year-round. From The Yard, it’s just two light rail stops away and you can get there for an easy and cheap lunch in no time.
No bad choices: The bottom line
Both The Yard and The Mandarin Oriental are wonderful options when you need a place in Bangkok. Of course, it’s tough to ignore the vastly different price points. Will you have a stay which is 31 times better at the Mandarin Oriental than you will at The Yard? Probably not. I’ve had some of the happiest moments of my life at The Yard and the price to stay there is next to nothing. Is it worth it to splurge and stay at a hotel like The Mandarin Oriental Bangkok once in your life? Definitely. Have you been to either of these two hotels? Let us know in the comments!