It's called River View Hotel because it's near the river but it has NO WATER! I was rubbing my body with this teenyweeny soap when the water stopped. I jokingly thought that this would be on FB's "that moment" episode... after 5 min of lugod2 I started to worry... after 10 min... I called the reception. The lady assured me it was being handled... 5 min passed I felt cold and no water still... I wrapped my stark naked body with a towel and went down to the reception. Imagine how red the face of the receptionist was. The manager came but all I got was excuses. She told me to go back to my room... waited for more minutes I know I was upset but I stayed cool... the water came at last. You don't wanna stay in this WATERLESS HOTEL... If this happened in Japan they'd gave me a full refund and a lot of bows and "I'm sorry".
Friendly manager. You'll immediately feel at home. I reserved by phone but I wasn't required to provide any credit card to reserve a room. But I learned that on the following day that this hostel was going to be closed. Map If you go to Phnom Penh, Cambodia and looking for a cheap accommodation, this is highly recommended especially if you're a big group.
There is no problem with ventilation because the ceiling is very high. I also felt comfortable sleeping in a mosquito net. It reminds me of my grandfather's house. The lockers are very safe and there is an outlet inside incase you want to charge when leave your computer/mobile phone or any electronic gadgets. After I checked in, the owner asked me if I want to move to another room because there was a group of teenagers coming to join me. I didn't mind it and I was glad that they were British because they were very polite and considerate. The hostel owner, gave me a lot of good advice about the city and safety. Con: There was no elevator so I had to drag my suitcase up a narrow marble staircase. This was Nirvana Hostel Ignou Road branch in Delhi. I stayed for a night here but there was no water and the internet connection was not working for hours. I was charged 100 rupees for parking fee (The reason was I came by taxi and it stopped for a while.). This place is hard to find so there's no other way to come but by taxi. The interior was dark (see the picture)and I was scared because it looked like a brothel to me. There were no other people but the 2 staffs who were young and good looking. I demanded to talk to the caretaker in Agra branch. "You did yoga in the living room because there were many mosquitoes in the balcony." said the staff in Agra that's how I was convinced that this was the hostel I was going to stay for the night. The 2 staffs laughed with me. LOL
I'd rate International Hostel Khaosan 5 stars among the hostels I've stayed in. Here's why:
Homely atmosphere. There is no unwanted smell. In fact, they put air-fresheners in each room. The surroundings are well-maintained and clean. Facilities are all new. It seems that the owner has really invested a lot of money on procuring the best facilities. There are enough shower rooms. The kitchen is spacious and equipped with basic cooking utensils. There's an IH electric stove, a huge refrigerator (a smaller one in the 2nd floor). Also, the WIFI connection is very fast. The bedroom. I chose the shared room> There are 2 double deck beds on the left and right side when you enter the room. These are quite big that a 6footer will have no problem sleeping in it. The sheets are immaculate white and I love the pillow most. The cost. If you "like" it on FaceBook, you get a 10% discount. The price was ¥2,200 (about $22) a night and less 10% I only paid ¥1,800. The checkin time is 3pm and the check out is 11pm but I could leave my stuff while I was waiting for my midnight bus. The Staffs are friendly and, of course, it's easy to make friends in such a homely atmosphere. Just one thing... it's 10 minutes walking distance from Hakata JR Station but it's in the Chikushiguchi (Shinkansen side) so it's quite far from Tenjin --- according to the iPhone application google navigator, it's about 40 minutes on foot. I looked for a hostel in the internet and I only found two: Hakata Riverside Hostel and Fukuoka Youth Hostel. I chose the former because it was ¥500 ($5) cheaper than the latter but when I checked in, I paid ¥2,500 ($25) per night. Hmmmm
It's obvious that this was a business hotel converted into a hostel. The room was small and has 2 double deck beds. It has a toilet inside. However, the airconditioner was new and quiet and there was no unpleasant smell. The beddings were white and clean. Or, just imagine a single room in a business hotel with 2 double deck beds and wish that your roommate doesn't smell. A room on the 3rd floor was converted into a Lounge where you can have free coffee/tea. You can also use the fridge, microwave oven, toaster and a small TV. There's a PC, too, but you have to pay a dollar per hour. But there's no place to cook and it feels awkward to wash the dishes in the bathroom so we just left our used cups and spoons on the table. Free WIFI but its soooo slow. The Staff are quite formal but friendly and except for a lady they were all middle aged men. The location is in the Shotengai (row of shops) near the Nakasu red-light district. Canal City Dept Store is close and a 24hr supermarket is about a couple of minutes away. So, there's no need to cook. By the way, the capsule hotel rates are just about the same as a capsule hotel where you can enjoy a sauna. So, if you are planning only to sleep and needs to sweat out, chose the capsule hotel across the bridge. |
CategoriesArchives
March 2013
AuthorLoves to go on a budget travel and meet people. |