Thailand is a popular tourist destination that offers a host of accommodation for visitors to stay in. Both hotels and hostels are great to options depending on what your budget is and what kind of vacation you prefer.
Hotels may be a more expensive option, but they have many benefits to them and they often offer all-inclusive options with availability of activities and food included. However, hostels are a more affordable option and safe way to travel throughout Thailand as well.
It ultimately depends on your budget and what you are hoping to experience while traveling in Thailand. Thailand is a popular tourist destination as it has beautiful beaches, a rich culture and is a more affordable holiday.
Pros and cons of a hotel
Multiple hotels throughout Thailand offer all-inclusive deals that include food throughout your stay, an open bar, unlimited snacks, and access to activities. Some deals may include travel to Thailand and transfers between the airport and the hotel.
Hotels can organize activities within Thailand for you to enjoy offsite the resort. For example, Club Med offers excursions for an additional cost for their guests to enjoy. Types of excursions can be full day outings to visit the islands off Phuket’s coast – such as Phi Phi Island.
Hotels offer more privacy and security to their guests. You will have paid for a private room that often has better amenities than hostels. All-inclusive deals include exceptional meals throughout your stay and access to stunning pools and closed off beaches.
Many hotels have partnerships with surrounding activities to offer their guests exclusive deals. These partnerships also ensure that you avoid being scammed and remain safe.
However, a hotel is more expensive overall. During tourist seasons hotels can become booked quickly and offered activities may be limited. The facilities may also be crowded if the hotel is fully booked.
Another aspect to consider is that a hotel offers a less authentic experience of Thailand.
Hotels are best suited to families and people who aim to have a more relaxed holiday as opposed to an adventurous holiday.
Pros and cons of a hostel
A hostel is a great budget friendly option. They are a wonderful way to make new friends and meet people while travelling, especially if you are travelling alone.
You will be exposed to more authentic experiences in Thailand as you will be outing local food, and interacting with more local people.
Hostels in Thailand still offer safety and security. They have options to keep your valuables in locked safes when you leave the hostels.
Khao San Road is a popular street for backpackers to stay on while in Thailand. It has a host of hostels available however their availability often changes depending on how busy they are, so it is best to book a room as early as possible.
Popular hostels to check out include Nitan Hostel Khaosan, Buddy Lodge and the Alley Hostel and Bistro. Most hostels across Thailand offer free WIFI and some include breakfasts in their stays.
Many hostels don’t allow people under a certain age to stay with them and they aren’t ideal for families travelling together. Hostels are best suited for solo or younger travelers. College students are known to stay in hostels.
However, hostels can be become crowded and offer less privacy. Often bathrooms are shared spaces and there are often mixed dorms where men and women share sleeping space.
When booking a hostel, you can choose to book a private room at a higher cost or share a dorm room with more people. The facilities in hostels are not as luxurious as the ones in a hotel would be but they are still comfortable.
You likely won’t have access to a private pool or beach when staying in a hostel.
At the end of the day, you will only be sleeping in the hostels rooms and will spend the rest of your time exploring Thailand. Thailand is a popular backpacking destination and there is no shortage of affordable hostels to choose from.
Before booking your hostel, you should always check the listed reviews on Bookings.com and TripAdvisor.com The earlier you book the better as hostels can become fully booked quickly in popular seasons.
Where to find the best hotels and hostels:
Travel agencies do have exceptional deals and can offer assistance in finding accommodation closest to your desired location as well as can book activities and excursions for you.
They further can provide detailed advice and help your through the process of booking your adventure. Travel agencies often have inclusive deals where they book and oversee your entire vacation in different cities and even countries.
Alternatively, you can search for accommodation on sites such as Tripadvisor, Hostel World and Booking.com. These sites have all been tried and tested and have listed user reviews on them. When booking your accommodation, it is best to always check the reviews and ensure it is a legitimate hostel or hotel.
You should also look at the accommodations website if you have found them on a booking site to see if they offer more affordable rates on their webpage.
Another aspect that is important to look for when deciding which accommodation to stay in is to look at their included amenities and offers. Both hostels and hotels can include WIFI and included meals in their stays.
Hotels are more likely to provide you with private access to beaches and pools, and will be able to organize more activities for you to do on your behalf – such as access to spa treatments.
Each accommodation will have different packages available for you to choose from based on what kind of vacation you’d hoping to have while in Thailand.
Is it safe to stay in Thailand?
Travelling and staying in Thailand is safe. When booking accommodation, you should always check the reviews for each location on sites such as Trip Advisor or Bookings.com. People also offer their personal experiences and advice on social media.
Thailand overall is a relatively safe country, but you should always be cautious. As with any popular tourist location, scam artists often target more vulnerable tourists. It is best to always keep your valuable possessions such as your passport and cellphone with you and not easily accessible.
Hotels and hostels that you have verified are safe to stay in. You should have be weary of leaving your possessions in safes at any accommodation.
It is safest to book your accommodation through an accredited site or with travel agents to avoid being scammed.
Conclusion
Both hostels and hotels are great choices of accommodation in Thailand. The best choice for accommodation depends on what kind of vacation you are hoping for a while you are in Thailand.
Hotels are a more expensive option but this is worth the extra expense as there are all-inclusive deals that the majority of hotels offer. Hotels have included activities and can organize interesting and fun excursions for their guests at an additional cost.
They also offer more privacy than hostels do and have more luxury amenities available. Each hotel room has an en-suite bathroom whereas hostels may have shared bathrooms. As Thailand is an incredibly popular tourist destination, there is no shortage of accommodation available.
Backpacking across Thailand is quite common among tourists and staying in hostels among other backpackers is a wonderful way to meet other travelers and have a more authentic experience of Thailand.
It is advised that you speak to a travel agent before booking your accommodation or someone who has vast experience and knowledge of Thailand. They will be able to suggest accommodation and activities based on your preferences as well as guide you in what cities of Thailand you should visit.
Choosing between a hostel and a hotel stay depends entirely on your budget and what kind of experiences you are hoping to have. For families travelling together a hotel might be a better option.
A hostel is a great option for a solo traveler or young travelers. Most hostels include WIFI and breakfast in their packages and they are budget friendly stays.
Thailand is an incredible country to visit and offers a host of exceptional experiences such as swimming off the coast of Phi Phi Islands and eating authentic Thai food. It is a country with deep cultural experiences to offer tourists.