How to Get There
We flew into Don Mueang airport, which mainly serves budget airline carriers like Air Aisa. If Don Mueang airport is your first stop in Thailand you will need to clear customs and immigration if you have already been traveling within Thailand then proceed to baggage claim. Once you collect your luggage bypass all of the solicitations for “Taxi” and instead look for the official metered taxi signs. You will know that you are heading in the right direction by following the large taxi signs in the airport. You will pass many people who will try to convince you that they are with the official taxi service, but confidently pass on their offer and continue towards the airport taxi area.
You will now that you have arrived at the right area when you see long lines of people in a waiting room area. When we arrived there was someone assisting passengers and handing out numbers. Despite the large crowds, the wait was short because they are incredibly efficient! When it is your turn, be sure to collect all of your luggage and members of your traveling party and then tell the desk attendant where you want to go. Be sure to have the address to Siri Poshtel ready to go in Thai to help expedite things. Once the attendant confirms where you are going, they will provide you with a ticket that has all of the driver’s information in case there are any issues.
You do not pay at the desk, the driver will turn on the meter and you are required to pay the fare as well as the airport toll fare. I am a bit of a worrywart so I always sacrifice some of my data to navigate to the hotel while in the taxi. This puts my mind at ease because I know that we are headed in the right direction, but I can also know right away if the driver is trying to stretch the fare. Siri Poshtel is a little complicated to find because it is off a side street and our driver was unfamiliar with the area, but after a few wrong turns, we arrived safe and sound!
The Space
We booked a Deluxe Triple Room which is just one of the family room options they have available. Our room included a full-sized bed with a separate twin bed and they provided a portable crib for Lightning Bug with its own bathroom. Siri Poshtel is a hostel that offers a variety of room choices. There are rooms with 6 bunk beds in a room with shared bathrooms, but they also offer family rooms with full sized beds and bunk beds with a private bathroom. This is awesome for traveling families because space can be a scarcity in SE Asia, and families with more than 4 people may find themselves having to book multiple rooms at some accommodations.
I appreciated the amount of space we had in our room, it was enough room for us to be able to spread out comfortably, but also included a desk and even an adorable balcony. When I first saw the balcony I romanticized sitting on the balcony with my morning cup of coffee, but quickly realized that the view was not exactly the “sipping a relaxing cup of coffee” view.
Amenities
Siri Poshtel offered so much more than I was expecting from a hostel. So often when I used to think about a hostel I thought about bare-bones shared rooms with communal bathrooms, but that was far from the truth.
Our room provided everything that we needed for our stay including a safe, mini fridge (complete with a mini bar), a hot water kettle, bottled water, and flat-screen TV with a good choice of programming.
They provided essential bathroom amenities such as body wash, shampoo, and conditioner in the shower, but also nice toiletry extras like shower caps, cotton swabs, a hair dryer, and even a baby bath!
Our room rate included breakfast each day, but we are terrible about waking up in time for breakfast so we didn’t get a chance to experience it. The room reservation also included free Wi-Fi and the speeds were pretty good in comparison to other accommodations we have encountered in Thailand.
I know that people aren’t necessarily an amenity, but the staff at Siri Poshtel were really truly hospitable. As soon as we arrived they met us at the taxi and brought our luggage to our room. They also were quick to provide recommendations of things to do in the area, providing a map and detailed walking directions. When we were ready to return the airport they even called us a taxi so that we didn’t have to stress about getting a taxi driver that would actually use the meter.
Room Rates
Because Siri Poshtel is a hostel the pricing varies based on your needs and the time of year you are traveling. On average, a bunk bed in a 6-bed dormitory will run you approx. $14 a night, and a family room with a double bed and 1 twin bunk bed will run you approx. $73 a night. All of their rates include breakfast and free Wi-Fi which is a nice added bonus and something to factor in when making your accommodation decision.
The Verdict
I have to say for our very first hostel stay I was thoroughly impressed with the amenities, hospitality, and room choices when staying at Siri Poshtel. It has completely changed my preconceived notions of hostels and I think that families should consider staying at a hostel, even if you aren’t backpacking or on a budget.
Siri Poshtel was close to most tourist attractions in the Bangkok area (10 minutes away from the Grand Palace!) so it makes it the optimal place if you are looking for a nice clean place to sleep and recharge each night.
Want more info?
Siri Poshtel
114 Phraeng Sanphasat Rd.
