Review: Asha Guest House in Bangkok, Thailand

Asha Guest House may be a bit removed from Bangkok's main attractions, but it really is a gem when it comes to comfortable, clean, budget accommodation.

Location

Located in a suburb in the north of the city, Asha Guest House is a 15-minute walk (or 40 baht taxi ride) from the Saphan Kwai BTS (Skytrain station). The Saphan Kwai station is right next to a Big C mall and food court where you can get cheap food and buy anything you forgot at home. If you take a taxi to Asha Guest House from the airport, it should be about 350 - 400 ($10 - $11.50) baht, including the tolls. From Saphan Kwai station, you can get anywhere you need to in the city. The Skytrain is cheap, efficient, and comfortable. For just 40 baht ($1.15), you can go all the way to the other end of city by train. Asha Guest House's location is great because it's quiet and there's not so many other tourists around. Staying here you get to see a normal Thai neighborhood, and you won't come across any touts or scammers.

Rooms

There are a variety of rooms and prices at Asha Guest House. Some have fans, and some have AC. I stayed in Bangkok in January, and the room with the fan was very comfortable. I booked a private double room, which was quite spacious and had a desk and a large wooden dresser with some hangers. There was a small balcony with a drying rack for clothes. At $8 a night, this place is a steal. I'm a light sleeper, and aside from a few other guests coming and going at odd hours, only the birds were making during the night. The rooms were impeccably clean and fresh towels, sheets and soap were provided.

Bathrooms

Some rooms have private bathrooms and some have shared bathrooms. The shared bathrooms seemed like they were cleaned throughout the day and night. There were plenty of toilets and showers so guests never had to wait their turn. Bathrooms are co-ed, but since guests were very courteous and modest this wasn't any problem. Toilet paper was on a roll outside the bathroom. The only drawback of Asha Guest House is that the water in the shower is only cold.

Ambiance and Facilities

One of the reasons why guests stay longer at Asha is because laundry can be done for free. There are several automatic washing machines on the ground floor. There is also free Wi-Fi, a pool, a quiet bar/restaurant, safe-deposit boxes, a reading area, and a beautiful garden to sit in. The feel is very relaxed, and you won't be surrounded by people partying. Asha Guest House is a great place for singles, couples or families. You can also meet up with other travelers by hanging out in the common areas.

Service

At Asha Guest House, you'll always be greeted with a smile. They're quite happy to carry your bags to your room, call you a taxi, give you directions, or help you plan your travels.

Conclusion

I will certainly be staying at Asha Guest House next time I'm in Bangkok. I stayed in another guest house closer to the center, and it was loud, smoky and not a comfortable place to relax at all. Even though Asha Guest house was all the way on the other end of the city from a conference I needed to attend, I wished I was still staying there. I'd recommend it for anyone who wants to relax and enjoy a quiet stay in Bangkok. They also offer discounted monthly rates for those guests who want to have an extended stay in the city.

Asha Guest House