Buddy Lodge
| Name | Buddy Lodge | Location | Pranakorn, Bangkok, Bangkok & Around |
| Type | Boutique Hotel: 76 rooms | Country | Thailand |
| Price Guide | Dbl: $60-80, B&B | Open | all year |
Children welcome
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AT A GLANCE A boutique hotel on Khaosan Road … what is the world coming to? Anyone familiar with Bangkok’s bustling backpackers’ drag – and that probably includes most of us – may well wonder. In our day, we had to dive down a side-alley to a tin-can dorm, bag a bunk and hope that our gear would still be there (and the noisy snorers wouldn’t) when we came back at midnight, our pockets stuffed with cheap CDs and jewellery, our limbs soothed by massages, our tummies full of prawn soup and joint smoke. Well, I hate to say this, but times are a-changing, and today’s backpackers can splash out on a peaceful night in the air-conditioned, mosquito- screened tranquility of Khaosan's first boutique hotel. This label may be a little optimistic, the décor being more comforting creams than real designer stuff; but it’s the only place round here with proper soundproofing and temperature control - that alone makes it worth the extra baht over the backpacker places - not to mention a fantastic rooftop pool. |
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HIGHS
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LOWS |
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ROOMS
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With their wooden floors, cream-coloured bedspreads and slatted walls, the bedrooms are welcoming and calming, almost colonial in style. They’re not huge, but all the facilities (TV, minibar, safe-box) are tucked into the wardrobe and the long side-cabinet, which doubles as a desk. This leaves the rest of the room clutter-free - until you come back with piles of cd’s, clothes and other purchases from Khaosan road, of course. The double or twin beds have firm mattresses and pillows, crisp sheets and good reading lamps, while the air-con allows you to close your French windows and reduce the disco thump to a whisper. But you may be interrupted by muffled gurgling noises from behind the wall – and it may not be the plumbing… The bathroom is compact and neat, with a marbled shower compartment, handbasin (with basic toiletries), wall-mounted hairdryer, and plump towels. Standard rooms have a tiny balcony, which you’ll probably never use. Superior rooms boast a larger veranda, decorated with benches, trellised plants and hanging pots, and looking over a ramshackle roofscape. Personally I don’t think it’s worth the extra 400-600 baht, as the rooftop pool is the best spot for outdoor relaxation. Corner rooms are slightly larger and can take a third bed. There are two rooms (eg #321) ideal for honeymooners, with a spacious balcony and a lace-bordered, four-poster bed. A few rooms interconnect, making them suitable for families or groups. Top-floor rooms have the best views, unsurprisingly. |
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EATING
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Within the red-brick mall of ‘Buddy Village’, the complex housing the hotel, is their restaurant-bar, Buddy Beer. It may not win any prizes for subtle branding, but it’s a buzzing, airy space with decent food and drink. A dozen ceiling fans whirl away over wicker chairs and tables, and a row of open windows looks over Khaosan Road, so you can people-gaze without impediment. Draught beer is on tap at the central counter, while around the side are pool tables and – bizarrely – a few vintage motorcycles. There are plenty of western dishes on offer, too, among the usual array of Thai soups, seafoods and satays. For breakfast you are given a voucher which entitles you to help yourself from a rather institutional buffet of fresh fruit, vividly-coloured juices, yoghurts, circular fried eggs, bacon, savoury muffins, plasticky sausages and, for the seriously hearty, mixed veg and a cashew-onion stir-fry. It’s not exactly high quality, but there’s enough variety to ensure a substantial start to the day. The buffet opens at 6 am, and the restaurant itself stays open all night, so whatever schedule you’re on, there’s always something. If you want to eat out, Sidewalk Café (directly opposite) has a good selection of mostly Thai dishes at reasonable prices (90-120 baht for a small dish, 180 baht for a whole fish). Don’t be put off by the illustrated menu, or my photo (#4 above). I can recommend the curried fish cakes with sesame sauce; and the tom-yum seafood soup, in whose spicy depths lurked chunks of octopus, urchins, squid, prawns and lemongrass. If that’s too exotic, stick to the pizzas, steaks, salads and sandwiches. Or you can try one of the many street stalls serving freshly-grilled satays and seafood, spring rolls and noodles, sticky sweets, spirals of fresh pineapple, and whizz-while-you-wait fruit juices. Or check out the recommended restaurants in our Bangkok city guide. |
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ACTIVITIES
It’s also well-placed for more cultural attractions, including: |
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FEATURES
 Buddy Lodge supports Unicef in Thailand. For many children, life has improved in Thailand over the last decade. However there are still many children excluded from education, affected by the 2004 Tsunami or the spread of HIV and Aids, exploited through child labour or trafficking. These are usually children from ethnic minorities, migrants or the really poor. LANGUAGES English, Thai |
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REVIEWS
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"Take in the bustle of the famous Khao San Road without the backpacks at Buddy Lodge Hotel. It's a stylish retreat with en suite rooms, a sauna and a rooftop swimming pool." Olive, January 2008 “Towering over countless cheap sleeps along the famed Khao San Road, the 76-room Buddy Lodge is the cornerstone of efforts to transform the neighborhood from hippie to hip. The lobby facade—all delicate teak—is strikingly Raffles-esque. Inside, the well-trained English-speaking staff rival the help at Bangkok's notoriously fierce five-star competition. Even Amanresorts groupies will feel at home in these sleek, air-conditioned rooms starting at 700 square feet: Most have panoramic views of the Chao Phraya River*, all the furniture is Thai teak*, and the white-sheeted beds are Four Seasons-worthy. Nosh in spicy style along nearby Phra Athit Road, or dine in the hotel, where breakfast is best, especially the plate-sized Thai pancake” Condé Nast Traveler, 2003 Hot List [* unfortunately, this is not strictly true – Ed] “While its imposing brick façade resembles a town hall back in the West, the rooms are quite rustic. They come with gleaming wooden floors, writing desks, old-style lamps and white wood walls. The balconies in the deluxe rooms are bigger than the standard rooms, and make a nice spot for a nightcap. Try to get a room on the east side, so that you can catch a glimpse of the Golden Mount, which is illuminated at night.” Time Out, Bangkok “It might be in the heart of backpacker paradise, but the Khao San Road’s Buddy Lodge is anything but shoestring. Only a year old, it is a haven of clean, colonial calm, and it’s got a rooftop pool — go for the fourth or fifth floor.” The Times, ‘Bangkok on any budget’, 23 Nov 2003 “If you're wise enough to have budgeted for $46 a night, [you can] crash at Buddy Lodge, a small, smart hotel with whitewashed wooden walls, a spa and rooftop pool that opened around 18 months ago.” The Guardian, ‘Bangkok Bling’, 6 March 2004 |
VISITOR REVIEWS "I must say it's a surprise to us to find such a nice hotel in the middle of Bangkok. We were in the middle of all the celebration for the King's birthday. We would definitely stay in Buddy lodge again and will recommend it to our friends & family." Sumataya, United Kingdom(15.12.09) "Wireless Internet was not operational. The Café on the sidewalk was so so. Everything else was very good! Thank you." Magnus, Sweden(19.01.08) "Great location and really great to have a pool on roof. The rooms are a bit tired but clean overall. Really enjoyed our stay and will come back next year." Debbie, United Kingdom(18.01.08) "We really loved this place! It's brilliantly situated for the hustle and bustle of Koa San and nearby sights (The Grand Palace, Wat Po and the pier) but our room on the 5th floor was quiet enough to get away from it too. We preferred the atmosphere here to The Metropolitan. The pool was lovely and despite breakfast being no more than adequate we would definitely recommend the Buddy Lodge to anyone wishing to stay in Bangkok." dominique, United Kingdom(06.01.08) "Great for those fresh off the boat like us, but would probably go somewhere quieter next time. Also the pool was lovely but very murky with chlorine." Rebecca, United Kingdom(13.12.07) "The staff were extremely helpful and polite. I loved the room decor and cleanliness was of excellent high standard. Would definitely recommend to others - thank you. " Justine, United Kingdom(03.12.07) "I thought the hotel itself was ideal, nice clean rooms and nicely done, great location if you want to stay on Koh San Road obviously, lovely roof top pool, food average but the service was pretty dreadful. Staff aren't particularly friendly or helpful... didn't help that they didn't have any reference to my booking made back in March so we had to a have twin room and then change... all a bit stressful after a long flight! There was no apology either which didn't help... " Catherine, United Kingdom(22.10.07) "Good hotel on Khoasan Road. Exceptionally well placed for the hustle and bustle locally but quiet and calm once inside. The breakfast was OK, but nothing to rave about. Our room was well air conditioned and the balcony was large on our superior room. The room itself was nicely decorated in colonial style, but felt a bit small with the extra bed for our daughter in situ. The swimming pool on the roof was a bonus." rachel, United Kingdom(22.02.07) "We thought the hotel was excellent - the location, the atmosphere and the roof pool. We did not eat at hotel as the surrounding area is full of good/excellent restaurants. Extremely good value. We will definitely go again." Gareth, South Africa(18.02.07) "Take earplugs! Otherwise the location is perfect for the vibe of Khao San Rd, the pool is a real gem, and the compromise you make on noise from the thumping disco is worth it when you can walk out the door to access all sorts of street food, beer and interesting sights." Jemma, United Kingdom(15.01.07) "The room was lovely - plenty of space, nicely decorated. Swimming pool was fab. I would definitely stay there again." Natalie, United Kingdom(18.10.06) "Good for it's location and for a quick stop-over." christian, United Kingdom(31.07.06) "Cheap and cheerful. Rooms nice and clean, shower not so great (our friends room couldn't get hot water) but for the price all pretty decent. Good service, the rooms are reasonably quiet (try to get higher than the 2nd floor), all in all a step up from back-packers hostels." Benita, United Kingdom(04.07.06) "Lovely room in a great location at a really reasonable price. And the swimming pool was a huge bonus. Would definitely stay here again and would recommend. " Katherine, United Kingdom(05.06.06) "Pool was lovely! I think the hotel on the whole was a little expensive for what it was. Had a lovely stay there though and would definitely go back." Ivana, United Kingdom(10.04.06) "The staff were not that polite - but you get what you pay for. The hotel is generally very good value and I would definitely stay there again - as we did for the last few days of our trip." Philip, United Kingdom(17.03.06) "Reception staff were very efficient. However we paid for a room with a terrace, but faced the wall & had no view (room 320)." cheryl, China(17.03.06) "We were really amazed to find a hotel like this on the Khao San Road. Will definitely recommend to others." Debika, United Kingdom(25.02.06) "Good value for money. The rooms are really nice. The rooftop pool is nice too, but the chairs could use a new coat of paint. The breakfast buffet looked really too horrible for us to try. Downside: having to walk through Koh San road everyday to get back to the hotel can get exhausting!" Magali, France(16.02.06) "It was great having the pool, and surprisingly quiet considering it's on Khao San road. But don't bother with the more expensive room - we never used the balcony anyway! " georgia, United Kingdom(23.12.05) "Loved the location right in the centre of the action. Pool area is lovely too, a perfect place to escape the busy city. Rooms were pretty nice although could have been cleaner. I imagine paying for the deluxe is not really worthwhile unless you plan to sit out on your balcony a lot. Breakfast restaurant bright and airy, staff very pleasant and helpful. Good value for money." Antonia, Ireland(12.12.05) "What a great find on Khaosan Road in Bangkok! The hotel staff was courteous and helpful, and did an amazing job on our laundry. The place is such great value. Thanks very much!" Alexis, United States(07.12.05) "Really nice place in a very busy area. Changed a lot since I was at the original Buddy Bar back in 2000. Overall very good - would have rated it 'excellent' had there been a mozzie net - but we suffered the worst bites of our trip. The balcony doors are not mozzie proof, and with no net we were easy prey." Derek, United Kingdom(12.10.05) "The rooms close to Koh San road are better avoided due to extreme noise pollution. In fact, bring ear plugs if you are sensitive to noise." soelvi, Norway(12.09.05) "Lovely peaceful and stylish rooms, and great pool, a real oasis. Go there ! " Debby, United Kingdom(05.02.05) "Really good value for the money. Equivalent to a good 4 star hotel but in Khao San road!!" Chris, United Kingdom(17.01.05) "The room is decent but not really worth the price - about 10 times local hotels, especially as the claimed satellite tv channels and radio were non existent and only local shows worked - not that i came to watch tv but for that price you expect such things to work. Only had the breakfast, pretty standard hotel fare but not particularly authentic/tasty. There were building works going on including drills and hammering through the night, still at 2.30 am and beyond... quite incredible! Only if youre desperate to stay on khao san road in some degree of 'luxury' - there are much better hotels around for this sort of price." nicky, Australia(10.01.05) "Close to action of thanon khaosan, swimming pool for kids, book in early as it gets busy. Great place to launch a trip into thailand." michaela, (10.01.05) "The room was beautiful - a sense of colonial style, and despite being on Khao San, it was remarkably quiet - no need for the earplugs. The pool on the rooftop was most welcome at the end of a day in BKK." Jayne, United Kingdom(29.11.04) "Nice location for experiencing the unique nightlife of Bangkok. Recommended for all budget travellers who are also concerned about service and facilities." Mung Wing Jacqueline, Hong Kong(23.11.04) |
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TIPS
| Who goes |
A mixture of young and young-at-heart travellers from around the globe (US, Japan, Europe…). Some are backpackers giving themselves a treat, others are wealthier couples wanting to stay in the heart of the travellers mecca, and at its nicest hotel.
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| When to go |
Bangkok is best in the so-called cool season (expect a mere 30˚ celsius), from November to February. It starts to get hotter through February, typically reaching a 40˚ climax in April and May, before the rains arrive. It’s still warm, though wetter, from June to August. At the end of the rainy season (Sep – Oct), whole districts of the city can flood, and there is frequent disruption. The hotel does get booked up – with 3-4 weeks’ notice you should be alright, but if it’s less than 3 days away, don’t even consider it.  More on climate | when to go | holidays and festivals in Thailand |
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| How long for |
Most visitors to Bangkok stay for 2-3 days at the start or end of their Thailand trip, or both. You can leave luggage here for when you return at the end of your trip. See our suggested itineraries in Thailand |
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| What to take |
Ear-plugs are always useful (if not here then elsewhere). The pool-water is extremely chloriney – take goggles, if possible. We recommend the pocket-sized Luxe city guide for its pared-down recommendations and tongue-in-cheek style. Take loose, light clothes suitable for humid heat – but not too many, as there are plenty of cheap laundries nearby, and you can buy more locally for the price of a laundering one sock in a European hotel. A pair of Diesel shorts and Police shades will cost the same as a Big Mac back home. Flip-flops (not plastic) or open sandals are the footwear of choice. Call me a fogey, but a hanky is useful to mop your brow (and glasses). International phone calls are expensive so use a reverse-charge scheme, or stick to e-mail (there are loads of internet points). In case you don’t already know, www.mail2web.com allows you to collect and send messages from any e-mail account (not just webmail ones). Top tip: put one of the (free) water bottles into the minibar’s freezer overnight, and next day you can sip from it as it thaws. More on suggested reading and what to wear in Thailand |
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| Getting there |
From the airport, the easiest way is a metered taxi from the rank – most now have air-con – which can take from 40-80 minutes and cost from 300-600 baht. There are also shared minibuses (100-200 baht), but these are a more realistic option on your return. From other parts of town, taxis are again the best option, but if you’re close, and your luggage fits, and you don’t mind fixing the price before setting off, then a tuk-tuk (open 3-wheeler taxis) is quite fun. If you’re near a canal (e.g. Khlong Sen Seb) you can catch a longtail boat to Tha Phanfa or Tha Banglamphu piers, both about 5 mins’ drive away. The overhead ‘Skytrain’, though fast, does not stretch into this part of town. We don’t recommend driving around Bangkok in a hire car unless you really know what you’re doing. More on getting to Thailand (international flights) and getting around (domestic flights, boats, trains, car hire).Try Yahoo! Travel for comparing flight prices. |
BOOKING
| Room/unit type | Description | Qty | Standard Price |
| Standard room | Double or twin beds, bathroom, small balcony | 62 | THB 2,100 per room |
| Superior Deluxe room | As above, but with four-poster bed. | 2 | THB 2,700 per room |
| Deluxe room | Kingsize double bed, bathroom, large veranda. | 12 | THB 2,500 per room |
| Price includes: |
All prices include tax 7% VAT , 10% service charge, buffet breakfast, fitness center and complimentary swimming pool (outdoor) |
| Children's policy: | Children are welcome. Cots are free, extra beds cost 450 THB for child/adult alike (corner rooms only). |
| Open: | all year |
| Deposit policy: | To confirm booking a 15% non-refundable deposit is charged to your credit card in Pounds Sterling by i-escape on behalf of Buddy Lodge. The balance is payable directly to the hotel at time of stay by credit card or cash. |
| Cancellation policy: |
For all cancellations, the initial 15% deposit is non-refundable. In addition, for any cancellations less than 3 days prior to arrival: additional charge of the 1st night will be made to credit card by Buddy Lodge. In the event of premature departure, the full extent of the stay as originally booked and confirmed, will be charged. We recommend that you take out insurance against cancellation due to unforseen circumstances. |
| Credit cards accepted: | Visa and Mastercard are accepted for the initial deposit. The balance is payable to the hotel which also accepts Visa and Mastercard |