"You get treated very well from the time that they pick you up at the hotel all the way to having lunch after the tour."
by - Cindy, Phoenix, AZ, USA
Guesthouses are great alternatives to hotels and help cut costs on your trip. Most of us don’t usually get this opportunity as most western countries do not have any alternatives for hotels. So take advantage of this. Just about every city in Thailand has guest houses, so you dont need to worry about one not being available. There are going to be some choices. Be prepared to do some searching and don’t necessarily just take the first guesthouse you see. Ask around, research a bit on the internet or look in your guide book. Guesthouse quality varies depending on your location and budget. A guesthouse can cost from 100-450 Baht per night. You can often get a cheaper price per night if you stay for several nights and pay up front. All guesthouses usually have ammenities such as soap, towels, and shampoo. Just check before renting them if you do not have your own. In some guesthouses, bathrooms are inside the room and some are shared. Hot showers are often available, but again, you shouldn’t assume, ask.
The question is, can you take the heat? Rooms have either a fan or air conditioning (‘aircon’ as they say in Thailand). The price for aircon is usually about 100-150 Baht ($3-$5) higher. If you think you can beat the heat you will save some money. On the other hand, foreigners aren’t usually adept to warm nights and sleep much better in a cool room.
Most guesthouses in Thailand have a restaraunt and a gathering place. This is a great way to meet other travelers and get tips on what to do and how to get around. Laundry is quite cheap at around 30 Baht/kg and about 20 Baht if you want them ironed. Laundry is often next day service.
Many guesthouse owners live at the guesthouse, so please be considerate of them and other guests at night. If you stay at a guesthouse for several days, and aren’t shy, you will probably get to know the guesthouse owner and their family. It can be very rewarding sometimes to not have an agenda, just hang out and see what happens.
Guesthouses usually don’t have problems with 2 guests sharing one room. However if you are going to have more than this they may ask you get another room or pay for an extra bed.
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