Ubud Guest House Recommendation: Keprabon Guest House

When we arrived late afternoon in Ubud, Indonesia out of the taxi coming straight from the airport, we didn't know what to expect. We didn't have any hostels booked, and we didn't even know where to tell the taxi driver to let us out. As we passed monkey forest, we started to see tourists and decided to get out. The taxi driver didn't speak English and was trying to tell us something. We figured out later he was trying to tell us we were NOT at the centre of town yet, and we should have kept going. Ahh well, a little walking never hurt anyone.

What we woke up to each morning!

As we made our way into central Ubud, we began to inquire with hostels along the main drag to figure out where we could stay. The sun was starting to set, and we kept being turned away from hostels and guest houses, it seemed that every guest house was all booked up.  I was starting to grasp the very real possibility that we might not have a place to stay overnight in this place.

Finally, when I was starting to get panicky, we stumbled upon a little family-run guest house down an alleyway. In the dark, we made our way into the property and inquired with the family. Success! They had 4 rooms to rent, 3 of which were already occupied. We got the last one in the nick of time! It was nighttime, so we couldn't appreciate the beauty of this off-the-beaten-trail guest house. We woke up the next morning to a rooster cock-a-doodle-dooing on the roof across from our room. The owner of the hostel made us a simple breakfast of bread, fresh fruit, and coffee. The bathroom was recently renovated (though no hot water) and the beds were large and clean. As we sat on our balcony soaking in the morning sun, we overlooked a fountain and lush gardens in the small plot of property below. It was a little piece of paradise.
Bottom Line: Simply Amazing!

Rating (out of 5)
Location: ★★★★★
Price :★ (we paid 350IDR per night = CAD$6.50)
Staff Friendliness:★★★★★
Security:★★★★★
Fun Meter:★★★

Keprabon Guest House
http://keprabon.wordpress.com/
Jl. Kajeng, Gg. Sunari No. 14A, Ubud 80571 Bali- Indonesia
Mobile: +62 81 337 08 8000
Phone: +62 361 970 566
E-mail: keprabon.guesthouse@gmail.com

Bangkok Hostel Recommendation: New Siam Guest House 2

In another swing through Bangkok I finally struck gold with accommodation: near Khao San Road, nice hotel, swimming pool, and air conditioning! I forget why we decided to stay here and not somewhere cheap, but it was a welcome sight. The bed was comfortable and freshly laundered, the shower was clean, and it was less than 5 minutes from Khao San Road, and 2 minutes from the water bus station.

Bottom Line: The hostel you go to when you want to spend a little extra to feel fancy

Rating (out of 5)
Location: ★★★★
Price :★★★★★
Staff Friendliness:★★
Security:★★★★
Fun Meter:★★

New Siam Guest House 2
50 Trok Rong Phai, Phra A-Thit Road, Chanasongkram,
Bangkok 10200, Thailand
Website: http://www.newsiam.net/ns/newsiam2.php
Tel: (66)0-2282-2795, 0-2629-0101

Bangkok Hostel Recommendation: Star Dome Inn

Entrance to Star Dome Inn

For those of you who thrive in the bustle and hustle of booze, parties, street vendors, ladyboys, and hordes of of other tourists looking to have just as much fun as you, head down to Khao San Road.

Star Dome Inn (website http://www.stardomegroup.com/) is located in the heart of Khao San Road backpackers district. It's a very basic hotel that has front desk staff 24/7, an internet cafe in the open air entrance, and an affordable menu for breakfast. It offers safe, basic, affordable rooms in the middle of the party. Downsides include noise and the not-so-clean feeling when you hang out in your room for too long.

Bottom Line: A place to keep your stuff. Who needs sleep anyways?

Star Dome Inn, Khao San Road, Bangkok

Rating (out of 5)
Location: ★★★★★
Price :★(cheap!)
Staff Friendliness:★★★
Security:★★★★
Fun Meter:★★★★★

Star Dome Inn
104/1 Soi Rambuttri, Jakaphong Rd.
Pranakorn, BKK 10200 Thailand
Email: info@stardomegroup.com
Tel: 02-6291136