Hotel Review: A-One Inn, Bangkok, Thailand

A-One Inn has been my main spot to stay in Bangkok for a number of reasons:

• The location is ideal and straight in Siam-Ratchadamri, the main shopping district of the city a.k.a. within walking distance of Siam Discovery, Siam Paragon, Siam Square, Siam Center, Central World, Platinum Fashion Mall, Pratunam (wholesale district), MBK and a large Tesco Lotus. It is also a short walk from National Stadium BTS (public transit stop).

• The rooms are economically priced for the area.

• The rooms are clean.

• The staff are always incredibly friendly, helpful and in short, just really cool people.

• Making reservations via email or by phone is easy. I never had a problem with my reservation. Whomever I have been dealing with is/are organized and competent (My view is that customer service can be very lacking in Thailand in the respect that you can make a reservation at a hotel or guesthouse, to arrive and be told they gave your room to someone else, without much of an apology. Just as as is – go find another room. I couldn’t imagine this ever happening at A-One Inn.)

• There are free storage lockers for use and they will hold your bags after check-out for the course of a day.

Until my last trip there, I hadn’t thought of booking anywhere else.

Map of Siam-Ratchadamri with shopping centers listed here.

The Rooms

Small, clean and fairly old. More of a backpacker’s hub to drop off your gear and head out than to hang in bed all day. That being said, rooms are available with aircon, hot showers and cable television – you can definitely relax here but I wouldn’t book this establishment if hanging out in your room is your M.O..

Total Unfortunate Turn of Events

My last trip to A-One Inn was post the 2011 Bangkok flood. I noticed a change in the hotel – my room was incredibly musty and by the third day, the mould in the walls was affecting my voice, my energy levels and my ability to sleep. I have a nasty mould allergy and there is no way I could have slept there another night. On my last night there, I had to sleep with a mask on, despite only spending the latter hours of the evening there. Perhaps my worst allergic reaction at a hotel to date.

Would I Book Again?

If I knew that the mould situation had been taken care of, yes, but as I currently have no idea, my unfortunate answer is no, I’ll have to find another spot. Do I recommend it for you? If you don’t have allergies or are only mildly affected, I’d say, check out a room before you lay down any cash. It’s worth the effort if price, location, and great staff are what you’re looking for.

Have you hung out a A-One Inn?  Let us know what you thought of it!

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