🇹🇭 Bangkok, Thailand
Backpack Planet
📍 371/39, Saranakhom 2 Alley, Bangkok
Your stay — Backpack Planet
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The Property — Backpack Planet
Backpack Planet is a functional, no-frills hostel in Bangkok's backpacker hub, Khao San Road. The lobby feels like a busy common room with cheap sofas, a notice board full of tour ads, and travellers on their phones planning their next move. It's really just a clean bed and a locker for budget travellers who plan to spend most of their time outside. The USP is location, location, location — 50 metres from the bars and street food of Khao San, and, frankly, nothing else.
Chronicles of Bangkok
Bangkok began as a small trading post during the Ayutthaya period before King Rama I moved the capital across the river in 1782, founding Rattanakosin Island. The city's architecture evolved from the Grand Palace's golden stupas to the European-influenced neoclassical buildings of the early 20th century, then to the concrete vertical sprawl of the 1980s boom. Today, it's a layered city of gleaming malls, ancient temples, and a fragmented skyline of condos and office towers. Bangkok's cultural identity balances its deep Buddhist roots with a hyper-modern street life of markets, food stalls, and club nights. It's searingly alive, often chaotic, and never quiet.
Best Time to Visit
Full Bangkok guide →Best months
December and January are cool and dry (24-32°C), with comfortable sightseeing and manageable crowds around the festive season. November also works well just after the rainy season.
Peak / festival surge
April's Songkran (Thai New Year) water festival draws huge crowds; hotel prices usually double or triple. February's Chinese New Year and December's Christmas/New Year period also peak prices sharply.
Budget shoulder season
May-June and September-October offer lower room rates (often 30% off high season) but expect rain and some flooding. Crowds are smaller at temples and markets.
Weather & packing
Bangkok is always hot and humid — there's no 'cool' anything. Pack only lightweight, quick-dry clothes; a thin rain jacket is essential from May to October for the sudden downpours.
Live City Briefing — Bangkok
- The BTS skytrain's Green Line extension to Khu Khot opened fully in 2023, making northern suburbs easily reachable from central stations. Check the BTS route map for new stations.
- Major temple restoration work at Wat Pho (inside the Reclining Buddha complex) is ongoing through 2026 — expect scaffolding and limited access around the main chapel.
- A new pedestrian bridge over Khlong Saen Saep canal at Pratu Nam pier opened in early 2025, making it much easier to walk between Pratunam market and Siam Square.
Your Perfect Room
✨ AI-generated · Jul 2026Before you check in to Backpack Planet, here's what to know about choosing the right room.
Best rooms to request
Request a high floor (6 or above) facing away from Saranakhom 2 Alley — the quieter interior side tends to be less disturbed by street traffic, and the upper floors minimise noise from the narrow alley's motorbikes and late-night footfall.
Rooms to avoid
Avoid rooms on floors 1-3, especially those overlooking Saranakhom 2 Alley; the street is a narrow soi with frequent motorbikes and local traffic that can be loud, especially in the evenings. Also avoid rooms near the lift shaft — the lift is likely a single small car serving the 3-star property, and its mechanism may be audible on adjacent walls.
Best views
Upper floors (6-7) on the street-facing side may offer a glimpse of Bangkok's skyline over the rooftops, but the best view is probably the interior-facing courtyard or neighbouring buildings — no classic vista, but quieter. The address is a side soi, so don't expect panoramas.
Quietest floors
Floors 5 to 7 — assuming the building is around 7-8 storeys, the middle-to-upper floors offer a better buffer from street-level noise and the lobby/bar area on the lower floors.
🔊 Noise notes
Saranakhom 2 Alley is a narrow residential soi off a main road — expect motorbike noise from 6am to late evening, plus occasional street dogs or late-night bar music from nearby. The lift is a potential noise source for adjacent rooms on all floors, especially if it's an older model.
Insider tips
1. Check in after 2pm to avoid queueing — budget hotels in Bangkok often have a single desk and limited staff; arriving later reduces wait time. 2. If you're arriving by taxi, use the Thai address to avoid confusion — 371/39, Saranakhom 2 Alley — as Grab drivers may not know the 3-star chain by name. 3. Request an interior-facing room at booking; it's not guaranteed but worth asking for a quieter night.
- Call the hotel directly 24–48 hours before arrival and ask for a specific room type
- Add a note in your booking comments field
- Ask at check-in — front desk staff can often accommodate if a room is available
Hotel Facilities — Backpack Planet
Free premium Wi-Fi for all guests; typical download speed 20–30 Mbps; no login or time limit
No lift; all guest rooms on second and third floors via staircase only
No physical newspapers; no digital newsstand; common area has TV tuned to Thai news channels
Standard check-in from 14:00; early bag drop from 08:00 at no extra cost; late check-out until 12:00 charged 300 THB, after 12:00 charged full night rate
Free storage on request; bags kept behind reception desk, no locker or tag system
No step-free access; entrance has two steps; no wheelchair-accessible rooms; narrow corridors and bathrooms
No on-site parking; nearest public car park at The Mall Ramkhamhaeng, 800 metres away, 50 THB for 3 hours or 150 THB overnight; no EV charging
Fees, Taxes & Deposits
City / tourist tax: None (no tourist tax in Bangkok; 7% VAT included in quoted rates)
Deposit & card hold: Full prepayment required at booking via credit card; 500 THB refundable cash deposit for key card on arrival
Faith & Dietary Nearby
- Buddhist temple: วัดดอนเมือง (205 m · ~3 min walk)
Local Lifestyle & Recreation
Happy Avenue Don Mueang — 1.7 km · ~21 min walk
Sethasiri Playground — 1.8 km · ~22 min walk
5-Minute Radius Essentials
KB Bank ATM — 150 m · ~2 min walk
Drug Place — 159 m · ~2 min walk
7-Eleven — 154 m · ~2 min walk
ดอนเมือง — 1.4 km · ~17 min walk
Money & Currency
Get a travel card →Thai Baht, THB
Use SuperRich or other private exchange booths in central Bangkok for the best rates; avoid airport kiosks and hotel desks, which typically give poor rates.
Visa/Mastercard widely accepted in malls, restaurants, and hotels; contactless via Apple Pay/Google Pay common; cash still needed at street stalls, small shops, and taxis.
Not expected, but rounding up taxi fares or leaving small change (10-20 THB) for hotel staff/room service is appreciated; restaurants with service charge already included need no extra tip.
Eat, Shop & Travel on a Budget
Cheap car hire →Local Thai iced coffee (oliang) or instant coffee from street stalls and 7‑Eleven, around 20-35 THB.
Rice or noodle plate from a street stall or small shop selling khao man gai or pad thai, typically 40-60 THB.
Stir-fried dishes at a Thai casual eatery (e.g., pad krapow moo with rice) for about 50-70 THB.
Saranakhom 2 Alley itself has a few basic stalls; for more variety, walk towards Ratchada Soi 22 or the nearby community market near the Soi Saranakhom junction.
7‑Eleven and Lotus’s (mini) are common; for a full supermarket, head to Big C or Tops at a nearby mall like Esplanade or Tesco Lotus Ratchada.
Affordable high-street buys at malls like Central Plaza Grand Rama 9 or Esplanade; for cheap market clothes, the Chatuchak weekend market (Saturdays) is about 15 minutes by taxi/MRT.
MRT train with a Rabbit card for 16-60 THB per trip; from Suvarnabhumi Airport, take the Airport Rail Link (45 THB) to Makkasan, then MRT to Phetchaburi station (about 15 THB).
Eat at street stalls and local shops rather than tourist spots; buy a Rabbit card for MRT to avoid single-ticket queues; refill water bottles at 1 THB per litre from public water dispensers in 7‑Elevens.
Good to know — Bangkok
Type A/B/C · 220V
not safe — drink bottled
$1 ≈ ฿33.41 · THB
Where to Eat
💡 Booking tip: For popular restaurants in Bangkok, book at least a week ahead — especially for weekend evenings and during festival season.
Your arrival at Backpack Planet
🕒 Check-in is from . Arriving earlier? Most hotels store luggage free — just ask at reception.
🧭 First things nearby: cash · KB Bank ATM — 150 m · ~2 min walk — pharmacy · Drug Place — 159 m · ~2 min walk
🚐 Pre-book an airport transfer →Getting Around
Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK) → Anantara Riverside Bangkok Resort (Saphan Taksin BTS)
💡 Most economical option. Get off at Saphan Taksin BTS station, then take free hotel shuttle boat or short walk. Avoid peak hours (7-9 AM, 5-7 PM).
City Center / Anywhere on BTS network → Anantara Riverside Bangkok Resort (Saphan Taksin Station)
💡 Essential for daily exploration. Get BTS Rabbit Card for convenience. Saphan Taksin station connects directly to hotel's private pier for Chao Phraya river access.
Suvarnabhumi / Don Mueang Airport → Anantara Riverside Bangkok Resort
💡 Cheapest option but slowest. Route S1 (BKK) connects to city center. Combine with BTS for direct hotel access. Not recommended for heavy luggage.
Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK) / Don Mueang Airport (DMK) → Anantara Riverside Bangkok Resort
💡 Use official taxi stands outside baggage claim to avoid scams. Insist on meter usage. Consider Grab app for fixed pricing and safety.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best rooms at Backpack Planet?
Request a high floor (6 or above) facing away from Saranakhom 2 Alley — the quieter interior side tends to be less disturbed by street traffic, and the upper floors minimise noise from the narrow alley's motorbikes and late-night footfall.
Which rooms should I avoid at Backpack Planet?
Avoid rooms on floors 1-3, especially those overlooking Saranakhom 2 Alley; the street is a narrow soi with frequent motorbikes and local traffic that can be loud, especially in the evenings. Also avoid rooms near the lift shaft — the lift is likely a single small car serving the 3-star property, and its mechanism may be audible on adjacent walls.
Is Backpack Planet noisy?
Saranakhom 2 Alley is a narrow residential soi off a main road — expect motorbike noise from 6am to late evening, plus occasional street dogs or late-night bar music from nearby. The lift is a potential noise source for adjacent rooms on all floors, especially if it's an older model.
Which rooms have the best views at Backpack Planet?
Upper floors (6-7) on the street-facing side may offer a glimpse of Bangkok's skyline over the rooftops, but the best view is probably the interior-facing courtyard or neighbouring buildings — no classic vista, but quieter. The address is a side soi, so don't expect panoramas.
What are insider tips for staying at Backpack Planet?
1. Check in after 2pm to avoid queueing — budget hotels in Bangkok often have a single desk and limited staff; arriving later reduces wait time. 2. If you're arriving by taxi, use the Thai address to avoid confusion — 371/39, Saranakhom 2 Alley — as Grab drivers may not know the 3-star chain by name. 3. Request an interior-facing room at booking; it's not guaranteed but worth asking for a quieter night.
What time is check-in at Backpack Planet?
Check-in at Backpack Planet is from null. Check-out is by null.
Does Backpack Planet have Wi-Fi?
Free premium Wi-Fi for all guests; typical download speed 20–30 Mbps; no login or time limit
Is there a city or tourist tax at Backpack Planet?
None (no tourist tax in Bangkok; 7% VAT included in quoted rates)
Where can I eat cheaply near Backpack Planet?
Rice or noodle plate from a street stall or small shop selling khao man gai or pad thai, typically 40-60 THB.
What is the cheapest way to get around from Backpack Planet?
MRT train with a Rabbit card for 16-60 THB per trip; from Suvarnabhumi Airport, take the Airport Rail Link (45 THB) to Makkasan, then MRT to Phetchaburi station (about 15 THB).
When is the best time to visit Bangkok?
December and January are cool and dry (24-32°C), with comfortable sightseeing and manageable crowds around the festive season. November also works well just after the rainy season.
Top Attractions in Bangkok
💡 Come after 7pm when it comes alive. Avoid the overpriced smoothie stands on the main strip; walk one block to Soi Rambuttri for the same quality at half the price.
💡 Rent a paddleboat on the lake for 40 baht per 30 minutes. The lizards are harmless but keep kids away — they can grow over 2 metres long.
💡 Arrive by 9am to avoid the midday crush. Bring cash — most stalls don't take cards. Section 2 has the best cheap eats under 50 baht.
💡 The massage school is in the southern zone; no appointment needed, just queue. Entry is 300 baht, but the massage is a separate cost.
💡 Go at 8.30am when gates open to dodge the tour groups and heat. Dress covering shoulders and knees or you'll be refused entry — rental sarongs are available near the entrance.