Hug Glur House & Hostel, Chiang Mai

Don't let the official photos mislead you about Hug Glur House & Hostel. The only reason you would want to stay here is if you are broke and really want to save money. It's cheap for many reasons; the dorms are extremely basic, the facilities are lacking, and there's no atmosphere at all. It's basically someone's home who has converted it into a hostel with a small restaurant for its guests.

The Location

This will be a tuk tuk ride or a thirty-minute walk from the train station. As you leave the station, turn left and head to the T junction. Turn left, walk over the river, and take the first left. Walk down here for approximately a kilometer. You will eventually see a small bridge crossing a river on your left. Carry on straight and take the next right. The hostel will be on your left after a hundred meters.

Rooms and Bathrooms

The dorms are so cramped that some of the bunks are literally touching. You might even bang your head on the ceiling if you're in a top bunk. Only a few plug sockets are available and the air conditioning must be turned off between 12 and 5 p.m. During this time, staying in the dorm is impossible unless you're the lucky person next to the one fan. The bathroom/toilet also connects to the main dorm, which means it can be smelly and unpleasantly noisy too. And if that doesn't wake you up, the roosters outside definitely will -- bring earplugs! Secure lockers -- which are located in the hall area -- are available, and these are kept more secure by a locked door at night and CCTV.

Common Spaces

The common area is small but has some comfy seating. There's also a nice water fountain with chairs around it where you can chill out. Included with the hostel is small restaurant, with only three tables, one of which the family who runs the hostel will be using. These areas certainly don't have a backpacker hostel vibe to them. The one saving feature of this hostel is the Wi-Fi, which is very strong and fast. Breakfast is included, but this is just tea, coffee, toast, rice, and a small amount of fruit.

Summary

This is one of the cheapest hostels in town, so don't expect anything other than a rough stay. There's no vibe at all and few people stay here due to its size. There are many tours being promoted by various organizations, but it's highly unlikely that you be going on these with a group of people from the hostel.