Escape to Paradise: Miss Zhao Hostel Thailand Awaits!
Escape to Paradise: Miss Zhao Hostel Thailand Awaits! - A (Mostly) Glorious Rant!
Okay, alright, buckle up buttercups, because I just got BACK from Miss Zhao Hostel in Thailand (that's the "Escape to Paradise" promise, remember?) and my brain’s still buzzing like a caffeinated hummingbird. This isn't just a review, it’s a full-blown unpacking of the mental baggage I accumulated and the amazing experiences I had, the good, the bad, and the incredibly “Thai”… you know?
Let's get this accessibility stuff (and the important stuff) out of the way first, shall we? Because frankly, if you need a wheelchair, this is CRUCIAL.
- Accessibility: Okay, so this is where things get a little… Thai. The listing says "Facilities for disabled guests," but honestly, I didn't see it firsthand. I’m thinking, if you need full wheelchair access… call them. Seriously. CALL THEM. Don’t just assume. Because some parts of Thailand, bless their hearts, are still figuring this whole "universal design" thing out. And you know there's a language barrier you have to deal with.
- Important - Safety and Hygiene: Right, let's be real: safety is a HUGE deal right now. This is the modern travel gauntlet. And Miss Zhao seems to GET IT. I saw:
- Anti-viral cleaning products: Phew! (That eases the mind a little.)
- Daily disinfection in common areas: Great. But how thorough? No idea since I'm not a CSI agent specializing in bed bugs.
- Hand sanitizer: Everywhere. Everywhere. (The hand sanitizer gods are pleased.)
- Rooms sanitized between stays: Reassuring. (Though I'd still give everything a wipe-down with my own travel wipes because I'm that type of person.)
- Staff trained in safety protocol: Good, but I'd always want to see it in action. Are they ACTUALLY wiping things down, or just saying they are?
- Physical distancing of at least 1 meter: This one was a bit hit-or-miss, depending on the time of day and the sheer number of tourists milling around.
- Cashless payment service: Thank God, for this one less thing to worry about.
- Room sanitization opt-out available: Interesting. If you're brave (and maybe a germaphobe like me), you can choose to opt out. Huh.
The Wi-Fi Whisperer & The Internet Shenanigans
- Free Wi-Fi in all rooms! Hallelujah! (We're talking about modern life, right?)
- Internet, Internet [LAN], Internet services: Okay, so the Wi-Fi was good, when it worked. It's Thailand. Expect the occasional hiccup. The LAN? Forget about it. Just focus on the Wi-Fi. Or maybe, disconnect entirely. Embrace the digital detox, kids.
- Wi-Fi in public areas: Pretty strong, actually. I even managed to FaceTime my cat (don't judge).
Things to Do, Ways to Relax… or Just Stare at the Ceiling
This is where Miss Zhao really shines… or at least attempts to.
- The Pool with a View: This. This is what you come for. Seriously. The pool is stunning. It’s an outdoor pool. And the view? Magical. Just floating there, watching the sunset, sipping on a… well, something fruity. Totally worth it.
- Spa/Sauna: They say spa. I think I saw a massage menu. (Okay, honestly? I was so busy exploring, I didn't try the spa. My loss, I think. Next time!)
- Gym/Fitness: Yeah, um, I saw a treadmill. But I ate too much pad thai to use it, so…
- Things to do: This hostel is your launchpad to explore. Seriously. From temples to the markets, it's all within reach. They can help you book tours. They do a solid job of that.
Food, Glorious Food (and Drink!)
Let's be honest, this is a HUGE part of the Thai experience. And Miss Zhao doesn't disappoint (mostly).
- Restaurants: The main restaurant had a decent selection. Asian and International stuff is available.
- Breakfast [buffet]: Okay, so it has a buffet. No complaints. I ate until I could barely move.
- Poolside bar: Crucial. Absolutely crucial. I spent a solid afternoon there, reading and sipping on something vaguely alcoholic. Excellent.
- Coffee/tea in restaurant: Essential. Especially after those late-night adventures.
- Snack bar: Perfect for those midday cravings.
- Desserts in restaurant: Okay, this deserves it’s own special call out. They were good. Very good. My willpower, however…
- A la carte in restaurant: Sometimes, you just needed something specific. The a la carte menu came in very handy.
- Happy hour: Yes. Yes, yes, yes.
- Room service [24-hour]: Didn't need it, but nice to know it’s there.
Services & Conveniences: The Practical Stuff
- Concierge: Super helpful. They'll help you arrange tours, taxis, everything.
- Daily housekeeping: Yep. My room was always clean.
- Air conditioning in public area/in all rooms: Thank the heavens!
- Elevator: A lifesaver. Especially with luggage.
- Cash withdrawal: Convenient.
- Laundry service: Important.
- Luggage storage: Handy.
- Currency exchange: Useful.
For the Kids (and Kid-Like Adults!)
- Family/child friendly: Seemed like it. I saw a few families. There was kid stuff. (I'm not a parent, so I can't comment further, but you know… it looked… fine.)
Rooms, Rooms, Glorious Rooms.
- Available in all rooms: Additional toilet, Air conditioning, Alarm clock, Bathrobes, Bathroom phone, Bathtub, Blackout curtains, Carpeting, Closet, Coffee/tea maker, Complimentary tea, Daily housekeeping, Desk, Extra long bed, Free bottled water, Hair dryer, High floor, In-room safe box, Interconnecting room(s) available, Internet access – LAN, Internet access – wireless, Ironing facilities, Laptop workspace, Linens, Mini bar, Mirror, Non-smoking, On-demand movies, Private bathroom, Reading light, Refrigerator, Safety/security feature, Satellite/cable channels, Scale, Seating area, Separate shower/bathtub, Shower, Slippers, Smoke detector, Socket near the bed, Sofa, Soundproofing, Telephone, Toiletries, Towels, Umbrella, Visual alarm, Wake-up service, Wi-Fi [free], Window that opens. (Phew!) My room was… fine. Clean. Comfortable. Pretty standard hostel stuff. I was on a high floor, so the view was nice. The bed? Comfy enough after a long day of exploring temples or enjoying a cocktail.
Getting Around & Staying Safe
- Car park [free of charge]: Score!
- CCTV in common areas, CCTV outside property, Check-in/out [express], Check-in/out [private], Fire extinguisher, Front desk [24-hour], Safety/security feature, Security [24-hour], Smoke alarms: Peace of mind, even if you’re a worrier like me.
…Okay, Now the Real Stuff: My Experience
Look, I'm not going to lie. This place isn't perfect. Sometimes the service was a little… slow. Sometimes the Wi-Fi went out. (That's Thailand, baby.)
But here's the thing: this hostel has HEART. The staff? They were lovely, genuinely helpful. They were always smiling, always trying their best. And the atmosphere? Relaxed. Friendly. You’ll meet people. You’ll share stories. You’ll probably have a few late-night adventures.
Highlights:
- The rooftop pool. Seriously, I could write an entire poem about that pool.
- The food. From the street food to the hostel restaurant, I ate everything. (My stomach is still recovering.)
- That sense of community. You make friends. You feel like you belong.
Lowlights:
- That blasted Wi-Fi at one point.
- The occasional delayed service.
Quirky Observations:
- The abundance of tuk-tuks outside. (Prepare to bargain!)
- The sheer volume of delicious fruit available! Mangoes, pineapples, papaya… it’s a tropical paradise!
- The constant hum of "tourist sounds" (but honestly, you're a tourist, so embrace it!)
My Verdict: Should You Book?
YES. Absolutely yes, you should. If you're looking for a comfortable, clean, and reasonably priced hostel with a killer pool and a fantastic location
Indonesian Paradise: Your Private Pool Villa Awaits (L270)!
Alright, buckle up buttercups, because we're diving headfirst into my chaotic, beautiful, and potentially disastrous trip to Miss Zhao's Hostel in Thailand. This isn't your perfectly curated Instagram feed; this is the real, sweaty, mosquito-bitten deal.
Day 1: Arrival of the Jet-Lagged Jester & Hostel Hokey-Pokey
7:00 AM - 9:00 AM (or whenever I finally claw my way out of bed after the red-eye): Bangkok Airport Blues & Taxi Terror. Okay, so I thought I'd be a travel guru by now. I've got a carry-on that should be a backpack for a week, but I'm still a tangled mess of sleep deprivation and questionable decisions. Bangkok airport? A glorious, overwhelming sensory overload. The air? Thick with humidity and the distinct aroma of Pad Thai and anxiety. Negotiating a taxi? Forget it. I ended up agreeing to a price that probably funded the driver's retirement. The lesson? Always haggle, even if you feel like passing out. Trust me.
9:00 AM - 11:00 AM: Finding Miss Zhao's (and my sanity…maybe). The taxi driver, bless his heart and/or his questionable navigational skills, eventually dropped me off at what looked like Miss Zhao's. Turns out, Miss Zhao's wasn't exactly the "picturesque paradise" the brochure promised. More like a slightly ramshackle building bursting with character and, thankfully, air conditioning. Check-in? A blur of smiling faces, rapid-fire Thai greetings (all of which I butchered), and a promise of free bananas. Free bananas! My exhaustion and stress start to fade away.
11:00 AM - 1:00 PM: Room Roulette & the Bedbug Scare of '23. I was assigned a bunk bed in a shared dorm with four other people. My legs are sore, I can hear myself snor e, and my phone's almost dead. I'm afraid to get friendly with anyone. It's hot, and damp. I try to sleep. My first night in a new hostel? I spend it convinced that the itchy sensation on my arm was not just a mosquito, but a whole family of bedbugs planning their invasion. I check everything, I wash everything. I am so tired, now.
1:00 PM - 3:00 PM: Pad Thai Paradise (and Food Poisoning Panic). Lunch time! I stumble out in a desperate search for fuel. I see a street vendor cooking Pad Thai, a smell so intoxicating I can't resist. I give them my money, wait, and eat. The flavors are so rich, so amazing, so…possibly responsible for the churning in my stomach a few hours later. Okay, maybe it was the jet lag, but for a while there, I was convinced I'd be spending the next 24 hours hugging the porcelain throne. (Spoiler alert: I survived.)
3:00 PM - 5:00 PM: Hostel Social Shuffle, or How I Briefly Became a Conversational Champion (and then retreated to my bunk). Okay, so I forced myself to be social. I'm terrible at this, but I feel bad for the other people, so I make an effort to go into the common room. I meet a couple of other travelers: A nervous kid from Germany and an enthusiastic girl from the US. We play cards. We drink some beer. I try not to be awkward. It worked, I think. But I can't stand staying in the same room for long. I retreat back.
5:00 PM - 7:00 PM: Sunset Serendipity (and Mosquito Mayhem). I decide to embrace Thailand's famous sunsets. I find a rooftop bar. The view is amazing. I take some pictures. I get eaten alive by mosquitos. My skin's now a map of itchy welts. I'm pretty sure my blood is now mosquito currency. This is the moment I realize mosquito repellent is a LIFE-SAVER. Lesson learned!
7:00 PM - 9:00 PM: Dinner Drama & Midnight Snack Shenanigans. This is where the Pad Thai starts to get really mad at me. But, against all odds, I soldier on. Dinner at a nearby local restaurant was a lesson in spice tolerance. I ordered a green curry (mistake number one - the waitress had to make everything from scratch) and ended up in tears. After finally getting back to the hostel, the free bananas are calling. I'm ashamed to admit that I ate three. Three! My stomach's a ticking time bomb.
9:00 PM - Midnight: Sleep? HA! In my first night at the hostel, I was going to sleep. But, being in a dorm, I realized that this was not going to be easy. I spend the next few hours listening to people snore, the air conditioner, and the outside streets. I was exhausted, but I couldn't sleep. Every itch became the start of an existential crisis. Finally, the exhaustion kicked in.
Day 2: Temples, Tuk-Tuks, and Terror: A Deep Dive
- 8:00 AM - 10:00 AM: Hangover-Fueled Breakfast & Temple Temptation. Surprise: I survived the Pad Thai Apocalypse and the bedbug scare of '23! Breakfast: the hostel's "continental" offering of toast, jam, and instant coffee. Nothing fancy, but it did the trick. Then, I decided to embrace some culture and check out a local temple. I wear the proper clothing.
- 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM: Wat Arun's Wows and a Tuk-Tuk Tickle. The temple was BEAUTIFUL. The colors, the architecture, the sheer magnificence… I was genuinely awestruck. But then, I decided to go to another temple. I took a tuk-tuk. I didn't think, I just jumped in. The ride was exhilarating, terrifying, and possibly the most fun 20 minutes of my life. And the negotiating the price with the driver afterwards? Another lesson in the art of haggling.
- 12:00 PM - 2:00 PM: The Street Food Struggle & a Spice-Induced Meltdown (Round II). Time for lunch! I decided to be brave and try street food. I saw a stall selling something that looked like a spicy noodle soup. I decided to try it. The first bite was fine, but then the heat hit! My nose was running, my eyes were watering, and I was sweating like I'd run a marathon. I survived, but I may have sworn a silent vow to avoid anything with chili in the future.
- 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM: Chatuchak Chaos & Shopping Mayhem. The Chatuchak Weekend Market. HUGE. Overwhelming. I have never seen so many things in one place. I was overwhelmed. I bought a t-shirt, a pair of elephant pants (obviously), and a souvenir that I promptly lost an hour later. The exhaustion had hit me. But, I was pretty sure I'd got the hang of things.
- 4:00 PM - 6:00 PM: The Great Hostel Debrief & a Moment of Zen. I went back to the hostel to decompress. It was time. I take a long shower and just sit. I start wondering if I was meant to be here. I end up sitting on the balcony with the German kid. I started crying. I was homesick, I was tired. I decided to go for a walk.
- 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM: Sunset Re-enactment & the Return of the Mosquito Horde. I thought I'd try the rooftop bar again. Well, I'd barely settled onto the bar before the mosquitos started their attack. Back to the room.
- 8:00 PM - 10:00 PM: Pizza and Planning, or the Art of Pretending to Have a Plan. I meet the enthusiastic American girl again (it was the only person I could find). We decide to order pizza. I find the closest one. "Here", I said. "Let's go." I was planning our next trip. Or, that's what I made it look like. I didn't really have a plan.
Day 3: The Departure (and lingering question: Did I actually enjoy this?)
- 8:00 AM - 9:00 AM: The Morning After the Night Before, or "Am I Still Alive?". The aftermath. I feel better, actually. I'd survived. I'd been a human. I'd been a mess. And I'd made it.
- 9:00 AM - 10:00 AM: Farewell to the Hostel & The Promise of a Return. The hostel was kind, but I was relieved to leave and head to the next stage of the trip. I am already planning to come back.
Notes:
- This is just a taste of my trip.
- Don't be afraid to get lost.
- Embrace the chaos.
- Bring bug spray!
- Most importantly, remember to laugh at yourself. Because you
