Bangkok’s Mana Hostel: Experience Travel Community In A Local District

Diverse Community: laid back, collaborative energy

Mana Hostel is home to a laidback traveler community. The downstairs space creates an environment perfect for sharing travel stories. A table, high top and couch provide plenty of space for collaboration in this small hostel. The sentiments of happy travelers vibrate through the space. James, the owner, has a friendly, charismatic energy and is often helping travelers find cool places to explore and unique ways to get around Bangkok. His warmth is demonstrated by a wall of positive feedback Post-it notes left by previous guests. Many of the guests in this space return or plan to return for another stay at James’ hostel.

The community is diverse, with long term travelers and holiday visitors alike. The people staying in this hostel are literally from all over the world! The influence of many different cultures and personalities makes the community one of the most fascinating parts of staying at Mana Hostel.

Authentic experience: located in a Thai residential district

One of the best parts of Mana Hostel is the authenticity in its location. Unlike many of Bangkok’s tourist hubs, Mana Hostel is located on the border of Phra Khanong Nuea and Khlong Toei, two local Thai residential districts. Walking down the streets adjacent to the hostel, you will hear practically only Thai speakers. Workers fixing motorbikes, women selling their local treats, fresh fruit stands—coconuts—the streets are bustling with Thai people living their everyday lives.

From the markets to the tourist attractions, English is very rare and difficult to find. If this intimidates you a bit, do not worry! James is super helpful and can teach you a few basic phrases like hello, thank you and mango sticky rice. If you are a traveler that prefers to experience local culture while visiting other countries, then Mana Hostel’s location will excite you. Another fabulous perk of being located in a less touristic area is the prices. Here, you can find local foods and treats without the tourist premium found on Khao San Road.

Unique location: close to temples, markets and public transportation

Tucked away from the tourism buzz of Bangkok, Mana Hostel has its own set of attractions. There are two “markets” close by. The first is a food court in a shopping mall type of place. Although this is a shopping mall, the food court is not your standard mall food. All of the vendors provide a variety of Thai dishes and desserts. On the opposite side of the street, there is a market that winds through the side streets. Some portions of the market are indoors, while the majority is outside. Here you can find dishes, fruits, veggies, and more! During the day, the market is geared more toward buying ingredients. Then, at night, the market comes alive and even more local specialties appear.

Aside from the markets, Mana Hostel is situated close to a few Buddhist temples, one of the Thai highlights. These colorful temples will have you feeling like you are on a new planet. Giant Buddha statues are common in the temples close to Mana Hostel. Head to the temple to meditate, listen to chants and experience the high energy of the Buddhist sites.

If you would like to still visit the main attractions of Bangkok, Mana Hostel is under a ten-minute walk away from the On Nut BTS stop, as well as a variety of bus lines. This makes it easy to access the other attractions while having a home base away from the tourist action. If you like to take fun means of transportation to explore the city, ask James for advice. He knows plenty of off-the-beaten-path transportation methods.

Great value: simple hostel great for budget travelers

Mana Hostel offers guests a great value! One of the least expensive in the area, 150 THB (< 5 USD) per night, Mana Hostel has air-conditioning, washing facilities, lockers and filtered water. The hostel is bunk bed style, but has one double bed in the dormitory and one private room. The rooms are bright and equipped with charging ports at each bed. The hostel is known for having great Wi-Fi, making it suitable for those looking to work remote while traveling. All of the rooms share two common bathrooms.