Smile Robotist Hostel, Chiang Mai: 2024 Review
Wondering what it’s like to stay at Smile Robotist Hostel in Chiang Mai?
You’ve come to the right place as I stayed in Chiang Mai for 7 nights and Smile Robotist was my hostel of choice.
Chiang Mai is one of the most popular places to visit in Thailand for backpackers and solo travellers. There are lots of hostel options and it can be hard to find the best one.
As a full-time traveller, I have a good judgement of what makes a good hostel and what doesn’t.
And after staying in this hostel, I can safely say that Smile Robotist is one of the best and I can’t encourage you to stay here enough.
Smile Robotist Hostel Review
When I was booking my hostel for Chiang Mai and researching all of the options, one thing which stood out in all of the reviews of Smile Robotist Hostel was how friendly the owner is.
Well let me tell you, those reviews are 100% accurate. His name is Ton and he is one of the friendliest people I have ever met.
As soon as I walked in, he greeted me with such warmth, and he even remembered our email chain from a few days prior to my check-in.
When you check in, he gives you a printed map of Chiang Mai and gives you tons of recommendations which he illustrates on the map with a pen. From food places to things to do, he gives you everything you need to know about a stay in Chiang Mai, which I really appreciated as I hadn’t done that much prior research.
As for the hostel itself, it has a nice home-like feel to it and I loved it there. Even though I was backpacking in Thailand, I’m not a huge fan of party hostels so I really liked the atmosphere in Smile Robotist.
On check-in, Ton apologised that there would be no parties in the hostel, but I don’t think there is anything to apologise for – it’s my ideal type of hostel.
It feels like you are staying in a house with housemates rather than staying in a hostel with hundreds of other people. For reference, there are only two rooms – a 6-bed dorm and a 12-bed dorm – so there are only 18 people in the hostel at a maximum.
But it’s still easy to meet people. I made lots of friends during my time here who I would spend time with in Chiang Mai itself and even in Chiang Rai too. The downstairs common area is pretty small which forces you to speak to people, making it easy to make friends.
The location is good too as you are in the Old City, about a 10-minute walk from the Gate Market, which is one of my favourite food spots in all of Thailand.
Speaking of food, there is also a free breakfast every morning, which is two slices of toast, a banana and coffee/water. Ton makes it for you (or his brother if he is not around) and insists on washing up afterwards too.
I tried to do it myself every morning but got stopped in my tracks by Ton or his brother so they could wash up instead – they are so welcoming to guests and really make you feel at home.
The other amenities are good too, there are lots of bathroom options on all 3 floors and multiple showers too. I never had to wait to use the toilet or get a shower, which I always hate having to do and was so glad I never had to do it in 7 days of staying in Smile Robotist.
Another thing I like is that the beds have curtains – nothing beats a hostel which offers some privacy! But as I said, it’s still easy to meet people downstairs.
I genuinely can’t recommend staying here enough. It’s a nice hostel, it’s in a good location, the owner is so kind, and you can book tours here too.
Before I came to Chiang Mai, I had a few things I was planning to do, many of which were the reason I visited Chiang Mai. Namely a jungle trek and a day trip to Chiang Rai. I was planning on booking online but I saw in reviews that Ton can book the tours at a discount, so I waited.
And I’m so glad I did wait. The jungle trek I was planning to do was over 3000 Thai baht online, but Ton was able to get it for 1700. I ended up going for a different option which offered more things including an overnight stay and elephant interactions as Ton had a lot more choices than the likes of GetYourGuide and Viator.
The Chiang Rai day trip was a great deal too as Ton breaks down the prices for you and actually has a tour option which works out cheaper than if you do it DIY (book the buses yourself, pay temple entrance fees, buy lunch, get taxis between temples).
You are also able to book the bus to Pai and the slow boat to Luang Prabang in the hostel – so you can have your transport to your next destination sorted here too.
Any questions you have, he’ll have the answer to them no doubt about it. One day I walked down and told him I was going to Wat Phra That Doi Suthep, the temple on the mountain just outside Chiang Mai.
I was planning on getting a bike on Grab there but he told me to use the Songthaew taxis and it would cost a fraction of the price. Lo and behold, it did, so I saved more money again thanks to Ton.
Saving money is a common theme for the hostel as it’s not even that expensive to stay here, it’s a great deal and a really affordable option for hostels in Chiang Mai. I’m so glad I chose to stay here.
As two final examples of how kind Ton is: firstly, he always remembered my name every time I walked into the hostel or walked downstairs. I have never had this happen before – you can tell he really cares for his guests and loves owning a hostel.
Secondly, I went to a gym in Chiang Mai as I tried to stay fit while travelling. I walked in and heard “Hello Josh” out of nowhere, I looked up and there was Ton working out in the gym I had randomly found on Google.
After I had worked out for a while, he offered to spot me and help me lift heavier weights, but I was already pretty tired out so I declined the offer but it shows how he’s always willing to help his guests, even outside of the hostel.
The only bad thing I have to say about him is that he was wearing a Liverpool football vest that day. As a Manchester United fan, he joked the hostel was nicknamed the “Liverpool Hostel” for the rest of my stay!
To summarise, not only will you get a quaint hostel with nice rooms and good facilities, in a good location for a good price, but you will also meet Ton, a man I hope I am able to see again in the future because he made my Chiang Mai experience amazing.
I can’t tell you how much I love Smile Robotist Hostel, and if you are looking for somewhere to stay in Chiang Mai, look no further. It’s the best.
Tips & Things To Know For Your Stay
While staying at Smile Robotist Hostel is a great experience, I have some tips which can help you make the most of your stay here.
- Use Ton’s recommendations: When you check in, the owner will give you a map and he will write a load of recommendations on it. There is quite a lot of things, so you probably won’t do everything, but definitely do some of them. For example, he recommends a smoothie bowl place and it’s the most delicious smoothie bowl I have ever had.
- Book your tours here: You can get tours here for cheaper than booking online, but you can also get them even cheaper as the owner is a registered tour operator so he is able to get a further discount, usually 10% or more on all tours. You can get prices as low as a third of what they have online.
- Ask questions: Ton is always smiling and happy to answer any questions you might have. If you have any, ask them because he will have an answer no doubt.
- Remember your key: If you’re not going to be back until after 6 pm or later, remember to take your key out with you as the door will be locked otherwise and you will need to wait for someone else to open it.
- Use the Hostelworld chat: The hostel has a Hostelworld chat which is lively and is filled with people making plans to do things together. It’s one of the easiest ways you can meet people when staying at Smile Robotist.
- Take off your shoes: In Thai culture, you have to remove your shoes when inside, and Ton likes to keep this authenticity in the hostel. There are plenty of places to store your shoes when staying in the hostel, so make sure to respect the ask and take off your footwear. This includes flip-flops in the shower and toilet.
- You can have a late check-in: While the reception isn’t manned 24 hours, you can still check in late. Ton will leave your key in a safe space along with any details you need to know about the hostel.
- There is a deposit on arrival: When you check in, there is a deposit of 200 Baht, which you will get back when you check out assuming you haven’t damaged anything.
- Make use of the breakfast: One of the best perks of staying here is the free breakfast. It’s the perfect start to the day and is much better than going and getting a toastie from 7-Eleven.
- You can do laundry: You can do laundry here for 60THB per kilogram. It takes about 24 hours and it’s really easy and convenient. I did it and had no problems at all – no missing socks or anything like I have had in other places!
FAQs
Below are some common questions people have before booking a stay in Smile Robotist along with my answers to each question.
Yes, Smile Robotist Hostel is safe. It’s in a safe location, just off the main road in Chiang Mai. The reception is manned throughout the day and at nighttime, everyone has a key to lock the front door. The hostel also has lockers to keep your stuff safe.
Yes, the hostel is in a very good location, only a short walk from the best things to do in Chiang Mai. It’s also not too far from the street markets and there is a 7-Eleven right on the corner of the street it is on.
Yes, there are lockers in Smile Robotist. You get your own locker outside of the dorm room as well as a locker underneath your bunk bed. You need to bring your own padlock for the one underneath your bed, but the ones outside the room use a key you get when checking in.
Yes, Smile Robotist Hostel is really clean. I had no complaints during my stay. The beds are comfortable and spacious and the bathrooms are well-maintained. The owner and his brother do everything themself so there is a personal attention to detail for cleanliness.
Final Thoughts
And there you have it, an honest and detailed review of my stay at Smile Robotist in Chiang Mai.
Hopefully, I have been able to portray how incredible the stay is – it’s more than a hostel, it’s a home, a community.
If you’re looking for somewhere to stay in Chiang Mai, definitely book Smile Robotist Hostel. I promise you, you won’t regret it.
Wondering where to go after Chiang Mai? Maybe somewhere along the Banana Pancake Route will catch your attention!
Read more about Thailand:
