Ten Cheap Places To Stay In Hat Yai
Introduction
Elsewhere on this site I have listed thirteen pages of accommodation options in Hat Yai. This list covers all types of accommodation, including long-term apartment rentals and Hat Yai's most expensive hotels. However, if you are in Hat Yai on a budget - or just passing through as a backpacker - and need a cheap hotel or hostel, this page may be more useful.
What is the definition of a cheap place to stay in Thailand?
When I first visited the country in 1987 and travelled to Koh Samui, which at that time was very undeveloped and almost deserted, I was paying Bt100 or Bt150 a night for accommodation. Those days have long since disappeared.
In recent years the cost of living has soared in Thailand and prices are a lot higher. It's still cheap compared to most other countries - especially for hotels - but not as cheap as it used to be.
Nowadays, I would say that anything less than Bt500 is classified as budget accommodation, and that is the criterion I have used for the list below. Be aware that if you stick rigidly to a maximum of Bt500 per night, it may only be enough to get you a fan room in some places. This is OK during some parts of the year, but sleeping in a room without A/C at the height of the hot season in southern Thailand isn't much fun.
Also be aware that the laws of supply and demand play a large part in the pricing of Hat Yai hotel rooms. For example, the room rates at Louise Guest House are normally Bt400 (fan) and Bt600 (A/C). However, when I enquired over the Chinese New Year holiday I was quoted Bt600 and Bt800. If you arrive during a festival or holiday period expect to pay more at most places.
I would add that unless you are on a really tight budget, it is worth paying a little more in Thailand because a few more Baht can often buy a big improvement in quality and comfort. When trying to be as stingy as possible with accommodation in Thailand, the phrase 'false economy' springs to mind.
Caveat
Some of the room rates below may no longer be current and have quite possibly increased slightly since I last checked. I will check room rates again when I pass these places, but if you know of any errors please let me know.
Comments: Being closer to Lee Gardens Plaza, the Chateau is better located than the guest houses near the train station and it is also cheaper.
It looks fairly clean and because of the limited access to the building it looks fairly secure. For this price, don't expect anything very luxurious but this is another good option in Hat Yai for travellers on a budget.
Room Rate: Bt300 to Bt500
More Information: Chateau
Comments: This old style hotel probably looks exactly the same as it did 40 years ago. These places are becoming increasingly rare in Thailand and it will be a sad day when they all disappear. When I first visited Thailand in 1987 there were lots of hotels like this and thinking about that trip brings back happy memories.
Not only are these hotels a living piece of nostalgia, but they also serve a useful purpose. It is very difficult to find somewhere to stay in Hat Yai for Bt250 a night these days, but this is one of them. This is one of the cheapest hotels in Hat Yai.
Room Rate: Bt250 to Bt400
More Information: Chok Amnuay Hotel
Comments: Another cheap hotel in Hat Yai. When I first checked the room rate for this place I was quite surprised at how low it was (Bt390). The hotel underwent a refurbishment a few years ago and it looks quite comfortable.
It's a little way out of town, but if you don't mind walking you can walk to Lee Gardens Plaza fairly comfortably. If not, you can find motorbike taxis or tuk-tuks nearby. There is also a gymnasium downstairs if you want to work out.
The rooms are well equipped. A visitor to this site who stayed there in November 2014 told me that the rooms have fridges, flat-screen TVs and new furnishings. The rooms are air-conditioned, of course. He also told me that the room rate had risen to Bt500, but this still isn't expensive.
Considering that some guest house rooms consist of just four bare walls, an uncomfortable bed and a fan for the same price, the Genting Hotel represents something of a bargain.
Nothing is ever as it seems in Thailand. You may think that cheap guesthouses are the cheapest places to stay, but this isn't always the case. Some hotels are just as cheap - or cheaper - and represent far greater value for money.
Room Rate: Bt500
More Information: Genting Hotel
Agoda Rating: Excellent - See here for details
Comments: Just like English Bed and Breakfast accommodation, this accommodation is actually in the owner's private house. The owner likes to play with words, and Get's House is a play on Guest House.
The owner is an architect and he and his wife are really nice people. The house is narrow, but very comfortable inside and the location is in a fairly quiet Soi near to a large Chinese temple.
There are lots of places to eat nearby on Supasarnrangsan Road and it is only a 10 minute walk to Lee Gardens Plaza.
Room Rate: Bt399 to Bt599
More Information: Get Guesthouse
Comments: If you want to stay close to Central Festival, this is a pleasant little place located two minutes away from the largest shopping mall in southern Thailand and the room rates are very reasonable.
Room Rate: Bt580
More Information: Hasu House
Comments: I haven't listed these places separately on this page because I don't think there is a lot of difference, but if you are a backpacker or budget traveller there are now at least five hostels (that I know of) in Hat Yai offering dormitory accommodation. A couple of years ago there were none.
All of these places are new, clean, well located near to the centre of town, and have friendly owners or managers. Sharing a room (particularly a bathroom) with strangers definitely wouldn't appeal to me, but if you want to spend as little as you can on accommodation it is good to have these options.
The Train Hotel also offers dormitory accommodation. When I went to look at this hotel the dormitories weren't finished, but they are open now. Agoda is offering rates as low as 7 USD per night on dormitory accommodation at The Train.
If you have an early train to catch the following morning, The Train Hotel is perfectly located. The rooms are big and clean and you can get a good breakfast at the restaurant downstairs adjacent to the platform.
Room Rate: Bt200 upwards
Hatyai Backpackers Hostel ()
Agoda Rating: Excellent
More Information: Hatyai Backpackers Hostel
Hatyai Dee Hostel ()
Agoda Rating: Exceptional
More Information: Hatyai Dee Hostel
Hat Yai Youth Hostel ()
Agoda Rating: Excellent
More Information: Hat Yai Youth Hostel
The Hive Hostel ()
Agoda Rating: Excellent
More Information: The Hive Hostel
Hub Hostel ()
Agoda Rating: Not yet available
More Information: Hub Hostel
The Train Hotel ()
Agoda Rating: Very good
More Information: The Train Hotel
Comments: Ladda Guest House is a basic guest house located close to the railway station and Robinson Department store. It is also an easy walk to the Lee Gardens Plaza central tourist district.
Room Rate: Bt350 to Bt450
More Information: Ladda Guest House
Comments: Sandee Room is a fairly new budget accommodation option in Hat Yai. It was only opened in February 2015. The location is very central and (considering the low room rate) the rooms are quite well appointed.
Room Rate: Bt500
More Information: Sandee Room
Agoda Rating: Good - See here for details
Comments: I won't go into details, but because of the way that written Thai works and because of the hopeless system of transliteration that is used to write Thai words in English, this place should be called the Sorasin Guest House.
It is located next to the Hat Yai Plaza area, where you can find the famous clocktower and the fresh market area. This area is pure Third World Thailand and good if you like photography.
The guest house is located above a restaurant and it looks fine.
Room Rate: Bt380 to Bt500
More Information: Sorasilp Guest House
Agoda Rating: Very Good - See here for details
Comments: This hotel is located almost inside the train station. It has spacious rooms, but if you are looking to save money it also has dormitory accommodation. Obviously, it's a very convenient location for the train station, and it's only about a ten minute walk to Lee Gardens Plaza.
Room Rate: Bt400
More Information: The Train Hotel