Big John's Hostel & Internet cafe for Backpackers - Hostel in Bangkok, Thailand

Big John's Hostel & Internet cafe for Backpackers Category: Hostel 159/12 Sukhumvit 55 - Bangkok, Thailand Private rooms from 10.60 EUR (per room) Shared rooms from 4.80 EUR (per person)

Description: G'day & Sawasdee. Looking for Bangkok's only true blue Australian run Budget, Backpacker, Hostel, Guest-house & Restaurant with totally FREE Internet & wifi access, located in the upmarket part of town where the more affluent and educated locals and expatriates choose to live, shop and party? Where locals smile to be nice, not because they want your money.

You'll receive a FREE BEER Coupon for first time Check-ins between now and December 30, except for the HAMMOCKS ON THE ROOF.

We've just consolidated by moving out of the building we've been in for the last 3 years and into the building next door, meaning we have reduced all the room and bed rates. The rooms are all now BIGGER and all have WINDOWS and even TVs for you to plug your digital cameras and dvd players into. Internet access, both using our computers or your own and wifi is totally FREE 24 hours a day to guests. There are now also guest refidgerators on the 4th floor by the stairs to the rooftop and hammocks where you can enjoy gentle breezes, a view of the city, neighborhood and stars. The timber deck and outdoor shower is coming soon, the area having been already covered with shade cloth for those who want to sit out during the day.

We've also started to reduce our carbon footprint by reducing the number and use of air-conditioners. December & January in Bangkok are relatively cool with the daytime temperature in the mid 20's C and night time temperature in the high teens. Not a lot of locals use air-conditioning in their homes, at any time of the year. So, if you really want a true Asian experience you might at least try acclimatising. You might also want to think about learning a little Thai before you get here as only 5% of the population is English literate. Thankfully you'll find a far better ratio in our staff and in the local neighborhood.

ALL WELCOME

Unlike the very few other Hostels in Thailand, all nationalities including traveling Thais are welcome.

Great Food & Totally FREE Internet

Big John's is a cozy 50 bed, Aussie run guest-house and youth hostel that now also includes totally free internet 24 hours, a bar and restaurant, both making and serving the number one Australian style pies, pasties, sausage rolls & burgers in Thailand - food also sold in local VILLA supermarkets, along with several other Bars and restaurants along Sukhumvit Road and shipped as far North as Rimping Supermarket in Chiang Mai and South to Samui and Krabi, AND from the 1st January 2008 we'll be serving hundreds of tourists and locals every day in the Fifth Avenue Food Court on the 5th Floor of MBK at Siam Square, next to National Stadium. - Not forgetting delicious western style vegetarian meals and a range of vegetarian pies, along with international favorites including Big John's unique herb bread, thin crust Pizza, Canadian style Poutine and Thai/Fusion and classic Thai dishes like Tom Yum (Spicy Soup) and Pad Thai (Noodles).

Did I forget to mention our fabulous home made pork sausages - also sold to many local restaurants -, vege/tofu Burgers and vegetarian breakfast?

Hammocks on the roof

Yes, hammocks on the roof, no pillow, no blanket, no mosquito net, just a view of the stars with access, to showers and other facilities. Ok, there is a canopy of Shade cloth and a tarp to provide a little protection. The timber deck is still in progress.

Dorms

Our dorms with some of the biggest/widest dorm beds in Asia. Unlike other hostels our 10-12 bed dorms have windows and are air-conditioned and feature a power socket/outlet next to each bed along with a dimmer switch for control of your own light.

The Restaurant, Outdoor Terrace & Lounge

We haven't subbed the restaurant to someone else, meaning we can provide great deals on western style food and drinks and generous portions of Thai/Fusion food. It's your space to use and enjoy at your leisure. You can relax, chat with & make new friends in the restaurant/cafe outside on the terrace, in the cosy lounge area with an eclectic collection of sofas or even on the rooftop.

Now in operation for over 6 years, although not in the same building/s.

Don't be fooled by wannabe copycats, or those who tricked Big John into or copied Big John's in setting up their hostel. Over 90% of out guests extend their stay and over 50% choose to stay here more than once. Oh, returning guests seldom book on-line so they don't have a chance to post ratings. Only those with unrealistic expectations, or the competition, rate us badly. It sucks, but, that's life & business in Asia. When we started 6 years ago the locals didn't know what a hostel was, didn't have dorms and there wasn't any budget accommodation in this part of town. Nearly all the hostels opened in the past 2 years are in realatively close proximity.

Staff

With friendly, somewhat English literate, staff (at least most of them try, including the Aussie), Big John's, the original - run by Big John himself, family and staff (who will try to make your stay more of a home stay) - has developed a reputation, amongst backpackers and budget travelers - who want to get away from over trafficed, seedy, sleazy, scam infested, tourist areas (like Khaosan, Silom, Nana & Asoke) - as a 'bloody great place to stay' in Bangkok.

Work in Progress

Looking for an elevator and/or someone to carry your backpack up stairs? Looking for five star hotel services where everything is done for you? Want it all for free, because, after all, the world owes you a favor? Well, wake up, get your hand off it. What part of 'backpack' don't you understand? This is a real, cozy, 50 bed, backpacker hostel. Where the money you save on a basic room you can spend eating, drinking, site seeing, shopping and partying, getting out and also experiencing modern day Bangkok. We were the first, western operated, hostel in Thailand to offer dorm beds on the web. The first to offer budget beds & rooms in the upmarket part of town. We are not a designer hostel in the middle of nowhere, which charges more for a dorm bed than you should pay for a private room in the same are. And, you don't have to be gay to stay here either. Though, a tolerance to things not always perfect will certainly improve your chances of an enjoyable stay in Thailand.

With the recent move the hostel is now very much a not noisy, work in progress and a little rough around the edges, which is taking shape fast. If you are a real backpacker this is probably the experience you're looking for. We offer some of Bangkok's most affordable hostel beds & hammocks in the upmarket part of town. Catering to people, on a budget, who want to experience real modern day Bangkok, not some contrived, preconceived idea of Asia from 20 years ago. Catering to people who want to mix with real locals not just tourists and those who prey upon and take advantage of them.

Special Note:

IF YOU'D LIKE, FOR AN EXTRA 500 BAHT PER DAY, WE CAN TREAT YOU LIKE A NO-NOTHING TOURIST TO BE TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF, including making sure you get roped into every suit and jewelry scam there is, by every tuk-tuk driver, scam artist and tout, taken to a travel agent pretending to be a TAT Office where you'll end up paying way to much for tours and travel information and accommodation and book you on busses where you'll have all your most values stolen..

Sorry, please pardon my satirical, dry, Australian sense of humor. Which is sometimes misunderstood and mistaken as me being rude. I really don't try to make people feel stupid.

When's the last time you stayed in a city of 20 million people?

If you want to experience the hustle and bustle of small shop houses and small family run businesses and night and floating markets where locals, not just tourists, shop in the cool of the evening and early morning, then go to Laos. That was Thailand of 20 years ago, it's now hard to find it in Bangkok and other cities in Thailand, with it's multitude of gainormous, air-conditioned, mega shopping malls. 20 years ago people went to Hong Kong and Singapore to shop. Today the, now more affluent, people of Singapore and Hong Kong come to Bangkok to shop in airconditioned comfort. The floating markets and night markets that exist are mainly for tourists or, if they are for locals, include goods made of plastic, nylon and polyester, mass produced in China.

Centraly Located

Just 30 minutes from the new Suvarnabhumi International & Domestic Airport. Only 170 Baht + 50 Baht Airport Service charge. There may be a hostel closer, but we can guarantee you won't get to or from the airport faster than from us.

Thonglor

(Sukhumvit Road Soi 55) - 'The Berverly Hills of Southeast Asia', quoting the Sunday New York Times, is a wide 2km stretch of road on the edge of the CBD, and the sois (streets) that lead off of it are for Thais, Japanese and and Western Expatriates the desired location to live, eat, shop and party.

Watch-out

Don't be fooled, in a bus or taxi, Khaosan Road will take 1-4 hours to get to/from the new Airport and may cost as much as 700 Baht. Although, during the day, without a large backpack KS Road and Banglampoo are only 15-20 minutes and 14 Baht away from us in a boat down the canal.

We offer the best of both worlds, close to the new airport in an upmarket cosmopolitan area full of restaurants and nightlife and close to shopping and the heart of Bangkok.

Big John's is a safe and friendly, real home away from home - Centraly located, especially with the closure of Don Muang as an international Airport. (Bangkok is a very big and sprawling city with an official population of 8,500,000 people but a more realistic population of 20,000,000 people).

Beer & Cider

We have a selection of Beers and Cider including; Beer Chang, Beer Lao, San Miguel, John Smiths, Newcastle Brown Ale and Bulmers and 3 Great Coopers Beers bottle fermented in South Australia. Sorry no one is currently importing Fosters, VB or Crown Lager.

Breakfast

No other hostel gives you a wider choice or, or serves a better value for money full breakfast. You'll find it hard to find a bigger, better, more value for money set breakfast.

Vegemite is free with breakfast. We also have cornflakes, Coco Pops, Frosties, Jam, Honey & Peanut Butter. Breakfast now also includes Yoghurt and Cornflakes or Yoghurt and Museli or Thai Rice Porridge.

Laundry

We have numerous washing machines and driers and our staff will do your laundry for you at just 30 Baht per Kg. Half the price of most other hostels. So cheap locals in the know bring their laundry here.

Sports & Entertainment

We have numerous satellite dishes so you can watch LIVE Cricket, NFL & American College Football, NBA & College Basket Ball, Baseball and the European football and the FA Cup, no matter what time of the day or night it's on. During live EPL matches, on Saturday & Sunday nights, there's FREE local draft Beer for 2 minutes after every goal for anyone with an empty glass (meaning you've already bought one).

Helpful Information and Travel Services

We can help with information on how to get around Bangkok, to the temples and other sites without paying through the nose and without wasting most of your time sitting in a car or van in Bangkok traffic.

We offer tours to Kanchanaburi, including the floating market, war cemetery, bridge over the River Kwai and the Tiger Temple. River and road tours to Ayutthaya are also available.

Two day tours including Erawan Falls, Hot Springs, Hell Fire Pass, Elephant rides & bamboo rafting can also be booked here along with three day tours to Kanchanaburi & Sanghlaburi, including the above and Three Pagoda Pass, Viwagaram Temple, underwater temple, orphanage and long wooden bridge.Optional extras are cycling, kayaking and trekking.

We also offer bookings on daily VIP buses to Cambodia - siam Reap, Ankor Wat & Phnom Phen - the Eastern - Koh Chang, Koh Kut, Koh Wai, Koh Mak -& Southern Islands- Koh Tao (turtle island - diving), Koh Phangan (Full moon party), Koh Samui - South - Phi Phi, Krabi, Phuket, Had Yai, Koh Lak & Northeastern Thailand - Nong Khai and Laos - Vientien.

Other Services

We have a free book swapping service and a library with a large selection of travel books on Thailand and Southeast Asia.

FREE maps of Bangkok, showing BTS (Skytrain), MRT (Subway) and canal routes are usually available at the reception desk. We also have more detailed maps by Nancy Chandler, which include Sukhumvit, China Town, Banglampoo, Chatuchak (JJ- the weekend market) and greater Bangkok for sale.

We were the first hostel in Thailand to offer free high speed, ADSL, internet access and free wifi. We also have printers, cd burners an card readers to help you copy save and upload your photos. We also have headphones with microphone and webcams to help you keep intouch with friends & family.

We also offer free bag / luggage / baggage storage to returning guests, and to store your bags should you be taking a later flight, train or bus, all of which makes us the big one for others to follow.

There is also no charge for locker use while you are staying with us.

Upcoming special events.

You need not stay with us to join in.

Christmas Day 25th December - Enjoy our now famous 5 Roast Meat Lunch or Dinner with Lamb, Turkey, Beef, Ham & Pork, gravy, cranberry sauce, apple sauce, baked and steamed vegetables, soup, minced fruit pies, apple pie, pumpkin pie and ice-cream all for just 450 Baht or 790 Baht with all you can drink Chang Draught Beer.

Weekly Specials:

Every Friday night is Ladies night with Free Gin, Vodka, Rum, Whisky, Mixers & local Draft Beer from 5pm - 7pm for ladies, 20 Baht per drink for ladies from 7-9pm and 40 Baht per drink for ladies from 9-11pm. And for the guys there's a FREE Jug of Chang Draught Beer with every purchase of 3 Burgers.

Saturday Nights - FREE 12 inch Pizza with every 3 Litre Tower of Chang Draft Beer.

Every Sunday Breakfast - all you can eat Pancakes and Maple Syrup. Every Sunday Night you can enjoy Roast/Smoked/BBQd - with hickory & mesquite wood chips - Beef and/or Ham and/or Pork with mashed potatoes, steamed vegetables and gravy from just 190 Baht - the second Sunday of each month includes Roast lamb, the last Sunday of each month includes Roast Turkey.

Every Monday Night is Pizza & Beer Night with a Free 1 litre Jug of Chang Draft with every 12 inch Pizza.

Every Tuesday Night is 2 for 1 Night with Buy 1 get 1 free meat pies and 2 for 1 Chang Draft Beer (buy one get one free**) 5 - 11pm*.

Every Wednesday Night is Hi Card Wins FREE DRINKS - cut the deck against the bar and win and your drink is FREE* 5pm - midnight. Bangers & mash & beer only 170 Baht.

Thursday Nights - All you can eat BBQ Buffet Just 150 Baht. All you can drink Chang Draft 350 Baht.

We have a DVD player to check and watch your latest purchases and a lounge area on the 4th floor for those who just want to chill for a while.

We don't have a swimming pool, but there are swimming pools nearby available for casual use. There is also an Olympic Size Swimming Pool in Sukhumvit Soi 40 that can be used for 50 Baht per day.

We don't have a self kitchen, but the bbq's are available for anyone who wants to use them.

Barter

VEGEMITE and Large blocks of Cheddar cheese (Australian preferred) are always welcome and can be bartered here, as can Liquid Smoke, hot English mustard, MAPLE SYRUP, Bundaberg Rum, good, preferably South Australian, Wine and Tea Tree Oil. If you have any other delicacies you wish to barter please email us in advance. We're also interested in Sports memorabilia and Australiana which can also be bartered for food and drinks and maybe rooms, but not your booking deposit.

We try to keep the do's and don't's to a minimum, trusting you will be considerate to others. Big John's is a fun & friendly hostel and home away from home, not a prison.

NO HIDDEN CHARGES

All of our beds have pillows, sheets and comforters (dunas/duvees), not just thin acrylic blankets. When we do get around to adding optional energy efficient air-conditioning to the private rooms, probably February, 2008, there will be an additional charge. There's is an additional charge of 50 Baht for check-in after 2am, or before 7 am, Guests who have already checked in will be able to let themselves in and out 24 hours. When booking and arriving early in the morning (1-6am) to book the night before or you might be waiting till midday for your bed.

We now have guest refridgerators, which can be used for a small fee to store and drink alcohol after midnight if you purchase your drinks from us before midnight. You will need to pay 7% VAT but there is no service charge, tipping is up to you and goes straight to the staff.

As much as I try to make myself available to guests to help answer questions and offer friendly helpful free advice, please understand I'm not on holidays, I have a business to run which is more than just the hostel. If you really feel the need to seek my advice, other than I can afford to offer for free, let the staff know and for 2,000 Baht per hour and a minimum charge of 1,000 Baht I'll make an appointment to sit and talk with you.

You don't need a member/discount/VIP card holder here as our prices are discounted for everyone. Our prices are not over inflated to offer a false discount

A great hostel is much more than a room or a bed. Here at Big John's we strive to bring both travelers and locals together in a safe and friendly environment conducive to the exchange of cultures and ideas. A warm and friendly, home away from home, offering opportunities and experiences you will remember for a lifetime and an environment you won't be in a hurry to leave.

C YA SOON

Big John