Ruined for Life: Phoenix Edition

Since Jinan doesn’t have a hostel and I had points for a free night, I splurged and stayed at the Crowne Plaza. It’s centrally located near the city square and lots of stores. Well, first I stayed one night for free and then next I paid. Then I went to the cheaper Home Inn down the street and return to the Crowne Plaza.

The rooms are well furnished and quiet, which isn’t always the case (see my review of the HomeInn). The staff speaks good English and is very accommodating. The second stay I got a room in on the club level, a nice perk for members of the Priority Club.

The hotel has a fitness club, that’s small but the staff is helpful and they’ve got basic machines, though they’re a bit old.

Udee Hostel, part of the International Hostel group, is a sleek, modern, friendly place in a residential neighborhood. The rooms are the best I’ve stayed in for a hostel. Both the single rooms and the dorms are spotless and this hostel won a cleanliness award. Downstairs by reception is an open air terrace where you can watch cable TV, read one of the many English books or magazines, eat or drink. A simple breakfast is free: tea, juice, cereal, toast and fruit. It’s not far from the Skytrain. I’m going back next week for Chinese New Year. There are coin laundry machines and a rooftop patio.

During my first visit I shared a room with an interesting woman from Indonesia who’d just quit her job as a reporter for the Jakarta Post and was studying Thai for a month. She already spoke English and Chinese well.

Prices: Dorm bed – 350 Baht (so $12) Single room 1100 Baht (so $37ish).

Members get a 10% discount and you can charge your lodgings, but there’s a 3% surcharge.

Bangkok has several beautiful looking hostels with high ratings (90% and up).