Mercy Hostel
Well-run and spotlessly clean dormitories
More on Chiang Rai
Good organisation, cleanliness, comfort, fine value for money and an excellent location make Mercy Hostel a very popular choice in Chiang Rai’s budget accommodation range.
Travelfish says:
We reckon Mercy is something of a demonstration in how to set up and run a successful guesthouse too. Find a central but quiet location; construct a bunch of neat and tidy dorms, throw in a few tempting flashpacker alternatives, squeeze in a small pool and some enticing seating and communal areas, hire some enthusiastic, bubbly staff and top it off with a few flourishes such as guest kitchen facilities, bicycle hire and tour and travel info. An easy formula but one that not everyone gets, so consequently Mercy’s main drawback is that its success makes it tricky to find a room during high season.
The location, down a soi alongside Wat Jedyod makes it both central but quiet and within a 5-minute walking radius you have the bus station and Night Bazaar plus the bars and restaurants of Jedyod Road.
The hostel is laid out in a squared-off U shape with a 1-storey, white-painted building housing their various room options surrounding a communal area and small but adequate pool. There are reclining pool-side seats plus tables and chairs in a cafe area with pool table that also thoughtfully provides basic kitchen facilities free of charge to guests.
Private rooms (only five in all) are stark white and limited in terms of decor but spotlessly clean, bright and uncluttered. They’re also excellently-appointed—worthy of mid-range resort standards—with efficient air-con, large en-suite hot water bathrooms, cable TV, fridge, tea and coffee making facilities and French doors, though being single-storey no room has much view to speak of. Beds come with comfy duvets and convenient bedside lamps.
Dorm rooms and shared bathrooms, as with the overall hostel, are also impeccably clean and bright and each bunk bed comes with reading light, locker and fresh bed linen. They manage to fit in no less than 10 air-con 8-bed, (4 double bunk) dorms, including two female only ones.
We found staff members to be very helpful, chatty and friendly and without any hard sell offered a range of day tours and onward transport booking options. There’s efficient WiFi throughout and bicycles and scooter rental can also be arranged.
Contact details for Mercy Hostel
Address: 1005/22 Jetyod Rd, Soi 1
T: (053) 711 075;
Email: mercyhostelCR@gmail.com
Web: https://www.facebook.com/MercyHostelChiangRai/
Coordinates (for GPS): 99º49'48.98" E, 19º54'16.44" N
See position in Apple or Google Maps: Apple Maps | Google Maps
Room rates: Under 600B
Room rates
What we were quoted as a walk-in.
| Dorm air-con | 200 baht | 250 baht |
| Dbl air-con private bathroom | 800 baht | 800 baht |
Reviewed by
Mark Ord
Based in Chiang Mai, Mark Ord has been travelling Southeast Asia for over two decades and first crossed paths with Travelfish on Ko Lipe in the early 1990s.