WhitBudget travel

This Budget Traveler Found a Resort in Thailand for $15 a Night

Cheap eats and decent hotels still exist in Thailand outside the super touristy areas

Chiang Rai | Photo by author

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I spend about $10 a night for my current private room in a co-living space in Bangkok. I’m staying long-term and get the extended discount through Airbnb, the price is a sweet deal, even by Thai standards.

I’ve stayed at Marriott hotels where I’ve paid more than $100 a night, or in luxurious residences like the one I had in Punta Cana for two months. But despite that and my high-end MacBook Pro, for the most part, I’m cheap, a minimalist, and travel on a budget.

So, I always look for a deal on accommodation and prefer to spend my discretionary income on buying friends lunch or a few beers for a backpacker who is cheaper than me.

Since I currently travel full-time, I follow a few of the country-specific and digital nomad subreddits. But I also check out other subreddits, including the multiple YouTube ones.

By chance, I found another budget traveler currently in Southeast Asia who reviews budget hotels on YouTube — and he’s providing valuable information beyond the sometimes-inflated fake Google reviews.

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He booked the Be One Resort in Chiang Rai that offers spacious rooms, strong air conditioning, and resort-style grounds with a pool and garden for just under $15 a night. It’s not the Ritz-Carlton, but if you’re down to Earth, this budget resort feels like luxury. The only downside is that it’s a 22-minute drive from the city center. But I prefer quieter neighborhoods anyway.

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I don’t know his name, but this YouTuber also provides a pro tip on where to get Pad Thai for ฿20 ($0.61).

He currently has only one video on Thailand, which is expected to change, but he has several others on Vietnam. Which is where I’m going later this month.