A Day Inn Ranong Hostel — a Sino-Portuguese hostel in the old town that guests praise for its owner and its spotless rooms
If you're coming to Ranong solo or as a backpacker and want somewhere clean, cheap, right in the old town, with an owner who looks after you like a friend, A Day Inn Ranong Hostel is the name travellers keep mentioning with very high scores — a small boutique hostel in a Sino-Portuguese building on Ruengrat Road, with both dorms and private rooms, run hands-on by the owner. What guests consistently praise is the cleanliness, the friendly owner and staff who speak good English, the free local breakfast, and the help sorting out ferry tickets to Koh Phayam. What you have to accept is that it's a small hostel with few rooms, some share a bathroom, and it's a simple stay rather than a hotel. From approx. ฿250/dorm bed, or ฿650/night for a private room · score 9.5 from real guest reviews.
A Day Inn Ranong Hostel is a small boutique hostel in the old-town area on Ruengrat Road, in the centre of Ranong town. What earns it such high scores in reviews is that it's an owner-run place that's spotlessly clean, with the charm of a Sino-Portuguese building inspired by Ranong's old shophouses. It has both dorms for budget solo travellers and private rooms for couples or anyone who wants privacy. Most people who choose it are backpackers, solo travellers, or people using Ranong as a stopover before catching a boat to Koh Phayam, who want a clean bed at a light price in the centre of town where you can walk to food.
What reviews praise most is the cleanliness, and the friendly, genuinely helpful owner and staff. Many guests say both the rooms and the shared bathrooms are spotless and well kept, and that the staff speak good English so communication is easy. A lot of reviews mention a staff member named Kanchana who happily helps book ferry tickets to Koh Phayam, arranges motorbike rentals, and gives tips on where to eat and what to see. The free local breakfast is another thing guests rave about, with coffee, tea and local pancakes or snacks served every morning. The Wi-Fi is fast, and there's a shared kitchen, a lounge, luggage storage, and free bicycles for getting around town.
"Super clean hostel, and the staff are lovely and so helpful — they sorted our ferry tickets and gave us all the tips for what to see. The free breakfast was great, and the building is beautiful, real old-town style. Brilliant value for a solo traveller."
The feel here leans toward friendly and full of old-town character. The building is designed in a Sino-Portuguese style that fits Ranong's old shophouse quarter, with seating corners, a lounge and a small garden where you can chat with fellow travellers. Its small size and owner-led care mean many guests feel more like they're staying at a friend's place than a hotel. It's also run with an eye on sustainability and holds the Thai Green Hotel Certificate 2019. The location is right in Ranong old town, an easy walk to Rattanarangsan Palace, the market, cafés and restaurants nearby — ideal for people who want to explore the town on foot and find dinner without driving.
There are things worth knowing before you book. The first is that it's a small hostel with few rooms — private rooms are limited and tend to fill up fast in high season, so book ahead. The second is that some rooms are dorms or share a bathroom, so if you're not used to hostels and want an en-suite, choose a private room with a private bathroom when you book. The third is that it's a simple place — no pool, lift, or big-hotel facilities. And because it's a hostel in the centre of town, there can be some noise from the street or fellow guests at times, so light sleepers should bring earplugs.
The location is a clear strength. It's in the heart of Ranong old town on Ruengrat Road, within walking distance of the market, restaurants and Rattanarangsan Palace. It's not far from the Koh Phayam ferry pier or the Raksawarin hot springs — a short drive, or something the hostel can help arrange. It suits people using Ranong as a jumping-off point for Koh Phayam especially well, since the team helps book ferry tickets and tells you the boat times. Ranong is known as a rainy town, so pack an umbrella and an indoor backup plan, and check the forecast before planning a crossing to the island.
Bottom line: A Day Inn Ranong Hostel suits travellers who want a clean, cheap stay in the old town, with an owner who looks after you like a friend and helps sort the ferry. If you're a backpacker, a solo traveller, or a couple who like a friendly vibe and value cleanliness and attentive service, it's excellent value at this price. But if you want a hotel with an en-suite in every room, a pool, a lift and full privacy, a small hostel like this may not be what you're after — look at the in-town hotel options or the hot-springs side in this series instead.
Summary from Booking & Agoda
- ✓ Spotlessly clean rooms and shared bathrooms
- ✓ Friendly, helpful owner and staff who speak English
- ✓ Help with ferry tickets to Koh Phayam and motorbike rentals
- ✓ Free local breakfast, fast Wi-Fi, great value
- ! Small hostel; private rooms are limited, so book ahead
- ! Some rooms share a bathroom — not for those wanting an en-suite
- ! Simple stay; no pool or lift
- ✓ Lovely Sino-Portuguese building with old-town charm
- ✓ Attentive staff, happy to recommend food and sights
- ✓ Old-town location, walk to the market and restaurants
- ✓ Free bicycles, a lounge and a shared kitchen
- ! Few rooms; fills up fast in high season
- ! Central location can mean some street or fellow-guest noise
- ! Hostel-level facilities are limited
- 💡If you want a hotel with an en-suite in every room, a pool and a lift — this is a small hostel where some rooms share a bathroom and there's no pool → look at the in-town hotel options in this series if you want more comfort.
- 💡If you're a light sleeper sensitive to noise — it's a hostel in the centre of town, so there can be some street or fellow-guest noise at times → choose a private room and bring earplugs.
- 💡If your goal is a clean, cheap old-town stay with an easy boat link to Koh Phayam — that's the strongest thing here, and the team helps book ferry tickets → book a private room ahead if you want privacy, as they're limited.