Before We Go (DonMueang)
by the TopOfHotel team
Before We Go is a hostel with a free 24-hour shuttle and dorm beds from $16 a night — the best value of any budget pick near DMK.
Before We Go is a hostel with a free 24-hour shuttle and dorm beds from $16 a night — the best value of any budget pick near DMK.
In-Depth Review
Rooms and decor
Beds come two ways. The 4-6-bunk dorms start at $16 a night and use sturdy steel bunks, each with its own reading light, a two-pin plug at the bedside and a curtain you can pull around the bed for a bit of privacy. Every guest gets a large lockable locker — big enough to swallow a 50L backpack. Private rooms for two to three people start at $27. The shared bathrooms are split by gender, clean, with three hot showers per floor; cleanliness scores 8.4.
Food and amenities
There is no breakfast, but the lobby covers the basics: a sofa, a free hot-and-cold water dispenser, a coin coffee machine (about $0.30 a cup), a microwave for heating up food from the 7-Eleven out front, and a communal table seating six. Free Wi-Fi holds up well enough for Netflix, the front desk runs 24 hours every day, and luggage storage is free before and after check-in. A board on the wall has a DMK map and the van timetable to Ayutthaya and Pattaya — handy if you are stringing trips together.
Location and getting there
The hostel sits just 1.27 km from Don Mueang Airport (DMK), and the free 24-hour shuttle covers that in about 5 minutes, running every 30 minutes. That is what backpackers come for — a guaranteed ride no matter how late the Air Asia or Nok Air flight lands. The SRT Don Mueang Red Line station is roughly 0.5-1 km away for trips into central Bangkok, and IT Square mall is about 1 km off.
Things to know before booking
A dorm bed means no privacy, and you will hear bunkmates moving around at odd hours near early and late flights. Breakfast is not included — plan on the 7-Eleven out front. Bathrooms are shared, with three hot showers per floor, so you may have to wait at busy times before a dawn departure. If any of that grates, a private room for about $11 more solves most of it.
Our take
Before We Go DonMueang is at its best for solo backpackers on the tightest budget who are flying through DMK and just want a clean bed. For $16 you get a free ride to the terminal, a clean bunk and a lockable locker — a combination that is genuinely hard to find in Bangkok at this price.
Score Breakdown
Assessed by our editorial team from data and real guest reviews
The Honest Verdict — pros & what to know
- Dorm beds start at $16 a night — the cheapest option on this list, hard to beat near the airport.
- Free 24-hour airport shuttle you can call at any hour; it runs every 30 minutes and reaches DMK in about 5 minutes.
- Both dorms and private rooms, so you can pick by budget — a private double costs about $11 more than a dorm bed.
- Free Wi-Fi that holds up for Netflix, a 24-hour front desk every day, and free luggage storage before and after check-in.
- A genuine backpacker vibe in the lobby — reviewers describe trading onward routes with Japanese and Australian travelers over the coffee machine.
- A dorm bed means no privacy, and you will hear bunkmates coming and going at odd hours around early and late flights.
- Breakfast is not included in the rate; the nearest food is the 7-Eleven right in front of the hotel.
- Bathrooms are shared, with three hot showers per floor, so you may wait at peak times before an early departure.
Who It’s For
Match Score by travel style
Amenities
Location & Nearby Spots
Insider Tips
- Call the front desk 10-15 minutes ahead for the shuttle, or you will wait for the next run.
- Book a private room if you are staying more than one night — about $11 extra buys real privacy over a dorm bed.
- Grab breakfast at the 7-Eleven right in front of the hotel; there is a microwave in the lobby to heat it up.