Hotel Review: Sam’s House Riverside Bungalows, Kanchanaburi

Looking for unique budget accommodation in Kanchanaburi, Thailand? Sam’s House offers rustic riverside bungalows with a peaceful, laid-back atmosphere.

Our four-week trip to Thailand was undertaken on a mid-range budget. Think private rooms in hostels and 2-3 star guesthouses – we always look for somewhere clean and comfortable that has character.

We booked two nights at Sam’s House Guesthouse for our two days in Kanchanaburi, and it was absolutely perfect for what we were looking for.

At the time we visited, the guesthouse was really quiet – with only a small handful of the other bungalows occupied. I’m pretty sure one of the nights it was just us and our direct neighbours! Located conveniently in the middle of the town, the guesthouse is within easy reach of both the River Kwai Bridge and War Cemetery, which are at opposite ends of town.

To find out if Sam’s House is your perfect budget Kanchanaburi hotel, read on to hear what we thought!

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Location

Sam’s House is located between the ‘tourist’ area of Kanchanaburi, and the more local-focused side (where the night market takes place). Tucked away down a small alleyway, the bungalows are protected from the noise of the road, offering a quiet retreat that feels like you’re right in the jungle.

Plenty of local amenities are within easy reach, as the hotel is less than a minute from a local road with restaurants, bars, convenience stores, bike rental shops and laundry.

The hotel is 20 minutes’ walk from Kanchanaburi station – if you have luggage or aren’t able to walk, it takes just minutes in a taxi. Download the Grab app – it was a lifesaver during our trip to Thailand! You can also use Grab to take you between the town’s key attractions.

It’s also around an hour’s drive by car or motorbike to Erawan National Park. Check out my day trip guide to Erawan Waterfalls to see why you should add this to your Thailand itinerary!

Rooms at Sam’s House

Sam’s House offers multiple accommodation options:

Comfort Twin Room: Triangular cabins by the entrance and reception.
Standard Twin Room: Simple rooms in a motel-style one story set up by the entrance and reception.
Standard Bungalow: Bungalow in the water garden area with decking area outside the front door
Superior Bungalow with Shower: Slightly larger riverfront bungalow, with decking area
Superior Bungalow with Bath: As above, but there’s a bath!
Family Room: One double bed and one single bed – either a bungalow or a room by reception.

All rooms have private bathrooms with a shower and air conditioning. The bungalows are accessed via stairs and a metal bridge, so may not be suitable for guests with limited mobility.

We’d originally booked the Standard Bungalow, which has one bedroom, a private bathroom and a small decking area out front. However, when we arrived, the hotel was quiet, so we paid an extra 500 THB to upgrade to the Superior Bungalow.

The main draw of the Superior Bungalow is that your decking area looks out directly onto the river – which was absolutely worth it when we saw some monitor lizards floating by on our last morning! From what I saw of the other bungalows, our interior was also a little more modern and spacious.

The good-sized double bed was very comfortable, and having windows all around the bungalow meant we benefitted from lots of natural light. They had net curtains as well as standard curtains for privacy!

The bathroom was simple yet clean, with the common Thailand setup where it’s more of a ‘wet room’ – the shower and toilet/sink all in one space.

Hotel Facilities

Sam’s House is primarily a simple, functional budget hotel in Kanchanaburi, so facilities are relatively limited. However, with plenty to do in town, we didn’t find this a problem at all!

I’m not sure if it was due to the fact we were in low season, but the medium-sized common area by reception was absolutely empty. It looks like it may have been a bar/food spot at some point, but we didn’t see it in use during our stay.

The hotel has some tours advertised at the desk that you can ask about, and there’s a small fridge with some drinks you can buy, but nothing to eat in-hotel. Again, this wasn’t a problem, as we were close to a main street with plenty of places to eat and a well-stocked 7/11.

What’s nearby?

The hotel is super close to plenty of restaurants, so you won’t go hungry! We ate at On’s Thai Issan Vegan and Khin Kao Lam, both just a couple of minutes walk from the guesthouse entrance. (both were delicious!).

There are also plenty of bars in the local area, which seem particularly popular with Western expats. Ave has a strong offer of local and imported craft beers. Alternatively, you could do what we did and grab some beers from 7-11 to enjoy on your deck!

If you’re looking to hire a scooter to get around Kanchanaburi, we used OK Bike Rental, just across the road. In line with average prices in the area, the bike we had was excellent for the drive to Erawan Waterfalls for a day, and nipping around town to see the sights.

Other Hotels in Kanchanaburi

Sam’s House not quite what you’re looking for? Here are some more options for both higher end and budget hotels in Kanchanaburi:

107 Hostel ($) – clean and simple dorms in the centre of town.
Pongphen Guesthouse ($$) – small, friendly hotel with river views and swimming pool
Latima Boutique Hostel ($$) – upmarket hostel with swimming pool, offering dorms and private rooms
Westory Design Poshtel ($$$) – dorms and privates in a boutique hostel with railway inspired design.
Cross River Kwai ($$$$$) – absolutely blow the budget with a luxury 5* resort stay