The past meets the present

An authentic teak-wooded mansion at Bt924 per night. Photo/BaanDinso.com.

Baan Dinso is probably the cheapest way to revisit the last century, a lovely journey into historic architecture. Built in the early 1900s, the two-storey, golden-teakwood home of an elite family has been renovated and turned into a hostel.

The hostel combines all the charms of colonial architecture with modern function.

The exterior and main structure are untouched but for a new coat of paint. The renovated room interiors are made to please travellers, from the modern bathrooms to the cosy outdoor living area.

The bathrooms feature stained-glass windows that cast a lovely light. The bedrooms have large-screen LCD TVs and working areas alongside - in the deluxe rooms, at least - cosy king-size beds.

There is a swing on the front deck where you can sit back and feel like you're visiting relatives. The courtyard is open all day for dining and reading.

The only shortcoming is poor ventilation in the rooms. Even when the weather is cool, things can get hot and stuffy by the end of the day. The maids don't make the rounds turning on the air-conditioners.

Baan Dinso has one single and three twin rooms with shared bathrooms, and five deluxe rooms with bathrooms en suite. They go for Bt942, Bt1,765 and Bt2,000, inclusive of breakfast.

XTRA

Harking back to Rama V

Exactly when Baan Dinso was erected is unknown, but it was during the reign of King Chulalongkorn. The house was granted to Phraya Wisesongkran in 1922. The current owner took over two years ago, retaining many of the original details or replacing them with authentic fixtures, including the copper door locks, Turkish-style lamps and antique roof and floor tiles.

>> Baan Dinso is at 113 Soi Silp, Dinso Road, Borvornnivate, Pra Nakorn, Bangkok. Call (02) 622 0560-3 or visit www.BaanDinso.com.

By Sirinya Wattanasukchai

Daily Xpress