Udee Hostel, part of the International Hostel group, is a sleek, modern, friendly place in a residential neighborhood. The rooms are the best I've stayed in for a hostel. Both the single rooms and the dorms are spotless and this hostel won a cleanliness award. Downstairs by reception is an open air terrace where you can watch cable TV, read one of the many English books or magazines, eat or drink. A simple breakfast is free: tea, juice, cereal, toast and fruit. It's not far from the Skytrain. I'm going back next week for Chinese New Year. There are coin laundry machines and a rooftop patio.
During my first visit I shared a room with an interesting woman from Indonesia who'd just quit her job as a reporter for the Jakarta Post and was studying Thai for a month. She already spoke English and Chinese well.
Prices: Dorm bed - 350 Baht (so $12) Single room 1100 Baht (so $37ish).
Members get a 10% discount and you can charge your lodgings, but there's a 3% surcharge.
Bangkok has several beautiful looking hostels with high ratings (90% and up).
