Shanti Lodge is an excellent little find: 15 minutes walk from Khao San Road if you're into backpacking action, loud bars, and overpriced merchandise; and closer to the river to grab a ferry and go practically anywhere, cheaply! Buses can be caught on the corner too, and Shanti Lodge offers free bicycles to those who dare. We weren't expecting much to be honest, and were happy with a clean room with comfortable bed, fan and AC. No place to sit but on the bed, the floor or the restaurant downstairs (which they're ok with). Two shared clean showers downstairs, as well as a very chilled restaurant with excellent free wifi! Wifi in the rooms too - bonus! Food in the restaurant is very tasty and at restaurant prices, costing about twice as much as the nearby street food (also very tasty... head down towards Thanon Samson, turn right at the corner, walk as far as the little bridge over the canal, and on the left hand side of the street before the bridge you'll find a vendor selling a packet of "fish-balls" for 20 baht - yum!). Opposite Shanti is the usual 7-11 and a number of "laundromats". Shanti Lodge staff are friendly, and always one manager on duty who speaks reasonable English.