Stayed at the Sri Hualampong a few years ago. I've travelled extensively through SE Asia since 2001 and try not to complain about accommodation - it's all part of the experience and enjoyment - but this place was an absolute dive. Rooms dirty - particularly the bathroom floor, on which one stands to shower, beds so hard they could be made of brick, poor lighting, peep holes, and shutters which failed completely to block out any sound.

Okay so it's cheap, but there are other hotels in the area, in which a room costs roughly the same price, which are far better value for money.

I stayed at Sri Hualamphong Hotel for a couple of nights two years ago, and I definitely would recommend it to any independent, non-fussy traveler on a budget. I paid about 250 baht ($5 at the time) for my own room (with bathroom); it wasn't luxurious or well-lit, but it was clean, and that was what mattered to me. It's true, there's no hot water or concierge, but you have to be willing to spend quite a bit more if that's what you're looking for. The location is also fabulous, right next to the train station and around the corner from a subway station, to take you anywhere in Bangkok, and not too far away from the water taxi either. Also, as a woman traveling alone I felt safe at this hotel, which is a major point in its favor.

I stayed at the S.H.H. near Hualamphong train station in Bangkok for 1 night in the middle of
februari 2006. I checked in at 04.30 in the morning, the "main" entrance was locked and I had to walk up a staircase to the right to the 2:nd floor. Two fellows were sitting at a table,
I signed in and payed about 200 baht, they provided me with soap and an extremly small and worn out towel.
The room: it´s by far the badest room I´ve ever had in my life, the room was not clean, the bed was ok, cold water shower, nowere to put the soap. Bad/pad lock on the door, and toilet down the hallway, but a very big, strong fan in the ceiling(i.e. noisy).
There were no electrical outlets in the room, I had to pay 20baht to recharge my telephone.
The old lady at the lobby had no idea who was coming or leaving, I could have asked for any room key and she would have given it to me. On the plus side the food is very good and affordable.
Ps. this is a good example of what a very dingy chinese hotel can look like in Thailand.