Hi,
I was wondering if anyone had any information about Bangkok accomadation. I will be staying in Bangkok in mid-November 2008 for 5 days as a stop over to China and I looked up in the lonely planet books places to stay and there seems to be a million! I was wondering if anyone could strongly suggest a hostel to stay in Bangkok?
As long as it has a bed and a bathroom within the hostel thats all that really matters.
Thanks in advance.
Nick
Reply to this Hello Nick 😊
What about heading to the Khao San Road. There are so many guesthouses in and around the Khao San Road. Just walk around and choose one or else ask one of the backpackers sitting at the cafes which they are staying at. The Khao San Road is very noisy so if you are noise sensitive then stay at one of the streets nearby rather than on the Khao San Road itself.
Mel
Reply to this Hey,
Why don't u try Silom area, very central location, closed to skytrains and subway which can take u to anywhere in Bangkok. Cool hostel recently opened. It's called "HQ Hostel" www.istayhq.com. It's very modern, clean and comfortable. Staffs are very helpful. I think u will love it.
Cheers.
Reply to this Hi Nick,
I stayed at the A-One Inn when I was in Bangkok. It has 24 hour reception, and a cheap internet cafe, also open 24 hrs. Would go back there again.
Silom Square was a pretty convenient place to stay.
Reply to this I stay at Thai House inn on soi 7 on Suhkumvitt has free wifi and is 50 meters from the sky train 6 blocks from subway. Air Con hot water 700 baht. shopping nightlife get anywhere in Bangkok fast including the airport.
really cheapest Bangkok hotel try green guesthouse one block off Khoa San rd. nort on the strip so a little quieter and cheaper for food and stuff like internet and travel shops
Flashpacker I love D&D on the strip on Khoa San rd
the pool on the roof is awsome view all the way over to the palace. Reply to this 700 baht
There are places to stay in Bangkok for as little as 100 Bahts per night. Easier to find are places for 200 per night. Just saying that because the opening poster is looking for the cheapest place to stay.
Reply to this Woah, so many replies. Thanks!
I'm thinking because I get in late around 9:00pm whether I should book somewhere online and arrange for a pickup or just get a taxi/bus to Khao San Road. The traveller inside me thinks just wing it when I get there but then I think I'll be in a tired mood off the plane and I'll just want to sleep and not think right and pay anything for a taxi and accomadation.
For rooms everyone says Bangkok is more one of the most expensive place in Thailand (naturally as it is the capital). I was thinking about 200BHT per night which isn't too bad. I think China is alot cheaper then Thailand, which I would have thought the other way around.
Hope Thailand is awesome though. I'll be there for a week on my way to Shanghai and then 3 weeks on my way back to Australia! It's getting close!
Oh and one more question for any of the experience Thailand travelers. Did you get Malaria tablets for Northern Thailand? Chiang Mai in Jan needed?
Thanks
Nick
Reply to this I think the tourist bus from the international airport that passes the Khao San Road runs until around midnight. Taxis are available all night. The cost should be less than 500 Bahts to get to the Khao San Road. Ask the driver to switch on the meter otherwise you will be charged a fixed price which is always more than the meter clocks up. This applies for all taxis anywhere in Bangkok. It may take you some time to get through the immigration queue if there are a lot of people waiting so it could be a couple of hours after the scheduled landing time that you actually get out of the airport.
Change money in the airport at one of the booths before you go through the immigration. Last 2 times I was in Thailand the exchange rate was better there then in other places in Thailand. This was at the international airport.
Hope Thailand is awesome though.
The good thing about Thailand is it can be anything you want it to be. I mean it can be luxurous and convenient or else you can step off the beaten track and have another type of experience.
You dont need Malaria pills for most parts of Thailand. Check the WHO(World Health Organisation) site to find out if you will be in a high risk Malaria region.
All the above advise is presuming that you are landing at Suvarnabhumi International Airport.
Mel
Reply to this How much do you want to spend? A hotel or hostel may be even cheaper than you think. Khao San Road gets a lot of recommendations, if you are really young you will probably like that area. There are cheap hotels you can use there. Sawasdee hotel chain is has several cheap fan only rooms. http://www.sawasdee-hotels.com/
If you are slightly older than teenager you might prefer the Sukhumvit Road area so you can use the SKYTRAIN to get you around town easier and cheaper. Suk 11 Hostel has some fan only/dorm rooms you can check out. http://www.suk11.com/
One link I stole from another travel forum post has a place with real cheap rooms - $3 US! http://www.asiarooms.com/thailand/bangkok/new_road_guest_house.html
New Road Guest House, haven't read any comments on this from travelers other than it is cheap!
Since it is only 5 days why not splurge and get a place that has A/C, hot water, cable TV and security box in a good location? Price for cheap A/C rooms starts around 500/600/700 baht per night depending on what part of the city you are in.
Have a nice holiday.
Reply to this Nick,
Mid-Novemebr will be in the peak. Folks are packing into many of the popular places and signs saying "FULL" are posted at many of the budget accomodations around Khao San Road.
There are many flop houses ( I sometimes call them crack houses). Many of these typically have room avaialable because fewer travels are just looking for just a bed. If your looking for absolute barebones, hit the streets a running and focus on some of the alleys off of Khao San.
We spend a good portion of today on a flop house tour looking for less expensive options and there are a group of flop houses out there. SOme of them ae flat out scary. Always ask to see a room before you commit.
Have fun and be on the look out for all of the scam artist from the time you hit the ground.
Reply to this Since you are arriving at 9 pm your choices for transportation are a little better than at midnight. There is an Airport Express bus that take you to the Khao San Road area for 150 baht. (Bus stops running just before midnight.) There several routes, there is one that goes to the Sukhumvit Road area too.
To get this Airport Express bus from the arrivals hall go to the bottom level. Near door 7 or 8 there is a sign up desk and a second desk out at the curb.
http://www.bangkokairportonline.com/node/55
You can also take a meter taxi if you want. Meter taxi price will be around 360-390 baht and will take around 35 minutes. The Airport express bus could take twice as long. You pay the meter fare plus a 50 baht surcharge and any toll charges. Toll charges could come to around 65 baht (usually a 40 and 25 baht toll.)
Forgot this. You can get doxycycline pretty cheap in Thai pharmacies. Check the expiration dates on the containers. Prices are from around 4 baht to 8 baht per capsule.
Reply to this Thanks for the advice guys. My friend whom I am traveling with before I start Uni over in China, is thinking we should just wing it and have an adventure, so I wont book in advance.
The doxycycline being available over in Thailand is awesome makes it easier espically as I'm not sure how or whether we will go north in Jan.
I think Khao San Rd is the way to go.
Reply to this I'll give you a quick example if you are just looking for a rack in dorm room. Mama's GH on a back alley is 80 baht. There are many other options and you can find budget rooms up to 800 baht with prive bath aircon etc.
Reply to this You can save the 50 baht airport tax and avoid the que if you are a little larsenous and go to the departure level. You need to get them to say that they will turn on the meter if they agreee get in fast and go. I have done this many times.
In the BKK international you need to go down one level from arrivals to get to the meter taxis que's if you go on the arrivals level they are all charter taxis and start from 800 baht
Reply to this There are lots of touts selling taxi rides into town for 800 baht or more - ignore them! You can get a taxi from the departure level but they are not registered. If you do get one from the departure area only pay the meter fare and the toll charges if any. Suvarnabhumi is way out in the sticks!
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There are 2 Meter taxi desks outside the arrivals hall at the curb. One closer to doors 1 or 2 and the other closer to door 7 or 8. There are some other sign up desks, think they were yellow in color, that want you to pay a flat fee - ignore them too!
The kiosk desk that you want was grey and dirty white in color. There is a sign that says "Taxi-Meter Pay By Meter!"
You are responsible for the meter fare which starts at 35 baht. You are responsible for any tolls, perhaps one for 40 baht and one for 25 baht. You also pay a 50 baht surcharge. Except for the tolls the fare and surcharge is paid at the hotel.
These taxi cabs are registered by the meter desk staff. You get a receipt with your destination, the taxi number on it and a place to call to complain. The meter taxi kiosk person also is supposed to check the taxi fare meter, verify that the taxi appears safe to use and explain to the driver where you want to go to.
For a first timer to Thailand this is safer than a stray taxi from departures. Figure on a price of around 350 baht to 400 baht total (surcharge, tolls and fare!) Remember to check the meter when you get in to make sure it is not too high! Don't bargain the fare or you will pay more!
For the return fare to the airport only pay the meter fare and any toll charges - no surcharge! In the city when you use a meter taxi only pay the meter fare! If you bargain the fare it will cost you more! Meter taxi rides are cheaper than tuk-tuk rides and they are safer too!
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