Accommodation in Bangkok is not hard to find; good accommodation though is always harder. Most people only do a night or two, so in which case they are not as bothered as others. We've tried getting a spread of different levels. Any you can add or recommend, then please do. Pricing is mostly non-negotiable and fixed according to what you get; fan vs Ac or shared bathroom against en-suite. Expect to pay a deposit for your key and your room in advance.
All prices are High-Season (Nov-Apr) prices and you can expect to reduce the price by 50-100B in the Low-Season (May-Oct).
Bangkok Homestay
Address: 168/ 1 Tani Road
Prices from: Dorm 290B, Single 300-450B, Twin 500-700B
Includes: Shared bathroom, fan
Tel: 02 629 0554 Email: hpanta6@yahoo.com Web:
Upper price will get you AC and en-suite. Dormitories have AC by default.
BB House
Address: 80 Phra Athit Road
Prices from: Single 450B, Double 650B
Includes: En-suite, AC, TV
Tel: 02 282 2411 Email: BestBedHouse@hotmail.com Web: www.BestBedHouse.com
A little too close to the main road for some, but the rooms are very nicely decorated.
Bella Bella House
Address: Phra Athit Road
Prices from: Single 250-288B, Double/ Twin 350-530B, Triple 450B
Includes: Shared bathroom, fan
No advance bookings
Mid-range price gets en-suite and top end price gets you AC. Wi-Fi is chargeable, but you can get a 24hour ticket (which literally means you have 24hours worth of connectivity) for only 60B.
Green Guest House
Address: Phra Athit Road
Prices from: Double 290-450B
Includes: Shared bathroom, fan
No advance bookings
Upgrade to AC for +70B, AC and en-suite +200 and top end price is a big room with AC and en-suite.
Green House
Address: 84 Rambutri Street
Prices from: Single 325-365B, Twin 410-515B
Includes: Shared bathroom, fan
Tel: 02 281 4293 Email: reception@GreenhouseBKK.com Web: www.greenhouseBKK.com
Upper level gets you en-suite. No prior bookings are taken at this guest house.
Happy House
Address: 46 Soi Chana Songkhram
Prices from: Single 560B, Double 788B, Triple 1,190B
Includes: En-suite, fan
Tel: 02 280 3301 Email: Web: www.hapyhouseguesthouse.com
Just away from the noise of the main road.
Lamphu Guest House
Address: 75/ 77 Soi Rambutri Chakkraphong Road
Prices from: Double/ Twin 420-770B, Triple 870B
Includes: Shared bathroom, fan
Tel: 02 629 58 612 Email: Web: www.LamphuHouse.com
Smart court-yarded place back from the main street. Upgrade all the way up to a Superior room with balcony and more for the top price.
Mango Lagoon
Address:
Prices from: Double 850B, Triple 1,000B
Includes: En-suite, AC, cable TV
Tel: Email: Web: www.mangolagoonplace.com
Mid-range gets youy en-suite, top end price gets AC as well.
Merry V House
Address: Soi Chana Songkram
Prices from: Single 170-380B, Double 220-530B, Triple 330-630B
Includes: Shared bathroom, fan
No advanced bookings.
Mid-range gets youy en-suite, top end price gets AC as well.
My House
Address: 37 Soi Chana Songkram
Prices from: Single 180-220B, Double 250-500B, Triple 430B
Includes: Shared bathroom, fan
Tel: 02 282 92 634
Upper price gets you en-suite. Triple priced at en-suite.
Nap Park
Address: 5 Tani Road
Pricing (Dorms Only): Eco 480 B, Std 520 B, Sup. 650, Ladies Only 620 B
Includes: Shared bathroom, fan
Tel: 02 282 2324 Email: contact@nappark .com Web: www.NapPark.com
Clean and modern, but quite a bit more than the surrounding establishments.
New Siam Guest House
Address: 21 Soi Chanasongkram
Prices from: Single 280B, Double 370B
Includes: Shared bathroom, fan
Tel: 02 281 7461 Web: www.NewSiam.net
A double room to AC and en-suite will cost 620B.
Rainbow Guest House
Address: 41/ 43 Chakrapong Road
Prices from: Dorm 200B, Single 250-350B, Double 400-450B, Twin 500B, Triple 550B
Includes: Shared bathroom, fan, Wi-Fi, locker
Tel: 02 280 6648 Email: RainbowGuestHouse@hotmail.com
Top end prices gets you AC as well. Not all top end room shave en-suite. Above a fantastic restaurant!
Rambuttri House
Address: 323 Rambuttri Road
Prices from: Single 450-650B, Double 550-950B
Includes: Shared bathroom, fan, Wi-Fi
Tel: 02 629 3233 Email: reserved@Rambuttri-House.com Web: www.Rambuttri-House.com
Upper level will get you en-suite as well as AC. Double room price drops according to the number of nights you stay: 1 night 950B, 3+ nights 850B and 7+ nights 800B
Sleep Within
Address: 76 Rabuttri Road
Includes: En-suite, AC, Wi-Fi, pool, TV
Prices from: Double 1,150B
Tel: 02 280 3070 Email: info@SleepWithin.com Web: www.SleepWithin.com
All rooms are charged at double occupancy.
Thai Cozy House
Address: 111/ 123 Tanee Road
Prices from: Single 650B, Double 750B, Triple 750B
Includes: En-suite, fan, breakfast, Wi-Fi, TV
Tel: 02 629 587 04 Email: cathy@ThaiCozyHouse.com Web: www.ThaiCozyHouse.com
And you also get a fridge as well as a 10 minute massage each day! Big modern looking rooms.
Villa Cha Cha
Address: 36 Tanee Road
Prices from: Double 1,000B
Includes: En-suite, AC, Wi-Fi, pool
Tel: 02 280 1025 Email: rsvm@VillaChaCha.com Web: www.VillaChaCha.com
A good sized resort close enough to Khoa San Road, but far enough away at the same time!
Wild Orchid Villa
Address: 8 Soi Chanasongkhram Road
Prices from: Standard 800B, Deluxe 950B, Suite 1,300-,1500B
Includes: En-suite, AC, TV
Tel: 02 629 4378 Email: Wild_Orchind_Villa@hotmail.com
Web: www.WildOrchidVilla.com
As with a lot of the budget hotels, check your room before you pay for it. A lot of the rooms here are very small in comparison to what is available just around the corner and quite a few don’t even have “useable” windows. That said they are decorated to a good standard.
Eating & Drinking
You'll generally get what you pay for, for food in the area. Street vendors aplenty selling noodle dishes for 50THB, fried chicken, bugs and more. Because of this, the restaurants are also competitive. Our advice is to walk away from the Kho San road a little and try somewhere away from the street stalls. The food is generally a lot better and thought slightly more expensive (80-100BHT) it is worth it. For a curry, we always head to Rainbow (also a guest house and on the map). Also, along Ram Buttri (village side and Kho San side) you'll get some good options.
Drinking... this is Bangkok... so follow the noise! Ladies and gents, please be careful of people buying you drinks. You know the rules! What may look like a cheap drink (wooden bench on the side of the road) may be more expensive! For a nice cocktail head to the VW van on Ram Buttri.
Sites
Chao Phraya River and Waterways
The Chao phraya River stretches along the western side of Bangkok with many piers along the route. The local ferry costs 15 baht per journey or 150 baht for a one day pass. The Tourist ferry also costs 150 baht for one day though it doesn't stop at all of the jetties.
One of the most scenic areas, the riverside reflects a constantly changing scene day and night: water-taxis and heavily laden rice barges chugging upstream, set against a backdrop of glittering temples and luxury hotels. The areas from Wat Arun to Phra Sumeru Fortress are home to some of the oldest settlements in Bangkok, particularly Bangkok Noi and its charming ambience of stilt houses flanking the complex waterways. Whether you just want to sit back and enjoy the ride or use the ferry to take you from A to B (much quicker than the buses) it is a great ride.
Chinatown
Around Th Charoen Krung
Admission: Free
Chinatown is a colourful, exotic and pleasingly chaotic area, packed with market stalls and probably the highest concentration of gold shops in the city. During major festivities like Chinese New Year and the Vegetarian Festival, the dynamism and spirit of celebration spreads across town like wildfire, and if you happen to be around, don’t miss an opportunity to witness Bangkok Chinatown at its best.
Grand Palace and Wat Praekaw
Th Na Phra Lan
Admission: 400B
The Grand Palace and Wat Prakaew command respect from all who have walked in their sacred grounds. Built in 1782, and for 150 years the home of Thai Kings and the Royal court, the Grand Palace continues to have visitors in awe with its beautiful architecture and intricate detail. Wat Pra Kaew enshrines Phra Kaew Morakot (the Emerald Buddha), the sacred Buddha image meticulously carved from a single block of jade. You must follow the strict dress code and cover you legs and shoulders. Shirts and sarongs can be borrowed for a 200 baht deposit. You actually get the exact same money back (they paper-clip the deposit to a duplicate of your receipt) so don't worry if you don't have the exact change.
Lumpini Park
Th Phra Ram IV
Admission: Free
Lumpini Park is an inner-city haven of tranquility, fresh air and shade - offering city dwellers the perfect connection to nature. Named after the birthplace of the Lord Buddha in Nepal, the park is more than half a million square kilometres big, and the habitat of various flora and fauna. Historically, it dates back to the 1920s and was set to be an exhibition centre for Thai crafts and flower displays. Although this original vision was never fulfilled, Lumpini Park has over the years grown into the endearing centre for outdoor leisure activities for Bangkokians, who would convene before and after sunset to enjoy a round of jog, light workout, aerobics and a host of other recreational activities.
Sanum Luang
Th Ratchadamnoen Noi
Admission: Free
Sanam Luang (the Royal Field) has been in existence since the founding of Bangkok (in 1782). The area was also known as 'Thung Pra Meru' (Royal Cremation Ground), because it was originally used for royal cremations up until the reign of King Rama III, when the king decreed that all cremations be held outside the old city walls. Surrounded by famous attractions, such as the Grand Palace, Temple of the Emerald Buddha, the National Museum, National Gallery, the Supreme Court, and Ministry of Defense, Sanam Luang is a gathering ground for various activities throughout the year. Take part in the kite flying festival around March and see a plethora of colours in different shapes and sizes floating in the sky. Alternatively, have a family picnic in breezy late afternoon while watching an exciting game of sepak takraw (Asian football). You can also feed the pigeons, or even have your fortune told! In May, Sanam Luang is the ceremonial ground for The Royal Ploughing Ceremony, which marks the beginning of the new planting season. It's when the royal oxen are brought out to plough the field, and to provide an omen for the coming plantation.
Wat Arun
Opposite Tha Thien Pier on Chao Phraya River
Admission: Free
Wat Arun, locally known as Wat Chaeng, is situated on the west (Thonburi) bank of the Chao Phraya River. The temple has flourished throughout the Rattanakosin Period. The beauty of the architecture and the fine craftsmanship declare its status as a temple of the first grade and one of the most outstanding temples in Thailand. The spire (prang) of Wat Arun on the bank of Chao Phraya River is one of Bangkok's world-famous landmarks. It has an imposing spire over 70 metres high, beautifully decorated with tiny pieces of coloured glass and Chinese porcelain placed delicately into intricate patterns. Although it is known as the Temple of the Dawn, it's absolutely stunning at sunset, particularly when lit up at night.
Wat Pho
Maharat Road
Admission: 100B
Wat Pho (the Temple of the Reclining Buddha), or Wat Phra Chetuphon, is located behind the splendid Temple of the Emerald Buddha. It's the largest temple in Bangkok and famed for its huge and majestic reclining Buddha measured 46 metres long and covered in gold leaf. The Buddha's feet are 3 metres long and exquisitely decorated in mother-of-pearl illustrations of auspicious 'laksanas' (characteristics) of the Buddha.
Travel
Boat along the river is generally quickest and nicest way to travel for about 15THB.
For bus travel, then look at the link: BusTimeTable. For Kho San to Mochitt take bus 3 or a taxi for about 200THB (30 minutes to one hour). Or take bus 93 to victory monument for mini-bus travel north and south.
Trains: Great way to travel. Take the boat to the nearest port and walk the last KM. Seat61 has the latest information.
Airport: You CAN use a mixture of buses and then take a 10 minute walk, but it's not easy. Best option is a taxi. Otherwise, take the free shuttle bus to the terminal and they will give you the latest instructions (in English). Heading south? Then head here was well.
Taxi Between Central Bangkok and Suvarnabhumi AirportL When traveling from Suvarnabhumi airport taxi drivers outside the arrivals hall will try to charge you a fixed price or add a fixed service fee to the meter price. Try to catch a cab outside the departures hall two floors up that has just let passengers off instead. Ask them to switch on the meter. These drivers are happy to get new passengers immediately and will almost never charge passengers anything extra. Sometimes the taxi driver will pay the road tolls for you and then try to add an amount to the meter price higher than the total tolls. Make sure you pay the tolls (by handing money over to the driver when approaching the pay station) or keep track on the total amount of the tolls as it is stated on signs at the pay stations.
Local Information
Stuff you really need to know! Like, did you know that there's an AEON bank in the Khoa San Road area that DOESN'T charge you for withdrawal (normally 150B at an ATM). Check the map of the information. Laundry is cheap so if you have time, get it done here.
