Bangkok Hotels

[Jim200]

Your greatest danger is crossing any street in Bangkok, followed by the taxi ride to the airport.

I've not flown Tiger, but I've flown AirAsia many times, both Thai and Malaysian versions, domestic and international. The aircraft are clean, the seats generous, the service enthusiastic, and the food excellent. Much better than my experiences with some non-discount carriers like Malaysia Airlines and China Southern.

Let's not go crazy. The food is mediocre at best even for airplane food, but I do like the airline overall.

[Jim200]

If you choose to fly on a Asian discount (budget) airline you have bigger balls than I.

Nothing wrong with Air Asia. I've flown over 10 times and never had a problem with them.

[Nyezhov]

I don't think this Thonburi option really makes sense for most people unless not travelling to other side of the river (Sukhumvit) that much. You would have to tolerate long BTS trips with changeover at BTS Sayaam (Siam), and slightly costly taxi to get home late, which eats into the 5 k savings.

No girl is going to want to go with you back to your place on Thonburi side (too far), unless she lives there too (unlikely for Sukhumvit hookers). Just so happens I know some girls who live on Thonburi side (not hookers), and my GF once used to live in Wuthagaat, Talaat Pluu.

I tend to hate the BTS these days because gets packed in like sardines in rush hour. I do stay in Sathorn area though if not going to Sukhumvit often, and late night taxi back is only 15 to 20 minutes, probably another 10 minutes to Thonburi side. I often go into Sukhumvit on MRT (avoiding changeover), which can be equally badly packed out in rush hour..

Have to disagree with you my friend. Unless your sole purpose is mongering, to me it makes no sense to pick your spot in relation to Sukhumvit. I live in the Wutthakaat / Talat Plu area and its a 13 klick ride down Sathon Thai road, usually no traffic late at night, 120 B. Its only a little longer than to On Noot or Sapan Kwai. And I generally don't want hookers in my place anyway, even though once in a while I do. And if she doesn't want to go, well sucks to be her. I've had them ride the BTS with me.

I avoid Siam, if I am riding in at rush hour (not often), and need to go to Sukh (even less) I just switch at Silom and MRT it to Asoke. All depends on time of day, etc.

But you should live near where you work, commuting sucks. For gits like me, that don't go to Suk at night more than once a week, the savings are well worth it, especially if I am done before midnight. And what I lose in occasional taxi rides home late at night (maybe costs me an extra dollar or two) I save in food, rent and stress. I have local eateries where I pay half of what it costs down in tourist town.

Of course we have Icon Siam now and that is an eye candy paradise. And not a lot of Falang, so the shop girls give you the eye.

You do lose on TF and WC and Tinder sometimes when the gals are like in Bang Kapi or Lat Phrao, but I've never had a problem meeting a girl from any other area.

[Etaoin2003]

If you choose to fly on a Asian discount (budget) airline you have bigger balls than I.

Your greatest danger is crossing any street in Bangkok, followed by the taxi ride to the airport.

I've not flown Tiger, but I've flown AirAsia many times, both Thai and Malaysian versions, domestic and international. The aircraft are clean, the seats generous, the service enthusiastic, and the food excellent. Much better than my experiences with some non-discount carriers like Malaysia Airlines and China Southern.

[J A Karl]

I don't know all areas in Bangkok but I do know that both Siam and Riverside are not cheap areas for hotels. You're not going to find a nice hotel around Siam for 2500 baht. Unfortunately, it's mainly 4 or 5 star hotels in this area. Double or triple for hotels like Intercontinental. Kempinski, Grand Hyatt. Your best value around Riverside and the new IconSiam mall is likely the Hilton right beside the mall. However, prices may have skyrocketed there because of the new mega mall.

Grande Mercure Bangkok Asoke Residence is a very nice hotel on Sukhumvit Soi 19. Far enough away from Sukhumvit to be quiet but near enough to walk to Terminal 21 / Asoke BTS. Unless you book far in advance or get lucky this will also run you over 2500 baht.

You may want to try AirBNB and stay in a condo. Pretty sure you'd find a place in the areas you seek within your budget.

Thank you Banana Boi.

I will definitely look at these options.

[Pointy Stick]

Ok.

I never thought much about price.

But let's say up to about 2500 bht per night.

Dynasty Grande. Check the website for deals.

[Banana Boi]

But let's say up to about 2500 bht per night.

I don't know all areas in Bangkok but I do know that both Siam and Riverside are not cheap areas for hotels. You're not going to find a nice hotel around Siam for 2500 baht. Unfortunately, it's mainly 4 or 5 star hotels in this area. Double or triple for hotels like Intercontinental. Kempinski, Grand Hyatt. Your best value around Riverside and the new IconSiam mall is likely the Hilton right beside the mall. However, prices may have skyrocketed there because of the new mega mall.

Grande Mercure Bangkok Asoke Residence is a very nice hotel on Sukhumvit Soi 19. Far enough away from Sukhumvit to be quiet but near enough to walk to Terminal 21 / Asoke BTS. Unless you book far in advance or get lucky this will also run you over 2500 baht.

You may want to try AirBNB and stay in a condo. Pretty sure you'd find a place in the areas you seek within your budget.

[J A Karl]

You are wasting everyone's time unless you state your budget.

Ok.

I never thought much about price.

But let's say up to about 2500 bht per night.

[Dg8787]

I'm looking for a nice hotel in Bangkok.

Hard to describe exactly what I'm looking for but I will try.

Close enough to shopping malls and yet far from the mongering action. Or at least far enough not to be disturbed by it.

I'm taking a potential GF to Bangkok for a short trip, about 4-5 days. There will be a lot of action in the room but eventually we need to get outside and eat etc.

Looking for a hotel with a nice pool and pool area.

Like a perfect hideaway hotel if you know what I mean.

Preferably not close to Sukhumvit for obvious reasons.

Maybe you know something around Siam or Riverside?

Any recommendations appreciated.

You are wasting everyone's time unless you state your budget.

[J A Karl]

I'm looking for a nice hotel in Bangkok.

Hard to describe exactly what I'm looking for but I will try.

Close enough to shopping malls and yet far from the mongering action. Or at least far enough not to be disturbed by it.

I'm taking a potential GF to Bangkok for a short trip, about 4-5 days. There will be a lot of action in the room but eventually we need to get outside and eat etc.

Looking for a hotel with a nice pool and pool area.

Like a perfect hideaway hotel if you know what I mean.

Preferably not close to Sukhumvit for obvious reasons.

Maybe you know something around Siam or Riverside?

Any recommendations appreciated.

[Stykler]

If you're coming from a country served by one of the regional discount airlines such as Lion or AirAsia, check their sites directly as well, because they're not always properly indexed by Google.

If you choose to fly on a Asian discount (budget) airline you have bigger balls than I.

[Syzygies]

If you are looking to rent look at Thonburi on the BTS. Condos everywhere and 5 k cheaper per month for a decent crib compared to Central. Can be a pain to get home late nights but you will figure it out.

I don't think this Thonburi option really makes sense for most people unless not travelling to other side of the river (Sukhumvit) that much. You would have to tolerate long BTS trips with changeover at BTS Sayaam (Siam), and slightly costly taxi to get home late, which eats into the 5 k savings.

No girl is going to want to go with you back to your place on Thonburi side (too far), unless she lives there too (unlikely for Sukhumvit hookers). Just so happens I know some girls who live on Thonburi side (not hookers), and my GF once used to live in Wuthagaat, Talaat Pluu.

I tend to hate the BTS these days because gets packed in like sardines in rush hour. I do stay in Sathorn area though if not going to Sukhumvit often, and late night taxi back is only 15 to 20 minutes, probably another 10 minutes to Thonburi side. I often go into Sukhumvit on MRT (avoiding changeover), which can be equally badly packed out in rush hour.

Better to rent close to work place in my view. At least should try to make it easy to get to and from work which is a daily activity. Save wasting time and frustrations of the traffic jam and rush hour. So if someone works in Thonburi, by all means stay there.

[Etaoin2003]

Which hotel is most economical which I can also book online? And also which service is best for booking flight to Bangkok?

Booking dot com has accumulated a pretty thorough listing of reasonably priced hotels and has a good search engine, although I prefer Google Maps because I'm more location-centric than worrying about a few baht in price. Google will link you through to Booking, Agoda, et cetera, as needed.

For flying: Find routes using Google search (they bought the ITA Matrix engine) and book directly with the airline. If you're coming from a country served by one of the regional discount airlines such as Lion or AirAsia, check their sites directly as well, because they're not always properly indexed by Google.

[Nyezhov]

Hi all,

I will be moving to Thailand for couple of years in January. Before landing there, I am thinking of booking a hotel room for couple of days, so that I can look at some options and buy a apartment.

Though, not sure should I book a hotel after landing or online. I think online will be cheaper.

Which hotel is most economical which I can also book online? And also which service is best for booking flight to Bangkok?

Thanks.

I have stayed for numerous times at the Boss Mansion on Rama IV, Soi 42.700 meters from Ekkai BTS. $30 a night, big rooms, nice staff, girl friendly. Far enough off the action to be quiet, close enough to make late nights a habit.

If you are looking to rent look at Thonburi on the BTS. Condos everywhere and 5 k cheaper per month for a decent crib compared to Central. Can be a pain to get home late nights but you will figure it out.

[Syzygies]

Stayed at Sakura Sky a 2nd time. First time my room was great and had no issues.

2nd time was a bit different, so to be fair I had better give a 2nd opinion.

The rooms obviously vary in quality. Renovation is happening on the 7th floor.

First time I possibly got a newly renovated room because I did not notice any defects.

Normal rooms are not high quality but commensurate with price of about 1 K per night. Students stay here. Japanese stay too. There are extra cheap capsule accomodation available on ground floor.

Soi 33 is really dead. Many businesses closed. Plenty of massage shops open. Not many places to get good quality food. Local caf dish Phat Thai was poor. Tasteless. One would think Thais would have right ingredients but no.

Room colour scheme is black, silver, grey, white, beige, a bit depressing. Bathroom too. Carpet shows stains and blotches, paintwork chipped in places, peeling wallpaper in places. Not much maintenance occurring maybe. Can see why renovate maybe needed. Cleaning staff Cambodian. They take no more than 5 minutes to do my room, maybe less, so not thorough like some Hotels.

No great problems with room functionality. Nothing missing. Deluxe rooms have a bathtub too, lesser rooms do not. Electric kettle to boil water is important to me and provided. Microwave shared available on 1st floor. Large solid table to work at. Initially room had a silly low chair. Cleaning staff could see I needed better so they swapped my chair. Bathroom has a special Japanese toilet contraption.

One lift is out of action. Other one is also small and shared with construction workers wheelbarrowing stuff to and from the 7th Floor. No problems to bring a girl. Quiet from street noise on level 5. Rooms are not sound proofed at all. Room door has a large gap underneath, wasting the aircon effort. If you fuck loudly, the whole floor might hear. LOL including the Asian girl students staying here.

Once heard a Thai couple quarrelling loudly somewhere on same floor. Maybe he refused to pay her the agreed amount and had kicked her out into the corridor without her bag and phone and stuff. Maybe slightly wrong interpretation but I understood what they were staying quite clearly at times. No sign of building security coming to take action so I had to ring reception and ask them to deal with it. Maybe the police would be needed. LOL.

So its not a classy hotel. LOL Cheap and functional. I call it a good alternative to take a girl to instead of using ST Hotels. Nothing irritates me too much about it. Room size is good. Bed size is good. Presume the TV works. Never switched it on. I think it is still best value for money around Suk area. Are there any other Hotels with a good sized room for 1 K?

I am not staying in the base level private rooms (800 baht). I would take a superior or deluxe for a little more.

I know if I take a room nearby for 2 K (is mermaid possible for 2 K these days, maybe not), I will get a somewhat better, but will I get twice as good, no. For 3 K can probably get a very nice room and 4 K starting to look at luxury (maybe my favourite Column Hotel). For very budget conscious, I think Sakura is pretty damn good value. For those looking for a bit of class, forget this one.

Further out, like Phra Khanong or so, I am aware its possible to get a bare bones room for 500 to 600 Baht, but really there are not many that go below 900. Sakura is one where a basic room (which I did not try) can be had for 800. Capsule rooms with shared bathroom must only 400 Baht at guess. I have never seen one.

Some cheap Sukhumvit rooms are tiny. Not this one. Maybe 24 square metres (4x6). Always check the square meters on the booking site.