Accommodation in Bangkok

There’s no shortage of accommodation in Bangkok, but the task of finding a room can be daunting with so many choices.

It helps to  approach finding a room  in Bangkok from two angles. First, decide what your budget is. You can find a dorm bed or a single room in a grubby hotel for as little as 100 baht (roughly $3), but you can also spend hundreds of dollars for a luxury hotel room with every amenity. Figure out how much you want to spend, and that will help you narrow your options down.

Once you’ve figured out your budget, determine how near the Skytrain or subway you’d like to be: is ease of transport important to you? Do you plan on making trips to the railway or bus stations to book tickets? Do you mind taking tuk-tuks or public buses to get around, rather than the subway or train?

After you’ve determined your budget and transportation priorities, you can decide on a neighborhood, which will help you narrow down the seemingly limitless number of options in the city.  Following is a brief rundown of popular neighborhoods with plenty of accommodation options.

Banglamphu

This neighborhood contains the (in)famous Khao San Road, a backpacker ghetto filled with budget accommodation. During all but the peak season (end of November through early January) you can simply show up and find a room, though around the holidays you need to book ahead (see our booking widget at the bottom of the post).

Banglamphu isn’t close to major public transportation , which makes it a bit difficult to reach other parts of the city. The good news is that the neighborhood is fairly self-contained, so if you’re just making a quick stop in Bangkok and aren’t too worried about seeing sights, you can stick close and still have most of your needs met.

Sukhumvit

Sukhumvit has the advantage of being right under the Skytrain (BTS), which makes it easy to get to the eastern (Ekamai) and northern (Mo Chit) bus stations, as well as the railway station (Hualamphong) and Suvurnabhumi airport.

Lower Sukhumvit has a selection of cheap rooms, though there’s a bit of sex tourism in the area. You’ll also find plenty of mid-range options here, and along upper Sukhumvit is a plethora of boutique and upscale hotels.

Silom

Silom is another neighborhood off of the Skytrain. It’s the financial heart of Bangkok, and has the best selection of upmarket accommodation, though not a lot of atmosphere.

Other options:

Chinatown has a good selection of budget digs, is not overly touristy,  and is within walking distance to Hualamphong. Siam Square is centrally located, on the Skytrain, and close to some seriously fun shopping. Finally, if you need to stay near either airport you’ll have plenty of options.

Be sure to check out our booking widget below to shop for the best hotels and rates in Bangkok.

[Photo credit: Swami Stream, Flickr]