yankeetraveller

Hi Everyone,

I am a single female 50 years old travelling alone to Bangkok for the first time around Sept 15, 2012 for about 5 days. Can someone suggest a safe, central hotel close to mass transit under US$100/night. A friend suggested President Palace Hotel any comments?

Thanks in advance for your help.

Kathie

You have many dozens of hotels to choose from in your price range that are close to a skytrain station. And almost anywhere in Bangkok is safe - safer, I expect than where you live. I don't know that particular hotel, and I'm always suspicious of what a "short walk" means. I'd want to check carefully on just how far it is from the skytrain station. For $100, you could choose Carol's favorite serviced apartments, the Adelphi Suites, which is very close to the up escalator of a skytrain station.

Take a look at some good booking sites: www.sawasdee.com and www.agoda.com are both good. Look to make sure the price includes tax and service (which adds 17.7%) and breakfast (cost is typically $16-20 pp).

Sept. is low season, so you could get some good deals at some really lovely places.

MichaelBKK

The President Palace is, I think, quite a way from the Skytrain Station. A nice new hotel in your price range is the Novotel Ploenchit. It is right at a skytrain station and a very short walk from a wide range of great restaurants. In the same area and the same price range is the Centre Point Wireless.

simpsonc510

I would prefer to be much closer to BTS than President Palace. I often travel as a solo female (a bit older than you) and I stay at Adelphi Suites on Sukhumvit soi 8. The location is excellent. The skytrain escalator UP is only 2 minutes from the hotel lobby. There is a 7-11 almost right next door, good restaurants in the area, plus it is easy to hop on the BTS and go anywhere in the city. The big malls are only 2 stops away. You could walk to them, but in the heat, the skytrain is a better option.

lcuy

When our kids were little, we started calling the moving staircases either "Upscalators" or "Downscalators"!

Yankeetraveler- I also agree that Bangkok is a very safe city. I've stayed at the Adlephi Suites and liked them. Also liked the Center Point (Silom?) which is right below Taksim Station on the river. The Landmark Hotel is another that is a really short walk to the Skytrain.

yankeetraveller

Thank you so much for all your suggestions. I like Adelphi and started my research and noticed quite a few reviews mentioning "sex shops" in the vicinity and described the area as "sleazy".

Icuy and Simpsonc510 since you've stayed in the hotel are these reviews an exageration? I know reviews are subjective I was just wondering if I will feel uncomfortable walking at night by my self. Appreciate your opinions and I hope I have not offended anyone.

simpsonc510

I would not call soi 8 sleazy. Soi 4... yes, absolutely. But it is very easy to avoid soi 4, as it is out of your way to go there. I have never felt uncomfortable in the soi 8 neighborhood. I 'know' many of the people who work this street, the food vendors, the taxi drivers, the security people, the staff at the local hair salon (which I like). This neighborhood feels like home.

yankeetraveller

Thanks Simpsonc510 I really like the set-up of Adelphi with the kitchen and washer/dryer. I'm hoping the hotel price will go down US$80/night so I'll hold off booking your opinions are much appreciated.

If I can impose again, does anyone have any suggestions on Thai cooking classes, I've heard of blue elephant, Silom thai, Amita and Thai Home cooking class.

Thank you!

rhkkmk

look at marriott mayfair--a fantastic neibhborhood.. bangkok holiday inn (not the one on silom)... ibis on the river... marriott courtyard... majestic grande on soi 2 sukhumvit... chatrium riverside...

lcuy

I would not call Soi 8 sleazy at all. I was there with my daughter and we had no concerns at all walking quite late at night. And like Carol says, the locals are very friendly as you pass by. If there were sex shops, I just didn't notice them!