Bangkok Hotels

Bangkok offers a staggering range of lodging choices, and even some of the best rooms are affordable to travelers on a budget. The city has nearly 500 hotels and guesthouses, and the number is growing. In fact, the amount of competition has brought the prices down at many of the city's hotels; unfortunately, service has suffered at some as a result of cutting corners to lower prices. Still, you'll feel more pampered here than in many other cities.

For first-class lodging, few cities in the world rival Bangkok. In recent years the Oriental, Peninsula, Four Seasons (formerly the Regent), and a handful of others have been repeatedly rated among the best in the world. And if there were a similar comparison of the world's boutique hotels, Bangkok's selection would be near the top, too. These high-end hotels are surprisingly affordable, with rates comparable to standard hotels in New York or London. Business hotels also have fine service, excellent restaurants, and amenities like health clubs, and many have spas. Even budget hotels have comfortable rooms and efficient staffs.

Wherever you stay, remember that prices fluctuate enormously and that huge discounts are the order of the day. Always ask for a better price, even if you have already booked a room (you can inquire about a discount upon check-in). Deals may be more difficult to come by during the high season from November through February, but that doesn't mean they're impossible to find, and during low season they're certainly plentiful.

Hotels are concentrated in four areas: along Silom and Sathorn roads in Silom (where many of the riverfront hotels are located); clustered in Siam Square and on Petchaburi Road in Pratunam; along Sukhumvit Road, which has the greatest number of hotels and an abundance of restaurants and nightlife; and in the Chinatown and the Old City neighborhoods, which have a smaller number of properties, most of which are very affordable. Backpackers often head to Khao San Road in the Old City and its surrounding streets and lanes. The area has a mix of cheap cafés, secondhand bookstalls, trendy bars, and small guesthouses. It's still possible to get a room in that area for B150; even the newer, more upmarket guesthouses charge only around B500.

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