A good cheap place to stay in Bangkok?
Apr 17th, 2006, 02:40 AM
#21
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L like the Atlanta Hotel in BKK, and have stayed there with and without family four times over the last 20 years.
see: <www.theatlantahotel.bizland.com>
After that, the recommendation of Hua Hin is worth following up if you like a quieter beach scene.
Harzer
see: <www.theatlantahotel.bizland.com>
After that, the recommendation of Hua Hin is worth following up if you like a quieter beach scene.
Harzer
Apr 17th, 2006, 02:40 AM
#22
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My wife and I fly into BKK on Thurday night, we also are on a budget, so after much searching around on the Internet I settled on Watanna Mansions. A double room with AC, cable TV, bath & hot water will cost me 650Bt. What I liked best of all is being in the Ratchada area as we want to get out immediately and enjoy being back in Thailand. I sent Watanna Mansions an email the other day asking to book a room and asking for a confirmation, they replied the following day that a room is booked for us. I hope this helps you.
Apr 18th, 2006, 06:47 AM
#24
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Whoever recommended the Banglamphu neighborhood (New Siam Hotel) did you a favor. I lived back-and-forth between the Thai islands and Banglamphu for two-and-a-half years, and I couldn't have enjoyed it more. US $30 a night in Banglamphu -- especially in the Khao San Road area -- will buy you a relatively "high-class" accommodation. Many travelers stay there for closer to US $5 - 12 a day.
In terms of Krung Thep (Thai language for Bangkok), the city is generally filthy, widespread and difficult to navigate. Most Westerners I know hate the city and can't understand why in heaven's name I spent so much time there.
It was Banglamphu -- not Bangkok, per se -- that had my attention. Banglamphu is (dare I say) a quaint neighborhood around which you will most likely feel comfortable and "like one of the community." Food and shopping are all over the sidewalks and, as has been mentioned earlier, there are buses, tuk-tuks, taxis and river-boats that shuttle you elsewhere throughout Bangkok to take in other sights. For a 2-week stay, you're gonna welcome a "homey neighborhood" to come back to.
In terms of Phuket or Pattaya, I'd definitely favor Phuket. Nevertheless, it's great to see both in order to get a broader grasp of the many, varied flavors of Thailand.
In actuality, if I were to plan your 2 weeks for you, I'd give you only a night or 2 in Bangkok before you'd leave most of your luggage at the hotel while you go via overnight train to Chiangmai. In Chiangmai, you could stay for 2-3 nights and could visit the hill tribes. Then I'd direct you back to Bangkok via overnight train again so you could spend another night or 2 resting up and seeing the sights. After that, I'd suggest that you repack your smaller traveling bag, leave the remainder in left-luggage in Bangkok and go out through Pattaya (for only 1 night) on your way to Koh Chang. (Koh Chang is closer to Bangkok than Phuket, and you've got so little time.) On Koh Chang, you could spend a few days in the sun and see the neighboring islands before you head back to Bangkok to reclaim all your gear and rest up a night or 2 before your departure. I'd also schedule those last few days in Bangkok to fall on a Sunday so that you could take in the Chatuchok Market for last minute gift purchases. That way you'd experience all four pillars that, in my opinion create the foundation of the Thai national family: 1. Bangkok, the capital, 2. Northern Thailand with it's Burmese influence, 3. Pattaya and the sex-industry, Thailand's #1 national product and 4. the islands. Thai culture id composed of many sub-cultures, and you don't get to see all aspects of the country unless and until you see all aspects.
Happy trails. . .
In terms of Krung Thep (Thai language for Bangkok), the city is generally filthy, widespread and difficult to navigate. Most Westerners I know hate the city and can't understand why in heaven's name I spent so much time there.
It was Banglamphu -- not Bangkok, per se -- that had my attention. Banglamphu is (dare I say) a quaint neighborhood around which you will most likely feel comfortable and "like one of the community." Food and shopping are all over the sidewalks and, as has been mentioned earlier, there are buses, tuk-tuks, taxis and river-boats that shuttle you elsewhere throughout Bangkok to take in other sights. For a 2-week stay, you're gonna welcome a "homey neighborhood" to come back to.
In terms of Phuket or Pattaya, I'd definitely favor Phuket. Nevertheless, it's great to see both in order to get a broader grasp of the many, varied flavors of Thailand.
In actuality, if I were to plan your 2 weeks for you, I'd give you only a night or 2 in Bangkok before you'd leave most of your luggage at the hotel while you go via overnight train to Chiangmai. In Chiangmai, you could stay for 2-3 nights and could visit the hill tribes. Then I'd direct you back to Bangkok via overnight train again so you could spend another night or 2 resting up and seeing the sights. After that, I'd suggest that you repack your smaller traveling bag, leave the remainder in left-luggage in Bangkok and go out through Pattaya (for only 1 night) on your way to Koh Chang. (Koh Chang is closer to Bangkok than Phuket, and you've got so little time.) On Koh Chang, you could spend a few days in the sun and see the neighboring islands before you head back to Bangkok to reclaim all your gear and rest up a night or 2 before your departure. I'd also schedule those last few days in Bangkok to fall on a Sunday so that you could take in the Chatuchok Market for last minute gift purchases. That way you'd experience all four pillars that, in my opinion create the foundation of the Thai national family: 1. Bangkok, the capital, 2. Northern Thailand with it's Burmese influence, 3. Pattaya and the sex-industry, Thailand's #1 national product and 4. the islands. Thai culture id composed of many sub-cultures, and you don't get to see all aspects of the country unless and until you see all aspects.
Happy trails. . .
Apr 18th, 2006, 07:33 AM
#25
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DrZZ, you say "Most Westerners I know hate the city and can't understand why in heaven's name I spent so much time there."
You must not be reading the posts on this board, as most of the regular posters here love Bangkok... though don't necessarily like KSR. Indeed, many people feel KSR is so overrun with backpackers that it doesn't feel much like Thailand...
You must not be reading the posts on this board, as most of the regular posters here love Bangkok... though don't necessarily like KSR. Indeed, many people feel KSR is so overrun with backpackers that it doesn't feel much like Thailand...
