"Authentic" Thailand Accomodations?
 

We are planning a Thailand trip for 2005. I have done a lot of research, but I am having trouble finding accomodations that seem "authentically" Thai. Other places that we have enjoyed in other countries are Japanese ryokans, Italian monastaries, Mexican palapas. We are considering Bangkok, Sukhothai, Pai, Luanpang and maybe a couple of days at the beach. What might we find in Thailand?

I know what you mean, there aren't places like Ryokans or Palapas, or such, your best bet is Boutique style places that made been designed in original Thai style and perhaps have more charm and style, but these do not go under one sort on 'name', you need to seek them out, some might be no more than a smaller hotel/resort that has decor in a more natural Thai style.
In Central and Northern Thailand you can find some nice small places but don't hold your hopes too high. I think if you aim for Boutique type places that have obviously used as much authentic style as possible is about the closest you can get, I will try and go thru my little book and also I am sure others can chip-in with some tips for particular places.

iwould be afraid of anything authentic in bangkok actually...better go more upscale or stay at the marriott which has buildings which look slightly thai

i would suggest the anantara north of chiang rai as very authentic looking

if you go too the north stay in a hill tribe village.

I'm not too sure what you mean by thai style... i hear that the four seasons has a pretty authentic old Palacial thia style. but if you ask me any old guesthouse is basicaly as thai as it realy gets. and too make it extra authentic. ask for a mat and sleep on the floor..

Check out suk11.com-their north wing building & rooms are pretty authentic & great value for Bangkok. Also Fern resort in Mae Hong Son is a lovely authentic thai resort. Both these places are owned and operated by Thai locals not multi-national chains. This may give you a taste of the "authentic".

In Bkk u can consider Chakrabongse House, a houseboat type experience on the river.

Chakrabongse looks great on the website (www.netimage.co.th/demo/thaivillas/hotel.html). They are apartments in a Thai prince's historic home. We don't need full hotel services, but do you know if we would have access to a "front desk" or a "concierge" to help arrange sightseeing in Bangkok or day trips nearby?

They do have a manager who I am sure will be able to help out. Am recoing a guide u can use for day trips to Ayuthya or even local Bkk sightseeing. She can help u with arrangements i.e. if u hire her she may work along with a driver. Very sweet college student who speaks great English. She charges 1000 baht a day but u can prob negotiate her down if u are using her for more than 1 day. Her name is Kie, e-mail [email protected]. Give her my ref.

I don't know if this would fit into your itinerary, but we recently stayed at the Jungle Raft Lodge, near River Kwai. Out of everywhere I've travelled, it's the most unique lodging I've ever had....bamboo rafts on a river! Highly recommended and very relaxing.

http://www.asiatour.com/x-homes/thai...i/lookeast.htm

http://photos.thesapps.com/thailand?page=5

evaluna,

Can you tell me more about your experience at the River Kwai Jungle Raft Lodge? I'm guessing they're not, but are the rooms air-conditioned? Does it need it? (We're going to Thailand in November.)

This looks like such a cool, unique place to stay...

I stayed at Jungle raft lodge too I think as sounds like place I stayed at - roooms were a/c. Great experience, much better than Hotel felix where we went for lunch.

As for Bangkok... for what you're looking for, it would be between the Four Seasons and the Sukothai in my opinion. I've been to Bangkok several times...having just gotten back...and make it a point of staying in up to 5 hotels per vacation there. I haven't personaaly stayed at the Sukothai, but on my trip prior to this recent one I called over there and arranged to be shown several rooms along with the grounds...and it's a very beautiful place....although the corridors are a bit dark. I liked the Jr. Suites. The only thing is the location of the Sukothai...it's located next door to the new Metropolitan Hotel which I just stayed at...which is a 15-minute walk to the Saladang Sky Train stop. The location is manageable though. As for the Four Seasons as Orgy 7 just mentioned...yes. it's a palacial style. That's my number one choice of hotels. It's my home-away-from-home hotel. It just seems to get better. As you walk in, you'll notice that it's very light and airy and absolutely beautiful...from the gorgeous, colorful, handpainted ceilings...to the sweeping staircase that leads up to a handpainted mural depicting the history of Thailand.It's a very friendly and down-to-earth place. Most of the rooms are located in the atrium area...at least 50 per wing...There are two as I remember and only about a dozen rooms located inside the building. I've stayed in both. When you walk out of the atrium rooms, it's like viewing a little mini-greenhouse. There are green plants on every level. I'm from Southern California and need light and greenery. Plus the hotel is a very intimate size...only 9 floors high...and the mini shopping arcade is located in an outdoor tropical garden setting along with two of the hotel's restaurants. The food there is excellent.And the Italian restaurant...Biscotti...is reportedly the best Italian restaurant in town. I've never had a bad meal at any of the hotel's restaurants. Plus the hotel location is tops...in the heart of the shopping...within walking distance and a five minute walk to Erewan shrine and across the street from the Sky Train station which is one stop from Siam Station the main station.And there's a lot of interesting street life...like in the late afternoon... people parking their mini trucks on the street and cooking meals out of the back of them. As for location to the some tourist sights...take the sky train about 4 stops to the river and then take the public boat up the river.Check out traveladvisor.com...to get hotel ideas. I just wrote something on the Four Seasons(the Pasadena one) and there are other comments,too. Plus you can read the comments on the Sukothai and other hotels.Happy Travels!

Guenmai:
Let me guess- you are not a cruise person because you would only unpack once on your vacation!

Bill- No, I don't do cruises. I think I would be bored stiff. My younger sister does them,though and likes them. And as for unpacking...I travel LIGHT...which I've learned how to do over the past 30 years of trips... and am extremely organized, so when I unpack, I can repack within 20 minutes. I change hotels because I find it interesting and I like to see other areas of a city and compare different hotels/areas and be able to really explore. Plus, I am away on vacation...overseas... anywhere from 1 week to 10 weeks...up to 3-4 times a year... so of course on a one week vacation I wouldn't choose 5 hotels, but it's VERY easy to do so on a 9-14 day vacation. I'm not in my room that much anyway...but after a long day of exploring an area, it's nice to not have to travel far back to one's hotel....As for moving around...you just throw the carry-on suitcase into a taxi and go off to the next hotel! Happy Travels!

Geunmai:
We also are not cruisers. Wife needs big room, bigger bathroom, needs to shop,and needs asian food- all of which you really don't get on a cruise.

Bill- I agree with you! Happy Travels!

This got a bit off track, but I thought I would share a new hotel I stumbled across on the internet. The Ibrik www.irbrikresort.com. It describes itself as a boutique hotel, right on the river, just across from the Grand Palace. It apparently just opened this spring. It seems a bit out of the way for dining or shopping, but maybe with what I have heard about redevelopment along the river, there is more here than a typical guide book might give. Would love to hear from anyone who knows this new hotel or the neighborhood.
I

If this gives any more clue, the little map on the Ibrik website shows it near the Patravadi Theater and next to the Patravadi Restaurant.

If you end up in Sukhothai (the city, not the hotel), I would recommend the Ruean Thai Guest House. It's in town but a short taxi ride from the park entrance. The house is run by a very nice family who will help point out restaurants, transportation, markets, etc. They even drove us around when a car and driver were available. We stayed in a room directly above the outdoor dining area which has a traditional outdoor living/receiving room leading to one of three rooms (w/AC...not traditional, but highly recommended. :)

Sukhothai Historical Park is very nice. Be sure to rent bicycles and plan on spending the day there. It is very pleasant, uncrowded, and a great place to idle away the day by blending sightseeing with picnic-ing and visiting markets. Loved it.

Regards, Bruce
Thailand Photo Gallery - http://www.brucegcollier.com/galleri...level2_all.htm