My husband, my two teenagers and I intend to spend a week or more in Bangkok next October. I'm trying to figure out where the best place to stay.If anyone has any suggestions about which nieghborhood to stay, and which hotel(there are so many that I'm lost!!), I'd love to read about. We intend to spend about US$ 150/per room. Is it possible to stay in a good hotel with this budget? We would like to stay close to main attractions.
Any tip about Bangkok, and any other city we could visit in Thailand will be very appreciated. Thanks!!!

Like many others on this board, I like to stay along the river. That way, I can take the water taxi to the Grand Palace/Temple of the Emerald Buddha/Wat Po/Wat Arun, etc. You can also take teh water taxi to the Skytrain, a quick, coll, and efficient way to get to the Sukhumvit area. Also, I find staying along the river means that I get to watch the river traffic from my room, and the air is a bit cleaner and it's a bit "cooler" (not quite as hot). In your price range of $150 per room, tou could opt for the Marriott Resort and Spa or the Sheraton Royal Orchid. You may be able to get a Towers room for close to that amount, which includes breakfast, evening cocktails and canapes and FREE laundry (6 pieces per person per day). That may well save you some money. Another option, not quite on the river are serviced apartments, Centerpointe Silom. You could opt for a two bedroom suite there.

With two teenagers, I'd definitely go for Centre Point Silom. My daughter and I LOVED it. Great location - easy walk to the skytrain or boat pier. Robinson's department store right downstairs, with a full grocery store in the basement. A large one-bedroom is about $80 a night. I don't recall the cost of a 2-bedroom. And you get a full living room, kitchen and dining room. WELL worth it. Nice pool. Decent breakfast. It's so nice to have a full apartment if you're spending multiple nights - that way one person could stay in bed and the other can go out in the living room and be completely separate. It's terrific.

http://www.asiarooms.com/thailand/ba...ent_silom.html

Karen

I also prefer the river location. We had always stayed at the Peninsula in the past, and last December we tried the Conrad (free on points). The Conrad was fine...didn't come near the level of the Peninsula, but still a good place. The location on Wireless Road was fine...we used taxis or Skytrain. It was easier to use the Skytrain from the Peninsula as the Peninsula's shuttle boat brings you right to the station. The Conrad is said to have a Skytrain shuttle...we never once saw it, but we didn't ask about it either as we just walked the 10 or so minutes to the station.

Next time, though, back to the river for us. It's just a nice atmosphere, to watch the boats, take a longtail or use the river taxis, easy access to both Skytrain and river boats like Kathie says.

Serviced apartments might be something to consider seriously.

I also prefer the river but I'm not into the big mall shopping so don't care about being near them. I doubt if you could stay at either the Pen or Oriental (my hands down favorite) at that price although you are a bit off season. But you might be able to get something at the Marriott, Shangrila or Royal Orchid.However, with two teenagers the Centre Pointe might also be a good option. Or the Meritus Suites (never been in them but it's a fabulous location).

lery
I have also stayed on the river a number of times, at the Penninsula and the Oriental. I will be staying at the Marriott Resort and Spa for two nights in August (can't wait) for the first time there. I have visited the Marriott and found it to be lovely.

But I really think that, for me, the best locations are in the Sukhumvit and Siam areas, where all the wonderful shopping is located. I have stayed at the Intercontinental Hotel, but really prefer serviced apartments. I'll be spending the rest of my BKK vacation (after leaving the Marriott) in a studio apartment at the Grand President on Sukhumvit soi 11.

The other posters are absolutely correct that using the skytrain is so easy, even from river locations. The skytrain will take you right to the heart of the shopping, and you don't get stuck in BKK's traffic on the streets below. The ride on the skytrain is cool and comfortable. When I first started riding it, I always got a seat. Now, the skytrain is very busy, so standing is more typical. But it's such a short ride, it doesn't matter anyway.

You might consider spending part of your time on the river and part of it near shopping places. Lots of folks break up a trip to Bangkok by going to Chiang Mai or a beach area for a few days and then back to Bangkok for a few days before leaving Thailand.

Carol

For $150/night/room you should be able to stay at the Four Seasons. To my mind nothing else beats the location and service...tho for a first timer you might want to combine it with a couple of nights on the river. If you want to consider a service apt take a look at Emporium Suites in Sukhumvit - right on the sky train, fabulos location on Emporium Mall, you should get a 2 bedroim suite in $200ish/night.

prior to oct 31 you will get great rates...\

you probably will need two rooms however as most thai hotels do not have family rooms and with 2 teens rollaways might not work well...

for this reason i think a two bedroom serviced apartment would be the best:

centre point has several locations and silom, suggest above, is a good location because the skytrain is right next door, but they have other locations as well...

marriott mayfair is also a good location and nice place with a fantastic pool area...

oakwood is another nice one...there are many svcd apts...

emporium is another nice one also right on the skytrain...