Bangkok hotel - River sides pros/cons
 

Hi,
I've seen some discussion on this or other boards that recommend some hotels in Bangkok "if you don't mind being on the wrong side of the river". Can you please give me pros and cons of being on each side? Trying to choose a hotel for trip in a few weeks and this will be a point of consideration.

Thanks!

I'm not sure it matters which side you're on, as long as you like your accommodation. It's easy to cross over from most locations. Having stayed on both sides, I like best being on what I suspect is somebody's wrong side.

My favorite was a 3 room place right on, right over actually, the river, across from the royal palace in a very modest neighborhood. I woke up every morning to the sound of the water slapping pilings under me and the boat traffic passing by. Maybe too small and too close to the water for some but I loved it. And a 5 minute walk to the boat at Siriraj to cross.

Here: http://www.ibrikresort.com/

We stayed at the ShangriLa, on what I assume is the right side. Friends stayed at The Peninsula, across the river. They kept taking the boat across to our side as they felt cut off from things.

I've stayed on both sides; The Pen on the wrong side and the Oriental and Royal Orchid Sheraton on the right side. Personally, I preferred the right side as I don't like to be in a boat if I don't have to be although I do sometimes have to take the river taxi to get to my dressmaker. But, for me, I'm really not a river person anyway and like to stay in town and near a skytrain station. But, to each his own.

Happy Travels!

We have stayed in many of the more well known hotels by the river as well as a few tiny places. The Peninsula is on the "wrong"side of the river but is still a great hotel and there are shuttles to get to Saphin Taksin pier from the skytrain - Certainly did not feel cut off. The ibis is close to the Penn but doesn't have a shuttle so it takes a bit longer.

Last year we stayed at the Ananatara Riverside which is a 15-20 min shuttle to ST pier but we saw that as a plus as it was a very pleasant trip. It has the plus of being a resort type hotel, but in the city.

Lots of smaller "boutique" type places further upriver toward the Grand Palace on both sides of the river but it can take a lot of time to get to other parts of the city.

I suppose it really depends on what you plan to do, the sights you want to see and how comfortable you are spending time getting getting arround the city. Personally, the river buses and taxis are my preferred method of transport for getting around the city.

The main pro for the "right" side of the river is ease of transportation and reduced travel times. It depends how important that is to you. The wrong side of the river is cheaper, has some quirky, small places and is arguably the more "authentic" Bangkok experience.
Never stayed at the Ibrik mentioned by MmePerdu, but it does sound fascinating.

WE LOVE THE RIVER HOTELS ON BOTH SIDES.

we find it cooler and more comfortable along the river, and we love watching the fairly busy river traffic.

we frequently stay along the river and also "in-town" during out stay, but we often stay in BKK for 2 or more weeks.

on the "wrong" side there is little to do for tourists, but honestly that does not matter as in bkk you always have to travel to get to the sites. there are only local small restaurants on the wrong side, but most of the hotels have nice restaurants.

one of the highlights of staying in bkk is the opportunity to ride frequently in boats up and down the river. as pointed out above, the major hotels have free boats plying the river all day.

<<<...the major hotels have free boats plying the river all day.>>>

Free in so far as you must first have paid handsomely to stay at the hotel.

Well, a lot of whether the "right" side of the river matters to you depends on what you plan to do in Bangkok.

I prefer to stay on the "right" side of the river, not only for easier access to transport, but also because I can walk places from the right side of the river. Now not everyone walks in Bangkok, but we do. From the Royal Orchid, we can walk to a number good restaurants and to Chinatown and walk to shopping near The Oriental.

The river is a physical barrier, but it can also be a psychological barrier. For people who have spent time in Bangkok previously, it doesn't matter as much, but for first-timers, it may be more of an issue. No matter which side of the river you are on, you will take a boat to the central pier to give you access to the skytrain station. If you are on the wrong side of the river and taking a taxi, that adds extra time as you'll have to cross a bridge (and bridge traffic can be awful).

If you are in the area of the Ibrik and other hotels in the area, you are a long way from the skytrain station, and public transport is more difficult. I wouldn't stay in that area but some people like MmePerdu like it.

Once you have looked at hotels that interest you, you can come back and get feedback from others who have stayed at that hotel.

We've stayed at the Penn, the Shang, and the O - all had their attributes, but our favorite is still the Penn. The boats cross the river all day long but it does add time to touring if you are in a hurry, especially if you return to the Penn more than once a day.

There's a rule, no hurrying in Thailand. Respect the royal family and relax.

LL, as usual you are wrong... anyone can ride those boats

btw the boat rides only take 5-15 minutes

Mme, some of us want to cover a lot of ground no matter where we are and can do it without disrespecting the Thais and their Leader. We've been to Bangkok 7 times, so I do feel qualified to opine...

Craig - boy, did you get that wrong. How is "Respect the royal family..." disrespectful. Most of us here have been to BKK a number of times but I think the heat is effecting you.

What did I get wrong here, Mme? Your followup post makes no sense. By the way, the proper spelling is "affecting"...

No Craig (sorry everyone) but you're wrong again:


ef·fect, effecting
verb
cause (something) to happen; bring about.
"nature always effected a cure"

af·fect·ing
adjective
touching the emotions; moving.
"a highly affecting account of her experiences in prison"

While you may have attempted to affirm your grammar, you have not stated your case that I have it wrong. What is your beef? I still maintain your statement as shown below makes no sense:


"boy, did you get that wrong. How is "Respect the royal family..." disrespectful"


Please explain so that all of us here can understand your point.

BTW, "affect" is normally used as a verb and "effect" is more commonly used as a noun:
https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/us...fect-or-effect

I don't think anyone else here has misunderstood me or, for that matter, cares. I've decided that I will assume you are unwell and leave it at that.

Mme, anyone like you that doesn't want to be held accountable for what they say doesn't belong on this forum. You started this. I have a pristine reputation here - just click on my name for 16 years of responsible posting on this forum.