BKK: Where to Live for an Extended Period?
 

If you were going to stay in BKK for say 3 to 6 months at a timer or even all year round, where would you stay?

Anybody have a condo or apartment complex picked out?

Factors:

Close to skytrain

Close to food markets

Quiet but not dead

Near gym and pubs

Forgot to ask: Would a serviced apartment be the way to go at first? Maybe get a good rate for six months? Some of them have nice pools and gyms.

Yes, you should start out with a serviced apartment! There are many of them! On your next trip, start looking at some of the ones in the Sukhumvit area.

Hi carol

Sukhumvit is in the running, but..... I wonder if its too hectic and close to the "action"?

Sukhumvit isn't all about "action." Take a look at a number of serviced apartments in different areas of Sukhumvit.

We had the chance to visit Guenmai's apartment in Emporium Suites last year. It's a great location right at a Skytrain stop and it has a fabulous grocery store right in the shopping center.

I'd love to find a place on the river. We looked at Chatrium and were very unimpressed with the quality of the construction (and the location isn't that great). There are some smaller, older buildings along the river. Once we are serious about finding an extended stay place, we'll likely explore a number of those.

I stay at Centre Point Silom when I go to BKK twice a year. It is in Bangrak, so lots of food markets and is very close to skytrain and river taxi. They have a good pool and gym and the people who work there are great. Not much nightlife as far as I can tell, but I'm not much of a nightlife person. Everything on your list except pubs.

Kathie

I have stayed at several serviced apartments along Sukhumvit: Lagacy, Adelphi Suites, Adelphi Grand, Frasier Suites. Have heard good things about Emporium Suites, but have not stayed there yet.

i think i would prefer to be at least one block off of sukhumvit... i'm trying the marriott sukhumvit park on soi 24 sukhumvit (directly in back of where guen stays but a 5 minute walk down the soi---built in 2009... free parking... a great pool area... free tuk tuk to suk on demand....

last time i checked, it was way cheaper than emporium, which i found unusually expensive.... it is very nice however---maybe a tad too minamilistic for me...

Centre Point Silom is a great location. I don't know what kinds of long-term deals they might have. Thanks for the reminder, stitch.

Residential but hip area of Bangkok with good restaurants and markets is Soi Thonglor. The only problem is that it's not near the BTS. I think there's an Oakwood and a few other service apartments there. Nice neighbourhood.

Hanuman - what about Soi 63, Ekamai. Is it like Thong Lo with with restaurants and bars?

Vino IMO Thonglor is better as Ekamai is not as grand or nice. They are just a few meters apart but I like Thonglor much more. Perhaps take a look around the next time you're here and it would make a perfect place IMO for an extended stay.

Most of the best non hotel restaurants are there as well along with places like J Avenue etc.

i agree with pook, soi 55 is indeed quite nice....there is a centre point there as well... plus all those bridal shops...haha

And our budget is.......?

Will 33,000 Baht per month in rent get you a one bedroom in a secure condo with a nice pool and maybe a small gym?

For long term, 1 year +, the 33K should get you a reasonable good 1 bed room condo with a space of around 150 square meters. For your reference check out web site such as Richard Ellis - http://www.cbre.co.th/en/PropertySea...e=28&x=68&y=10

For short term, or less than 1 year, you might have to look at service apartments.

Thanks Hanuman

I'll take a look at the area on my next trip. Any "can't miss" kinda bars or restaurants to visit?

Here's another site that can give you an idea of what's out there:

http://www.thaiapartment.com/

Thanks curt1591

Do you live in BKK or plan to live there in the future?

I was in Ruam Rudee again today, and it's a surprisingly nice little area considering how close it is to the middle of things. A couple weeks ago I was at an event at Aetas, which will have a serviced apartment component as part of the complex. A new Novotel opens on the corner in November, and Athenee Residences has already opened, I think.

I was also way out towards the Jim Thompson factory outlet, and there's a ton of new places going up in that area. Generally, the further away from the center of things, the less you'll pay, or the more you'll get for your money.

Michael, I agree with JT outlet area. That's why I suggested vinovino take a look at On Nut area. Glad you agree that there are lots of new options there. And it's so easy to hop on the bts to get anywhere in the city.

Maybe I'll run into you at Maeng's during the last couple of weeks of this month? I'll be back in BKK around the 19th/20th. Still waiting for that last minute 1st class FF ticket to become available!

I also noticed new condos going up in the On Nut area. But living that close to the JT outlet - sounds dangerous to one's bank account!

I think Chidlom is a great place to be in. I can get to Central Childlom & Chidlom BTS within 5 minutes from my place. Going to the airport is also a breeze via Ploenchit and onto the expressway.

I stayed at Summerset Suan Parkview apartment hotel once. I think you would say it is in the Chidlom area, and yes, it was quite handy.

I'm a Sukhumvit person as I've stayed at Emporium Suites since 2005, which is a street over from Suk Soi 24-Prom Phong BTS.

For me skytrain and grocery store convenience is very important. And the huge grocery store and food mart is right on the top floor of Emporium Mall. Plus, there's also an internet cafe, pharmacy, and other great services in that mall. I don't even have to leave the Emporium complex to get to the mall/grocery store as the buildings are linked by inside passage ways. That's great on either a super hot day when I don't want to schlep heavy bags of groceries through the heat and have my frozen foods melt or on a day when I'm not feeling well, due to stomach sickness, and need to have a convenient pharmacy nearby. Plus, there are plenty of good restaurants in that mall and area for when I want to eat out.

However, if I had to move elsewhere, then it would be somewhere between Asoke BTS and then east in the direction of On Nut. I did have a walkthrough of the new condo building right at Ekkami BTS, which was quite nice as it's right at the skytrain.

For more ideas go to www.moveandstay.com which is what I used many years ago to get ideas and then I contacted and/or just visited the buildings on my own and talked my deals. Happy Travels!

I forgot to add that the first serviced apartment building I lived in was Chateau de Bangkok on Ruam Rudee. It's about 300 meters from Ploenchit BTS. It's a very nice building and was very reasonable when I stayed there. Happy Travels!

"Thanks curt1591
Do you live in BKK or plan to live there in the future?"

We've lived in Taopun since 2007. Not a lot of expats around these parts.

the further i got out from the central areas, the less i would find it appealing, skytrain or not...

is no one looking in the river area anymore?

Bob, as per my comments above, I'm still looking.

On a long term, living in Bangkok basis, I'd be fine living from Asoke to On Nut area. Happy Travels!

Bob, the trouble with the river is that there are very few places to build, because a lot of the land near the central area is owned by the navy. The River is a new building just across the Taksin bridge (between the bridge and the Pen), and it's about the only new place going up on the river. [BTW, there's an Ibis of all things being built/re-jigged on the other side of the bridge.] The river area is the most expensive of all, and it still does sometimes flood in the wet season. It's a nice place to visit, but you wouldn't want to live there.

Michael: A few years ago, I went into the office of the developers for The River and talked with the salesperson and picked up two of the huge, blue, brochure booklets. That property is extremely expensive.

The office is located inside of the hotel right there at Saphan Taksin sky train station. I can't remember the name of the hotel right now. The River is a Raimonland project which got my attention. I've been to quite a few Raimonland projects and some buildings. I was at the Saladang one some years ago and a Thai friend and I were stepping over construction stuff as they were still working on it. We saw a model.

I've heard, by an ex-pat friend, who's lived in Bangkok for decades, that Raimondland builds quality condos as one has to be careful, so I've been told, of companies and quality issues. Happy Travels!

Raimonland is a mess. The previous CEO has left. People who bought directly from the developer are looking to sell their contracts at a loss.

Guen, the office for The River is at the property now. We toured a model two years ago - gorgeous! - but the price was about US$1 million for the apartment we were interested in. I get email updates from them regularly.

bkk, sorry to hear that Raimonland is a mess. It's interesting to hear that people are trying to sell their contracts at a loss. I wouldn't want to buy until the building was finished, but then if they were willing to sell at a great enough loss, I'd be interested.

Kathie, most 'good' projects sell out well before completion. Of course, there's a fair amount of 'flipping' - people who buy units, fix them up and re-sell them at a profit. This is especially true of the 'foreign allotment' of units.

Next time you're in Bangkok you'll want to visit the sales office for the Ritz Carlton Residences. It might be even more expensive than the River, but there's a Dean & Delucca in the sales office!

I do know that most projects sell out before completion. But I also know that there are units at the River available no doubt due to the economy. Had the price at the River been good, we might have put money down on one two years ago, but not for a million bucks!

Michael, where will the Ritz Carlton Residences be?

by the 4 seasons i think

Here's the location Kathie, click "location" - http://www.rcr-bangkok.com/

bkkbest: It's really unfortunate that Raimonland is a mess as that was the developer that I had been told built quality condos. It's really a catch22 situation in Bangkok; if one doesn't buy before the condo buildings are constructed, then one can easily lose out, on the other hand who wants to buy a product before seeing it and especially one that cost a pretty penny? Then there are the flippers who buy and then sell at inflated prices.

Which developers now, for freehold condos, are decent and solid as it seems to be an ever revolving door? Happy Travels!

Kathie: I didn't realize The River office was now at the building. When I was in BK in November, I didn't even notice the building as I got off at Saphan Taksin and got on the boat to go check out Chatruim which as you, I was also not impressed.

If I could just have a unit like my Emporium Suites one, I'd be happy for life; very tall ceilings, wide open space, wide glassed balcony, and a large kitchen as a separate room with a door, and wide corridors between the apartments.

Of all of the condos, serviced apartments, etc..that I've seen over many years, I haven't seen anything even close. And you know how claustrophobic those corridors were at Chatrium. I was able to put one hand on one wall and the other on the opposite wall. Plus, I found the units, that I was shown, to be claustrophobic. Happy Travels!