Can anyone help me? I am looking for accomodations for three nights in mid-October in Bangkok. Can you suggest a hotel or B&B that is less expensive than the Sheratons and Sukothais and Peninsulas that are so prevalently listed? I've never been to Thailand, so don't know which to choose. We have friends staying at the Peninsula, and it would be great if our place was somewhat close to theirs, but this is NOT a priority. I'm just looking for a lovely, not too noisy, safe, clean place with value. Thanks!

Give us a price.

Take a look at Sawadee.com. MAke sure you click on the hotel from the list to get actual rates. Pick a few hotels in your price range and ask us about their value. You might also consider the serviced apartments at Centre Point Silom. This is a short walk and ferry ride from the Pen. Do a search on this forum for contact info.

I highly recommend the Center Pointe Silom. It is in a convenient area right near the skytrain and river taxi.

We asked for an apartment on one of the upper floors and we had an incredible view from our spacious apartment. It was $80 a night in Feb of this year.

Price per night? Good question! Let's say: under $120 per night. Also, we are only in Bangkok for three nights, if this makes a difference. I noticed that there are a lot of postings raving about Centre Point, but these are for month-long stays, right?

Centre Point Silom would be a convenient place since it is a short walk to the pier where you can catch the Peninsula's boat. They rent on a daily basis and a nice riverview room is about 3450 baht ($90)net with breakfast. Added convenience is a department store on the lower floors.

If you want to be closer to the main shopping areas and still within easy walking distance of the skytrain then either the Pathumwan Princess (3600 baht) or the Novotel (3350) by Siam Square are good

I would agree that Centre Point would be a good option for you. I've not stayed there, but I usually DO stay in serviced apartments when in BKK.

The reason to select Centre Point would be the reason that it is very close to your friends at the Pen. All you do, basically, is walk a short walk to the free shuttle to the Pen. For shopping, just hop on the skytrain and go to the opposite end of the line, at National Stadium stop, where you will find MBK and Siam Discovery, Siam Center. Or, get of at the Siam Central station (where the two skytrain lines cross one another) and you are in the heart of the shopping area.

Patumwan Princess and the Novotel Siam are both near MBK and Siam Discovery shopping. That means they would be at the "other" end of the skytrain line from your friends at the Pen. But, that said, the ride on the skytrain is air conditioned and comfortable (at times a bit crowded, but you should get a seat if you start at the first and last stops on that particular rail line!), and the ride doesn't take very long at all. Much better than sitting in a taxi in the middle of traffic, IMO.

Another option is discussed on another thread or two here, and that is to stay at the newer Majestic Grande hotel. It is also a short walk to the skytrain, but on the "other" rail line from the one that runs between the river and MBK shopping mall.

Carol

I agree that Centre Point Silom sounds ideal for you. And they rent by the night, no need to spend a month. While some serviced apartments require a month or more, may, like Centre Point Silom do not. And it will be very convenient to the Pen where your friends are staying.

Kathie & Carol,

Just wondering if Centre Point Silom has a dryer (on the photos in the web, it looks like there is only a washer). I sent them an email inquiring on this and haven't gotten a response back yet. Just curious.

The washer and dryer are most likely one machine...those French type of washer/dryers. I had a French one in my apartment in Bangkok. After you wash, you take the clothes out and shake them and then put them back into the tumbler and then program the machine to dry...takes FOREVER to dry since there is all of that moisture left from washing.It took my clothes a good hour and a half to two hours depending on what I had to dry. I thought I'd have a washer/dryer like we have here in the States for apartments where there are two separate machines, but stacked on top of each other in order to save space. With the French type, you can't wash a second load until the clothes have finished drying so it takes forever to do laundry whereas with the stackable type, I could just put a second load of clothes into the washer, while the first load is drying in a separate machine, and then take the second load out and hang them in the bathroom to dry. I could just turn off the airconditioning in the apartment, leave and when I come back two loads of clothes could be dry. Happy Travels!

In order to get the dryer bit of the washer/dryers to work efficiently, you need to remove 1/3 to 1/2 of your washing load. If you don't, then the dryer will not work effectively and will take a long time to dry, but of course then you have another 1/3 to 1/2 load to put back in. Doing it this way, does stop the funny smell you get otherwise - I had one in our London flat, they are such a pain!

Interesting to hear about the washer dryer combo machines you've used. I've got one by Toshiba that is excellent. It uses very little water, very little electricity and gets the clothes cleaned and dried in about 2 hours. We've had it for 3 years now and the only thing I wish it did was fold.

I would recommend also the Pathumwan Princess, Siam Novotel or Holiday Inn By Chitlom. I find Cebtrepoint too far. Peninsula is across the river. The 3 hotels i mentioned are not luxuru hotels but they are nice enough and centrally located.

two places close to the penn are the marriott resort and spa at about $111 until oct 31 (www.huahin.20m.com) and i also suggest the centre point silom...it is just next to where the penn boat lands...they are also able to be booked on the site above

sofitel silom and holiday inn silom are two others but not as convenient for meeting up with your friends...

as i wrote in another thread, the center point silom that was offered in this thread, is closing 1 october 2006 for renovation (till the end of the year)