Choosing where to stay in Bangkok
- Posted onOctober 27th, 2015
Choosing the right hotel for your Bangkok stay can really make or break your trip. Bangkok has some stunning hotels with facilities that will wow you, but being such a big city with a variety of different neighborhoods offing different vibes and atmospheres, choosing the right location is the key to having a trip to remember for all the right reasons.
To help you find the right Bangkok location for you, here’s our guide to where to stay in Bangkok:
Sukhumvit Road
We could actually write an entire piece just reviewing the many different sois and areas of Sukhumvit Road, from the Neon soaked streets of Nana to the trendy hangouts of Thong Lor, there’s so much going on around here. Many consider this to be the centre of Bangkok, and for many tourists it is due to the wealth of foreign friendly bars, restaurants, and malls, and great connections to other parts of the city.
To be right at the heart of the night-time action anywhere around from Nana to Asoke is where you want to be, but try to avoid the over-sleazy soi 4 and the chaotic traffic scenes of soi 3. If you want something a little more chilled but still close to lots of great food and entertainment, Phrom Phong and Thong Lor are your best bet.
Pros
– Great nightlife, shopping and eating to be found
– Some of the city’s best hotels
– Lots of underground and sky train stations connecting you to the city
Cons
– Crazy traffic day and night
– Higher prices
– Less authentic Thai
Silom and Sathorn
Silom and Sathorn are two neighboring areas that offer a somewhat contrast of lifestyles. To one side of Silom Road you’ll find lots of bright lit bars and a tourist targeting night market engulfing the streets, while on the other side you’ll be entering the more subdue financial and business district of Bangkok, characterized by a lineup of mammoth office towers and sky scraping hotels. By day the streets are characterized by finely dressed office workers and government officials, while by night the party people begin to flood to the infamous anything goes Patpong sois.
Pros
– Some excellent 5-star hotels
– Buzzing nightlife and amazing rooftop bars/restaurants
– Many good restaurants
Cons
– No real tourist attractions in the area
– Sidewalks can get over crowded at night
– Horrible traffic during rush hour
Pratunam
Best known for its maze of markets and wholesale shopping malls, Pratunam also offers some great hotels and serviced apartments, and if you want to spend a significant part of your trip exploring the city’s shopping malls and markets this is a great area to make your homebase. It also has a rather cosmopolitan vibe and offers some contrasting sois, including ‘only in Asia’ alleyways packed with market stalls and other madness.
Pros
– Some excellent budget and mid range hotels
– Lots of great shopping and late night eating
– A good mix of young and old travelers
Cons
– Over crowded streets during the day
– Intense traffic during the day
– No BTS or MRT stations (Chidlom BTS is a 1-20 min walk)
Siam
The commercial centre of Bangkok, Siam is dotted with mega malls and boutique shopping. Popular with both tourist and local shoppers, this is the epicenter of the city for shopaholics. Within these impressive malls you’ll find lots of great eating, entertainment, and of course, shopping for every taste and budget. Perfectly situated between the bright night lights of Sukhumvit and Silom, and the sites and attractions of the Old Town, many simply stay here due to its central position and wealth of great hotels.
Pros
– Best shopping in town
– Lots of entertainment and great eating
– Very clean and modern
Cons
– Very little nightlife
– The usual downtown traffic problems
– Not exactly authentic Thai
Old City
As the name suggest, the Old City is where you’ll find much of the city’s history and most important monuments, sites, temples, palaces and museums. If you’re planning on spending the majority of your time in Bangkok exploring the history and culture of this city, then this is the place to be. This is also where you’ll find the famous Khoa San Road, where most backpackers and young travelers head by default, with lots of quirky bars, cafés, and restaurants, and several markets.
Pros
– Lots of site seeing and tourist attractions
– Very peaceful and laidback
– Very little traffic
Cons
– Far from the main nightlife of the city
– Poor public transport links
– Limited Escort friendly hotels
