Job Discussion Forums

mrjack · Joined: 04 Sep 2004 Posts: 65

somewhere near the skyrail, some greenery etc

Also is the skyrail more expensive than regular transport? how much is it?

Any other info which you may deem helpfull.

Volodiya · Posted: Tue Jun 07, 2005 12:02 pm Post subject:

kenkannif · Joined: 07 Apr 2004 Posts: 550

Bear in mind you've got the underground now as well, which will help you avoid a lot of the traffic.

Sheep-Goats · Joined: 16 Apr 2004 Posts: 527

You need to find work first, then find an apartment that's near the skytrain AND work. It's usually not that hard, but if you're teaching, say, uni classes at Assumption's new campus you can forget about that. Ideally you should be able to walk to work in 10 minutes or less, and get to the skytrain in 10 minutes or less (in order to go eat, or go to the park, or whatever). It's suprisingly easy to find a place like this in most neighborhoods in Bangkok, especially if you hunt down a motorcycle taxi driver who speaks a smidgen of English and explain what you need to him -- for obvious reasons they know every damn apartment (and approximate prices) for anything in a given area. They're also the resource your estranged girlfriend will use to track you down if you move!

The only place on the skytrain that's really near a signifigant body of greenery is BTS Sala Daeng (MRT Silom is nearby, too). Housing in this area is quite a bit more expensive than most areas of Bangkok -- though still cheap if it were in any other city in the world. Lumpinee park is nearby.

Apart from Lumpinee, there are only a few small, scattered parks in Bangkok. Parks aren't so popular there as it's not very comfortable to hang out in a park when it's 98 degrees out and you're sweating like a herion mule.

Kent F. Kruhoeffer · Joined: 22 Jan 2003 Posts: 2129 Location: 中国

I agree with Sheep-Goats.

Bangkok is just too large to shop for a flat before you've decided where you'll be working.

The smart thing to do is to stay in a guest house for a couple weeks,

buy a mobile phone, find & confirm employment,

and then look for a flat in that neighborhood.

However, it won't hurt to browse these 4 websites to give you an idea of what's available:

http://thaiapartment.com/ (Thai Apartment)

http://www.mrroomfinder.com/ (Mr. Room Finder)

http://www.click4apartment.com/ (Click-4-Apartment)

http://www.easyhorpak.com/index.php?lang=en (EasyHorpak)

PKB · Joined: 05 Nov 2004 Posts: 88 Location: USA

What is the length of a typical apartment rental contract and what are the upfront fees and the penalties for leaving before the contract term is up?

Thanks!

Kent F. Kruhoeffer · Joined: 22 Jan 2003 Posts: 2129 Location: 中国

You could begin with FAQ 3 on The Master Index;

Just scroll all the way down to Appendix B.

Most contracts are for 1 year, but landlords

will sometimes accept shorter terms ...

depending on the price of the room

and the occupancy rate.

1 and 1/2 or 2 month's rent

security deposit up front.

If you leave early, you *might* lose the deposit,

but this would depend a little on the relationship

you have with your landlord ---as well as the

individual circumstances of your departure.