Job Discussion Forums

[philbags]

hey guys,I'm arriving on friday morning about 7a.m.(pretty O.K.) and havent yet worked out where I'm gonna stay for the first few days. Any recommendations on a CHEAP roach free air-con hotel?
Also is there anything I should know re: dodgy taxi companies, scams on first timers in BKK?I hate arriving in strange airports.
I just discovered your thai index which looks awsome but I dont have very much time to go through it.
Any help muchly appreciated.
Ta.
P.

[eek]

I'll be in the same boat as you philbags soon, so not sure how much i can help. I can, however, offer a few suggestions on what I have read up on.

From what i gather you shouldnt have much trouble finding accomodation before midday, but after that it could be hard. As to where you should go, it really is a case of what you wish to do when you are there. The traffic situation is really bad and if you go for a budget place far out from where you want to be day to day, you will probably not enjoy your stay much.

Decide what you want to do, then find the location, then find the best priced roach free accomo. Im sure someone could give you a few names of decent places then.

When you arrive at Bangkok airport dont use taxi touts with unregistered, unmetered taxis. The 'proper' taxi location is clearly marked outside of the airport, use those.

The other tip I read somewhere is dont say its your first time in Bangkok and Thailand. Also say you are meeting friends. Your less likely to be thought of as a nice juicy victim lol. This paints a bad light on Bangkok, and im sorry if its wrong, its only what i have read. But, i have read similar in many books / online, so im guessing there is some truth in it.

Once you find out the location you want to be in (and hotel/accomodation if you sorted it out before hand), print off a taxi map and hand it over.

I guess look and act like you know what you are doing, then you will be less likely to get scammed.

I'll be arriving on my own in Bangkok too for a few days in October before heading off to Chiang Mai. Im a tad nervous!

Good luck and hope you enjoy it.

p.s. I recommend getting a copy of rough guide to Thailand or similar (if you dont already have). Can usually pick up a cheap copy on ebay or Amazon (its poss also downloadable) .

[Kent F. Kruhoeffer]

^ Hi


This list should help with a cheap hotel:



BANGKOK :: BUDGET ACCOMMODATION
[from really cheap to 1,500 Baht per night]


Big John's Homepage (Big John's Guesthouse)

http://www.newjoe.de/ (New Joe Guesthouse)

http://www.winlongplace.com/ (Win Long Place)

http://www.regentthailand.com/ (Regent Hotels)

http://www.pinnaclehotels.com/ (Pinnacle Hotels)

http://www.madrasthailand.com/ (Madras Hostel)

http://www.ktguesthouse.com/ (K.T. Guesthouse)

http://www.samran.com/main.asp (Samran Place)

http://www.newsiam.net/ (New Siam Guesthouse)

http://www.royalasialodge.com/ (Royal Asia Lodge)

http://www.bangkokcityinn.com/ (Bangkok City Inn)

http://www.wendyguesthouse.com/ (Wendy House)

http://www.newworldlodge.com/ (New World Lodge)

http://www.newempirehotel.com/ (New Empire hotel)

http://www.chinatownhotel.co.th/ (China Town Hotel)

http://www.jimslodge.com/aboutus.html (Jim's Lodge)

http://www.ashaguesthouse.com/ (Asha Guesthouse)

http://www.bourbonstbkk.com/ (Bourbon Street Hotel)

http://www.siamorientalgroup.com/ (Siam Oriental Inn)

http://www.bangkoksuite.com/ (Bangkok City Suite Hotel)

http://www.eurasiahotels.com/bangkok/ (Eurasia Bangkok)

http://www.bangkok-guesthouse.com/ (On Nut Guesthouse)

http://www.asiatravel.com/firsthouse/ (First House Bangkok)

http://www.tyha.org/map-bangkok.html (HI Hostels Bangkok)

http://www.khaosanroad.com/ (Khao San Rd Hotels & Rooms)

http://www.guesthouse-bangkok.com/ (The Urban Age Hostel)

http://www.bangkok-hotelpro.com/park-hotel/ (The Park Hotel)

http://www.5-rama-nine-54.com/ (5 Rama Nine 54 Guesthouse)

http://www.east-thai.com/238guesthouse/ (238 Guest House)

http://www.bangkokcentrehotel.com/ (Bangkok Centre Hotel)

http://www.bangkok.com/white-orchid-hotel/ (White Orchid)

http://www.baankaewmansion.com/ (Baan Kaew Mansion)

http://www.khaosanroad.com/kshouse/ (KS Guest House)

http://bangkok-sahara-hotel.th66.com/ (Bangkok Sahara)

http://www.khaosan-hotels.com/ (Rambuttri Village Inn)

http://www.shambarabangkok.com/ (Shambara Hostel)

http://www.riversidebangkok.com/ (Riverside Bangkok)

http://www.sawasdee-hotels.com/ (Sawasdee Hotels)

Frommer's Guide ([email protected] / Reno Hotel)

http://www.nasavegashotel.com/ (Nasa Vegas Hotel)

http://www.stayandtravel.com/ (Ban Yai / Homestay)

http://www.bestbkk.com/ (The Best Bangkok House)

http://www.kritthaimansion.com/ (Krit Thai Mansion)

http://www.discovery-lodge.com/ (Discovery Lodge)

http://www.malaysiahotelbkk.com/ (Malaysia Hotel)

http://www.hotelvisit.com/rexhotel.html (Rex Hotel)

http://www.thaicozyhouse.com/ (Thai Cozy House)

http://www.premierinnbangkok.com/ (Premier Inn)

http://www.stardomegroup.com/ (Star Dome Inn)

http://www.fortunabangkok.com/ (Fortuna Hotel)

http://www.nanaplaza-inn.com/ (Nana Plaza Inn)

http://www.woodlandsinn.org/ (Woodlands Inn)

HI-Bangkok (HI-Bangkok Centre Sukhumvit 25)

http://www.pjwatergate.com/ (PJ Watergate)

http://www.silomcityinn.com/ (Silom City Inn)

http://www.dropinnbangkok.com/ (Drop Inn)

http://www.samslodge.com/ (Sam's Lodge)

http://www.dynastyinn.com/ (Dynasty Inn)

http://www.nanahotel.co.th/ (Nana Hotel)

http://www.bhimaninn.com/ (Bhiman Inn)

http://www.suk11.com/ (Suk 11 Hostel)

AW Group Travel Agency (Business Inn)

http://www.wegret.com/ (White Egret)

http://www.aoneinn.com/ (A One Inn)

http://www.leelainn.com/ (Leela Inn)

Woraburi.com (Woraburi Sukhumvit)

c/o Travelfish.org (White Lodge)





Kent








Thailand teaching and travel resources available here :::: The Master Index Thailand ::::

[gypsywoman]

You know its really not that scary arriving in Bangkok airport, especially at that time of morning, most of the crooks are still asleep haha.
Work out a decent hotel just for your first night, so you know its done and no problems. You can get a cab from one of the stands inside the airport and its around 400 baht or so to get into town. Just give them the address and they will tell the driver where to go, its a set price so you dont have to stress about ending up in changmai haha.
Then during the day, have a look at a few places on Kents list and go from there.
Go to places like Bed supper club, where there are heaps of young ones that are working there and get some info if you need it. You meet new people all the time there, at starbucks etc. You will be fine, just smile and you will get ripped off less.
Cheers

[gypsywoman]

I'm trying to find a hotel near the BTS, its easier to get around that way. Any thoughts on a decent one anyone? I've stayed in Asoke and Nana before, must admit though, Nana is not one of my favourite areas.
I stayed in Star Suites, but ended up getting bitten by something in the darn bed lol. Think I'll take one of those kiddy bed protectors with me, you know the ones with the plastic back lol

[Kent F. Kruhoeffer]

^ Hi gypsywoman



I'm a little reluctant to recommend a specific hotel for 2 reasons:


1. When I arrived here 3 years ago, I went straight from the airport

to the apartment I had reserved, so I never actually stayed in a hotel.


2. People can have wildly different ideas about quality, convenience

& price; I hate to stick my neck out for fear of having it chopped off.


Having said that, let me add this shameless little plug for the Index:


The hotels & guesthouses on the list above have been added

slowly, painstakingly, I might add, over the past 2 years,

mostly from recommendations of forum members.


Many of them are on or very near a BTS Station.


If you spend an hour and click around a bit,

I think you'll find something that meets

your needs and fits your budget.


Most are less than 1,000 Baht per night, &

quite a few are in the 400 to 800 Baht range.


re: survival tips request from the OP


If I had only one tip to offer people arriving in Thailand for the first time,

it would be: Don't talk to strangers who approach you on the street.


Thais are generally very shy about approaching foreigners.

Those who do often have a hidden agenda of some sort.

Smile, nod your head, and keep walking. Don't stop.


That rule applies to taxi drivers as well.

You're better off flagging one down yourself

than trying to haggle over a pre-arranged fare,

which will ALWAYS be higher than the meter rate.










Thailand teaching and travel resources available here :::: The Master Index Thailand ::::

[philbags]

Thanks for your help and suggestions guys ; have made a booking and feel as prepared as I think I'm gonna get.
I'll let you know when I get settled tho' am probably passing through to China within a week or so.
Terima kasih tres banyak
P.

[Stephen Jones]

Two tips.

You can get a SIM for your GSM mobile at the airport for $6.

The taxi fare to the center of Bangkok is 350 baht ($10) Beware of limousine services with stands at the airport who will try and charge you more. You will be responsible for paying the toll fees (around 60 baht) though.

[philbags]

Har Har , youre not kidding - 700 Baht to get to my hotel - DOH!
anyway Im here now , jet lagged but in one piece.
thanks again guys , maybe catch you later.
P.

[Kent F. Kruhoeffer]

^ Welcome to The Big !








Thailand teaching and travel resources available here :::: The Master Index Thailand ::::

[Sweetsee]

Next time you want a taxi from the airport you should go upstairs and strike a deal with one dropping a fare off.
Good luck to you!

[pk_yang22]

so i have been in the forum for a while and just decided to join. thanks for all the information.
I am also planning moving there this November. so this all came in handy.