Korean Job Discussion Forums

[cellphone]

I am headed to Bangkok next Tuesday morning. First time ever, don't know a thing about it. This is all so sudden and just arranged and bought the ticket today so it's been so quick.

Question -- is it easy to find cheap or very cheap hotels in the main area of Bangkok, say by Khao San Road? I would like to think of it the same way a foreigner could find Yogwans for 30 a night (here in KR) -- safe, moderately clean, and inexpensive. So in a nutshell, do I need to make lodging reservations before hand or could you pretty much just walk around and pick one?

Also are there any definate dangers in or around Bangkok? I don't mean general stuff like what you would have just about anywhere, I mean are foreigners easy targets or say you hotel room could be purposely broken into late at night simply because you're a tourist? Ahh heck maybe I'm just getting too prepared for the worst.. Well regarding that stuff is there any street or district to avoid?

Anyways thanks for any help.

[buddy bradley]

http://lonelyplanet.com

ThornTree. Have fun (wow am I being reduntant or what?).

[humanuspneumos]

I lived on Khao-sung rd. for months and had no problems. I spent around the 30 mark at the Sawadasee (if you get their card- which was cheep- it reduces your room rate immediately). There is the big one and the smaller one tucked away in the ally. It was clean- however- beware- the noise factor is huge. I can still hear the song- "Stand-up, stand-up, stand-up for your rights." I noticed some places had signs posted "Warning! We are not responsible for your property." Translation- some wankers foreign and local were breaking-in and stealing. Our place in the ally was loud but had no saftey problems because the manager/desk-clerk kept an eye on things. There are tons of places to stay on the road. Nana station (a stop on the Sky Train) has lots of places too. However, same noise thing goin on. Hey- stop talking about Thailand- I miss it already. Well- actually- not the chalky pollution that coated my tongue and lungs. As for danger- nobody ever screamed danger- and that comes from me listening to lots of foreigners talking.

Oh- an idea- the place across the road from Khao-sung with the temple (Khaosung is a capital I shape and you hit minor intersections walking both directions. It's not long at all. The one end of the I has the temple and more quiet places to stay. Just cross the street and turn right.) Anyway- what am I doing? There are so many foreigners roaming the streets that you'll have no problem finding the right place for you.

[gypsyfish]

Are you talking about W30,000? Unless you just want to stay around Khao San Road for the cultural experience, I recommend going to the Nana Hotel near the aforementioned Nana Station. For around $25(US) you get a nice air conditioned room, cable TV, large, comfortable bathroom, and an all-you-can-eat breakfast buffet that would make a priest kick holes in a stained glass window. It's by the Sky Train, so pretty easy to get around from there. There are a lot of restaurants, bars, and it's easy to get to the cultural attractions, too.

KSR is okay - I've spent as little a $7 for a room there, but if you want to up to W30,000, I'd go someplace else.

As for danger, well, Bangkok's a big city. I've never felt that I was in danger and I've never been ripped off there (probably 11 visits in the past seven years), but then danger is my business. I laugh at danger. Danger is my middle name.

[the_beaver]

[Mashimaro]

I wouldn't stay in Khao San road unless you are on an extremely tight budget. Too many smelly European/Australian/NZ backpackers badly in need of a shower and a shave.

Another piece of advice.. If you are buying souvenirs, don't buy at the first place you see something... you will see the same thing, over and over and over again... compare prices... Hey, even the overpriced stuff is cheap, but no point throwing money away right?

[UnJef]

I really dug Khao San Road, if only because there's nowhere else quite like it in the world (that I've been, at any rate). Kinda like the backpacker hub of SE Asia, and it's the best place to book cheap tours and tickets.

Don't litter in Bangkok -- I almost got fined at the train station for a cigarette butt, but I threatened to call the US embassy so they let me go.

[desultude]

I stayed in the Siam Square area, at the White Lodge. The price is great, they are friendly and helpful, and there is a great place across the street for a massage. Its 1/2 block from the Skytrain, Starbucks, and lots of shopping. P.m. me if you want the phone number and address.

[JackSarang]

Or...

You could just pay an extra 100,000 won in Bangkok and fly 1 hr to Phuket and really enjoy yourself.

Great beaches, awesome food and cheap hotels.

Bangkok to me was just a giant urinal.

[humanuspneumos]

I think Jack might be right. Sure- you get some great snaps of temples in Bangkok- however- after only 1-2 days it's "seen one- seen them all." Phuket has some smaller places like Karen and Patong where you can just hang on the beach and walk back to your room again and again. Also-you can make your way to James Bond Island, snorkel at corel beach. All within 1-2 hours Tuk-tuk ride.

[rudyflyer]

Or head over to Samui if you take an early morning or late evening flight the price is under 60,000 won (2000 baht) each way I know of a great place on the beach that is under 1000 baht/nite for a nice air con room on Chaweng.

If you decide to stay in BKK I agree avoid KSR road, its nice to visit KSR for an evening and people watch but people are right its full of scummy looking backpackers. We also stayed near the Nana skytrain station last month at the Ambassador Hotel for $30/nite you get a 4 star room.

Only problem I found in that area is the food prices were high and most places tacked on 10% service charge and 7% tax unlike KSR or Samui

One word of warning be careful of massage services even in your hotel. The Ambassador had a gym with massage services and just let me say a sports massage there means the same thing here which I was not expecting

[Paji eh Wong]

[indytrucks]

I concur with Siam Square as well. Every time I'm in BKK I stay there.

KSR = s h i t e

[humanuspneumos]

Hey- is there a shuttle bus from the airport to Siam? I know there's a bus that goes directly to KSRoad and drops you off in front of the travel agent's place- funny guy- always pulling in foreigners.

Cellphone- if you take a taxi and they go 100 miles an hour just whap them on the head and say, "slow down!" Actually- Thailand is the only country in the world I know of where you're not to touch anyone on the head. Anyway- the airport is a lengthy drive to any of the places we mentioned.

[TECO]

Ambassador or anything along Sukhumvit Road near Nana Sky Train Station - lots of clean, affordable places to stay and location is good.