Accommodation will always be one of your biggest travel expenses…but what if it wasn’t? What if you could reduce the cost of your accommodation to zero while still enjoying the comforts of home? That’s what house swaps promise. House swaps have been around for decades. It was the entire premise of the movie The Holiday (starring Cameron Diaz and Kate Winslet). They became all the rage but then were soon eclipsed by sites like Airbnb. But as travel prices skyrocketed post-COVID, more and more people have turned back to house swaps as a means of saving money while they travel while still getting a local experience (but without the hassle of an Airbnb). House swaps are exactly what they sound like. You sign up, list your home, and then swap with someone else in another city. They stay in your place and you stay in their place. The biggest and most popular platform for swaps is HomeExchange . And, in this post, I’ll go over everything you need to know to get started with a house swa...
Posted: 2/19/24 | February 19th, 2024
Famous for its chaotic streets, friendly people, cheap and delicious street food, and wild nightlife, Bangkok is one of my favorite cities in the world (I even spent two years living here). It just has a contagious energy that can’t be beat. I never ever ever get tired of coming here.
A city of eight million people, Thailand’s capital is huge. Choosing where to stay in Bangkok can be overwhelming, especially for first-time visitors, as there is a ton to see and do here and the city is very spread out (luckily with a much improved public transportation system).
I’ve been visiting the city since 2005 and have stayed in hundreds of hotels, guesthouses, and hostels. There’s thousands to choose from. To help you plan your trip, here’s my list of the best hotels in Bangkok:
1. Bangkok Hotel Lotus Sukhumvit 33
This four-star hotel is centrally located on Sukhumvit, in an area that is renowned for its nightlife, shopping, and lots of restaurants. It’s very central to a lot of things, including the Skytrain. While it’s a bit dated, the rooms are spacious, clean, and equipped with amenities including flatscreen TVs, desks, electric kettles, complimentary Wi-Fi, and minibars. The beds are firm and adorned with plush bedding and the rooms get a lot of natural light thanks to the floor-to-ceiling windows. Some rooms even having little seating areas.
Hotel facilities include a rooftop pool, spa, and a decent fitness center with sauna. There’s also an on-site restaurant that serves Thai and international dishes as well as a breakfast. Overall, I really like this hotel and think it’s a solid value for such a convenient location.
2. House of Phraya Jasaen
This three-star hotel is built inside a collection of seven old antique shophouses. The shops were remodeled into a 32-room boutique hotel with an eclectic industrial design, with brushed concrete walls offset by softer wooden accenting. There are ten different room types, including rooms with kitchenettes and single rooms with a shared bathroom (perfect for those on a budget who want more privacy than dorm). Room size and amenities vary depending on the room you choose, but all rooms have AC, a flat-screen TV, and free Wi-Fi.
There’s also small spa on-site and a restaurant with a delicious breakfast too. They also offer a cool perk: after you’ve checked out, if you want to come back and shower before a late-night flight, you’re welcome to do so in a complimentary room. Overall, this is a comfortable and affordable place to stay in Sathorn, Bangkok’s busy central business district.
3. Prince Theatre Heritage Stay
This theater-themed four-star hotel has been around for 100 years. The charming interior is cinema-inspired, with photos and paintings of movie stars on the walls and beautiful hardwood flooring throughout. You can stay in either a suite or dorm bed here. The suites are huge, feature plenty of natural light, and come with a living room, kitchenette, air-conditioning, flat-screen TV, and rainfall showers. The dorms feature capsule-style beds with individual privacy curtains, outlets, reading lights, and lockers.
The on-site restaurant, Box Office Bar & Cinema, serves breakfast, good cocktails, and Thai food. Every evening there is even a classic movie screening. This is a cool and unique place to stay in Silom, an area known for its vibrant nightlife and great restaurants.
4. D&D Inn Khaosan
D&D Inn is an institution on Khao San Road (it’s been around forever). It’s perfect for those with last-minute travel plans as there are always rooms available. Plus, the reception is open 24 hours. Decorated in a modern Thai style with wooden interiors and tiled floors, the recently upgraded rooms have flatscreen TVs, air conditioning, a mini fridge, and en-suite bathrooms with great shower pressure. Not all rooms have windows, so be sure to book or ask for one if that’s important to you.
There’s a bar downstairs and a pool on the rooftop (with its own bar) that gets packed with travelers. As for breakfast, you can get it right across the street at the “Greens and Cheese” restaurant associated with the hotel. This is a great place to stay if you want a private room in the heart of Khao San Road. Just know that this isn’t the quietest place to stay as the street’s partying goes all night.
5. The Quarter Bangkok Ratchathewi
The Quarter calls itself a “poshtel,” which means you get all the comforts of home but with a hostel’s sociable atmosphere. It’s light and airy, blending modern aesthetics with traditional Thai elements. The rooms at this three-star hotel are clean with lots of natural light thanks to the large windows. There are both private rooms with en suite bathrooms as well as dorms.
Dorm beds all have privacy curtains, outlets, USB ports, and built-in lockers. There are plenty of common areas to hang out in, including a rooftop terrace with a pool, as well as a co-working space for up to 20 people. There’s a free continental breakfast each morning too.
Overall, this is a convenient place to stay in Pratunam as it’s just a one-minute walk to a BTS Skytrain station and a ten-minute walk to an Airport Rail Link station.
6. The Park Hyatt
Situated in the iconic Central Embassy building, this five-star hotel is one of the nicest in the city. The lobby is striking, with its soaring ceilings, sleek architecture, and curated artwork from local and international artists. The guest rooms and suites are spacious and designed in a minimalist modern style, with neutral earthy tones complemented by rich accents. Each room has plush bedding, marble bathrooms with a bidet and soaking tub, desks, minibars, and floor-to-ceiling windows offering panoramic views of the city.
The hotel has an amazing rooftop cocktail bar and restaurant, a sophisticated whisky bar, a stylish café for breakfast, and a Catalan restaurant recognized in the Michelin guide. There’s also a nice rooftop infinity pool surrounded by lush greenery (get there early as the sun is only hitting it until about 1pm).
If you’re a travel hacker looking to use points on a hotel in Bangkok, the Park Hyatt offers excellent redemption options (25,000 points per night). This is where I stay whenever I want to splash out and cash in my hotel points.
7. Aloft Bangkok Sukhumvit 11
I consider this to be the best-value luxury hotel in the city. The rooms at this four-star hotel are spacious and sleek, with high ceilings and large windows that let in a lot of natural light. Rooms have huge marble bathrooms with great walk-in showers, luxurious pillowtop mattresses, mini-fridges, desks, and coffee/tea makers. Not only are the rooms amazing, but there is just much going on here. The breakfast buffet is really, really good too.
The fitness center is huge, but the real win is the rooftop pool with loungers and cabanas from which you can marvel at the panoramic views over the sprawling cityscape. Located near a lot of restaurants, bars, and activities, I almost always stay here when I’m in town.
Bangkok is a city with layers. While many travelers only spend a few days here before heading elsewhere in Thailand, I think the city deserves more time than that. Choose one of the hotels above and you’ll ensure a great place to stay while you explore this fascinatingly chaotic metropolis.
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Book Your Trip to Bangkok: Logistical Tips and Tricks
Book Your Flight
Use Skyscanner to find a cheap flight. They are my two favorite search engines because they search websites and airlines around the globe so you always know no stone is left unturned!
Book Your Accommodation
You can book your hostel with Hostelworld as they have the biggest inventory and best deals. If you want to stay somewhere other than a hostel, use Booking.com as they consistently return the cheapest rates for guesthouses and cheap hotels.
If you’re wondering what part of town to stay in, here’s my neighborhood breakdown of Bangkok.
If you’re looking for more places to stay, here are my favorite hostels in Bangkok.
Don’t Forget Travel Insurance
Travel insurance will protect you against illness, injury, theft, and cancellations. It’s comprehensive protection in case anything goes wrong. I never go on a trip without it as I’ve had to use it many times in the past. My favorite companies that offer the best service and value are:
- Safety Wing (best for everyone)
- Insure My Trip (for those over 70)
- Medjet (for additional evacuation coverage)
Looking for the Best Companies to Save Money With?
Check out my resource page for the best companies to use when you travel. I list all the ones I use to save money when I’m on the road. They will save you money when you travel too.
Photo credits: 2 – Bangkok Lotus Sukhumvit 33, 3 – House of Phraya Jasaen, 4 – Prince Theatre Heritage Stay Hostel, 5 – D&D Inn Khaosan, 6 – The Quarter Bangkok Ratchathewi , 7 – W22 by Burasari, 8 – Aloft Bangkok – Sukhumvit 11, 9 – Amara Bangkok
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https://ift.tt/nRbEQzf February 19, 2024 at 07:11PM
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