I've decided between two hostels in Bangkok to stay in for a few nights when i first arrive in Thailand. One is close to Khaosan Road (dorm style) and the other in Sukhumvit (private room). I'm having a hard time deciding between which area I should stay in. I know most of the tourist attractions are near KR which is a plus; also its the backpacker area and since I'm travelling alone, it seems like this would be a great area to meet other. From what I understand though, KR is pretty inconvenient because its not near the Skytrain. I read that Sukhumvit has great food, shopping, nightlife and easy access to public transport.
I've decided between two hostels in Bangkok to stay in for a few nights when i first arrive in Thailand. One is close to Khaosan Road (dorm style) and the other in Sukhumvit (private room). I'm having a hard time deciding between which area I should stay in. I know most of the tourist attractions are near KR which is a plus; also its the backpacker area and since I'm travelling alone, it seems like this would be a great area to meet other. From what I understand though, KR is pretty inconvenient because its not near the Skytrain. I read that Sukhumvit has great food, shopping, nightlife and easy access to public transport.
Any suggestions as to which I should pick?
If you are a kid right out of school then maybe stick with the Khao San Road area. This way you will be around lots of other young travelers. Slightly older, maybe also interested in some convenient shopping, Sukhumvit Road would be a better choice. My preference is the Sukhumvit Road area primarily because of the Skytrain and I am quite a bit older than kids just out of school.
How many days will you be in Bangkok? You could try both places if you want. A meter taxi is pretty cheap if you only use the meter making it easy to switch places. Being older I would never use a dorm, older guys in dorms with kids too often means the guy is a perv. (An opinion I know!) With rooms in Bangkok with air starting around 600 - 700 baht there is no real reason for an older male to use a dorm unless he likes sharing toilets and showers with kids!
Lots of people travel alone. Some people find company in pubs or nightclubs or by chance. There is a couple places popular with backpacker type tourists in the Sukhumvit Road area too. Suk 11 Hostel and Soi 1 Guest House. Suk 11 Hostel is popular with women travelers. But you can get other places with air at 600-800 baht too! The Soi 1 Guest House also has an area set aside for women. Both of these two hostels have community type gathering areas. In this area you have the Skytrain stop, internet shops, malls, street vendors, nightlife, good restaurants, lots of travel agencies for tours and plane tickets. You could sign up for a tour and be on a van with other tourists, perhaps meet some friends that way.
Good luck.
Dorm room in Khao San Road, that must be the less than 100 BAHT per night place? KR is walking distance from the main attractions of Bangkok, and KR in itself is attractive, I mean you see lots of attractive and drunk people in one of a street, and it is just a street with bars...
After a decade or so of travelling around Thailand, and living on and off here in Bangkok now for a couple of years i will say that Khao Sarn is as convenient or more convenient for travellers and tourists alike than the lower Sukhumvit sois.
Yes Sukhumvit has the skytrain, but most of the places on the skytrain route have nothing to do with tourists besides those who want to party at bars or going shopping at Jatujak.
Khao Sarn Rd on the other hand is conveniently located much nearer (virtually walking distance) to the major tourist sites of Bangkok such as Grand Palace/Emerald Buddha/Wat Pho etc... Banglumphu area (KSR) is regarded as one of the oldest areas of central Bangkok where the capital had its first department stores and a temple for the kings etc...
Outside Khao Sarn on the main Ratchadamnoern Avenue, there are buses to the whole of Bangkok (unlike Sukhumvit). Take a short walk and you can pop on the Chao Phraya Express boat, or take a walk along Ratchadamnoern and you will find the Saen Saeb canal boat which takes you from the east to the central to the suburbs in the north-east of Bangkok. Should you wish to take the skytrain, the Ratchathewi station is about 15 minutes by bus, or 50- baht by taxi.
0 Response to "staying near Khaosan Road vs. Sukhumvit"
Post a Comment