Where In Bangkok Should We Live?

[curryleaf]

My husband has just been offered an internship in Bangkok and his office will be located in the UN Building. (In case this is not a landmark, the building -- from what I've been able to find using online maps -- appears to be near the Democracy Monument and the Parliament.) I don't know what this area of the city is called (Dusit?) and which areas which should rent an apartment.

We're hoping to rent a furnished 1-bedroom furnished apartment for 6 or 7 months and are hoping not to have to pay more than 25,000 Baht per month. Less than that would be nice, and considerably less even nicer -- we just don't know how much we would need to spend. One key consideration is ease of access to work for my husband. Everything I've read suggest that one get a place near the Skytrain or MTS, but from looking at the maps, it doesn't look like they connect up all that nicely with the area where the UN Building is located. If that is indeed the case, what other options would we have? Could we live across the river, for example?

I appreciate any help you can give. Many thanks!

PS: I would really like the apartment complex to have a swimming pool and fitness center; is this at all feasible in our price range?

Edited April 9, 2007 by curryleaf

[bendix]

The area around Ari would be the best for you, I think. Not too far from the UN HQ, close to the BTS line, and a nice area full of treelined streets, small restaurants etc.

You should be able to find what you want for that price-range too.

[billp]

Ratchadamnoen Avenue is a nice - and interesting - area, but it's not exactly close to where most serviced apartments are located, which is what you want to rent, I think. However, right at the end of Ratchadamnoen is a khlong (canal) boat terminus which provides quick, cheap and traffic-jam-free transportation to near National Stadium/Siam and Pratunam. So you could find a rental in either of those two areas and still have no trouble getting to work. The khlong boats run every five minutes or so until sunset - about 6:30 PM.

[curryleaf]

Thanks, bendix and billp. I hadn't realized that traveling on the canal by boat was a possibility. That certainly extends our reach.

[bangkapiboy]

For loaction to the UN I would stay around Victory Monument I think... Easy skytrain and busy like hel_l around there, so you'll always have something to see and do. Don't stay in Dusit, since that would be too boring.

[dtshin]

Check the Bangkok Development Network (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/bkk-dn/). There is an online accommodations database (you'll need to register first to view it), but if you also send out a general email you'll get good responses. Many interns use that group to connect with each other.

[DragonQuest]

well considering he has a UN job i think the salary will make anything feasible lol but ya you would need to do some snooping around the area when you get there and find yourself a nice big condo, or at least the closest to it.

goodluck

[stament]

well considering he has a UN job i think the salary will make anything feasible lol but ya you would need to do some snooping around the area when you get there and find yourself a nice big condo, or at least the closest to it.

goodluck

Do they pay well then? I heard there are a lot of NGO's in Cambodia who get paid loads, but didn't think would pay much in Thailand compared to the Western World.

What sort of benefits do they offer - do they offer relocation expenses, accomodation, etc? Might be worth looking into.

[Paulbangkok]

An excellent website to look in specific Locations with lots of places always available is Mr Room Finder

Here is a link to the site,

Mr. Room Finder Website

Really a One Bedroom Fully Furnished should cost between 12-20'000 baht depending on Location and Quality etc. and for 25-30k you should be able to cover the Rent, Cable, Water, Electric and a decent Internet Connection in a nice place and good area.

Good Luck

[Paulbangkok]

****************this is an older thread***************maybe dragged up accidentally by a newbie*

[londonthai]

the UN buildings are not near Victory Monument and Dusit but on Ratchadamnoen Avenue and around thanon Phra Athit (by the river).

maybe the best option is thonburi - so getting outside the town centre rather than towards it