Ramkhamhaeng Area - Some Questions

[healthcaretaker]

I am thinking of staying in this area for a change. I have some questions and hope some can help:

1) Nasa Vegas Hotel to the Ramkhamhaeng Airport train station is just 100 metres but is it easy to cross the road(a highway) ? Or is there a entrance/exit to the station without any need to cross the road ?

2) Which is the best shopping mall near the station area ? Bangkapi Mall appears to be quite a a few km away. What's the easy way to get there ? By boat or bus ?

3) Are there many places for local food near the Nasa Vegas Hotel in the morning ?

4) I read Ramkhamhaeng has a lively nightlife scene, but how far is it from this hotel/station area ? Exactly where is it if I use google map ?

5) While getting into the city is easy, by the canal boat or the airport train, my concern is the return to the hotel in the night, how much roughly will a taxi trip cost from Silom or Chinatown and how long will the journey takes ?

Thank you in advance.

Any info or advice is much appreciated.

[Kodan]

Ive stayed at Nasa Vegas many times over the last few years. Its a decent hotel but I recomend getting the 1200bt rooms as they are well worth the money. The 800bt rms are a bit dated worn. There is a 7-11 with easy access and a pharmacy a couple blocks away.

1) As to crossing the road .. yes you can do it. There is a stop light right near by that holds up traffic or about 100 meters down the walk is a sky walk over the road.

2)Shopping ... go to Ramkhanhaeng Mall. Cross the sky walk to the same side at the City Line station hail a taxi... about 50bt each way. If you grab a taxi infront of the hotel they will take the long way around and it will be 130bt.

3)Not a lot of local morning fare on the street. If you cross over there are a few places but selection is a little limited. Nasa Vegas does have a restaurant and a breakfast buffet but the buffet is not free.

4) Night life... I think I recall seeing a couple of places on Ramkhanhaeng. Take Ramkhanhaeng under the BTS go about 3-4 blocks.... on your left.

5)Though I have never taken a taxi from Silom or China Town I would expect it to be about 150bt ... how long ....depends on traffic.

[asanee]

Chinatown for nitelife? Thats a new proposition for me. Or do you happen to be some Chinese who thinks he has found some good deal-and nitelife means eating birdsnestsoup among stinking buses on the street? But at night the roads are empty and -if wanted- a taxi could even use some part of expressway.

Frankly, my idea is that you land yourself in the wrong place. The 2 blocks (1 is long-time aprtmt) stand right beside the ARL (in fact they had to be torn down-as they had encroached on railland)-and thats it. trains wish by untill 0.22 and from 5.55 (from the garage). In THAT area of RKH (the road is well over 15 kms-so specify) there is about nothing to do see etc.

Around the Ratchprarop ARL station are also numerous smaller, not heavily advertised on the net, apartmts and smaller guesthss-just off Pratunam. But you scary peole want to have anything arranged monthes advance-and then rely on the few places that do it by web.

The NITE life around RKH is quite spread out and for the most part very heavy young/.cheap students oriented (well-what would you expect at the biggest uni here in TH?) and also -for insiders, mainly gay (that means 2 boys doing it together and places to allow them finding partners). Also 5-6 gay sauna's. It is some 3-4 kms away from that HTL.

Also about 200 buses/hr run over that road-some 20+ lines, both mini, normal, AC- 24 hrs and can bring you to the mall (actually 2-across the road from one another) plus anohter 3-4 minor malls further on, incl. BigC. There is even a 24 hr bus along RamIV=just of Silom among them.

[dddave]

Kodan covered it pretty well. As far as nightlife, there is a well known "Mor Lam" nightclub ISARN TAWAN DANG on PATTANAKHAN, not too far from the hotel. (Pattanakhan is the road if you turn left at the nearby lights, Petchabury Rd. if you turn right) There are 2 nightclubs across from one another, Tawan Dang is the one on the right side. Late in the evening the crowd is lively and fun. The place is LOUD so bring some ear protection.

If you go down Petchabury rd., there are several large "fishbowl" style massage parlours. If you were to go straight at the lights onto Sukhumvit 71, you will find mostly Thai Karaoke joints; not recommended.

[healthcaretaker]

Thanks for all the replies.

I am not going to Chinatown for the nightlife but for my favourite fishballs noodle soup that opens very late in the night.

If the taxi ride from the city to RKH is just around 150 baht, it's not far and certainly worth the savings compared to city centre hotels. I mean for a first time stay, just to see the area.

[healthcaretaker]

Kodan covered it pretty well. As far as nightlife, there is a well known "Mor Lam" nightclub ISARN TAWAN DANG on PATTANAKHAN, not too far from the hotel. (Pattanakhan is the road if you turn left at the nearby lights, Petchabury Rd. if you turn right) There are 2 nightclubs across from one another, Tawan Dang is the one on the right side. Late in the evening the crowd is lively and fun. The place is LOUD so bring some ear protection.

If you go down Petchabury rd., there are several large "fishbowl" style massage parlours. If you were to go straight at the lights onto Sukhumvit 71, you will find mostly Thai Karaoke joints; not recommended.

Thai Karaoke joints ? I love Thai songs !! I will look forward to visit them

[healthcaretaker]

Thanks all for the replies.

I go to Chinatown not for nightlife but my favourite fishballs noodle soup that opens late at night.

If 150 baht taxi means it's not really that far; well worth the savings compared to city centre hotels if the RKH area is nice.

BTW, is there any subway transport near RKH ? Is it near to go Cultural Centre subway stop ?

[dddave]

Thanks all for the replies.

I go to Chinatown not for nightlife but my favourite fishballs noodle soup that opens late at night.

If 150 baht taxi means it's not really that far; well worth the savings compared to city centre hotels if the RKH area is nice.

BTW, is there any subway transport near RKH ? Is it near to go Cultural Centre subway stop ?

Petchabury MRT Station is a 5-10 minute walk from Makkasan Rail Link. The nearest BTS is Phra Khanong. There is an inbound (Same side hotel) bus stop 200 meters from the hotel, turn right on Rhamkhamheng and it's just past the footbridge. Some of the buses will let you get on in front of the hotel if they are stopped in traffic.

The #40 (yellow=a/c) and #501 will take you to Chinatown although a lot of the 501's run a short route. If there is a red sign in the front windshield, it won't go to Chinatown. The #40 and #501 will also stop at the Phra Khanong BTS, first stop after turning onto Sukhumvit. The #71 buses will take you to Ekkamai via Rama-4. The #22 bus will also go near Chinatown.

The bus stop going the direction of the Rhamkhamheng shopping centers and University is on the opposite side of the hotel, slightly left in front of the tall glass building. #'s 71, 40, 22, 501, 109 and 115 will all go there. The bus will cross the intersection of Rama-9, then look on the left side for FOODLAND. There are several malls 2 stops down.

[LuckyLew]

There are lots of places to eat

From Nasa Vegas you can catch the 71 bus and head up to Ramkam Uni

Every bight they have a market on the Uni grounds, lots of good, low priced food available

..

There is no underground tunel from hotel to airport link

..

Instead of catching a taxi from hotel upto Mall Ram, i suggest you cross to airport link

and take a moped-taxi. Cost is 40 baht and can save a lot of time. Depending on time

of day, this short trip can take 30-45 minutes. Crossing over the Rama 9 intersection

can be take a long time.

..

There are many food vendor places close to the hotel, they set up around 4-5-pm

[healthcaretaker]

Thanks all for the replies.

I go to Chinatown not for nightlife but my favourite fishballs noodle soup that opens late at night.

If 150 baht taxi means it's not really that far; well worth the savings compared to city centre hotels if the RKH area is nice.

BTW, is there any subway transport near RKH ? Is it near to go Cultural Centre subway stop ?

Petchabury MRT Station is a 5-10 minute walk from Makkasan Rail Link. The nearest BTS is Phra Khanong. There is an inbound (Same side hotel) bus stop 200 meters from the hotel, turn right on Rhamkhamheng and it's just past the footbridge. Some of the buses will let you get on in front of the hotel if they are stopped in traffic.

The #40 (yellow=a/c) and #501 will take you to Chinatown although a lot of the 501's run a short route. If there is a red sign in the front windshield, it won't go to Chinatown. The #40 and #501 will also stop at the Phra Khanong BTS, first stop after turning onto Sukhumvit. The #71 buses will take you to Ekkamai via Rama-4. The #22 bus will also go near Chinatown.

The bus stop going the direction of the Rhamkhamheng shopping centers and University is on the opposite side of the hotel, slightly left in front of the tall glass building. #'s 71, 40, 22, 501, 109 and 115 will all go there. The bus will cross the intersection of Rama-9, then look on the left side for FOODLAND. There are several malls 2 stops down.

Thank you for the buses details, you must be staying near there or involved in the bus company

I don't think I will use the bus from hotel to city as it takes a long time, better use the BTS or MRT but returning from city to hotel to sleep, maybe I will use the bus. What's the night(or after 12 midnight) bus that runs from the city to the hotel ? Thanks.

[healthcaretaker]

Any particular food stall or restaurant that you guys know that is outstanding there ? Thanks.

[dddave]

After midnight, your BTS/MRT options are nill and bus options sparse. From lower Sukhumvit, you can take the #2 bus, get off at Phra Khanong and then the #71 to the hotel; both run all night but are not frequent. A taxi from lower Suk to NASA that late will run B80-B100.

I live in the area and use the buses often. Sometimes slow; but time is something I have in abundance.

[Kodan]

Any particular food stall or restaurant that you guys know that is outstanding there ? Thanks.

Just across the tracks past the bank is a great little place if you like 'guay dtiaao', they have a cart by the street. Just past that is a restaurant that sells a good 'khao gai'....keep in mind little or no english at the restaurant. Also if you cross the sky walk I think there is some more street food on your first left as you walk away from NV.

The restaurant at NVH is not bad but definately has farang pricing. Also if you want to know about the local nitelife just get to know one of the guys working the lobby. Its amazing what you can find out for 20bt. ;-)

Edited February 20, 2012 by Kodan

[siam2007]

Lower Ramkamhaeng is as boring as it gets. the "nightlife" takes place Soi 53 up, going until Lamsalee Junction. The gay places are around there, so if u stay at lower Ram, you will "safe" if that is your concern. THE MALL 3 at RAM is as well as boring as it gets.

the "fun" Mall with scored of people at any give time of any give day is the Mall BANGKAPI, and that indeed is very far from Nasa Vegas (6-7 Km me thinks). during evening rush-hour, this can easily take 60-90 minutes by Bus.

Did you actually inspect those apartments at Nasa Vegas already ? I did that a few years ago when it became clear a station would be built right next to it, but all units I saw were run-down on the brink of being disgusting, and overpriced as well. If I would have found a decent unit at a decent price, I would live there now.

If you want to live in a "lively area" of RAM, you should not stay at any Soi lower than #39.

but if ur desire is to mingle with Farang, Sukhumvit is of course much closer.....

KHOR HAY SANOOK !

[healthcaretaker]

Lower Ramkamhaeng is as boring as it gets. the "nightlife" takes place Soi 53 up, going until Lamsalee Junction. The gay places are around there, so if u stay at lower Ram, you will "safe" if that is your concern. THE MALL 3 at RAM is as well as boring as it gets.

the "fun" Mall with scored of people at any give time of any give day is the Mall BANGKAPI, and that indeed is very far from Nasa Vegas (6-7 Km me thinks). during evening rush-hour, this can easily take 60-90 minutes by Bus.

Did you actually inspect those apartments at Nasa Vegas already ? I did that a few years ago when it became clear a station would be built right next to it, but all units I saw were run-down on the brink of being disgusting, and overpriced as well. If I would have found a decent unit at a decent price, I would live there now.

If you want to live in a "lively area" of RAM, you should not stay at any Soi lower than #39.

but if ur desire is to mingle with Farang, Sukhumvit is of course much closer.....

KHOR HAY SANOOK !

Thank you but your 1st 2 lines in 1st 2 para is so confusing. And you mean the nightlife there is totally gay ?? or not and what you mean by "safe" ? Thanks for the Bangkapi Mall info; and how about Fashion Island Mall nearby which also have a FF outlet ? How is it compared to Bangkapi Mall ?