Cheapish Hotels In Bangkok Near Hualamphong Station

[jarman_ah]

When we read the reports on the Atlanta and the River View Guest House, we made up our mind that those were the ones we planned to choose from. But when we saw their location on the street map, we saw that they would really not suit our needs, at least for the first 2 nights. So I thought some of you experts might have some alternatives for us.

We'll be arriving by train from the Cambodian border at around 6 p.m. (we love walking, so we anticipate spending the next four hours just taking in the immediate surroundings), and we want to hop another train for a two-day trip north the very next morning at 7 a.m. So it makes sense to stay near the main railway station, I guess (and in the same place on our return, as we'll get back pretty late).

All the reports, however, say that this area is... well, I guess it's like main railway stations everywhere: plenty of cheap run-down hotels but not a neighbourhhod you'd fancy hanging around in. Just about every hotel I've found so far has been on the river side of the station, in Chinatown, which a lot of posters have said is not such a nice introduction to Bangkok (anyway, we have a Chinatown right here in Sydney, and I suspect Bangkok's will be a dead ringer).

How about going north or east, still within walking distance of Hualamphong but towards the national stadium? Any hotels up that way, and what's the neighbourhood like? We'll have two children with us, by the way: daughters 12 and 14, so the Red Light District is not really our idea of the perfect location!

What we really want is to duplicate the ambience of the Atlanta or the River View, but within easy walking distance of Hualamphong. I will be very grateful for any suggestions.

[Thaiquila]

If you are just looking for a basic, cheapish hotel near the train station, try Bangkok Centre (accross the street from the station) or Mandarin (one short subway stop away towards Silom). Both are tourist oriented hotels, not many sex tourists at either. Mandarin is nicer. Can book cheaply on most Thailand online hotel sites.

Edited September 19, 2006 by Thaiquila

[jarman_ah]

Wow! That was quick.... thanks for that! We had already found the Bangkok Centre on this forum, but the Mandarin is a new one (only been a member for an hour!) I will have a look right away, and hope there will be more suggestions forthcoming.

Yes, we only want basic accommodation, though we prefer guest houses or boutique hotels to anything that smacks of a "chain": definitely no Sofitels, Mercures, Hyatts, Accors, etc,

[jarman_ah]

Well, we had a look at the Mandarin and decided that, nicer or not, it would be WAY above our price range (and also a bit too cosmopolitan for our tastes), so the Bangkok Centre is coming out as the front runner. Frankly, however, we're wondering if we should just go ahead and book the River View, which is really the type of place we want, and then hope that it's fairly easy to walk to it from Hualamphong station. Certainly, on the map, it doesn't LOOK very far.... right as you leave the station, across the canal, left into Thon Traimit, follow to the end, left into SongWat and, finally, right into PhanuRangsi. Simple? Well, coming from Sydney, Australia, maybe I have no idea what a city the size of Bangkok is really like, but it LOOKS straightforward enough, and maybe a 15-minute walk. Not too taxing if we plan to catch a 7 a.m. train.... I hope!

Comments on the above invited (including ones that begin with "Are you mad???")

[johnnyk]

I think you'd be better off taking a taxi, they are ridiculously cheap in BKK and air con too.

Walking in BKK is not a treat and can be very confusing: chaos doesn't quite describe it. Maps may not give an idea of the scale. Streets are not always well-marked as in the west and good luck asking directions if you don't speak Thai. Crossing a main road can be a heart-stopper.

Get in the taxi, tell the driver "rot fye wallumpung" (phonetics here) and "Turn on meter!" If he doesn't turn on the meter, get out and flag the next one.

Chinatown in Sydney is not a dead ringer for BKK. BKK Chinatown is not prettied up for falangs, its Chinese without western overlay.

Edited September 21, 2006 by johnnyk

[udon]

johnnyk........ very true.

I would take his advice, the humidity is a killer, BKK has it's own climate, concrete, tar and glass generate a lot of heat on top of the normal hot air temp.

[ding]

I love taxi meters even more than I love Chinaaaa.

If I have 2 or 3 with me I don't even consider skytraining.

[jarman_ah]

Thanks, ding, udon and Johnny.... of course, all three of you are right, and I will probably end up doing exactly as you said; my only reservations about taxis and tuk-tuks in this case are, first, that I have heard that the River View is in a pretty inaccessible (except by foot) area-- even the tuk-tuks can't make it up the narrow laneways. However, if they could get us within 250 metres, I guess that would be better than nothing.

My second reservation concerns how fast a taxi ride will actually turn out to be. We often hear horror stories about Bangkok's traffic; how you sit for hours in your car and hardly move at all. These stories don't make the idea of travelling by taxi sound too appetising! Do these traffic jams apply to all of the major roads in Bangkok, or are they confined to just a few areas?

Thanks again for all your good advice -- I am really enjoying checking out this thread every morning!

[my friend I]

Look at The Train Inn. Next to the station. It'll be on google. Not much of an area but ok for 1 night

[jarman_ah]

Well, My Friend I, that's quite a find! Actually, the Train Inn would seem to be just about everything I asked for.... it's near the railway station without being in the heart of Chinatown, it's cheap without being too nasty, and it's not one of the multinational chains which I always hate, because when I stay with them I feel like I haven't left home.... and I am not one of those people who go away and then want to feel like they're still back home!

I had never heard of the Train Inn until this suggestion, so I am very much in your debt. If you have the time, I'd love you to elaborate on your comment "Not much of an area".... how would it compare (the area, I mean) with, for instance, the locality where the White Orchid and all those other Chines hotels are located?

[my friend I]

I haven't stayed at the hotel.

Re the area, its next to the entry to the expressway & busy Rama 4 Road, so lacking in charm. I don't know of anything interesting right there. Or even an ok restaurant.

If u really want to walk somewhere China town is interesting but footpaths are more for riding & parking motorbikes, selling stuff or similar.

That train is often late in

[johnnyk]

Even if your taxi is in a traffic jam at least you are out of the noise and heat with a soft seat and air con. The fares are so cheap you could sit for an hour for pennies.

I'm not a fan of tuktuks, they are very noisy and you are sitting out in the open in humungous noise and pollution and they are effin unsafe IMO. Drivers are notorious for ripping off tourists.

[tartempion]

Comon, the bangkok Centre is at a stone throw from the railway station.

A taxi to cross the street?

The hotel has an entranc alley on Rama IV opposite the subway.

Bus 53 stops in front of the alley and I often take this bus direction China Town. Will take you 5 minutes.

[jarman_ah]

Thnaks for that info, Tartempion; actually, I don't think anyone suggested that you need a taxi from the Train Inn, or even the Bangkok Centre, to Hualamphong Station; the taxi came up when we were mentioning the River View Guest House, which is, I think, a little further from Hualamphong than "across the street".

Are the Train Inn and the Bangkok Centre in the same area?

[my friend I]

When you come out of the train station you will see Bangkok Centre straight in front of you. About 100 metres across the forecourt and the road.

The Train Inn will be around to your left.

[jarman_ah]

Thanks again!