Got to go to KK soon for the first time.

Can I just roll up at a half decent hotel there or is it better/cheaper to book through an agent like agoda?

Prefer the flexibility of just showing up but noticed rates vary hugely on different days.

Any advice + recomendation of central hotel around about 1000 Baht, Thanks

I enjoy the Pullman.Forget the price.Make sure it ncludes the buffet breakfast.It's worth the money.Theres a lot to do at this hotel.Plus near some bars and small shopping area.Also about A 5 minute walk from the big Shopping Mall in Khon Kaen.Go check it out.

Don't know if your travelling alone but if you have a Thai wife or GF in tow,just book direct with the hotel over the phone,the price usually is a couple of hundred baht less for Thais.

Depends on your price range. U-Inn works for me, About 800 baht. Call ahead,

Traffic in KK is a nightmare so it is best to be in a hotel near where you will be doing your thing.

Just show up. No problem. Dozens of good paces to stay

No need to book in advance. I stayed at the CHADA VERANDA last month, a quite new medium-sized hotel which offered great value for money in a terrific location just behind the KOSA-strip. Plus there is a new lifestyle-entertainment Mall in soft opening just accross the road. the hotel is walking distnace to CENTRAL too. around 700 Baht, no BF included, but they have a small coffee shop and the food is quite okay. or use the Starbucks-style coffeeshop at that new lifestyle-Mall, or the SUBWAY there, which is open 24 hrs (but has no customers at all). google for all that

Thanks for that. Have just booked a couple of nights at the Chada Veranda.

Never been to KK before so is it easy to find?

While I am on is the lake area worth a visit, any restaurants around it?

Just look for this monstrosity and you will be within a few hundred meters. There is so much going around near where you'll stay that I'd only hit the lake afterwards not a priority.