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Bangkok offers a staggering range of lodging choices, and even some of the best rooms are affordable to travelers on a budget. The city has nearly 500 hotels and guesthouses, and the number is growing. In fact, competition has brought the prices down at many hotels; unfortunately, the service has suffered at some as a result of cutting corners to lower prices. Still, you'll feel more pampered here than in many other cities.
For first-class lodging, few cities in the world rival Bangkok. In recent years the Mandarin Oriental, Peninsula, Shangri-La, and a handful of others have been repeatedly rated among the best in the world, with newer players like the Sofitel So and St. Regis receiving major accolades. If there were a similar comparison of the world's boutique hotels, Bangkok's would be near the top, too. These high-end hotels are surprisingly affordable, with rates comparable to standard hotels in New York or London. Business hotels also have fine service, excellent restaurants, and amenities like health clubs and spas.
Wherever you stay, remember that prices fluctuate enormously, and that huge discounts are the order of the day. Internet discounts are widely available, and booking online can often save you up to several thousand baht. Always ask for a better price, even when you are checking in. Deals may be more difficult to come by during the high season from November through February, but during low season they're plentiful.
Hotels are concentrated in four areas: in Silom and Bang Rak (home to many of riverfront hotels); around Siam Square and along Phetchaburi Road in Pathumwan; along Sukhumvit Road, which has the greatest number of hotels and an abundance of restaurants and nightlife; and in the Chinatown and the Old City neighborhoods, which have a smaller number of properties, most of which are affordable. Backpackers often head to Khao San Road, also home to some newer, more upmarket guesthouses.
On the riverbank close to Wat Pho, Chakrabongse Villas offers four Thai-themed luxury suites in reconstructed traditional Thai homes, along with three Moroccan-inspired rooms, on the grounds of Chakrabongse House, which was built in 1908 for Prince Chakrabongse. Run by his granddaughter, the urban resort is one of the city's most coveted addresses, so book well in advance.
This colonial-style boutique hotel offers small and large suites, plus a few multibedroom residences, all in a style suggesting 1920s Shanghai. The room decor includes antique desks and armchairs, claw-foot tubs, and vanity mirrors in wood frames. French doors open to balconies overlooking a tropical garden. Completing the ensemble are a rooftop pool, an Isan/Lao restaurant, and the nostalgia-inducing Joy Luck Club lounge, which resembles a Parisian saloon.
With a rich history dating back to 1879, The Oriental is one of Bangkok's most prestigious hotels. It's on the banks of the Chao Phraya River and has hosted presidents, royalty, and international celebrities. Each room and suite has individual touches and elegant colonial-style flair. The rooms' large picture windows overlook the river or gardens. Outstanding restaurants and bars showcase everything from Italian and French to Thai cuisine; don't miss the famous Author's Lounge, known for its English-style afternoon tea.
One of Bangkok's most prestigious riverfront properties, the Shangri-La rivals even the more famous Mandarin Oriental. Crystal chandeliers illuminate the palatial marble lobby, and the adjacent lounge offers a marvelous Chao Phraya views through floor-to-ceiling windows. The peace of the gardens is interrupted only by the puttering of passing boats. In the luxurious Krungthep Wing, a separate tower across the garden, the rooms are larger and quieter, with balconies overlooking the river—a rare treat in Bangkok. The hotel is a short walk from BTS Saphan Taksin.
Old Hollywood meets art deco at this family-owned property on the Chao Phraya, where ultraluxurious design pays homage to the postcolonial, early-1900s era of King Rama V, with black-and-white striped chairs and a library lined with limited-edition tomes. The suites are sheer elegance, and the pool villas include private plunge pools, rooftop terraces, and quirky artifacts, from straw fedoras to vintage clocks. There is a cooking school, a conservatory, a spa, and—the hotel's most coveted accommodation—a century-old teak villa.
The first hotel in Thailand to offer guests around-the-clock personal butler service, the St. Regis is all about pampering. The rooms are plushly furnished, with tremendous views of the skyline and the Royal Bangkok Sports Club. The rooftop pool has views in every direction, and the spa offers a wide range of treatments. In the bar lavish afternoon tea and the age-old tradition of Champagne sabering create a happening atmosphere from day to night. The hotel is connected to the BTS Silom line by its own private walkway.
With beautiful rooftop venues and abundant flair, the ultraluxurious Tower Club section of Lebua has spacious rooms with stunning upper-floor views and prices to match. The fancier rooms come with full kitchens, washers and dryers, and private balconies. Tower Club privileges include free tapas, high tea, and cocktails in the Tower Lounge, along with priority reservations at any of the State Tower building's restaurants. The hotel is at the end of Silom Road near the river, convenient to most attractions.
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