lodging - cheap but good and not so cheap but still reasonable priced places to stay in Bangkok

                                 

Our hero, Doug - Viva Garden

                                       

sukhumvit road with BTS overhead

on my way back to the states this last time I needed lodging for a few nights in Bangkok.The last two places I used wouldn't work this time so I went hotel shopping on Bookings.com .

One place I really enjoyed  in the past was Citichick- neat location off of Sukhumvit at the end of soi 11 where it connects into soi 13.   Loads of interesting restaurants and at night plenty of spots to keep you entertained, such as the Hillary Bar and the two open air jazz restaurants

Cheap Charlies soi 11

up towards Sukhumvit.

Citichic is a small but classy hotel with understated elegance, restaurant with great breakfasts though  maybe a bit over priced, small but nice outdoor pool, nice compact gym, elevator and a friendly staff with good English skills.  Rooms are good sized, clean, modern and comfortable.

Though on this trip I had to rule them out as my funds were running low and there prices had increased and their elevator was having a bad time and stairs are still not my strong suit as I continue to recover from my leg repair.

http://www.booking.com/hotel/th/citichic-boutique-suites.html?aid=383305;lang=en 

Note to my readers: Sukhumvit is the main drag running through Bangkok's center and is referred to in three different areas - lower Sukhumvit soi 1-24 which is a mix of  Middle Easterners, western men in search of girly bars,

soi cowboy

its this area you find Soi Nana and soi Cowboy, large western style shopping malls and streets lined with souvenir vendors - while middle Sukhumvit, soi 26-60 is home to many many expats and  reminds me of suburbia in the USA but with condos.  Then soi 61 and above has been mostly Thai but now the BTS extends out this way, more and more visitors are seeking out the area as the prices are lower and it's still a Thaim neighborhood and with the BTS Skyway extension is still only a 25 minute skytrain ride into the action of city center.  If your Thai is a little rusty, a soi is like a side street or alley.

my studio - sky train and station in the background

Beer Garden waitress

Viva Garden  Serviced Residence  Great spot, like coming home to your own serviced apartment, giant outdoor swimming pool, good sized gym along with wonderful and friendly service.   They have a restaurant but I didn't use it as when I was there I cooked some of my meals as the units come with a supply of pots and pans and a stove to use them on, frig and microwave for your cooking pleasure. The rest of my meals I bought out either at  the open air food market on the other side of Sukhumvit or at one of the take away shops at On Nut BTS station.  Viva Garden is adjacent to the Prakanhong BTS station, and the next BTS stop after On Nut.  At On Nut on one side of Sukhumvit is another open market plus at night it contains an open air beer garden with live Thi bands, on the other side of Sukumvit from this is a mall, containing on the ground floor a McDonalds and a mix of other US chain food spots.  On the upper level is a Tesco Lotus Super Center with a western style grocery and a large discount department store along with a food court outside it's front door.   The food court is comprised of a diverse mix of Thai style street food shops, good, healthy, cheap along with being a fun outing to try out living like a locale.


http://www.booking.com/hotel/th/viva-garden-sukhumvit.html?aid=383305;lang=en

Okay,  now for my latest cheap but good lodging pick in Bangkok,

even though it's kind of a dumb name, At Mind Executive suites is a pretty good deal It's in the upper Sukhumvit area so in the same area as Viva Garden along with also being an apartment style place but at half the price.  My reservation was for the

cheaper room, no stove but frig and microwave and a sink on the balcony where you can clean up your cooking messes.  The room was a little dark so I asked for another and was upgraded to a bright and larger unit with a kitchenette, dining table  and all the

night view from my room

cooking and eating gear. Though the first room was nicer and in better condition but both were very nice.  At Mind has a small pool on the roof along with a gym, restaurant with a  good breakfast selection and is located down a peaceful soi in this mostly Thai neighborhood of upper Sukhumvit.

 http://www.booking.com/hotel/th/at-mind-executive-suites.html?aid=383305;lang=en


More choices and pricing for your Bankok  stay - Bookings.com