Rabu, 18 Januari 2012

Bangkok Hotels: Where to Stay?


Finding a Thailand hotel is super easy these days. Do a search at google, and you'll have some pretty good idea of where you want to stay. Plus, you can just go ahead and book for a Bangkok Thailand hotel right online.

If you plan to find a Bangkok hotel, you have tons of choices. Stay at Kaosan road if you're a backpacker. If you're not one, then stay close to the skytrain if you love shopping. If you're into good atmosphere and don't care much about getting around the city, then stay close to the Chao Phraya river, which is the main river of Bangkok.

If you want to stay at Kaosan road, you don't even need to book in advance. You can just walk around to see the guesthouse you like, and then just walk in. They always have a vacancy.

If you prefer to stay in the city center in order to get around easily for shopping, (and let me tell you, Bangkok is shoppers' paradise -- Hong Kong isn't cheap... but Bangkok is) then I suggest you check out Patumwan Princess hotel Bangkok. It's right in the MBK shopping center (fake jeans, watches and bags) and also right at the Siam Square skytrain station. Grand Hyatt Erawan hotel Bangkok, Le Meridien and the Four Seasons hotel Bangkok are more luxurious. They're right at the intersection where you can see Zen and Isetan shopping malls right across the street. The Siam Square (where they sell funky clothing) and the Chidlom (Central shopping mall) skytrain stations are within minutes away.

A lot of tourists like to stay at the Asia hotel Bangkok, which is right at a Rajdevi skytrain station (one station away from MBK shopping center). It may be cheap, but it's kind of old. Well, very old actually. I don't recommend it. But it's totally up to you.

If you don't care much about shopping in Bangkok, then I'd really suggest you stay at the Sukothai hotel Bangkok. It's a classy and luxurious Thai-styled hotel --but you'll have to take a taxi if you want to go anywhere. Or even better, stay by the Chao Phraya river if you can. It will give you a different feel of Bangkok, especially at night. It's rather expensive though, especially if you want to stay at the world-renowned Oriental hotel Bangkok or the Peninsula hotel Bangkok. If these two are too expensive for you, try Shangri-la hotel Bangkok. It may be a little bit cheaper. And don't forget to book a Bangkok river cruise dinner at your hotel. The Chao Praya river is glamorous at night -- with a view of well-lit Wat Arun.

To get around town from your Bangkok hotel, you can ask the hotel's doorman to help you get a taxi. It's not expensive at all.

The Best Bangkok Hotels Close to Nightlife Hotspots - Where to Stay


It is no big secret that Bangkok has one of the wildest nightlife scenes in the whole of South East Asia. Travelers and tourist alike ,men and woman, young and old, come from all over the world to dance, drink and party the night away. With ultra modern clubs filled with beautiful people and bass thumping tune blasting on high; people flock in droves to take part in Bangkok's famous international club scene.

If this is your first time visiting Bangkok and you are looking for a hotel, then the best thing to do is get stay in place that is close to the most famous nightlife hot spots.

There are several distinct areas where Bangkok's nightlife is concentrated in. As a first time visitor to Bangkok it is best to stay within the commercial areas.

So the best thing to do as a first timer to Bangkok Thailand is to stay in hotels in the vicinity of the Nana Entertainment Plaza (NEP). Now NEP is a three story complex containing a cluster of watering holes and bars with pool tables. You will also find a bunch of go-go bars on all three floors. Sex for sale is available here so this place is certainly not a place to take young kids to. There are many hotels around that area with brand names such as the Marriott and the Landmark.

Now NEP is a little bit off of a major street called Sukhumvit and there are a lot of hotels along this area. One hotel that I really recommend is the Majestic Grande Hotel. This hotel is relatively new with all the modern comforts you can ask for. The service is excellent and the front staff do speak english. This hotel is only a short three minute walk to NEP.

Another popular nightlife area is called Patpong which is located in the Silom district. Patpong consists of several streets or what the Thais call sois. In these sois tourist can find go-go bars and clubs with live bands. Sex for sale is obvious here even when you see local Thai people with families walking around. Patpong is an okay place to travel visit even if you have kids who are mature. Because Patpong also has a night market where you will find families wandering around, getting a glance of bikini clad woman dancing on stages. Patpong night market has a lot of counterfeit goods for sale. Almost any cheap fake brand name hand bags, watches and clothes are available here for purchase. I don't suggest buying the watches but so whatever makes you happy. Do bargain hard with a smile as the vendors expect you to.

So to truly experience the full effect of Patpong you should stay in hotels along Silom and Surawong. Two hotels that I can recommend are the Tawana Ramada and the Montien Hotel Bangkok. These two hotels are within a short walking distance to Patpong.

So if you want to come to Bangkok Thailand to experience the nightlife scene, I really do suggest that you stay within the commercial areas at first. Bangkok is a relatively safe city compared to other cities in South East Asia as well as Western cities. But scams by local Thais do exist so be careful. Also the language barrier is an issue, so have hotel staff write down your destination in Thai. By staying in hotels near the nightlife district you can maximize your pleasure and enjoyment of the best nightlife that the city Bangkok has to offer.


Best Bangkok Hotels Near Red Light District

Bangkok's infamous nightlife scenes are famous all over the world and they attract millions of visitors each year from all over the world. There's just so much to see and do that it keeps visitors coming back for more. If you're a first timer to Bangkok, the task of finding ideal hotel accommodations near Bangkok's red light districts is a daunting task especially since you don't know where to start. Don't worry, you'll find your answer here in this article.

There are three distinct red light districts in Bangkok. The first one is called Patpong. Patpong is most well known for the ping pong sex shows that go on above the go-go bars that line the streets of Patpong 1 and 2. Patpong 1 is the most crowded because that is where you can find the Night Market filled to the brim with counterfeit Rolex and even brand name jeans. You can also find both kinds of massage parlors here. What I mean by both kinds is one offers traditional massages by trained staff and the other... well let's just say that they're trained to massage their customers all over for a little extra. Even though the sex and sleaze that surrounds Patpong is obvious you still see many families on vacation shopping at the night market while gawking at bikini clad dancers.

Here are the names of just a few hotels right in the heart of Patpong:

    Bally's Suite Silom Hotel
    Silom Serene Boutique Hotel
    Siam Heritage Boutique Hotel
    Montien Hotel

The last two red light districts are located in Soi Cowboy and Nana. Both are relatively close to each other. Soi (street) Cowboy is basically a street in Bangkok, and this street is full of many popular go go bars such as Long Gun and Rawhide. Soi Cowboy is the smallest out of the three and Nana is the biggest red light district in Bangkok. The focus of nightlife in Nana is centered around Nana Entertainment Plaza which is a 4 story building full of go go bars enclosing an open bar area filled with hundreds of freelance prostitutes. These two areas are visited mostly by men so you won't see much families wandering around.

Most men who stay around Nana and Soi Cowboy most often book hotels that do not require a joiner fee. Many hotels in Bangkok require a guest to pay an extra fee for bringing back a companion to their rooms. You may have heard of other terms such as guest or girl friendly hotels. No joiner fees could be as little as 500THB up to 1500THB. So as you can this is the main reason why men rather book hotels with no joiner fees.

Here are the names of a few hotels near Soi Cowboy and Nana:

    Majestic Suites Hotel
    Ambassador Hotel
    Royal Asia Lodge Hotel
    Oasis Inn Hotel

Cheap Hotels in Bangkok

The Western tourist can come unstuck when looking for cheap hotels in Bangkok. Ideas of basic standards of accommodation vary according to where you come from. Hiram and Hettie from Houston may be expecting better facilities than Han from Hanoi - or even Henry and Hannah from Harrogate (UK). Let me guide you. To be sure of western-style luxury stay at one of the many familiar western chains. The only problem is that they can be very expensive. And, let's face it, stay in a Hilton or Marriott in Bangkok and you might as well be in New York, London or Cairo.

You want to stay in Bangkok, right? The good news is that there are plenty of independent hotels in Bangkok that offer reasonable standards of accommodation at bargain rates, Who needs a wardrobe, after all? Hangers are the important part - right?

You'll probably know that Bangkok is the capital, and primary city of Thailand. In Thai it's called Krung Thep Maha Nakhon (or Krung Thep for short, which means "city of angels"). Bangkok has a population of over six million. The dominant religion is Buddhism, practised by all but 5% of the city's population. The majority of what remains are Muslim with a scattering of Christians. Bangkok is choc-a-bloc with temples and gardens, plus (lest we forget) a thriving sex industry. One of Bangkok's strengths is its fascinating mix of old Thai culture with western-style capitalism.

This is my personal choice of the best Cheap Hotel (Bangkok):

New Siam River Side

21 Soi Chanasongkram Phra-A-Thit Road, Chanasongkram, Phranakorn, Bangkok 10200.

Here is an upmarket guest-house with great views, located beside the Chaophaya River, very near to the Grand Palace. Fully air conditioned, it boasts a coffee bar, decent restaurant, and large swimming pool. As in most good Thai hotels, the beds are foam rubber. Every room is equipped with bedside control, cable TV, and refrigerator. High-Speed Wi-Fi is available in all rooms. All rooms no smoking..

Take care when booking because the New Siam River Side has two other "branches. Prices for rooms start at 1390 bahts (single). A non-air conditioned room with a fan in one of the other guest houses starts at only 590 bahts ($20).

Silom City Hotel

2 Soi Prachum (Silom 22), Silom Road, Bangkok 10500

Formerly called the Silom City Inn, this hotel can be found in the middle of Bangkok's business centre, close to every key shopping centre. The Silom City within a short walk of the major nightlife and shopping areas as well as Suan Lumpini Park, the Bangkok Railway Terminal, and the river. It has 70 guest rooms, all of which come with air-conditioning, a personal safe, connections for PC and fax, the in-house music system, colour TV with satellite, and en suite bathrooms. The advertised weekly rate starts at 1,150 baht a night (around $40) for a single room, but we are told it is possible to barter.

TakeANap

920-926 Rama4 Rd. (At Surawongse Junction, Opposite Red Cross Society), Silom District, Bangrak 10500,

The cutely named TakeANap is a family-run hotel that has its fanatical supporters. There is a mix of single, doubles and dorm-bedded rooms, starting at 350 baht a night ($12). Singles come in at approximately 1,000 baht ($34). Great for backpackers, not so good for business travellers or tourist families. The 30 single and double rooms are all decked out in different themes, most of them designed to give you a headache after too much beer! TakeANap is very central, just a few metres from the sky train (BTS) and subway (MRT). TakeaNap is also near to the nightclubs, city centre, and market area. Wardrobe freaks should note that rooms come sans their favourite furniture item, but with hangers and a rail. You'll also be very lucky to get a fridge,

Sivalai Place

168 Isaraphab Soi 33 Isaraphab rd Thra Pra Bangkok-Yai Bangkok 10600 Thailand

This apartment house offers tremendous value for anyone on a budget. Their smart studio apartments range in price from 1,450 baht a night (under $50) and double apartments come in at a mere 100 baht more. Expect queen-size beds and en suite bathrooms with shower panels equipped with six (count them) massage jets. The facilities are better than Bangkok's average, ranging from a fully-equipped karaoke room to tennis, restaurants, cafés and a gigantic swimming pool without chlorine, filtered instead by an eco-friendly 'O-zone' non-chemical filtering system. Then there's the sauna, the "good karma" library and a well-equipped games room. The Sivalai Palace comes highly recommended.

Luxury Hotels Bangkok - Your Prime Accommodation in Thailand's Capital


All of the luxury hotels Bangkok are located at the center of the busiest city of Thailand; most of them are all within a few blocks of each other. You can get a room in one of the hotels around for anywhere around $150 to $400. The price difference is so vast in this area because some hotels are offering 5 star accommodations, while some are 2-3 star accommodations. I have done some searching for hotels in Bangkok and I have come up with three luxurious options for people to look at. These options will fit those looking to spend a lot on a hotel.

The Oriental Bangkok

The Oriental Bangkok is located right across Siam in Bangkok. The International Marketplace is located just a couple blocks from the hotel. This hotel is tagged as the "grand old dame" and is very popular for its extravagant dinner show, if you are staying at this hotel, be sure to book your dinner reservation. For nearly 130 years of royalty, important dignitaries as well as other notable guests have all tracked the renowned Chao Phraya River to the golden gates of one of the world's most famous and luxurious hotels.

The Peninsula Bangkok

The Peninsula Bangkok has been providing comfort and luxury for more than a decade now. Located right at the riverside, this luxury hotel Bangkok has serviced many celebrities and important figures since its opening. The hotel is now considered one of Bangkok's greatest landmarks. The hotel is very easy to recognize with its elegant architecture. There are many cafes and restaurants located in the hotel, and there are many pools indoor and outdoor. You can enjoy valet parking with this hotel, and many other services including a salon, spa, outdoor cabanas, and hydrating pools. For around some dollars a night, you can't go wrong if you're looking for a hotel right at the heart of Bangkok.

Four Seasons Bangkok

This hotel offers stunning suites to all its customers, there is nothing you can't expect with this hotel. It's top of line, but you are paying the price for top of the line. It's one of the best luxurious hotels in Bangkok. The tower stretches up really high with fabulous wide rooms. They have everything you could think of, from swimming pools, tennis courts, restaurants, cafes, internet, satellite TV, kitchens in every room, and so much more. This hotel is really worth your dollars, if you plan on staying in a luxurious accommodation while staying in Bangkok, then this is the place to do it.


Radisson Hotel Bangkok


The hot favourite tourist destination of Bangkok is full of hotels and other accommodation facilities. One of the most popular options is the four star Radisson Hotel which does its best to pamper patrons with generous dollops of legendary Thai hospitality. An expressway connects the hotel to the Suvarnabhumi International and Domestic Airport. Bangkok's entertainment and commercial district is also just a short drive away from the Radisson.

Rooms

The Radisson Hotel Bangkok offers guests a vast array of 431 rooms and 17 suites to choose from and has some of the best rooms amongst other hotels in Bangkok. This includes two Grand Suites, two Honeymoon Suites, and thirteen Business Suites. The room categories are Superior Room, Deluxe Room, Grand Superior Room, Grand Deluxe Room, Executive Room, Junior Suite, Executive Suite, and Grand Suite.

All the rooms have Coffee and tea maker, Direct dial telephone with IDD and voicemail, Executive writing desk, Hair dryer, iron/ironing board, Mini bar, refrigerator and ice bucket, Personal safe, Private bathroom with separate bath and shower, Radio, Satellite and cable TV with music channels, and Self-controlled air conditioning.

Dining

There are five dining joints dishing out legendary cuisines that tickle every palate. Besides sampling flawless Chinese, Japanese, and Thai culinary wonders, one can also tuck into the best of other global dishes. The eating joints are Tubtim Suam, Fook Yuan, Radisson 92 Cafe, 'The Nishiki', and 'The Bakery'. This is not all. Patrons can also look forward to the best of alcoholic and non alcoholic beverages along with excellent snacks at the Lobby Lounge, Sky Lounge, and Blackie Sports Pub.

Business Facilities

The hotel offers numerous facilities for corporate guests. Be it small business conferences or big corporate dinners, the hotel is sufficient for all requirements. The Grand Ballroom has the capacity to serve 1,000 people. In addition, there are five other function rooms for smaller events. Sophisticated audio/visual equipment has been installed in all the meeting rooms. The services of engineering and IT specialists are used for technical support. Other facilities include portable stage, bottled water, complimentary parking, flip chart or white board with markers, stationery kit, and support service for courier, florist, and photographer.

Fitness and other Miscellaneous Facilities

The Radisson Hotel Bangkok also offers enviable fitness facilities. Although, most hotels in Bangkok boast fitness facilities, Radisson manages to hold its own in the competition. The 'Health Club' of the hotel has a 'Fitness Center' complete with expert fitness instructors, private massage room, dry cleaning and laundry services, aerobics studio, spa, and sauna and steam room among others. There is a nice big outdoor swimming pool as well. Besides fitness, miscellaneous facilities include limousine service, foreign currency exchange, High-speed wireless Internet access, souvenir and gift shop, and shuttle connectivity to major metro stations and shopping precincts.

Attractions near the Hotel

A major reason behind the Radisson's popularity is its proximity to many of the hottest attractions of the city. These include Chatujak, Dream World, The Grand Palace, The National Museum Bangkok, and Lumpini Park.

Selasa, 17 Januari 2012

The Peninsula Hotel Bangkok Review


The Peninsula Hotel Bangkok

We were met in the airport by the hotel representative and whisked away inside a chauffeur driven Mercedes towards the hotel, where we were met warmly by a gracious hostess who escorted us to our room, so this was definitely not your typical hotel counter check in procedure. The Peninsula offers an airport fast-track service and may be booked with the concierge. It is about $30 or so per person to get.Upon arrival, to be ushered through a separate customs area past all of the throngs of other waiting travelers is an infinitely more welcome feeling than standing in long lines. Our junior suite was amazing coupled with views of the river and city skyline. The bathroom was roomy and spotless with fantastic separate shower cubicle. The area was also built with a well stocked drinks cabinet and fridge. Even though The Peninsula isn't the most contemporary hotel that I have ever stayed in, that is certainly the very best overall experience, and also to sum up, it is sheer elegance and first class service completely.

Facilities At The Peninsula.

The 37-story, W-shaped Peninsula has 60 one bedroom and five themed suites. Many rooms have river views and balconies. Private ferries shuttle across the river to connecting water taxis and the Sky train. The hotel has a quantity of restaurants and bars, and the River cafe was excellent and romantic, right on the river with the boats quietly passing by. Staff anticipate the next request before you have even thought of it! The magnificent, three-tiered swimming pool has covered areas available if you want to be from the sun for a while and health club with fitness center, sauna, and steam rooms and also a spa and beauty salon with a massive amount of massage treatments.

Peninsula Hotel Bangkok Activities And Attractions

On weekdays, guests from the Peninsula Bangkok also have special use of the distinguished Thai Country Club golf club, which is approximately 60 minutes by car just southeast of Bangkok. The hotel is ideally located on the west bank of the Chao Phraya River in Thonburi. You can cruise the river in long tail boats and experience the flavor of riverside life and local attractions. Only a short distance fr

Hotel Bangkok Studio Apartments

If you are travelling for business or simply going on vacation, the Heritage Hotel Bangkok is a great place to check out in terms of accommodation.

The Heritage Hotel Bangkok is located in the Business District as well as the shopping hub, with only a short walk from the Chong Nonsi BTS Station. Situated between Silom Road and Sathorn Road, this hotel puts you close to all the action you want without compromising your comfort.

You can go shopping, hang out in local cafes and even experience the night life, all close to your hotel.

Being so close to the Chong Nonsi BTS Station has its advantages. The transportation in Bangkok is of high quality and, when planning a day out, you can use the bus as transportation instead of having to rent a car and drive around in a city you are not familiar with.

Priding itself as the Urban Hip Hotel of Bangkok, the Heritage Hotel Bangkok offers guests hospitality mixed with Thai culture as well as the modern feel of Bangkok.

The hotel is huge with 110 rooms, each with either a king sized bed or twin beds. Every single room has a 32" LCD Screen TV with Satellite TV Channel. Furthermore, every room has a refrigerator, snack and mini-bar, allowing you to indulge in the finer things in life.

You have access to your own coffee and tea making facilities and you will have hot and cold running water. Rooms have their own private bathrooms with rain showers and tubs. Hairdryers are supplied in every room, helping you to save a little space and shorten that packing list of yours.

The Heritage Hotel Bangkok offers various accommodation options, including Studio Apartments ranging from 26 sq m to 42 sq m. All the Studio Apartments can sleep three people and the difference in size means a difference in price.

A Studio Apartment of 26 sq m big will cost you BHT 1 485 per night for three people sharing, while a Studio Apartment of 42 sq m big will cost three people sharing BHT 3 190 per night.

Each Studio Apartment in the Heritage Hotel Bangkok has one bathroom and, as an added bonus, a free concierge service with each apartment rented.

What sets this hotel apart from others is the fact that their rooms are bigger and better. Instead of renting a hotel room, you are renting a Studio Apartment.

Furthermore, all the apartments are fully furnished and have modern decorations and facilities for each of their guests. You will feel right at home and with the friendly staff you will not want to leave.

The Heritage Hotel Bangkok also prides itself on its friendly, personalized service and ability to show you not only an old culture but the modern influences as well.

No luxuries are spared in the Heritage Hotel Bangkok and you will be able to reside in comfort and enjoy not only the Thai culture but a warm and comforting living space.