Suggested Bangkok guest houses for all of Bangkok, plus Khao San road guest houses

Bangkok guest houses

For budget accommodation head for the Khao San Road - Banglamphu area

If you’re in staying in Bangkok on a budget, or you simply prefer the atmosphere of backpackers’ hangouts, then there are a huge number of guest houses in Bangkok to choose from across a wide range of prices and quality. The vast majority of Bangkok guest houses are situated in or around Khao San Road — Bangkok’s famous backpacker area. There are a few dotted around other areas of the city, but for the widest selection head for Khao San.

Although Bangkok guest houses are generally aimed at budget travellers, there are a number of charming and very comfortable places tucked away down quiet lanes for those who don’t want to stay in hotels. Some of these guest houses are as expensive as hotel rooms in Bangkok. At the other end of the scale you can find guest houses in Bangkok with rooms for as little as 100 baht, but these are practically prison cells and only for the truly budget minded.

If you spend 300 Baht or more, you can find some great value guest houses in Bangkok where you can get a private bathroom with hot water, some decent furniture and perhaps even a TV. And if you spend 400 — 600 Baht then amenities such as air-con, a fridge, and a minibar are also included.

There are also many guest houses that will offer twin or triple rooms — if you have friends that you don’t mind sharing a room with this can be a great way to get a much better room for a considerably lower individual cost. Dormitories, the like of which are very common is Australasia and Europe, are rarely found in Bangkok guest houses.

Most guest houses have an attached restaurant and bar offering usually very mediocre food, but cheap drinks. Some of these bars will show DVD movies in the evenings, although expect any movie watching to be constantly interrupted by the noisy Bangkok streets in the background. A lot of guest houses also offer an on-site travel agent and internet café, some even have massage and/or tattoo studio on the premises.

Note! New guest houses open all the time and existing ones close down. Take note of the following recommendations, but it may also be worth wandering around the area looking at a variety of rooms to see which you like best.

Bangkok guest houses in the Khao San road area

Khao San Road has become the magnet in Bangkok for visiting backpackers and for good reason, the area is excellent for arranging further travel and is quite close to some of Bangkok’s most popular tourist attractions. It offers, by far, the widest selection of Bangkok guest houses. There are several guest houses located directly on Khao San Road, as well as a large number located nearby, most notably a fairly large selection on Rambutri Road, known to most as ‘the temple street’, which runs parallel to the large temple directly across from the mouth of Khao San Road.

Choose and book budget hotels and guesthouses here

Sawasdee Krungthep: located off quiet Rambutri Road, behind the temple across from Khao San Road. A wide variety of clean rooms. Single with A/C and Bathroom: 450/550 Baht including Breakfast. Friendly helpful staff and laid back restaurant area for watching movies. 30 Rambuttri Road, Phanakorn, Bangkok 10200, Tel: 02 629 0079, 282 1881, Fax: 02 629 0072.
Shambara Boutique Hostel and Restaurant: hidden down a small side-alley on the eastern end of Khao San, this is becoming an increasingly popular choice for backpackers here with clean, tastefully decorated rooms and a charming terraced restaurant. Single with Fan 300 Baht, with A/C 390 Baht including Breakfast / Double with Fan 500 Baht, with A/C 600 Baht including Breakfast. 138 Tanow Road, Phranakorn, Bangkok, Tel: 02 282 7968, 081 839 5155, info@shambarabangkok.com
Chart guesthouse: located right in the middle of the famous Khao San Road, this is an institution among Bangkok guest houses. The guest house’s restaurant is a popular spot for movie watching and to hang out with travellers. Rooms are clean and there is a wide variety to choose from. Single Fan Shared Shower: 250 Baht / Double Fan Shared Shower: 350 Baht / Double Fan Attached Shower: 400 Baht / Double with Air-Con and Attached Shower: 550 Baht. 62 Khao San Road, Taladyod, Pranakorn, Bangkok 10200, Tel: 02 280 1481 (Office), Mobile: 081 634 7888 (Kh. Joe), 086 3104540 (Kh. Ae), Fax: 02 629 0489.
Bella Bella guesthouse: a small gem of a place popular among locals for its clean reasonably priced rooms with and without air-conditioning along with a friendly staff and a good restaurant. Single Fan share Bathroom: 200 Baht / Double Fan share Bathroom: 420 Baht / Double A/C private Bathroom: 520 Baht. 74 Soi Chana Songkhram, Bangkok, Tel: 02 629 3090-1 (Kh.Apichai).
New Siam II Guest House: slightly more expensive but quiet, modern, tastefully decorated, with a friendly staff and a good swimming pool. This is a good option also located behind the temple that is across the street from the mouth of Khao San Road. Fan with Private Bathroom (DBL/TRP): 720/1,035 Baht / A/C with Private Bathroom (DBL/TRP): 840/ 1,170 Baht. 50 Trok Rong Mai, Phra-A-Thit Road, Chanasongkram, Phranakorn, Bangkok 10200, Tel: 02 282 2795, 629 0101 (Kh. Pakorn), Fax: 02 629 0303.
New Siam I: 21 Soi Chanasongkram, Phra-A-Thit Road, Chanasongkram, Phranakorn, Bangkok 10200, Tel: 02 282 4554, 629 3576, Fax: 02 281 7461.

Four Sons Inn: right on the bend of Rambutri Road is the popular Four Sons Inn which features a decent bar and restaurant and also has the unique feature of offering DVD rentals to its guest for 50 baht. Singles/doubles 450/550 baht with a/c rooms with private bath, Single/Double A/C private bathroom: 400/450 Baht no window / 550 Baht with a window. discounts are available for stays longer than two nights. 327/2-3-4 Rambutri Rd, Bangkok, Tel: 02 629 5812, Fax: 02 629 2739.
Chai's House: family-run Chai’s House is a good quiet option with a bamboo-laden outdoor lounging area as well as a good restaurant. It’s also an affordable choice. Singles 150 baht with fan, and 350 for a double room with a/c and private bathroom. 59/4-8 Soi Rongmai (02) 281 4901

Soi Ngam Duplii

This is the street that time forgot for Bangkok guest houses as it was the most popular spot in town in the early 1970s and 1980s before Khao San Road came into its own. It’s still full of guest house and certainly more central; accommodation here is fairly cheap and located close to the bustling Silom district of Bangkok and numerous embassies.

ETC Guest House: clean reasonable rooms, a free breakfast and good travel services make this a good choice on Soi Ngam Duplii. Single Fan with Share Bathroom 200 baht, Double Fan with Share Bathroom 260 Baht, Single Fan with Private Bathroom 280 Baht, Double Fan with Private Bathroom 340 Baht. 5/3 Soi Ngam Duplii, (02) 286 9424, 287 1477-8.
Madam Guest House: a bit unusual for Soi Ngam Duplii, Madam’s is a fairly small wooden guest house distinctively decorated. It offers a break from the bare basic functional standard of many of the areas area guest houses. Single/Double fan rooms with private bath are 280 baht, 11 Soi Saphan Khu, Tel: 02 286 9289, Fax: (02) 213 2087
Sala Thai Daily Mansion: is located at the end of the soi (lane), with large rooms but shared bathrooms. It’s popular with long-term residents and has a roof top terrace and sociable lounge area on the third floor. Tel: 02 287 1436. 15 Soi Sri-Bamphen, Phraram 4, Sathon, Bangkok 10120, Single Fan Share Bathroom 300 Baht / Double A/C Share Bathroom 500 Baht.

Bangkok guest houses in other parts of town

Big John’s: located on Soi Thong Lo (Sukhumvit 55) in an area with trendy upscale bars and eateries, Aussie run Big John’s is new but steadily gaining a reputation as a quality guest house with excellent Western fare, including a mean meat pie. Tel: 02 712 9712. 161/7 Sukhumvit Road Soi 55, (Thonglor Soi 9) Bangkok 10110, Quad A/C Share Bathroom 950 Baht (Low Season), 990 Baht (High Season) / Dorm A/C 220 Baht (Low Season), 260 Baht (High Season) / Single A/C Share Bathroom 530 Baht (Low Season), 550 Baht (High Season) / Double A/C Share Bathroom 550 Baht (Low Season), 590 Baht (High Season) / Triple A/C Share Bathroom 750 Baht (Low Season), 790 Baht (High Season).
White Lodge Guest House: located in the Patumwan district a short distance away from the shopping areas of Siam Square, MBK mall and surrounding area, this is a popular choice for fair-priced rooms and friendly staff. Single A/C Private Bathroom 500/550 Baht / Double A/C Private Bathroom 550/600 Baht. 36/8 Soi Kasaem 1, Rama 1 Road, Tel: 02 216 8867, 215 3041, Fax: 02 216 8228 .
Riverview Guest House: near Chinatown and the River City shopping complex, is a bit more comfortable and many of the rooms do have a river view. They are large rooms and the 8th floor restaurant has a great vista. Difficult to find but they pick you up from River City. Doubles 450 baht with fan, 690 baht with a/c. 768 soi Phanurangsi, 768 Soi Panuangsri, Songwad Road, Samphantawongs, Bangkok 10100, Tel: 02 235 8501, 266 5291, Fax: 02 237 5428, Email: mail@riverviewbangkok.com.

Choose and book budget hotels and guesthouses here

Updated and correct: November 2008