Bangkok Travel Forum

Hi Guys,

I will be staying twice in Bangkok in July. 2 nights and then a few days later, 3 nights. Intend to try out 2 different hotels. Currently Accor Hotels is on sale and I found really good rates for Vie Hotel and Novotel Siam Square. However, I also like the look of Pan Pacific (but at a much higher rate). My criteria for accommodation choice are :
Lively and safe surrounding containing cafes, street vendors, traditional massages. Don't fancy walking along small quiet lanes under hot sun.
Very close to BTS/MRT.
The two hotels shouldn't be too close to each other as I'd prefer to try out differing environments on my 2 stays.
Which of the 3 hotels would you suggest? I am familiar to Bangkok but just never stayed in Siam/Silom area.

Chinatown will be an interesting environment. And then Shangri-La along the Chao Phraya. I have stayed in both areas and can feel the different environs. Another area is the famous backpacker street of Bangkok - you can stay upper rate backpacker hotel.

Of your three choices, I'd rate the Pan Pacific as my last choice unless being near Lumpini Park is a criterion. The PP is just a typical large chain hotel, and I don't think being near Silom/Surawong is a significant "plus". Never been to the Vie Hotel, but it looks hip and is in a decent location per your criteria. Have you stayed in the Rajprasong area? It meets your criteria and also offers easy access to the Silom and Pratunam areas. I think the Holiday Inn and the Marriott Courtyard offer attractive rates in the Rajprasong area.

Where ever you end up, hope you have a good time.

The 2 hotels mentioned for Radchaprasong area is slightly further from BTS, no? I thought of Pan Pac since it is close to the Patpong Night Market... What else is in the surrounding vicinity of the Pan Pacific? Also, you said that PP is just a typical large chain hotel... Won't that be the same as The Novotel Siam Square? It just seem to look better than than The Novotel... Of cause the best looking one albeit small is the Vie. But some people said it is further from my criteria than the other 2...

The Holiday Inn is right in front of the Chidlom BTS station. The Courtyard is about 400m walk, but the hotel has a free on-call tuk-tuk shuttle service right to the steps of the Rajadamri BTS station. Both of these are big chain hotels, but I was suggesting them for being in another area to explore if you haven't done so already.

The Novotel is also a big chain but, although I don't have much to say about the hotel itself, the Siam Square area around it seems to match your criteria very well.

Perhaps I have a different mindset, but I don't see much attraction at the Patpong night market. Sellers are uber aggressive and the place is crowded and dirty. IMHO it's a 30 minute "been there, done that" kind of place. Lumpini Park is nearby.

I really like Holiday Inn (my friend stayed there before) but it is a bit more expensive than even Pan Pac.
Thought of visiting The Patpong Night Market since I have yet to go there. Been to the Night Bazaar numerous times. Also, this trip I won't be able to go to JJ Market since I will be away on the weekend. I heard that the stone carving section of the JJ Market is opened on fri... Is that true?
For 2 girls (who are not looking for any 'actions') where would be a nice area with reasonably priced bar/cafe?
Another reason why I am thinking of staying along the Silom BTS Line is so I can visit the Chao Phraya River... For once!

The Courtyard is now offering a room for B2,499/night. Don't know how that compares with the HI or the PPH, but IMO it's a pretty decent rate value-wise.

As for staying at the PPH, you've said you wanted to try out different environments of BKK, but have already stayed in the Silom/Surawong area which is where the PPH is located. Note that the walk to the Saladaeng Skytrain station from the PP is longer than the walk to the Rajdamri Skytrain station from the Courtyard (both of which will take you to the river - Saphan Taksin station - with Rajdamri station being only one stop further away).

Can't say that BKK has any particular cafe/pub area, but perhaps the cafes in the malls running from Gaysorn to Siam Discovery and the pubs along soi Sarasin, which soi is a 10 minute walk from the Courtyard or a 1 minute taxi ride, will be what you're looking for.

I've asked my wife's opinion, and she agrees that the Patpong Night Market probably isn't going to appeal to most females. In fact she thinks most ladies will be repelled by it. But, if you have the time, since you're curious why not go check it out for yourself?

Oops, sorry. I re-read your post and see that you have NEVER stayed in the Siam/Silom area. My mistake.