1

That is good advice, thank you. If there is better value in Chinatown or around the station I'm happy to go there. Most of the threads I was reading people seemed to be suggesting Sukhumvit instead of KSR and people with $20 budgets were being told it was low and there wasn't much options with such a budget... Which doesn't seem right.

Any specific suggestions? Or just wander around? Note I don't mind paying an extra 50-100B if the accommodation is much better but I can put up with deprivations if I have to.

Is 200-300 reasonable? I've never paid over 160 in Thailand before and $3-6 is my normal range over the last year but I realise this is Bangkok.

2

In Soi Rambuttri right beside KSR there's a place called My Home (or is it My House I forget now) that has private room, private bathroom and fan for 200B. It's not that nice but it's not horiffic either.

Is 200-300 reasonable? I've never paid over 160 in Thailand before and $3-6 is my normal range over the last year but I realise this is Bangkok.

I would say 200-300B is on the cheap end of things. I haven't heard of too many places in that price range in Bangkok and I wouldn't personally make a habit of staying in anywhere so cheap.

3

@TheSpade- thanks for that, I'll check it out. I am paying 220 tonight for a very basic, very clean room (Bella Bella) but think I'll move around the corner tomorrow to Peachy @120 if they have a single or 160 for a double (only doubles right now.) It certainly seemed clean, (including the toilet,) more so than many places I've been, and the rooms are spacious. Bella Bella had no problem with me taking the bike in the room; in fact the guy I checked in with recommended it before I asked, saying he had one stolen on the street.

Different people have different budgets and different standards; I've slept in an agricultural warehouse in Turkey, an abandoned Turkish army post in the mountains in Kurdistan, on the floor with 20 other males after a wedding in Syria, out in the desert in Syria, on the floor of innumerable families houses in Iran, on the beach in central Muscat, several very basic places in the Himalayas w/o water or electricity, in a trucker rest stop in Western China (no water and worst toilet ever,) the cheapest place I could find in Chungking Mansions in Hong Kong where I had a windowless room with more insects (including bedbugs) than I have ever seen before or since, at the back of a shop in Northern Laos without water or toilet and later on a balcony there.

I've also spent three months in India, where one guesthouse I slept on the floor of their restaurant because that was honestly better than taking a room (it was also cheaper.) And this is just what comes to mind (although it tends to be memorable) and doesn't include the camping, which I've done throughout the Middle East and Tibet, spending up to a month in a tent.

I'm really really not picky- but I'd certainly pay 200 over 160 if it was worth it. I am on the cheap end of things myself!

4

Sounds like you're having quite an adventure. I've never stayed in Peachy but I've heard about it from a mate (he just said it was cheap) and I'm sure I read bad reviews on tripadviser or somewhere for it. Check and see as I could be confused.

After all that cycling I would have thought you'd be depserate for a comfortable bed.

5

Try "O Bangkok" on Soi Rambutri street.
Less than 5 minute walk from KSR.
Really good clean rooms, hot water, free wifi, free breakfast.
They have a storage room there.
Highly reccommend this place! Awesome location, decent staff too.
Not quite as cheap as you are looking for though!

Edited by: MyShell

6

O Bangkok is 700 baht for a room. Plus, you have to deal with a crappy Canadian tour company that has groups there all the time making noise throughout the whole night.

7

Theres 3 budget guest houses next to each other on Soi Rambuttri. My House, Merry V then Green House. We have always stayed at Merry V for many trips to Bangkok. Like the others, there are no rooms on the ground floor and far too difficult to be humping a bike up stairs. Merry V has a small "courtyard" where it would be possible to park one.

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How much is Merry V a night and what sort of standard is it? Similar to My House?

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I am beside New Merry V right now so checked: s160/t220/d250. Didn't look at the rooms but they point out there is no electricity; they charge 20b to charge stuff at reception.

@Spade- Peachy certainly has bad reviews on Trip Advisor but it also has a lot of good ones. I read them and very much get the impression that the bad reviews are from people with standards. I lack standards; to my eye the place looked fine. Basic, for sure, but spacious and clean. I'll want to check out the electric situation, though, charge at reception is fine but not great if they want more money for it.

In the end I stayed where I was, as I woke up late and it was only one night, but I think I'll go to Peachy on my return. I met a guy staying there who I met six months ago in Laos and he said it was absolutely fine.

Again, thank you all for your help, it is much appreciated.

10

Wow Merry V is cheap but no electricy isn't very good. Did you get a look at the rooms in Merry V? I'm guessing by the price it's gonna be similar standards to My Home / House which I didn't like much. It's all about Rambuttri Village & Inn as far as concerned, best place in the area that I've found.

11

I might add: I took one walk down KSR last night and Christ on a pogo stick it was horrible. You have to see to understand. I've never seen anything like that before in any backpacker ghetto worldwide. Overpriced too. I now understand why people say don't stay there. Ram Buttri and Phra Athit are however perfectly pleasant streets.

12

Yeah KSR it's self isn't too good and I would never stay there unless absolutely no other option, too noisy and too many rowdy young backpackers around. It's still very cheap for most accomodation, food, beer etc though, definitely more so than other tourist areas of BKK.

Edited by: TheSpade

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1. 3

My house guest house

I've stayed there a few times, lovely place.

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Spade, if you only want "cheap charlie" then no, theres no power points. BUT if you go to Merry Vs newer rooms out the back, the rooms are of course better with bathrooms, aircon option, power points and are much quieter.