Hey there.
i used to travel to Thailand beginning of 2000s. In that days the Khao San Road was a good area to stay. Budget accomodation, good mix of nightlife and always some interesting offer on the street market. Nowadays KSR area seems to be all mainstream and commercialized. Is there a new, more intersting area to stay in Bkk these days? Close to that what KSR used to be 20 years ago?
I dont think that there is a "new KSR area" in Bangkok (or at least I dont know about it). And yes, KSR is in a way very "mainstream and commercialized", but its not necessarily all in a negative way. And in the recent years I have found that it has again gotten better. What I mean - some 10 years or so ago, I really hated the way it had changed into, but now I feel that its again more relaxed and the ambience has been getting "better" again. Or maybe its just me that has been getting older and / or has changed;-).
I would still stay in Banglampoo, but not right on Kao San Road. I prefer to stay in the surrounding areas, so that I can enjoy the big choice of restaurants, street food, bars, cafes, shops, the Chao Praya river boat stop etc., without being right in KSR. Thanon Phra Arthit or Soi Rambuttri or around there are good options in my opinion.
Try going down the street the next left turn after Buddy Lodge there is a quite area of guesthouses down there. Also you can go beyond Tanao road to the next main road there is a low key area around there. A few kilometers away At Sri Ayuthaya rd there are guesthouses such as Sawatdee guesthouses and others - this is not new area , its been around as long as the KSR scene. Also from KSR you can try the area closer to the river - where the old Apple Guesthouse used to be.
There is no new KSR its just a matter of walking further away as nathalie said.
Hey there.
i used to travel to Thailand beginning of 2000s. In that days the Khao San Road was a good area to stay. Budget accomodation, good mix of nightlife and always some interesting offer on the street market. Nowadays KSR area seems to be all mainstream and commercialized. Is there a new, more intersting area to stay in Bkk these days? Close to that what KSR used to be 20 years ago?j
KSR was commercialised 20 years ago. Just more mid range rooms now and higher prices.
Try staying north, south or east of the city centre.
Or just stay elsewhere in Banglamphu . Its not necessary to stay in another part of the city just because KSR the street is over the top.
KSR has changed a lot over the years but it isn't going to get replaced by a new, hipper version, I don't believe. It is odd to walk down KSR and see non-Thai families and oldsters (I can say that because now I am one) and even odder to see Thai families coming down to gawk at all those "odd not-Thai" people. There are guest houses all over Bangkok, some of them conveniently close to khlong taxi stops or Chao Phraya Express piers, but I just don't see them getting the critical mass to replace KSR.
I do recommend checking out Rambuttri. It is only a block away but it is an order of magnitude more laid back. The part of it over by Phra Arthit is close to the river boats and easy to get in and out of. North Banglampu has tons of choices and they are close enough to hit the good parts of KSR while avoiding the tedious bits.
Or just stay elsewhere in Banglamphu . Its not necessary to stay in another part of the city just because KSR the street is over the top.
Why bother going? Ignoring 99% of a city is a wasted opportunity.