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[Barrett]

What's the best place to stay near or on Kho San Rd in Bangkok for a budget traveller in terms of the best price/quality mix, right atmosphere, some cool amenities, proximity to useful shops/bars etc?

[uncle_davros]

Mate

This place is now so expensive. After India, it is hard to believe that I thought this place to be cheap !!!

[Paul]

Sorry this doesn't answer your question, but I would suggest if people are interested in seeing Thailand - DON'T stay at Khao San rd. It is a seedy, overpriced backpacker hovel, that has little to do with Thai culture.

At Soi 1 Kasemsan in Siam Square, there are plenty of other cheap guesthouses, still plenty of international backpackers and travellers to meet up with, but it is also mixed in a bit more with the Thai life. I think it is a much better start to a trip in Thailand.

[wakingdream]

I would suggest if people are interested in seeing Thailand - DON'T stay at Khao San rd.

I avoid Khao San at all costs. I also find it seedy and overpriced, and some of the behavior I have seen there is appalling. I'm not a prude, but there are so many disrespectful, drunken, rude tourists who care more about their drink then learning anything about Thailands people or culture. I'm afraid I haven't any suggestions as we stay with friends in the city. If anything, a few blocks away from Khao San might not be as bad....

[rbisset]

I agree with some of the comments here but wouldn't agree with avoiding Khao San. It may have some depraved activities and be overpriced but I still believe it has it's place.

Bangkok is the centre of the SE Asia backpacker trail and as such needs a home, Khao San fits the bill. Who's to say that the people who frequent the establishments there don't go on to travel the rest of Thailand/Asia and need a place to relax? I certainly did after travelling for 4 months to get there!

I have to admit that the time I spent in Bangkok wasn't spent admirring the temples/sights the city has to offer, I was far too templed out by then. Instead I used the time to take a short break from the travel to soak up the infectious atmosphere, browse the knock-off stalls, eat at the stalls on the street, watch a few movies, spend countless hours walking around MBK, watch movies and drink a few beers until the small hours.

My first full day in Thailand I made an effort to see the sights in Bangkok and ended up walking up and down Khao San and the neighbouring streets all day! I was like a moth drawn to the bright lights. I returned to Bangkok 5 times in the 5 weeks I was in Thailand and still didn't see much. I think you need that sometimes. Next time I'll check out the sights and ride the trusty #47 bus again

Excerpt from my diary:

I had been successful in every country so far and the few English people I have met have been sound, but the people on Khao San are not. Seeing a couple of shirtless, loud mouthed English guys strolling down the street was enough to make me wish I wasn't English. Infact it seemed that everyone on the street was English and all they were doing was sitting around drinking all day. I guess it's good that they are going a bit further than Ibiza these days but it's not really what I want to see on this trip. Enough said.

[wakingdream]

True enough. I guess I shouldn't be so harsh. I have been to Khao San and have enjoyed myself there, but as the years went by, I got really sick of it.
It's not that everyone that goes there is a jack*$$, it's the jack*$$es that stand out to me. I hate seeing people really wasted and acting like total jerks to the Thai vendors at food stalls and such and also to other travellers. Khao San seems to be the area where this is prevalent. That kind of thing pisses me off when I see it in Toronto too though. License to be an A-Hole. I think some people feel alittle too much freedom and forget about respecting others. I also find that the age of the people who go there is getting younger and younger.
Sure Khao San has it's place. Yes, that's true, but it is certainly not the only area in Bangkok where there are deals to be found, tickets to be arranged, great stuff to buy and fantastic food to eat.
Some people treat Khao San as their security blanket when they are there, but it's so unnecessary......

[uncle_davros]

Um, I would miss it. I think it is a horrible place. To many drunk young kids with their tops off. This is SEA, show some respect

[averyusa]

I recently stayed at Thai Cozy and I found the location and price to be spot on. Everyone there was super nice and helpful.

[stevejames]

Soi Rambuttri is a good alternative - it's the road that runs parallel to Khao San opposite the police station. The further you go down, the quieter it gets. Some nice guesthouses and restaurants down there, you're still in the thick of the backpacker hub of SE Asia (if that's what you want), plus you can get a decent night's sleep as well!

I don't enjoy Khao San, but it has to be seen to be believed, and I'd recommend every traveller arriving in Bangkok to experience it for at least a night. Puts things into perspective. Plus it always comes in handy if you ever feel the need to point and laugh at a hippy.

[rbisset]

I stayed on Soi Rambutri every time I got back to BKK. It's right round the corner from Khao San, has reasonable guesthouses/restaurants and movies on all day. I wouldn't ever stay on Khao San itself but it's nice to be close as you can get anything you want.

[lodesafun]

I used to stay at koh san rd whenever I visited Bangkok, but since 2002 it has lost it's shine for me. for above mentioned reasons.
I stay inthe sukhumvit area now. with the access to Cheap public transport and canals, I can get al around Bangkok EASY.
try the Soi1guesthouse on sukhumvit soi1. It's a friendly hostel with heaps of resouces for the budget traveler. 24 access.
www.soi1guesthouse.com
have fun
Lodes......

[lisartw]

Soi Rambuttri is a good alternative - it's the road that runs parallel to Khao San opposite the police station. The further you go down, the quieter it gets. Some nice guesthouses and restaurants down there, you're still in the thick of the backpacker hub of SE Asia (if that's what you want), plus you can get a decent night's sleep as well!

I don't enjoy Khao San, but it has to be seen to be believed, and I'd recommend every traveller arriving in Bangkok to experience it for at least a night. Puts things into perspective. Plus it always comes in handy if you ever feel the need to point and laugh at a hippy.

We're staying on Soi Rambuttri, well a little street off of it at the Wild Orchid Guesthouse and it;s lovely. You're close enough to Khao san to go and have a look at the madness but far enough away to enjoy the quietness around the little back streets. you also get far more for your money here, there's loads of places to eat and drink and we not a far walk at all from the river. There's lots of places to stay down here, we've only had a look at two of them but literally found this place by having a drink here then asking someone who was checking out what it was like,

I dont think i'd like to stay on the Khao San Road but it's worth visiting at night and during to day to see what it's like. but I;m in agreement with some of the otehr comments on here, it is full of drunken westerners with most of their flesh hanging out. i'm no prude but I wish some people would have a bit more respect for their host country.