Thailand forum

Hey Chatz,

It's nowhere near Khao San Road (which can be a very good thing sometimes.)

Best way to get from one to the other would be by water taxi, formally known as the Chao Phraya River Express boat. Only goes until just after sunset, though (another good thing.)

If you want to be within walking distance to the major temples, KSR, etc., then you might be better off considering staying somewhere in Banglamphoo or Samsen Districts. Personally, I don't recommend staying on KSR.

I know where the GH is, but I don't know what it's like.

KSR is more of a freak show circus than a seedy place. I don't care for KSR, but it is an eyeful that I usually encourage friends visiting Thailand to experience at least once, especially at night. It used to be a relatively chilled out place with tables and chairs on the road, no massive screens showing football or movies, cassette and clothing sellers, etc. It used to be a good place to meet other travelers, chat, have some beers, and stuff like that. I don't get the sense that it's that kind of place anymore. It's become very gentrified, in fact. The changes that have happened there could be the subject for an entire webpage.

Quite a few of the original bunch of GHs have been renovated and are pretty nice now, but I'd never stay in any of them because I can't stand the location, and they just aren't my style.

However, the crappy concrete cubicles still exist.

Hi Chatz

Hope this is not too late for you? I stayed at the New Road GH when I first arrived in Thailand, been here about 5 weeks now, I would recomend it. Although if you stay in a fan room or dorm you may have a disturbed nights sleep as these are over the GH bar. Staff are helpfull & friendly. It's down by pier 1. Traveling up and down the river is the best and coolest way of getting around to the main Tourist spots. If any one tries to stop you before getting onto the boat saying you have to pay X or spouts you some bull just ignore them I paid between 13 & 18 BHT per trip depending on the speed of the boat to get me up to pier 11. You pay on the boat.

Hi chatz

If you do arrive in the dead of night, you may want to stay near the airport, as jet-lag, sore back (airline seats) and everything else that goes with long haul flights makes for a less alert travller and more chance of getting ripped off by Taxi touts.

I fly from Phenom Phen to Bangkok in Sept then out of Bangkok the next day, thus I chose to stay close to the airport at the hotel below. Which I found on the agoda website (a little bit of luxury after all the dives iv'e been staying in).

Great Residence Suvarnabhumi Hotel (also does free pick up from the airport, see hotel info on agoda for pick up location)

http://www.agoda.com/

Just a note for you, if you do go into Bangkok after your flight (it took a little under an hour from the airport to NR Guest House) make sure you get a TAXI METER you can find them upstairs almost at the end of arrivals building when you come through customs. I say this as they are the cheapest way of getting into BKK. It should be around the 400BHT mark. I didn't do this and paid 550bht negotiated down from 800BHT. Some guys I met in the guest house paid 1450BHT for the same trip.

I find that smiling turning around and walking away often helps with price negotiations.

Take it easy.

Posted from within Vietnam.

I'd agree. Although you also forgot to mention fake degree's driving licences etc etc............