Often referred to as a backpacker ghetto, Khao San is changing very rapidly with the modernization of Bangkok. Slightly more upmarket places are springing up all the time. Nonetheless, there are still plenty of cheap places to be found in the area. This is the place I first when when I came to Bangkok, and I had no reservations. There are literally hundreds of places to stay. The area is a popular night spot for young locals as well. The nightlife on the street and in the surrounding area has something to offer pretty much everyone.

Khao San Road is located in the Banglamphu area of Bangkok. The greater area is sometimes referred to as the old city for the simple reason that it is one of the oldest parts of Bangkok. The central location used to be the Grand Palace which should undoubtedly be on your list of things to see in Bangkok. The proximity to some of Bangkok's most sought after tourist attractions makes this place worthy of serious consideration. This is especially true if you are on a tight budget.

The road itself is not that long. From one end to the other would take about 10 minutes. In that 10 minute walk you are sure to run into some interesting things. Because Khao San draws in people of all types from virtually everywhere in the world, you will run into a great deal of diversity here. This is a sore spot with many who criticize the street. As there are so many backpackers around at any given hour, people often associate the area with type of people seen loitering about doing hippy-like things. It is not uncommon to see someone throwning up on the street, passed out on their own knees, or having their hair braided on the street with large bottle of Chang next to them. Often people take a shot at these folks with a somewhat valid arguement that this is not what traveling is supposed to be. After all, is this what you are going to Thailand for? That being said, it is my opinion that one should go for themselves and make up their own mind about the place. While I no longer stay there, I do find myself going there for a night out from time to time or to meet up with people who do stay in that area. Truth be told, if I didn't have another place to stay in Bangkok, I would still probably opt for the Khao San area.

While some will claim that Khao San is not the "real Thailand" experience, I tend to think that ... hey, it is in Thailand, right? With a Burger King at one end, a Subway at the other, and a McDonalds and Starbucks in between it is pretty obvious to say that the area has been affected by the presense of tourists. The fact of the matter is that it is cheap, close to major attractions, and a great place to meet other travelers to jump off to some other places in Thailand with.

Accommodation

Obviously, there are a few types of rooms that will be available to you. The cheapest rooms will not accept reservations most of the time. The mid-range to more upmarket places will generally take bookings in advance.

Budget

In this price range you can expect a pretty basic room with a place to sleep and a fan. Don't expect much more than that. Some places have some pretty good deals that will get you a bathroom with cold water attached, but the cheapest rooms will not offer this. A few of the things that are a pain with budget rooms are the fact that they might not have an electrical outlet for you to use. For example, to charge your phone at My House on Soi Rambutrri, you need to hang the phone from above your door because the outlet is located near the top of the door on the outside of many rooms. Shared bathrooms can be a bit problematic in that they are not always the cleanest of places. Toilets get clogged because people decide to flush their toilet paper which should be deposited in the wastebasket. Showers can be filthy as people tend to leave small slivers of soap or other empty belongings behind. Most of the better guesthouses clean up regularly, and you won't face this problem all that often. From time to time, reports of bedbugs come.

As a general rule of thumb, you really should check out the room and facilities before you decide to stay. While this might seem like common sense to many folks, some don't realize this until it is too late.

While most don't accept bookings, I have tried to compile some of the ones that do. When I find others, I will put them up.

Other Accommodation options in this area can be found at Agoda. Some of their options include:

Sawasdee Smile Inn

Sawasdee Bangkok Inn

Sawasdee Krungthep Inn

Sawasdee Banglumpoo Inn

White Orchid Hotel

New World Lodge

Sawasdee Khaosan Inn Hotel

Trang Hotel

Royal Hotel

Bangkok Centre Hotel