Accommodations are always a concern when flying overseas for concerts and conventions. It’s always a toss-up for us whether to stay at a starred hotel with all the perks, or stay at cheaper place and blow the money we saved on shopping. In the end it always boils down to how much bang we can get for our buck.
We opted to find accommodations on the cheap on this Bangkok trip, and spend the rest of our somewhat limited budget on sightseeing and shopping instead. The great thing about Bangkok was it was actually easy to find good hostel rooms at great rates!
One of the best hostels we’ve ever stayed at (and that includes Japan!) was HI-Sukhumvit in Bangkok’s Sukhumvit District. Although not as slamming as backpacker haunt Khao San Road, Sukhumvit suited us better because it was a quiet residential neighborhood.
HI-Sukhumvit offered a number of options: single bunks, double rooms, twin rooms, triple rooms, and family rooms that could accommodate up to five people. Bathrooms were either ensuite (for selected double rooms) or shared, but have no fear as the shared ones were clean and well-kept.
Rates were fantastic with bunks at just THB 350 (about PhP 500) a night in the dorm room and shared bathrooms, and up to THB 1500 a night (about PhP 2000) for one person in the family room with the ensuite bathroom. It had other amenities such as free wi-fi, free breakfast, locker rentals, and a beautiful rooftop veranda perfect for relaxing.
Probably the best thing about staying at HI-Sukhumvit was the location. It was about three minutes on foot from BTS Thong Lor Station, which itself could be navigated to easily from the Airport Rail Link Paya Thai Station.
It also had its own nightly street market, with fantastic local eats at rock-bottom prices (more money saved, which meant more money left for tour goods!). We recommend the spicy seafood pad thai, and the mango and sticky rice that is to die for!
JPOP Manila 