BANGKOK
BANGKOKSLEEPINGBANGKOKSLEEPINGSUKHUMVIT
This seemingly endless urban thoroughfare
is Bangkok’s unoffi cial International Zone
and also boasts much of the city’s accommo-
dation. There’s a bit of everything here, from
the odd backpacker hostel to sex tourist
hovels and fi ve-star luxury. The former two
are largely located between Soi 1 and Soi 4,
while the latter doesn’t begin to appear until
you reach Soi 12 or so.
In general, because visitors with larger
budgets stay in Sukhumvit, tourist services
are more expensive here than in Banglam-
phu. The trade-off is access to food from
virtually every corner of the globe, heaps of
nightlife options and easy access to both the
BTS and MRT.
Lower Sukhumvit
oAriyasomVilla BED & BREAKFAST $$$
(Map p 92 ; %0 2254 880; http://www.ariyasom.com; 65
Soi 1, Th Sukhumvit; r incl breakfast 4248-9138B;
aiWs; BTS Phloen Chit) Located at the end
of Soi 1 behind a virtual wall of fragipani,
this renovated 1940s-era villa is one of the
worst-kept accommodation secrets in Bang-
kok. If you can score a reservation, you’ll be
privy to one of 24 spacious rooms, meticu-
lously outfi tted with thoughtful Thai design
touches and beautiful antique furniture.
There’s a spa and an inviting tropical pool,
and breakfast is vegetarian and served in
the original villa’s stunning glass-encased
dining room.
Suk 11 BUDGET HOTEL $
(Map p 92 ; %0 2253 5927; http://www.suk11.com; 1/33
Soi 11, Th Sukhumvit; s/d/tr incl breakfast from
535/749/1284B; aiW; BTS Nana) Extremely
well run and equally popular, this guest
house is an oasis of woods and greenery
in the urban jungle that is Th Sukhumvit.
The cheaper rooms have shared bathrooms,
and although the owners have somehow
managed to stuff nearly 100 rooms in there,
you’ll still need to book at least two weeks
ahead.
Stable Lodge BUDGET HOTEL $$
(Map p 92 ; %0 2653 0017; http://www.stablelodge.com; 39
Soi 8, Th Sukhumvit; r 1495-1695B; aiWs; BTS
Nana) To be honest, we were slightly disap-
pointed that the faux-Tudor theme of the
downstairs restaurant didn’t carry on into
the rooms, but could fi nd no other faults. A
recent renovation has given a bit of life to
the simple rooms here, and the spacious bal-
conies still off er great city views.
Golden Palace Hotel HOTEL $$
(Map p 92 ; %0 2252 5115; http://www.goldenpalacehotel.
com; 15 Soi 1, Th Sukhumvit; r 1110-1350B; aiWs;
BTS Phloen Chit) The abundance of mirrors in
the ground-fl oor rooms gives this away as
a former tryst hotel, but for just a couple
of hundred baht more, you can get one of
the simple but airy rooms upstairs. A pool,
coff eeshop and nearby spa ensure that you
won’t need to go very far to be entertained.Federal Hotel HOTEL $$
(Map p 92 ; %0 2253 0175; http://www.federalbangkok.
com; 27 Soi 11, Th Sukhumvit; r incl breakfast 1050-
1500B; aiWs; BTS Nana) You wouldn’t know
it from the exterior, but after 40 years ‘Club
Fed’ fi nally decided to get a makeover. The
upstairs rooms are comfortable and almost
contemporary, but the rooms at ground lev-
el still scream 1967. The real draws are the
frangipani-lined pool and time-warped US-
style coff eeshop.Atlanta BUDGET HOTEL $
(Map p 92 ; %0 2252 1650; 78 Soi 2/Phasak, Th
Sukhumvit; r/ste incl breakfast from 535/1820B;
aiWs; BTS Phloen Chit) Defi antly antiquat-
ed and equally frumpy, this crumbling gem
has changed very little since its construction
in 1952. The opulent lobby stands in contrast
to the simple rooms, but the inviting pool
(allegedly the country’s fi rst hotel pool) and
delightful restaurant are incentive enough.Swiss Park Hotel HOTEL $$
(Map p 92 ; %0 2254 0228; 155/23 Soi 11/1, Th
Sukhumvit; r/ste from 1500/2900B; aWs; BTS
Nana) The rooms here are workaday and
largely forgettable, but the convenient loca-
tion and friendly and competent staff make
this a good midrange fi nd.Bed Bangkok HOSTEL $
(Map p 92 ; %0 2655 7604; http://www.bedbangkok.com;
11/20 Soi 1, Th Sukhumvit; dm/r incl breakfast from
390/800B; aiW; BTS Asok, MRT Sukhumvit)
This brand-new hostel manages to maintain
a homey feel despite the industrial-design
theme. The friendly service makes up for the
rather hard dorm beds.Soi 1 Guesthouse HOSTEL $
(Map p 92 ; %0 2655 0604; http://www.soi1guesthouse.
com; 220/7 Soi 1, Th Sukhumvit; dm 400B; aiW;
BTS Phloen Chit) This slightly aged backpacker
haven has four cluttered dorm rooms and a
chummy communal area with pool table, TV
and computers.