If I had to choose my favourite travel destination, it would be Bangkok, hands down. Life as a student on a monthly allowance can be quite restrictive, and aside from the holidays that are fully funded by my parents – I can hardly ever afford organising trips with friends on my own. Thankfully, we have glorious Bangkok – the land of cheap and great food, shopping, and quality massages. There’s nothing more I can ask for.
With that said, the language barrier still is quite the obstacle for me at times, and if you’re more book smart than street smart, you’ll understand the horrors of getting lost in a foreign land. The best thing you can do is to choose a hotel that’s in vicinity of your places of interest, this way you won’t have much of a chance to get lost!
Fret not, this Bangkok lover has put together 7 of the best hotels in Bangkok under $99 – sorted by location – so you can save on accommodation, and splurge on clothes and street food. All without sacrificing the comfort you deserve after a long day of shopping.
And yes, $99 after including taxes and all – and yes, there’s a site that’ll provide you with only the ultimate final price for each hotel!
Just a 5 minute walk from Pratunam Market and Platinum Mall, staying at First House Hotel will ensure that you’re the first to get to the shopping district, and the first to grab those steals. Being very popular among tourists, it’s best to visit these two shopping spots early before the crowds form.
With free Wi-Fi available in all their rooms, you can lie back for a Netflix marathon or skype your loved ones back home after a long day out. 24-hour front desk service also means you’ll have round-the-clock help from the local staff, even if you decide to grab a late night snack at 3am.
Distance from Pratunam: 600m (7 minute walk)
Address: 14/20-29 Soi Phetchaburi 19, Thanon Phaya Thai, Ratchathewi 10400, Thailand
Contact: 66 2 254 0300
Who says staying at a budget hotel has to be a bare bones experience. Decked out with a fitness studio, an in-house spa and a gorgeous rustic pool. Just a stone’s throw away from main attractions like the Erawan Shrine, the Indra Regent Hotel is a little gem within the city.
With all the basics essentials like free Wi-Fi, laundry services and a 24-hour reception checked, this affordable hotel even houses both a steam room and sauna – should you want to let your body recuperate after all those consecutive massage sessions.
Distance from Pratunam: 450m (6 minute walk)
Address: 120/126 Rajaprarop Road 10400, Thailand
Contact: 66 2 208 0022
Think you can’t find a luxurious hotel in Bangkok for under S$100? You’re wrong. Treat yourself to a night in the Chatrium Residence, a 4-star hotel which has earned hundreds of 5/5 ratings from its previous occupants.
Although this particular selection is a little way off from the city centre, at a 15 minute drive away from Pratunam, the hotel’s facilities more than make up for it. Frolick in their impressively large swimming pool, get a spontaneous hair makeover at their in-house salon, explore the supermarket, or work out at the crazy well-equipped fitness centre.
Hit a few hole-in-ones at their T-Zone Recreation, or work up a sweat at their state-of-the-art gym. And for parents praying for some peace and quiet – take full advantage of their babysitting services and Childrens’ Club.
There’s so much to do within the hotel itself, you might just momentarily forget about the rest that Bangkok has to offer.
Distance from Pratunam: 9.5 km (15 minute drive)
Address: 291 Soi Naradhiwas Rajanagarindra 24 New Sathon Road 10120, Thailand
Contact: 66 2 672 0200
Famous for being one of the best markets in Southeast Asia, many brave the elements to take in all this wholesale retail weekend market has to offer.
From antique pieces of furniture, to the best in thai fashion and even live animals, you’ll find all sorts of things under one roof – or should we say many roofs. To allow you to get as much sleep as possible before your 12 hour shopping spree at Chatuchak, it’s best to stay as close to the market as possible to avoid at least a 30-minute ordeal on public transport or stuck in the cab!
Just a 10 minute drive from the market, Karnmanee Hotel is in a great location. Just far enough to escape the noise and crowd of Chatuchak, but close enough you won’t have to worry about beating the hoards of tourists down.
Another budget hotel with a pool worth mentioning, wind down at night with a swim in their rooftop pool – just look at that city skyline!
You can look forward to spacious rooms and comfy beds – especially important especially after a long day of hunting for loots – and free Wi-Fi (our main priority)! With 7/11 just located across the street, you won’t have to worry about running out of drinking water in the middle of the night.
Distance from Chatuchak: 2.7 km (10 minute drive)
Address: 21, Sukhumvit Soi 10, Sukhumvit Road, Klongtoey, Thailand
Contact: 66 2 618 6977
Cheap accommodation near tourist spots are hard to find, but here’s another one for you. M2 de Bangkok is a 4-star hotel just a 10 minute drive from Chatuchak. With chic and stylish rooms each equipped with in-room Wi-Fi, LCD TV, a separate rain shower and even touch-screen door lock; there’s no doubt this modern boutique hotel is giving you a lot more than you paid for.
For those who are slightly more picky about their accommodation, this might just be the hotel for you. Enjoy the 24-hour dining options offered at The Deck Pub & Restaurant at M2 which serves up a unique fusion of Western and Thai food.
Aside from being close to Chatuchak, M2 is also just a 14-16 minute drive from Don Mueang International Airport and a minute walk away from Retro Cafe, another great find that you must visit on top of covering all the shopping havens.
Looking like a cafe out of the 80s, or from the Archie’s comic book, it’s hard to believe that this exists in Bangkok!
M2 De Bangkok
Distance from Chatuchak: 800m (10 minute walk)
Address: 168 Viphawadee Rangsit Road, Din Daeng, Bangkok 10400, Thailand
Contact: 66 2 691 8223
Retro Cafe
Address: 62 Samsen Nai, Phaya Thai, Bangkok 10400, Thailand
Contact: 66 88 573 1911
Khao San Road, dubbed the centre of the backpacking universe, is also another must-visit spot in Bangkok. Springing to life at night with a boulevard of food stalls lining its street, people in bars reeking of alcohol and mysteriously concealed rooms blasting music – Khao San is the kind of place you’ll want to visit, but not stay in.
If staying in one of those backpackers hostels along Khao San isn’t your idea of a good time, Villa Cha-Cha around the corner will be your safe sanctuary. Despite being a stone’s throw away from the wild partying and nightlife, this humble abode will center you with peace and quiet.
With zealous and friendly staff and clean rooms, this hotel has garnered a lot of positive reviews from previous occupants. Don’t forget to take a dip in their pool as well, which is tastefully designed to create a cool ancient Greece vibe.
Distance from Khao San: 800m (10 minute walk)
Address: 36 Tani, Talat Yot, Pranakorn, Bangkok 10200, Thailand
Contact: 66 2 280 1025
Making its mark on the scene as Bangkok’s newest player is Terminal 21 Shopping mall, a new it-mall that places a great emphasis on all things local. If you’re looking for one-of-a-kind statement pieces and quirky souvenirs, you’ll find it all here.
Inspired by the wanderlust phenomenon, you’ll see travel paraphernalia incorporated into the mall’s structure and design. From Tokyo and Paris, to Rome; try spotting as many iconic landmarks as you can!
Voted as one of the finest 4-star hotels around the Terminal 21 area, Galleria 10 Sukhumvit is making waves for itself thanks to its snazzy looking rooms, and amazing cocktails served at their rooftop bar and grill, Leapfrog.
If your weary feet don’t want to go the distance out to the BTS station or attractions close by, their hotel shuttle services will gladly do the job for you.
For an experience that’s both chill and chic, this trend-setting hotel will fill your cup.
Distance from Khao San: 600m (7 minute walk)
Address: 21 Sukhumvit Soi 10, Sukhumvit Road, Bangkok 10110, Thailand
Contact: 66 2 615 0999
Is finding a hotel that’s low cost and high quality too good to be true? Not at all! We’ve sieved out these reliable and cheap hotels near your favourite shopping haunts and street treats so you won’t wind up wandering lost down some dark Soi (side street).
If you’ve planned a trip before, you would know the nightmare of searching for accommodation. First there’s finding a cheap, but relatively decent-looking hotel, then reading through hundreds of personal reviews on TripAdvisor, before eventually going to the website to check for availability and making your booking.
By then, the price you first were attracted to is no longer valid and you have to start over from the very beginning.
Try out Traveloka next time, and you’ll find that it’ll save you a lot of time. The website is so user-friendly, even a tech-dummy will be able to navigate around without help – it’s really idiot-proof.
You can filter the results using price range per night, quality of hotel by stars, and even facilities. This website is perfect if you’re on budget as well, having the option to list hotels from the cheapest to most expensive.
View ratings, reviews from previous guests, and facilities all in one page, minimizing the amount of time you have to put into your research – this means more time to check out which markets to visit.
Here comes the best part – all prices reflected in Traveloka are final, unlike many other websites which exclude taxes to make their prices seem lower. Save yourself from feeling cheated, when you realise that your “steal” isn’t actually much of a steal after adding all the ancillary costs. The price you see on Traveloka is what you pay, no hidden costs involved – you’ll never exceed your budget unknowingly again!
Start your stress-free planning for your trip to Bangkok using Traveloka! Besides accommodation, you can also book cheap flights through the site, and download the app from the App Store or Google Play Store.
Don’t worry, we’re not going to ditch you after settling your accommodation woes. Check out our guides to the best shopping spots in Bangkok, and 50 best Bangkok food you must try!
This post was brought to you by Traveloka.
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