Where to stay in Bangok

You have quite a few different options as to where you stay in Bangkok. You just need to figure out what is best for you. Finding a place to stay in Bangkok is easy. Finding a place to stay that suits your needs can be a different story.

This guide is tailored primarily to the single guy staying for a short trip and looking to have a bit of fun in Bangkok.

If all you have is a few hours to a half day in Bangkok, I recommend that you just get a room near the Suvarnabhumi airport. If you don't know where you are going, getting from the airport to the main part of the city can take anywhere from 1 to 3 hours depending on traffic. If you are just in Bangkok on a short layover, stay near the airport.

If you have a day or two, you have many more options. It all depends on what you want to do.

For the first timer, we would recommend staying near Patpong area, Soi Nana, or Soi Cowboy. These are three of the main night venues for the single man on the prowl. They all have advantages and disadvantages.

Patpong was the place to go during the Vietnam War and for quite a few years after. Now it is a tourist trap with a capital "T". But, for the first time visitor, it is still worth seeing. Just don't buy anything from the street vendors. Getting to Patpong at about 5 PM you can see how much work it is to set up this street market and how fast they get it going.

Soi Nana or Soi 4 is home to the Nana Entertainment Plaza (NEP). This is a three story, horseshoe shaped, neon lit, den of debauchery. Lots of gogo bars and some beer bars on the first floor for your drinking pleasure. There are also some beer bars along Soi 4, outside the complex as well. Do be aware of the transvestite bars, there are quite a few in NEP. A few years back, this was a great place for the local expats, but with the Internet, this is now a tourist destination. Hang out at the Nana Hotel parking lot across the street at closing time for a sight you will not see anywhere else in the world.

Soi Cowboy is still primarily for the expats. This is a small side street between Soi 21 and Soi 23 off of Sukhumvit Road. It is bar after bar after bar. Lots of hawkers and "hello' girls trying to get you inside. Most of the bars are gogo's and prices are lower than Patpong or Nana Plaza. Well worth a visit and a short cab ride from Soi 4, or one BTS stop from Nana station to Asoke station.

There are other areas to get your hotel, but we would recommend finding a hotel near an area where you plan to hang out in. Getting a hotel near Soi 4 and this gives you easy access to NEP and also to Soi Cowboy. Choose a hotel that's closer to Sukhumvit main road, so that you'll have a shorter walk to the BTS stations. Try avoiding spending time in taxis on the Bangkok streets.

If you are still undecided, get your hotel room on Sukhumvit between Sois 3 and 24 and you will be close to the action and short cab rides to anywhere else. You can walk to many of the shopping venues or catch the BTS to get around. Find out what you plan to do in Bangkok and pick your hotel based on where you plan to party.