In recent years, the hotel industry has been dominated by a few large national hotel chains. To the traveler, familiar chain establishments represent dependability and quality at predictable rates.
Increased competition among establishments in this industry has spurred many independently owned and operated hotels and other lodging places to join national or international reservation systems. This allows travelers to make multiple reservations for lodging, airlines, and car rentals with one telephone call or Internet search.
Bangkok hotels range from luxury international chains to one-off boutiques with only a few rooms. However, choosing the one that perfectly lives up to your expectations depends very much on the purpose of your visit. Business travellers will feel right at home at one of the high-end hotels in Ploenchit-Chidlom and Sukhumvit areas, while enthusiastic shoppers might want to stay in or nearby Siam, where glittering mega-malls are just a few steps away from the hotel’s doorstep.
Khao San and Silom are the epicentres of Bangkok’s pulsating nightlife scene and both offer an extensive lineup of hotels that cater to a wide range of budgets. If culture and history is a major part of your trip, then stay close to the riverside for easy access to the Old City’s attractions, including Wat Phra Kaew, Wat Arun, the Grand Palace and Wat Pho.