The Best Cheap Hotels to Book in Bangkok, Thailand

Theres no need to break the bank with a stay at one of these affordable properties in Bangkok
There's no need to break the bank with a stay at one of these affordable properties in Bangkok | © Sean Pavone / Alamy Stock Photo
Alexis James

Planning your trip to the Thai capital? Book a cool, budget-friendly base in Bangkok via Culture Trip – and enjoy value for money as well as high style. Read on to discover our guide to the best affordable hotels in Bangkok.

With more than ten million citizens and approximately 22.7 million international visitors arriving in Bangkok each year, the Thai capital is throbbing with energy. And while its reputation as a backpacker’s party paradise is not undeserved, its 200 years of history mean there is more to Thailand‘s capital city than neon lights and buckets of SangSom rum. Along with its historic temples, Muay Thai shows and delicious street food, many of Bangkok’s best hotels come with their own storied charms. Below, we’ve picked out the best budget-friendly hotels Bangkok has to offer and they’re all bookable with Culture Trip.

1. 103 – Bed and Brews

Hotel

The Balcony Suite at 103 - Bed and Brews Hotel in Bangkok, with a queen-sized bed, lounge area and a private balcony.
© 103 - Bed and Brews / Expedia

Its name may seem more suited to the lingo of northern England, but this budget-friendly hotel in Soi Nana actually takes its inspiration from Bangkok’s long-established Chinese community. Once it was home to a Chinese merchant, but you’ll no longer find traditional herbal medicines for sale here. Although, its Sino-Thai touches offer plenty of nods to the venue’s former use. The cafe is a prime example, modelled on a traditional Chinese tea room and offering green tea alongside Thai-grown Arabica coffee.

2. Amari Watergate

Eco Hotel, Hotel

Outdoor pool at Amari Watergate hotel in Bangkok.
© Amari Watergate / Expedia

This towering five-star hotel in Pratunam comes with some of the best views of Bangkok, especially if your budget stretches to an executive suite on the top floor. Guests also have access to an outdoor pool, squash courts and personal training or group classes at the eighth-floor gym. If you’re peckish, head to the fourth floor where you’ll be able to enjoy the vibrant Amaya Food Gallery. It’s busy with hawker stalls and made-to-order chef stations turning out delicious street food from all over the world.

4. Riva Surya

Hotel

Outdoor pool with sun-loungers and a shaded seating area at Riva Surya Hotel in Bangkok.
© Riva Surya / Expedia
Hugging the banks of the Chao Phraya River, this stylish hotel’s waterside location provides some rare serenity amidst the renowned downtown bustle of Bangkok – especially with spa treatments and a swimming pool overlooking the river. For a little more commotion, you’re only a 10-minute walk to the backpacker nirvana of Khaosan Road, but guests keen to explore further afield should consider taking the express boat service. The Phra Athit pier stop is right on the doorstep.

5. Phranakorn-Nornlen Hotel

Eco Hotel, Hotel, Boutique Hotel

The vibrant Connected Room at Phranakorn-Nornlen Boutique Hotel in Bangkok, decorated with handmade, rustic furnishings.
© Phranakorn-Nornlen Hotel / Expedia
With its marvellous pastel palette, this budget-friendly boutique hotel in Bangkok would make a perfect location in a Wes Anderson movie. Rooms more than cut the mustard, with extravagantly detailed wallpaper, curtains and cushions – but it’s the jazzy bathroom tilework that really steals the show. No opportunity for a smile is missed, with even the guest towels shaped like elephants – in a way that’ll make you reluctant to unravel them. There’s also plenty of fun to be had with regular activities that include cooking and soap-carving classes.

6. Buddy Lodge

Hostel

Large outdoor pool and terrace with a row of sun-loungers and a jacuzzi at Buddy Lodge Hotel in Bangkok.
© Buddy Lodge / Expedia

The impressively equipped Buddy Health Centre comes stocked with everything required to get your Muay Thai career up and running, although cocktails at the hotel’s rooftop pool may prove more appealing. Given its location – at the entrance to the revellers’ hub of Khaosan Road – the rooms are perhaps unexpectedly elegant, including four-poster beds, writing bureaus and ornate emerald desk lamps. We love the 24-hour Buddy Beer bar, serving everything from Chang to Beer Lao on tap.

7. Marriott Hotel Sukhumvit

Hotel

Rooftop pool with red sun-loungers and views of the city at Marriott Hotel Sukhumvit in Bangkok.
© Marriott Hotel Sukhumvit / Expedia
There are certain standards one can expect from a Marriott, and this luxury five-star hotel reaches those heights in more ways than one. Its neon blue rooftop bar – one of six dining and drinking options at the hotel – pierces the Bangkok skyline, providing a thrilling backdrop as you tuck into your salmon tacos or wagyu-beef slider. The hotel’s sleek and minimalist 296 rooms range from premier deluxe options – ideal for families – to suites that come with executive lounge access. This is a classy option indeed.

8. Siam@Siam

Boutique Hotel, Budget Hotel

Man looking out to the view of Bangkok from the outdoor rooftop pool at Siam@Siam Design Hotel.
© Siam@Siam / Expedia

It describes itself as a design hotel – and at Siam@Siam the rooms and suites all live up to the billing with walls treated like artwork canvases. Most of the accommodations are decorated in either a steely blue or warm orange tone, and all come with complimentary toiletries from Malin + Goetz and Panpuri. Opt for the terrace suite and you’ll enjoy your own private sauna, infrared room and jacuzzi. If there’s a local football match on, head to the 11th-floor outdoor pool for a bonus view of the national stadium.

9. Shanghai Mansion Bangkok

Hotel

Spacious room with a queen sized bed, spa tub and lounge area at Shanghai Mansion Boutique Hotel in Bangkok.
© Shanghai Mansion Bangkok / Expedia

Located in the very heart of Bangkok’s Chinatown, this cool, budget hotel sends its guests back to 1930s Shanghai with its stylish art deco-inspired good looks. The pastel-pink corridors with hanging lanterns deserve their own Instagram account, as does the giant roman-numeral clock in the lounge. Rooms step out glamorously with fancy four-poster beds and freestanding bathtubs, while silk bed cushions and red-dragon wallpaper continue the theme. The signature massage at the Burasari spa is a fusion of traditional Thai massage and Swedish techniques.

Looking for something special? Check out the most luxurious spa stays in the country or bag yourself a spot on the sands in one of the best beach hotels. Alternatively, check out our rundown of the best hotels in Thailand – they’re all bookable with Culture Trip.
This is a rewrite of an article originally by Paul Feinstein.

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