Cheap Hotels in Bangkok

The Western tourist can come unstuck when looking for cheap hotels in Bangkok. Ideas of basic standards of accommodation vary according to where you come from. Hiram and Hettie from Houston may be expecting better facilities than Han from Hanoi - or even Henry and Hannah from Harrogate (UK). Let me guide you. To be sure of western-style luxury stay at one of the many familiar western chains. The only problem is that they can be very expensive. And, let's face it, stay in a Hilton or Marriott in Bangkok and you might as well be in New York, London or Cairo.

You want to stay in Bangkok, right? The good news is that there are plenty of independent hotels in Bangkok that offer reasonable standards of accommodation at bargain rates, Who needs a wardrobe, after all? Hangers are the important part - right?

You'll probably know that Bangkok is the capital, and primary city of Thailand. In Thai it's called Krung Thep Maha Nakhon (or Krung Thep for short, which means "city of angels"). Bangkok has a population of over six million. The dominant religion is Buddhism, practised by all but 5% of the city's population. The majority of what remains are Muslim with a scattering of Christians. Bangkok is choc-a-bloc with temples and gardens, plus (lest we forget) a thriving sex industry. One of Bangkok's strengths is its fascinating mix of old Thai culture with western-style capitalism.

This is my personal choice of the best Cheap Hotel (Bangkok):

New Siam River Side

21 Soi Chanasongkram Phra-A-Thit Road, Chanasongkram, Phranakorn, Bangkok 10200.

Here is an upmarket guest-house with great views, located beside the Chaophaya River, very near to the Grand Palace. Fully air conditioned, it boasts a coffee bar, decent restaurant, and large swimming pool. As in most good Thai hotels, the beds are foam rubber. Every room is equipped with bedside control, cable TV, and refrigerator. High-Speed Wi-Fi is available in all rooms. All rooms no smoking..

Take care when booking because the New Siam River Side has two other "branches. Prices for rooms start at 1390 bahts (single). A non-air conditioned room with a fan in one of the other guest houses starts at only 590 bahts ($20).

Silom City Hotel

2 Soi Prachum (Silom 22), Silom Road, Bangkok 10500

Formerly called the Silom City Inn, this hotel can be found in the middle of Bangkok's business centre, close to every key shopping centre. The Silom City within a short walk of the major nightlife and shopping areas as well as Suan Lumpini Park, the Bangkok Railway Terminal, and the river. It has 70 guest rooms, all of which come with air-conditioning, a personal safe, connections for PC and fax, the in-house music system, colour TV with satellite, and en suite bathrooms. The advertised weekly rate starts at 1,150 baht a night (around $40) for a single room, but we are told it is possible to barter.

TakeANap

920-926 Rama4 Rd. (At Surawongse Junction, Opposite Red Cross Society), Silom District, Bangrak 10500,

The cutely named TakeANap is a family-run hotel that has its fanatical supporters. There is a mix of single, doubles and dorm-bedded rooms, starting at 350 baht a night ($12). Singles come in at approximately 1,000 baht ($34). Great for backpackers, not so good for business travellers or tourist families. The 30 single and double rooms are all decked out in different themes, most of them designed to give you a headache after too much beer! TakeANap is very central, just a few metres from the sky train (BTS) and subway (MRT). TakeaNap is also near to the nightclubs, city centre, and market area. Wardrobe freaks should note that rooms come sans their favourite furniture item, but with hangers and a rail. You'll also be very lucky to get a fridge,

Sivalai Place

168 Isaraphab Soi 33 Isaraphab rd Thra Pra Bangkok-Yai Bangkok 10600 Thailand

This apartment house offers tremendous value for anyone on a budget. Their smart studio apartments range in price from 1,450 baht a night (under $50) and double apartments come in at a mere 100 baht more. Expect queen-size beds and en suite bathrooms with shower panels equipped with six (count them) massage jets. The facilities are better than Bangkok's average, ranging from a fully-equipped karaoke room to tennis, restaurants, cafés and a gigantic swimming pool without chlorine, filtered instead by an eco-friendly 'O-zone' non-chemical filtering system. Then there's the sauna, the "good karma" library and a well-equipped games room. The Sivalai Palace comes highly recommended.

Those are my recommended cheap hotels Bangkok style. Have a brilliant time and let me know if you find any other gems.

Tips On Booking Your Hotel Room In Thailand

Whether you are traveling to Thailand or any other destination in the world, finding a suitable hotel room and paying the correct price for it is not as simple as we would like it to be. However, with careful research and tips on booking your hotel room in Thailand, you should be able to come up with something that is appropriate.

The first step in booking your hotel room in Thailand is to do careful search on any of the major search engines. Advancements in the Internet have made it possible for us to conduct this sort of search. The results will show you thousands of hotel booking sites. However, you should be looking for a website that belongs to the hotel.

When it comes to checking out a hotel, the best source to find out more information about the hotel and price is travel guides. Many people use travel guides to write reviews on hotels after their vacation and you can use these reviews as an aid in helping you find the perfect hotel for your stay in Thailand.

However, there are people who prefer to browse websites of each and every hotel before making up their mind. The best part about a hotel's website is that you can book your room online using the reservation form provided on the site. However, before doing this, make sure you compare rates of similar hotels in the same area before confirming your reservation. The good part about checking out hotel websites is that you will get the lowest possible room rate which travel agents may not be able to match.

About Author: Pauline Go is an online leading expert in traveling industry. She also offers top quality

Three Cheap Hotels in Alicante

Alicante is not only a great place where you can go sight seeing but also has plenty of great hotels, which suit your budget. It's difficult to look for budget accommodation and know that you are getting a good deal. So, at equal is going to keep you three exceptional cheap hotels in Alicante that come highly recommended. First off, let me say that there are many hotels in this city and the province which are inexpensive and many of them are situated very close to all of the major attractions that the city has to offer. Many of these hotels have great facilities and a praiseworthy customer service. In spite of the hotels excellent features, the prices are definitely affordable. This means you don't have to sacrifice comfort in order to save money. This is mostly due to the fact that the Euro goes a lot further in Spain than it does in other European countries.

For practical travelers who want the best value for their money, some of the old fashioned or quaint hotels are the ones to be looking out for. These hotels will give you a feel for Alicante's culture as well as a good night's sleep. More often than not, these hotels offer a free shuttle bus for you to be able to visit some of Alicante's charming places.

Hotel Melia, Plaza del Puerto, Alicante

One of the recommended hotels for people who simply love the sight of the stunning beaches of Alicante is Melia Hotel. This 4 star hotel also serves the finest local cuisines. Aside from being a perfect place for tourists, this hotel is also an ideal place for company meetings and conferences. The famous theme parks of Aqualandia, Terra Mitica and Mundomar Park are just a few kilometers away from the Melia Hotel. It is also very near to me historical city centre and Archaeological Museum. There is a total of 544 rooms that have sea views and the price of a room starts at around €90.

Hotel Sidi San Juan

The second cheap yet luxurious hotel in the city centre is the Sidi San Juan. This 4 star hotel features Racquet Club, gallery, pool, hotel garage, a playground for your kids to enjoy and a free shuttle bus. The best offers and discounted hotel rates are usually during the months of April and May. There are no extra charges for children aged 12 and below who are sharing a room with adults.

Hotel Castilla Alicante

The third cheap Hotel in Alicante that I would like to talk about is the Hotel Castilla. This hotel is located in the heart of the residential district, offering comfortable and neat accommodation with a very modern setting. Everything is within close walking distance of the Hotel lobby including abundant entertainment, dining, and shopping choices. Prices at this hotel start from around €60 per night.