Khao San Road
Khao San Road ( Thanon Khao San - ถนนข้าวสาร ) is popularly described as a backpackers mecca, mainly because of the abundance of cheap accomodation in the area. Approximately 1km long Khao san is packed with cheap hotels, massage parlours, restaurants, bars, open markets, clubs and travel agents.The cheapest room we found when we investigated ( sept 2011 ) was 381 THB a night for a 2 bed fan or 458THB if you want the luxury of air conditioning. Wanna see ? CLICK HERE and it amazingly included free in room wi-fi !!
Khao San shops sell handcrafts, paintings, clothes, pirated CDs, DVDs, and second-hand books, plus many useful backpacker items. It also has many open air bars and restaurants as well as intenationals such as McDonalds, KFC and Burger King. The best value in hotel bookings tend to be in advance or even on the day through our online booking engines ( Agoda and R24 ). You normally find walk-in rates to be more expensive, but maybe able to negotiate during quiet times and low season.
It is a convenient hub also for many minibus ( van ) to popular destinations throughout the kingdom. Personally, if you are looking for travel Victory Monument offers cheaper options as the Khao San minibuses are normally connected to expensive tours sold by travel agents. If you already know where you want to be then how to get there is probably better services by the main Bus, train or Minibus stations around the capital. there are many touts on the streets around this area, either selling you tour packages ( they get their commission through the travel agents they take you to ) or worse still lining you up for the jewellery scam or worse. You need to have your wits with you when you speak to these people as scams are rife in tourist areas. there are many other places to visit near Khao San in particular, the Grand Palace and Wat Phra Kaew.
Khao San road also has the reputation for providing and printing fairly authentic fake documentation and there are many stalls set up along the street offering these services. If you are hoping to teach in Thailand and you try to use one of these Khao San degrees, beware, as schools and the ministry of education check the authenticity of documents provided these days. People who have used them in the past and been teaching english for years have found themselves on the wrong side of the law, imprisoned, and deported for this. As saleries are often calculated on experience and qualifications you could find yourself paying back all your income back to the school also !!!
If you find yourself in Bangkok during the Songran festival in April, Khao San road is an excellent place to celebrate this and experience and participate the fun involved in this festival.
