768 Soi Panurangsri
02/234-5429
www.riverviewbkk.com [1]
COST: Less than 1,500B
This guesthouse isn’t for everyone. It’s in a very local part of Bangkok [2] on the edge of Chinatown, a few minutes from Hua Lamphong Station, surrounded by small car-engine and axle-repair shops, and it’s not exactly elegant.
Rooms are comfortably sized; the least expensive are rundown and the bathrooms are just tolerable. But if you are looking for an authentic Bangkok experience, with a view of the river to boot, this is an excellent budget choice.
The neighborhood isn’t filled with scores of other tourists (though the guesthouse is right behind a Chinese temple in a neighborhood that comes alive during the vegetarian festival) and it’s a great place to wander around before heading out to the nearby sights.
There’s also a rooftop restaurant with a view of the river that’s worth the (small) price you’ll pay for a room.
Links:
[1] http://www.riverviewbkk.com
[2] http://www.moon.com/destinations/bangkok