Bangkok has a great range of accommodation, with a budget to suit all travelers.  You'll find some of the world's best, and worst hotels in Bangkok.  Roughly speaking:

• Khao San Road - is the backpacker region, with cheap accommodation and endless nightlife.  The place to head if you want to party.
• Rattanakosin - is home to some of the finest hotels in Bangkok, including The Oriental and The Peninsula.  The area for those on a top-end budget.
• Sukhumvit Road - has hotels and hotels for all budget ranges.  The place to head if you want value-for-money accommodation and peace-and-quiet.

Choosing where to stay

You should choose the region in which you stay carefully.  Bangkok is a big city and being in the right place will save you time and money in transport costs, and ensure you get a good nights sleep.  See the guide on where to stay in Bangkok.

Boutique hotels have become very popular in Bangkok in recent years.  They normally have 10 rooms or less, and offer a more personal service.  There is a great range of boutique hotels in Old Bangkok (Rattanakosin Island) and Sukhumvit Road area.

The guest fee is a Bangkok hotel phenomenon.  A charge of around 500 baht is added to your bill if you bring along a guest to your room.  Very few hotels, even the most exclusive, will refuse you to bring a guest to your room.  But, the fee is obviously aimed at controlling local sex workers.

Types of accommodation

Of course Bangkok has a healthy choice of hotels, for all budgets, but here are other accommodation options too.  There are a number of hostels in the city, providing cheap accommodation and an opportunity to meet fellow travelers.  There are also a number of local families who have rooms to rent.  These are often called home-stays, and although found in Bangkok, are less common than in more rural areas.  Home-stays are good if you want a taste of Bangkok more from a locals perspective.  And they are generally very cheap, so good for long stays in the city.

Bangkok is the capital city of Thailand, and definitely worth a stop to any trip to Thailand.  Despite being a big city, and Thailand's biggest at 11 million inhabitants, Bangkok offers great sights, food, nightlife and atmosphere.  It's a great city to spend time in before, or after you head to other parts of Thailand.

Bangkok is a tropical metropolis, being just 14 degrees north of the Equator.  It is one of the most traveler friendly cities in Asia, making it a good place to start any trip to Thailand or southeast Asia.  Flight to Bangkok are generally amongst the cheapest from hubs in Europe and North America.

Bangkok is also a furious assault on the senses with constant humid heat, pollution, dense traffic, heavy rainfall and the perpetual smiles from the Thai people.