New Siam Guest House II

This part of Bangkok is packed with all manner of budget hotels that cater to the backpackers flocking to Khao San Road. While the New Siam II won't win any style awards, and is really quite straightforward when it comes to atmosphere, it's still a step above much of what's on offer in the area. The lobby is large and set with craved teak wood chairs plus decorative elements like a set of wooden horses and a fish tank. There's plenty of fans helping to keep air moving throughout the open-air building and guests can be found here throughout the day. In the middle of the room is a small bookshelf stocked with titles that guests can buy and trade. Overall, the hotel is a relaxed place and sees mostly young folks on a budget who want a bit more comfort or extras such as the swimming pool.

The New Siam Guest House II is located on Phra Athit Road, which is full of bohemian restaurants, bars, and cafes popular with young Thais. Khao San Road, Bangkok's backpacker haven, is an eight-minute walk around the corner from here, with even more options for cheap eating and drinking. Phra Sumen Fort and park is five minutes up the road on foot, which is a pleasant spot to sit under the trees or check out the nice river views. The Phra Athit ferry pier on the Chao Phraya River is also a five-minute walk from the hotel. There, guests can catch a ferry to connect with the rest of Bangkok -- it is about 20 minutes by the express boat down to the Saphan Taksin Skytrain station. Otherwise, guests are at the mercy of tuk-tuks and taxis to get around, and it is a long way to Bangkok's business and nightlife areas from here. The road outside the hotel is busy with plenty of taxis and tuk-tuks going by all day, while the back of the hotel sits on a quiet alleyway, and most of the hotel is exempt from outside noise. Suvarnabhumi Airport and Don Mueang Airport both take 30 minutes to an hour to reach by road depending on traffic.

Despite having different names and being located in the hotel's Rear Building or Front Building, there's not much differentiating rooms here from one another. These are clean, basic rooms that offer unremarkable style and slightly dated accents. Mid-tone wood furniture shows a bit of wear, though carved wood-frame mirrors in some rooms add a bit of local flavor. There's also a token piece of art hanging depicting folkloric scenes hanging on the walls. Otherwise, there isn't much to look at, though the light tile floors and the white walls keep things bright. All rooms come with desks, small tube TVs, safes, and mini-fridges. While rooms in the Rear Building do have a small terrace, in most units it's taken up by the air-conditioner. Rooms in the Front Building have proper terraces that are a nice touch, though they aren't furnished. Additionally, rooms in the Rear Building have ceiling fans as well as air-conditioning, and guests may choose to forego the air-conditioning for lower rates. Bathrooms are small and simple, with vinyl-tile or ceramic-tile walls and shower areas that are cordoned off by curtains, but nothing else in most cases. Toiletries are provided, but don't expect much space around sinks in most rooms to store anything.

The New Siam Guesthouse II is a large hotel with better features than most properties around this area. There is a small swimming pool in the back of the hotel next to the restaurant, but lounge space around the pool is limited. The restaurant here does not serve free breakfast buffets for guests, but is open from morning to night, and has a large menu with both Thai and international choices. The restaurant is open-air, with a covered indoor section as well as an outdoor patio for smokers off to one side. In the lobby guests can find a travel agency to assist with tours, ticketing, and transport, and there are some computers for guests to use here (although they are not free).