Red Planet Bangkok Asoke

Bangkok is filled with plenty of drab value hotels, but Red Planet Asoke is not one of them. There isn't much of a scene here, but that's the point -- it's a clean and cozy place to sleep with a bright and modern style. Interiors are functional but snazzy, with the bright red colors on the building's exterior continuing along the interior lobby hallway. The lobby is minimalist, with a white tiled floor, a few red and black cushioned sofa seats, plus a wooden counter. The hallway past the lobby leads to a couple of large iMac computers for guests to freely use, and there is a long black and white photo mural of Bangkok running the length of the corridor here, right next to the bright red-walled elevators, which have photos of hands folded in prayer that separate when the elevator doors open. This is a simple, bright, and cheerful hotel that draws budget travelers in droves.

This may be a no-frills hotel, but it arguably has one of the best locations in town. Red Planet sits on a quiet side street just minutes from Sukhumvit Road and the busy Asoke Junction intersection. The hotel's street is a dead end road and receives minimal traffic, yet it's just a five-minute walk to both the skytrain and metro stations, as well as to the massive Terminal 21 Shopping Mall. There are countless restaurants and bars in this part of Lower Sukhumvit, and the red light district of Soi Cowboy is a 10-minute walk away. Night markets line Sukhumvit Road in the evening, stretching all the way to Soi Nana and beyond -- nightlife in the area is a blend of the stylish, seedy, upmarket, and wild, and all of the streets running north and south from Sukhumvit Road are lined with hotels. It's an excellent location for being able to access all of Bangkok via public transport, yet tucked away from the noise. Expect a 30-minute to one-hour drive to Suvarnabhumi or Don Mueang Airports. 

There are 130 rooms at the Red Planet Asoke and they are all in the same category -- guests simply choose between two twin beds or a double bed. Rooms here are small and basic, although bright and clean, with white walls, light wood veneer furniture, clean white linens, and plenty of light. Some rooms have a rendition of downtown Bangkok on both the window curtains as well as the bathroom door, plus there are some pictures of Bangkok up on the walls that also serve as advertisements for Red Planet hotels. Flat-screen TVs are mounted on the wall, safes are provided, and there is a tiny fold down table top that serves as a laptop space. There is no real room for luggage; rooms also lack a mini-fridge and drinking water is not provided. There is a hairdryer on the wall, and the small bathrooms have a walk-in shower with limited toiletries. Wi-Fi is free in guest rooms. Some guests have reported noise from neighboring guests due to thin walls. 

Even by value hotel standards, the Red Planet has a limited array of features on-site as its meant for guests keen on exploring all that Bangkok has to offer. There is no restaurant or bar, although there are a couple of snack items such as potato chips and instant noodles available for sale at the front desk. Breakfast is not offered. The lobby does have a newspaper rack plus several 27-inch iMac computers in the back that are free for guests to use, but that's it. For everything else, guests will need to venture beyond the hotel. Wi-Fi is available for free throughout. Parking is available on-site.