Soi Rambuttri - A Hidden Gem Near Khao San Road Bangkok

Believe it or not sometimes Bangkok can be a little bit too fast paced. So ever so often I pay a visit to Soi Rambuttri in the old district of Bangkok. Soi Rambuttri like Khao San Road is a haven for backpackers and budget travelers seeking a place to lay their heads in homely guesthouses for a little while before they move on. It's a place where life slows down in a city that is moving forward too fast.

Bangkok is an ever growing city feeding on concrete. Reaching the peaks of cosmopolitan status that has the potential to rival most modern Asian cities. Amongst the grit of congested traffic, crowds of shoulder to shoulder pedestrians lies a tiny slice of heaven just north of the hustle and bustle of Bangkok with the cheapest hotels in the city.

It is called Soi Rambuttri and it is nestled in the arms of a district named Banglumphu or more commonly and rightfully referred to as the old district. Most have never heard of Soi Rambuttri. Though most will surely have heard of Khao San Road, a narrow street that is the mecca for budget travelers and adventurous backpackers.

Khao San road has been immortalized in television, movies and books as the place to be for the young crowd bearing rucksacks and backpacks. Its humble beginnings started during a government tourism promotion during the early 1980's. As a result throngs of post-hippie visitors flooded Bangkok looking for cheap hotels or any place that would let them rest up a night for cheap. To meet the demand for cheap guesthouses a band of entrepreneurial Thais opened up their spare rooms for rent.

With all the new money flowing in along with the surge of tourist willing to spend, all types of businesses such as bars, gift shops and restaurants appeared overnight, reaping in the Baht.

Today the scene in Khao San Road has changed drastically. More upmarket hotels, bars and restaurants have opened to cater to tourist who can afford to spend more while staying in the charming old city in modern air conditioned private rooms.

As a result many smaller guesthouses and budget hotels can be found in Soi Rambuttri with hotel room rates under 1000 Baht. And that's where most visitors traveling on the cheap have gravitated to in search of a place to lay down their backpacks and rest their weary heads before heading out to the nearest bar selling cheap drinks and food in Soi Rambuttri.

Soi Rambuttri is a very unique U shaped lane that straddles a massive white walled temple compound called Wat Chana Songkhram. Walking around can be quite beautiful as large Banyan trees provide cooling shade cover.

There are 2 entrances to Soi Rambuttri, well 3 actually but I'll get to that soon.

The main entrance if you can call it that is on Thanon Chakrabongse which is close to Khao San Raod.

The 2nd entrance is on Phra Ahtit Road which is easily found when you exit Phra Ahtit Pier. From there just make a short walk south to Chana Songkhram road through a small lane filled with shops with services catering to budget travelers.

The 3rd entrance is found by walking through a small Japanese restaurant on Thanon Chakrabongse too, but it will lead you to a much quieter end of Soi Rambuttri.

It truly is a peaceful place in a city that is commonly hectic. The pace is slower here in Soi Rambuttri and you'll feel like you're sharing space and breathing the same air with a bohemian community.

Banglumphu district, where Soi Rambuttri is located is not far from central Bangkok, it is just past the city's Chinatown neighborhood and right above the Majestic Grand Palace.

If you are staying in central Bangkok area I recommend 2 options to get there:

1. Express River Ferry Boat (recommended) - Soi Rambuttri is very near Chao Phraya River and if you take the ferry to Phra Ahtit Pier you will be able to walk to Soi Rambuttri in about 10 minutes.
2. Metered Public Taxi - In most modern countries taxis are expensive. In Bangkok it is really affordable. And since taxis can fit 4 passengers comfortably sharing the cost is significantly lower. But one thing you should know is that the city's traffic especially during the weekends is really bad especially if you are coming from central Bangkok, say for instance from the Sukhumvit or Silom districts. Drivers know this too and they may refuse to give you a ride knowing that they won't make a lot of money stuck in traffic.
   

If you are planning to make your stay near Soi Rambuttri during your entire visit to Bangkok then you won't be disappointed. Sure there are many really cheap guesthouses and hotels in the area. But there are plenty more hotels that provide reasonably priced comforts.

Staying anywhere near Soi Rambuttri offers visitors a genuine experience of how the city once was without any sight of monstrous office buildings, shopping malls and massive hotels ruining the view. Here are some names of recommended hotels:

• Navalai River Resort
• New World City Lodge
• Bhimann Inn
• Rambuttri Village

As of writing, now is actually the best time for booking hotels in Bangkok. Despite the high season which normally means higher room rates, many hotels have kept their rates down because tourism has seriously slowed down in the land of smiles.

To further land yourself better deals and discounts it is best to reserve a room through an online hotel reservation agency based in Bangkok such as Agoda.com or take a look at CheapOstay.com to find the best hotel discounts in Soi Rambuttri and Khao San Road.