The short answer
- Fewer than five nights, first visit: a hotel, close to a BTS or MRT station.
- A week or more: an aparthotel, for the kitchen, the laundry and the discounted rate.
- Family with children: a two-bedroom aparthotel unit or a family suite, with more room than a double room.
- Small budget: a hostel (dorm bed or private room) or a guesthouse.
- Renting an apartment by the night: avoid it for stays under 30 days, see the rule below.
The options, one by one
The hotel: a room with a bathroom, a front desk open day and night, daily housekeeping, breakfast optional or included. Many properties have a pool. It is the most flexible option for short stays.
The aparthotel: a furnished apartment run like a hotel, with a front desk, cleaning (often weekly or on request) and, depending on the property, a kitchenette, washing machine, gym or pool. Bangkok has many residences of this kind in its business and residential districts. Book a property that states its hotel or serviced-residence licence.
The hostel and guesthouse: a dorm bed or a small private room, sometimes a shared kitchen, a sociable atmosphere. See our tips for sleeping in Bangkok on a small budget.
Renting from a private host: an apartment or studio rented directly. We do not recommend it for a short stay, because of the 30-day rule explained below.
Comparison table
Prices are orders of magnitude per night, excluding "++", to be checked for your dates: they vary widely by season and area.
| Criterion | Hotel | Aparthotel | Hostel, guesthouse | Nightly rental |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Indicative price per night | 1,200 to 7,000 baht depending on category | Often similar to a mid-range hotel, with discounts for long stays | 550 to 700 baht per bed, a private room a little more | Variable, with no guarantee of legality |
| Kitchen | No (sometimes a minibar) | Kitchenette in most studios | Sometimes a shared kitchen | Yes |
| Housekeeping | Daily | Weekly or on request, depending on the property | Depends on the property | Your responsibility or extra |
| Front desk | 24 hours | Variable hours, sometimes 24 hours | Depends on the property | None, keys handed over by the host |
| Space | A single room | Studio or several bedrooms | Limited | Variable |
| Best for | Short stays, couples | Families, long stays | Small budgets, solo travellers | Not for a short stay |
The hotel and hostel price ranges come from our guide to the best hotels in Bangkok by budget. Aparthotel rates depend too much on the length of stay to be summed up in one reliable figure: compare them for your dates.
Who it suits, by type of stay
As a couple, for a few nights: a boutique hotel on the river or in Silom. The view and the service matter more than a kitchen.
As a family: an aparthotel gives you room, a kitchenette for the children's breakfast and often a pool. Check the walking distance to the station. Our guide to where to stay in Bangkok with family covers the neighbourhoods.
For a long stay or remote work: an aparthotel, on a monthly contract when the property offers one. See our guide to remote work in Bangkok.
Small budget: a hostel or guesthouse in a well-connected area. Keep the difference for street food and transport.
Where to find aparthotels
Sukhumvit has a very wide choice of hotels and serviced apartments along the BTS (see our guide to Sukhumvit): aparthotels in Sukhumvit and, quieter, around Phrom Phong, a residential area served by the BTS.
In Silom and Sathorn, the business district near Lumphini Park, you also find serviced residences: aparthotels in Silom. Details in our guide to Silom and Sathorn.
In the centre, near the Siam shopping malls, Siam station links the two BTS lines: aparthotels in Siam. For the temples, a stay on the river remains more pleasant: Riverside.
Always choose by the nearest station, not by the neighbourhood name: a place "in Sukhumvit" can sit at the end of a long soi, far from the BTS. Our guide to getting around Bangkok helps you find the lines.
Short-term rentals: the 30-day rule
In Thailand, renting out accommodation for fewer than 30 days falls under the 2004 Hotel Act. Without a hotel licence it is illegal; the simplified registration for small operators does not apply to condominium apartments, and the rules of many buildings also ban nightly rentals. Inspections and prosecutions targeted illegal rentals in Bangkok in 2025. A reform is under discussion but was not in force in mid-2026. For you, the risk is concrete: the building may refuse you entry, the booking may be cancelled at the last minute, and you have no recourse. For under a month, choose a hotel, a registered guesthouse or a licensed aparthotel. More details on our page on where to stay in Bangkok.
Pitfalls to avoid
- The displayed price without the "++": a 10% service charge and 7% VAT are added, about 17.7% more. A room at 2,000 baht ++ comes to 2,354 baht.
- The deposit: hotels and residences often ask for one on arrival, by card imprint or in cash. Ask for the amount and keep the receipt.
- Housekeeping and laundry: in an aparthotel, check how often the room is cleaned and whether the washing machine is in the unit or in a shared laundry room.
- Noise: ask for a high floor away from the bars (Nana, Soi Cowboy, Khao San).
- Misleading photos: read recent reviews and look at the map, not only the neighbourhood name.
- Cancellation: in high season, from November to February, prefer a cancellable rate. See the best time to visit Bangkok.
Going further
For the total cost of your trip, see Bangkok on a small budget. To choose a neighbourhood, read where to stay in Bangkok for a first visit.
