AirBnB review: Staying in a Bangkok apartment for $18 a night

Accommodation: AirBnB Studio Apartment – Bangkok.
Address: Petchaburi, Bangkok, Thailand.

[Edit: This apartment is no longer available. Search for hotels in Bangkok.]

I had a couple of weeks in Bangkok which gave me the chance to try out AirBnB for the first time. I was already in Bangkok staying in a hotel, so just before booking a new place to stay I thought I should give AirBnB a chance.

Talk about beginners luck, because I landed myself a last minute bargain. I found a studio apartment that usually goes for $35 a night for a last minute deal of $10 a night. I booked for a week and three of the nights were at $15, so the average cost per night once the fees were factored in worked out to $18 a night. That’s $18 for a whole studio apartment to myself in the the middle of Bangkok! I’ve stayed in crappy rooms on Khao San Rd that have cost more than that.

[AirBnB Booking Calendar]

I appear to have lucked out with the dates I picked. When I selected another date the property disappeared off the search completely. As I was booking just a few days out I got the great deal.

Note to self: book Bangkok accommodation last minute from now on.

The apartment I stayed at was in an apartment tower about ten minutes walk from the Ratchathewi BTS Skytrain. This is one stop away from Siam, the central station of the BTS system, which is close enough to walk to (for me at least).

The owners don’t live there so they had instructions on how to get in and get set up. The initial instructions to get to the apartment were confusing but once I found the apartment tower the rest of the instructions were fine.

The apartment tower is a new build, which is a common site along the BTS lines in Bangkok these days. The studio was as shiny and new as the exterior had promised.

The apartment looks modern and is a nice size for a studio. I don’t know how much it is in square metres but the picture gives you an idea. The apartment is located on the 19th floor, which meant a view like this…

I found myself leaving the curtains open at night just to admire the skyline all lit up. There was a kitchenette but given that I am in Bangkok there is no way I am cooking! I bought supplies for breakfast and snacks from a Tesco supermarket near the apartment.

What I loved about this experience was the feeling of being a resident somewhere for a week. It was a refreshing change to be in an apartment and have my own space. The apartment view and the neighbourhood was also a bonus.

What I didn’t like was that as this isn’t a serviced apartment rental you are without a cleaner. While renting for a week was manageable, this would be something to consider if you are looking to rent a place for a month.

Overall I loved this little studio and I would stay here even at the normal rate. I now just have to get into the habit of searching for AirBnB rentals when booking accommodation elsewhere.

If you prefer hotels then search for hotels in Bangkok. New visitors to Bangkok should read this guide on where to stay in Bangkok.