Amarin Inn

Friendly helpful staff, clean great price, good location

This little hotel is in a Muslim quarter of old Bangkok. This is a great location--you are only five minutes' walk from Khao San Road, but you are also in a quiet, sane little corner. And you are only three minutes' walk from Phra Arthit river pier, where you can hop on the cheapest, easiest, and funnest transportation in Bangkok, the orange-flag river ferry (which will take you to the Grand Palace, Wat Arun, Wat Pho, Chinatown, and even the BTS). The hotel is next to the local mosque, but the call to prayer didn't wake me up, and it sounded beautiful when I did hear it around sunset. There was also halal street food, right where the alley meets the main street; nearby were several other street food options, a good pizza/Italian restaurant, and a hipster hostel with a restaurant serving hip Western drinks and food. (Speaking of the alley, which you must use to get to the hotel, anyone calling it "sketchy"--as one reviewer did--doesn't know that they are in Thailand. Street crime is really not an issue, even in Bangkok.) The hotel staff are nice and helpful; they will be attentive to you during your stay. They can even book you on quality, affordable tours--I took a day trip to Ayutthaya that was a highlight of my entire trip. As for the rooms, they are right for the price. I think the happiest customers will be budget travelers--like backpacker couples--who want more peace and privacy than they can find at the hostels. My room had private bathroom, great a/c, and great wi-fi.

This is the best hotel I've seen in this price range in Bangkok. The location in great, right next to convenient stores, restaurants, street food, cafes and bars but still quiet since it's down a long alley. It's also next to a couple of bus stops. The staff couldn't be more welcoming and helpful. The rooms are basic, but clean and have everything you need. Good AC, fast WIFI, etc. The bed was very firm, so if you need a soft, western-style bed you may want to look at some other options. Overall, if you're looking for a room in this price range, you won't do much better than this.