On my most recent trip to Bangkok I found myself at the familiar Elizabeth Hotel. It was so familiar in that it looked like a hotel way past its best, that was once 5 star and was now 3 at best. These hotels now dominate Bangkok, but by pure fluke I had actually stayed at the same place before.
Said hotel is located near the new main Bangkok Railway Station that previously led be to Hua Hin, as well as for this trip being near the big electronics market, known as Fortune Town. This was where I was to get myself back into the world of Go Pro and the Gimbel!
What the Elizabeth Hotel
Sadly when you look for hotel iformation these days you find that because of the hotel booking sites most do not even bother with a website. This means that finding their history is nigh on impossible. Therefore I shall make up the history of the history of the Elizabeth Hotel with what I estimate to be a 50% chance of accuracy.
The Elizabeth Hotel was invented in the 1980’s when everyone thought that communism would prevail and thus Thailand would have exclusively for the region. At this point it was one of the best hotels in the capital with everyone still believing that Thailand was friendly and that the Khao San Road was the very epitome of class.
The wall then fell, the hotel became less popular and people discovered that Cambodia and Vietnam were also nice places to visit.
The hotel decided not to upgrade ANYTHING over this time, but instead just stay open with lower prices.
Elizabeth Hotel Address;
169 51 Pradiphat Rd, แขวงพญาไท Khet Phaya Thai, Krung Thep Maha Nakhon 10400, Thailand
Elizabeth Hotel Bangkok Amenities
There’s a breakfast area and indeed breakfast is included when you stay there. Alas I have only Alas it once, when I took the train from Bangkok to Hua Hin. It was of the continental variety and at least had some fried eggs. Again in style it took me back to the 80’s/90’s.
The rooms here are very retro to a degree that they even have a bathtub. I am an unashamed fan of this, and with the price ranging form $25 to $30 this is truly a great value place to stay in Bangkok that has a fabulous locale.
Is Thailand the most friendly country in South-East Asia?
In shorten it is not, particularly if you are a blogger. I have read recently of many bloggers being told to take things down, or face prison. I would oust this envelope myself, but need Bangkok for flights so do not wish to be banned.
At Elizabeth Hotel I asked to have a small late checkout as I was going shopping only to be told if I was one minute late they would charge me for the whole day. Yes they smile, but only when you give them money, but woe betide you insult anyone from the King down in this military dictatorship.