Sathorn Terrace Apartment

This is a two-star, budget hotel but it is easily one of the best two-star hotels I have stayed in (and I am in my 70s). The hotel is owned/run by Khun Tor and his ‘sister’ (assistant) Khun Aey and I, my wife and adult son have stayed here several times now including over two Christmas periods when I have asked him to make last minute changes to bookings and he has co-operated very well. You will receive a reduced rate if you stay for an extended period. Khun Tor is a pleasant man and Khun Aey, is very helpful (she will explain how to pronounce their names properly) and Poo is the name of the cleaner (enough said). It is/was basically a local hotel as the door height into the bathroom reveals. Checking in is straightforward at the small reception, there is a 500-baht returnable deposit and reception is manned 24 hours. Umbrellas are available here for when it rains. The lifts are nearby, near to two coin-operated washing machines and one dryer; you can buy washing soap and change for the machines from Khun Aey. The corridors are quite plain and no bar, restaurant, or swimming pool. There is one shop, an optometrist, on the G/F and there is parking for cars in the front. The hotel is split into 2 halves, the apartments, which we stay in, and Escape. Escape is the newer part but I have no further knowledge of layout, amenities etc. The apartments are a bit dated now but excellent value for money. There were three adults in our party and we have had the same family room on each visit, minimal decorations, plain flooring but which was spacious and clean with a balcony and with two king beds; the beds were quite firm but comfortable enough and we slept well. The bathroom was a reasonable size with a good shower with its own heater but with an awkward, low-hanging light over the basin; two containers marked shampoo and soup (a typo) were mounted on the wall in the shower. A new and very effective split-level aircon has now been installed, flip flops, coffee making facilities, glasses, bowls and plates, kitchen sink, rubbish bins, wifi (fine), tv (local stations), good sized ‘fridge, bottles of water every day, telephone, basic towels and microwave were provided but no safe. Some furniture, very reasonable cupboard space and daily room cleaning by the Poo (the daily cleaning was a nice bonus but I did look after her). A large part of the attraction of the hotel is its location. It is located in a safe area in Bangrak and just about everything is nearby. Turning left out of the hotel and round the corner on the left is an upmarket Chinese restaurant (pity about the rubbish dump outside) and next to it is a hotel. Turn left at this hotel into Charoen Wiang (street), walk a very short distance and on the right is the recommended Yi Ping Chinese Restaurant (see my separate review) and on the left are a couple of western-style restaurants. Walk to the end of Charoen Wiang, a short distance, and on the corner, on the right and opposite Robinsons Department Store, is a 7-Eleven store; remember that if you want to buy alcohol it can only be sold between 11 am – 2 pm and 5 pm – midnight. You have reached the main road, Charoen Krung Road, and opposite is Robinsons Department Store with a Tops supermarket in the basement and a Watsons pharmacy on the 1/F. This area can get crowded and you will need to be careful when crossing the street. Immediately to the left of the department store is a small shop which sells lovely roasted duck (take away only) with a cooked chicken shop next to it. Next to them is a side street, Charoen Krung 50 Alley, and walk down there to the Bang Rak Bazaar which is undergoing modernization and whilst the surroundings are nicer and the variety of food choices wider, the cheap, but very tasty, Thai dishes have declined and the best stall has moved on. The bazaar is still recommended, just, for when you are tired one evening but the choice of food elsewhere is almost overwhelming. Do Not Forget the duck. Prachak Roasted Duck Restaurant, nearby on Charoen Krung Road, is well-known (see my separate report). There are also any number of restaurants, street stalls etc in the same area, at Asiatique and Icon Siam (see below). Next to the alley, back on Charoen Krung Road, is a Boots pharmacy and then a branch of the Bangkok Bank with a foreign exchange counter – definitely not recommended. A little further, on the corner, is a 7-11 (they sell SIM cards for tourists) and across the side street is the Saphan Taksin BTS Station. If you go back to the hotel and turn right on exiting, past a school, you will come to the same 7-11 store and Saphan Taksin BTS station ie close by and an essential means of travel for tourists in Bangkok for sightseeing and eating at yet more restaurants (exit 3 from the station when returning to the hotel). Outside are motorbikes and drivers for hire and be careful when crossing the street. Walk past the station down the side street and follow the signs to the nearby ferries for the tourist boat to the Grand Palace et al and ferries to Asiatique and Icon Siam, all along the Chao Praya River. If you have spare time, visit the quaint Wat Yannawa built in the shape of a Chinese junk which is nearby and also very close to a small Chinese temple. Back to Robinsons Department Store. As you face the store, turn right instead and next door is a small wet and fruits/veggies market. Continue along the road to the right and you will pass a shop selling see-through bags of spicy peanuts on the street and then on the left at the corner of Charoen Krung Road and Soi 44 (remember to look up for street signs) is a shop selling coconut sweets/cakes and the flat, pandan and coconut milk ones are nice, definitely not expensive, and you can watch them being made. About a 10-minute walk further long the same street you will reach the Chai Somboon(e) Exchange, 1280 Charoen Krung Road, G/F, on your left where you will receive a good rate and the money changing is very straightforward (they have a website). The Roman Catholic Cathedral is close by and you will have passed it on the way to the money changer. Tip, if you want to know the name/number of the side streets you are walking by, look up, the sign posts are raised. Another tip, repairing pavements is not a priority – you need 3 eyeballs, one to look up, one to look down and one to see ahead…... Last but not least, tailors and you can research Trip Advisor for helpful reviews. I can recommend Alex Il Sarto, an upmarket tailor (turn left by the sweets/cakes shop at Soi 44 and walk to the end of the road), Praise Tailors (nearby on Charoen Krung Road), not upmarket, and Dream Women’s Tailor (turn left at the same sweet/cake shop and on the right half way along the street) for my wife. I have reviewed all 3 separately and all three are within easy walking distance of the hotel. There you are. Overall a very good budget hotel in a very good location, you will NOT go hungry and you need the beds after all the food you have eaten. My thanks to Khun Tor, Khun Aey and Poo again and obviously we would be happy to stay there yet again. My 5-star rating is for this grade of hotel. TripAdvisor please note I am not advertising any additional location, I simply want to show what the hotel has to offer and to help those who are new to the area by showing them what is available – in some detail.