Getting away from the backpacker circuit

Do you want somewhere cheap to stay in Bangkok, that's also convenient for public transport? Are you keen to sample Thai culture, and avoid the Khao San road, aka backpacker central? (I don't understand why people go all the way to Thailand to stay there, when you can pretty much get the same experience back in the UK - and the beer's hardly much cheaper either.)

I would strongly recommend that you consider staying in Chinatown. There are a few cheap places to stay in and around the main train station. It's very convenient for the metro, unlike staying near the Khao San road. You can also wander down to the river to get on the boats. Plus, best of all, you can get a train to the airport for Bt10, rather than paying a taxi Bt400 or something silly. The trains run from 5am till late, so you can connect with almost any flight.

We stayed in the Station Hotel, which is just across the road, and left a bit, from the front of the station. The room was incredibly noisy, because there's no glass in the windows, and the street below is always busy with traffic, but if you don't mind that it's good value at Bt250 a night. There are other options in the area as well, for a bit more money and probably a bit quieter!