Khao San Road
While Khao San Road is not a gay district, no guide to Bangkok would be complete without describing this epic, party-filled, Backpacking paradise. Khao San Road is located in the heart of “old Bangkok” with close proximity to many of the cities cultural attractions, including Grand Palace, Wat Pho, National Museum, and Wat Arun.
However, Khao San Road reflects a different type of culture. During the day the street is filled with market stalls selling everything a backpacker could desire from the latest edition of the Lonely Planet to your staple Havaiana Thongs (flip flops) and tank tops. The surrounding area of Banglampoo (Bang-Lam-Poo) is full of cheap hostels to medium-priced hotels. On every corner, there is a mixture of travel agents, restaurants, massage parlous, and tattoo shops.
At night the market stalls disappear and are replaced by the tables and chairs from the makeshift bars. The area is full of tourists, this is undeniable, but there are a large number of Thai students who come here to party for its cheap laid back atmosphere.
Staying in Khao San Road area is very popular with young gay backpackers. Traveling from here to Silom (Bangkok’s Gay District) or DJ Station (Bangkok’s biggest gay club) is relativity simple, taxi is really the only option. Without much traffic, the journey is short around 15-20 minutes (approximately 80-100 Baht, $3USD).
Music: Across the whole street you will hear only loud mainstream international pop. “The Club” Khao San Road’s main club plays world-class house music.
Crowd: The crowd on Khao San Road is mainly young backpackers, with a few Thai students and a couple of older tourists coming to experience the magic of Khao San Road.
Drinks: Each bar on Khao San Road as a whole the street its good value. Most bars serve the famous Thai Buckets which have become synonymous with South East Asian Backpackers.
Dress: As with all backpackers the street is very casual, it looks as though the dress code of flip flops, shorts, and tank tops are mandatory.
Khao San Road, Banglampoo (Bang-Lam-poo)
Taxi: Ask any taxi driver for Khao San Road (pronounced Cow San Road). This is one street in the city every taxi knows. However, being a tourist detestation it may be difficult to get a taxi on meter, it is not usual to wait for at least three taxis until one will drive on the meter.
BTS Sky Train: There are no Sky Trains in the old town Phaya Thai (BTS N2) and the end of the Airport Link plus Ratchathewi (BTS N3) on the Sukhumvit Line is the closest to Khao San Road after a taxi is required (approximately 100 Baht, $3USD)
MRT Underground: Again there is no MRT Underground in the old town. The closest underground station is Hua Lamphong, again a taxi is required from here (approximately 100 Baht, $3USD.
