Dang Derm Hotel

To be clear: This part of Bangkok is notorious for its dives -- and there are plenty to be found all around -- but this is not one of them. Opened in 2010, Dang Derm Hotel is housed in a five-story yellow building in the heart of the energetic Khaosan Road area with its nightlife, night market, and dining. Guests enter into a contemporary lobby with Thai decorative elements and a colorful mural adorning the front of the reception desk. A couch provides seating, but other than this, it's a simple space that doesn't encourage lounging around. Instead, most guests gather at the rooftop pool and lovely sundeck, a highlight here that's consistent with the quality of a higher-category hotel. There are plenty of lounge chairs -- including white rattan pod-shaped chairs and sofas -- as well as a garden with a pond, trees, and shrubs. Just below the pool is an open-air cocktail lounge with an aqua blue bar and sitting area with orange-cushioned sofas and chairs. The hotel tends to attract young leisure travelers drawn to its location on Khaosan Road, as well as its affordable rates, attractive pool, and room quality that's a notch above bare-bones budget. Note: the hotel does not take credit cards and only accepts cash as payment. ATMs can be found nearby.

Dang Derm Hotel is in the heart of bustling Khaosan Road -- Bangkok's backpacker mecca -- surrounded by shops, restaurants, street food stalls, bars, clubs, and a night market. Wat Chana Songkhram temple is just west of the hotel. The Democracy Monument is an eight-minute walk from the hotel, and it's a little under a 10-minute walk to reach Phra Athit Road, with its cafes, bars, and live music. Just northwest of Phra Athit Road are Phra Sumen fort, the Chao Phraya River, and Phra Athit Pier for access to the Chao Phraya Express boat. Also within a 10-minute walk of the hotel is the Bangkok National Museum, which is billed as the largest museum in Southeast Asia and displays Thai art and historical artifacts. Wat Phra Kaew, regarded as the most sacred Buddhist temple in Thailand, is 15 minutes away on foot, as is the adjacent Queen Sirikit Museum of Textiles, situated next to the Grand Palace. A short walk south of the Grand Place is the Wat Pho temple complex, which is home to the city's famous reclining Buddha. Bangkok Railway Station is about a 20-minute drive from the hotel, though that's without traffic, which is never the case in Bangkok. Both Don Mueang International Airport and Suvarnabhumi Airport are about a 30- to 50-minute drive away, depending on traffic conditions -- it's smart to budget over an hour to reach either.

The 100 rooms at Dang Derm Hotel have a simple, traditionally Thai look. Everything is clean and well kept, but spartan and a bit dark, in part because of palettes that heavily favor beige, rust, and brown hues. Walls are largely bare, and offset by dark bamboo paneling and trim, hardwood and chunk-quartz floors. Mattresses are set right on the floor, with no box springs or bed frames, and the beds are firm. Rooms range from 194 square feet to 581 square feet in size (18 to 54 square meters), so some are compact by Bangkok standards. Given the hotel's location in the thick of the Khaosan nightlife, many rooms do experience significant noise issues and the hotel provides earplugs. All rooms come with electronic keying, air-conditioning, safes, hot water kettles for tea, free bottled water, mini-fridges, free Wi-Fi, and flat-screen TVs with satellite and English channels. Some rooms have balconies. Wet-room style bathrooms are clean and have showers, plus hairdryers and soap are provided. All rooms and public spaces at the Dang Derm are non-smoking. 

The highlight here is the lovely rooftop pool and sundeck, which features views of the surrounding area and offers loungers and rattan seating. The rooftop also features a hot tub, a poolside bar, and an open-air cocktail lounge. Guests can arrange for a massage for a fee. The hotel's restaurant serves Italian and Thai cuisine for lunch and dinner. There's also a fairly decent quality breakfast buffet that's included in room rates. The spread offers various hot and cold items like hot eggs, sausages, cold cuts, ham, Thai fried rice and noodles, toast, fruit, coffee, tea, and juice. Other amenities include a 24-hour front desk, tour desk, currency exchange, and shopping plaza with outlets like a suit shop and travel agency. There is no on-site parking, and there is little to no street or public parking in the area. Guests are advised not to drive to the hotel.