Rambuttri Village Inn & Plaza

Rambuttri Village Inn is a budget property that's in an ideal spot for those looking to be close to wild Khaosan Road, Bangkok's backpacker mecca. Renovated in 2015, it's one of the more modern properties in Bangkok's historic Rattanakosin Island area, though despite that fact the style throughout is quite simple. The open-air lobby is efficient and typically bustling with the tourist couples and friends who tend to stay here. Decor is traditional, and includes dark-wood seating with floral cushions, scuffed wood and tile flooring, and wooden railings and pillars dividing up the space. Adjacent is the open-air restaurant with hanging ferns, wood tables, and brown leather sofas. A wooden terrace overlooking a koi pond with lush greenery is a lovely spot for a meal, while a quiet hallway with some wicker seating leads to the next-door Thai massage parlor. The hotel consists of two buildings, each with a rooftop pool offering views of the city, nearby temples, and the sunset -- each makes for a popular hangout spot throughout the day. It's a lively place, but still provides a respite from the surrounding steel-and-concrete of the city.

Rambuttri Village Inn & Plaza is on Soi Rambuttri, in an area with shops, restaurants, bars, and other budget and mid-range hotels. It's lively, but a bit quieter than Khaosan Road, which is just three minutes away on foot. That infamous street is home to seemingly limitless options for shopping plus food stalls, bars and clubs, and buses to destinations in Thailand. For a less touristy area with an active cafe and live-music scene, guests can walk about five minutes to Phra Athit road. From there, it's another minute or so to the Chao Phraya River, Phra Athit Pier, and Chao Phraya Express boat, which connects to areas near the Grand Palace, Chinatown, and Silom. 

Historic sights are also within walking distance of the hotel. It's a 15-minute walk to the Grand Palace, the official residence of the Thai royal family since 1782. The grounds also include Wat Phra Kaew, regarded as the most sacred Buddhist temple in Thailand, with its Emerald Buddha. Wat Pho, which holds the famous reclining Buddha, is next to the Grand Palace. Chinatown is about 40 minutes away by river ferry, and the lively nightlife of Sukhumvit Road and the Silom area will take 20 minutes to reach, though traffic means that this number often doubles or triples. Unfortunately there's no skytrain or metro station within an easy walk. It's about 30 minutes to a one-hour drive -- depending on traffic conditions -- to reach Don Mueang or Suvarnabhumi Airports.

Despite a renovation in 2015 -- which did make everything look at least nominally modern -- rooms here are a mostly spartan affair. Expect to see largely bare walls, all-white bedding, and simple wood-veneer furniture, some of which is already showing a bit of wear. The color palette is white, beige, and brown, with pops of burnt orange in many rooms. Premier Rooms are a bit nicer, and have stylish patterned wallpaper, wood-laminate floors, and a fresher palette of soft orange and gray. 

Comforts include air-conditioning and TVs (we saw lots of small, tube-style units) plus bottled water and safes. Some rooms have mini-fridges and/or flat-screen TVs with DVD players, but these features vary, so check ahead. Many rooms also have small balconies. Complaints include street and interior noise, loud or too-cold air-conditioning, and hard beds. The smallest rooms come in at only 14 square meters (161 square feet), making them quite compact even by Bangkok standards. While Wi-Fi is free, it can be slow or erratic.

Bathrooms are well lighted, but some are a little small and have a dated look. Shower nozzles are handheld and wall-mounted, and can be tricky to use without spraying water all over the room. Most bathrooms have a wet-room layout, meaning that there's no separation between the shower area and rest of the room. Additionally, we saw dirty grout around drains in some rooms. Hairdryers can be requested from the front desk if not provided. 

As a simple budget hotel, the number of features here is limited, though most guests find at least something to like. The two rooftop swimming pools are the hotel's most popular feature. Each is about 15 meters in length (50 feet), good for a decent swim, and one has a jetted section. The decks have nice sunset views, but the wooden lounge chairs have no cushions. Pool towels are available for a fee. 

The hotel serves a breakfast buffet (for a fee) with eggs, sausage, croissants, toast, cereal, fruit, coffee, and juice. While there's a number of options on hand, reviews are mixed, and cheaper (more delicious) options may be found out in the neighborhood. The restaurant serves Thai and international cuisine for lunch and dinner, and also has a coffee counter. Limited room service is available. 

Additional conveniences include a coin-operated laundry room, public computers, and a clothing and tailoring shop. The hotel can arrange for tours and travel and the front desk is open 24 hours. There is no on-site parking, but nearby public parking is available for a fee. Guests should expect to pay a fairly hefty deposit upon checking in.