Place to Stay While Looking for Teaching Job

**Sherman** · 18th August 2011 13:27

So I'm returning to bkk after traveling around Thailand for a little bit, and I need a place to stay and set up shop while I hunt down teaching Jobs.

So far I have only stayed in Khoa san Road and I'm not sure if that's the place that I want to be while I'm hunting for jobs. It seemed a bit too grimy, a bit too touristy, and a bit to party-centric for my liking. Granted I am relatively young (25) and I want to meet people and have fun sometimes, but this place just didn't really have the energy I was looking for.

I kind of felt like the mass amount of tourists made it somewhat difficult to meet people. In my experience, meeting fellow travelers in a foreign land is some what of a novelty, and usually grants some form of common connection which allows conversations to start easily. But in Khoa San, I almost felt this was overdone. It seemed more like a playground for westerners looking to party than people seeking a cultural adventure.

Ideally I'd like to find someplace close to a skytrain. Some place a bit quieter, but maybe with a bit of nightlife not far off when I need to find it. And maybe someplace with a bit more of a neighborhood feel to it; something more communal.

Budget is also an issue and I'd really like to not go over 6000 baht. And i'd also like to find a place that has month to month contracts. So far I have been looking at Victory monument but I'm not sure since I haven't really seen too much of the city yet.

Well, I'll be returning in a few days and I anxiously await what you all have to say.

Thanks in advance.

-Drew

**The Quiet American** · 18th August 2011 15:17

re: kao san

Originally Posted by Sherman

I almost felt this was overdone

u think ?

6,000 ain't much to work w/ in BKK

couple ideas

walk up and down sukumvit soi 22 and look at the dumpier , i mean older , buildings

MRT (subway) , Huay Kwang stop , on the east side of Ratchada there (now that's a cool , basically thai neighborhood )

**DJ Pat** · 18th August 2011 21:39

Originally Posted by Sherman

kind of felt like the mass amount of tourists made it somewhat difficult to meet people. In my experience, meeting fellow travelers in a foreign land is some what of a novelty, and usually grants some form of common connection which allows conversations to start easily. But in Khoa San, I almost felt this was overdone. It seemed more like a playground for westerners looking to party than people seeking a cultural adventure.

You've never been to Kao San Road.

**Warhammer820** · 18th August 2011 21:47

Originally Posted by DJ Pat

You've never been to Kao San Road.

I agree with what he said. It was an environment for a tourist with all the bars and overpriced food. By the way, I stayed at an apartment for 3,000 baht for about two nights and I was ok with it. I am not too demanding though, it was more like a dorm room.

**DJ Pat** · 18th August 2011 21:54

Originally Posted by Warhammer820

I stayed at an apartment for 3,000 baht for about two nights and I was ok with it. I am not too demanding though, it was more like a dorm room.

You sure this was Bangkok?

**Warhammer820** · 18th August 2011 22:41

Originally Posted by DJ Pat

You sure this was Bangkok?

It was about a quarter mile from Assumption University

**Farangrakthai** · 19th August 2011 01:04

Originally Posted by Sherman

Budget is also an issue and I'd really like to not go over 6000 baht. And i'd also like to find a place that has month to month contracts.

really doubt you'll be able to find a 6,000/month apt in bkk on a month to month contract (probably not profitable or even legal for common apt owners to do)

you'll probably have to go for a cheap guest house again on khao sahn or pay more for a place like "house by the pond" on sukhumvit 22.

---Update---

Originally Posted by Warhammer820

By the way, I stayed at an apartment for 3,000 baht for about two nights and I was ok with it.

"By the way, I once stayed at a friend's 3,000 baht/month apartment for two nights and was ok with it."

right?

**Warhammer820** · 19th August 2011 08:17

Originally Posted by Farangrakthai

"By the way, I once stayed at a friend's 3,000 baht/month apartment for two nights and was ok with it."

Wrong.

By the way, I once stayed at my girlfriend's cousin's 3,000 baht/month apartment for two nights and was okay with it.

Right?

**8ball** · 19th August 2011 09:06

I lived in a 3,500 baht/month apartment in Bangers for over 3 years

an was OK witit ,,,

**Sherman** · 19th August 2011 17:52

Originally Posted by DJ Pat

You've never been to Kao San Road.

You've clearly never been to Costa Rica.

---Update---

I figured 6k a month would be a stretch, but I figured I'd throw it out there just to see. I don't mind spending more than that until I find my permenant residence, I just need to be somewhere relatively cheap, has adequate transportation and is not khao san road.

I mean, not that i hated it, it was cool for a visit and if you want to party, but it just didn't feel like thailand. I just felt like it had this jaded atmosphere.

I know I should have known this going in, but I had to see for myself. But yeah, I can see why locals would scoff when you tell them you're going there. I've also heard that if a prospective employer asks you where you're staying and you tell them ksr, it's not exactly a good thing.

So i'd like to just find something a bit more thai, a bit more of a local communal feel to it, not as insane as ksr, but still not exactly in the boondocks.

If anyone has been to dc, i'm looking to stay in Pentworth or columbia heights, not georgetown downtown or woodbridge virginia.

**The Quiet American** · 19th August 2011 17:56

^

something wrong w/ dupont ?

although i should talk . i started there and was living in rockville at the end

**Sherman** · 20th August 2011 11:46

Yeah you must not have been there lately. It's not the same as it was 10 years ago. Even five for that matter. Dupont is extremely expensive now and is now home to all the douchey clubs in the area.

Pentworth station and Columbia heights are all the up and coming neighborhoods where most of the locals go who want a less expensive, but still cool place to live, away from all the touristy stuff. Of course "up and coming" by DC standards means 1200$ minium for a two bedroom.