If you’re a European expatriate looking for a great place to stay that is not a hotel, then Sanctuary House might be the one for you. It’s a group of fully-furnished apartments in Silom and Sathorn — near enough to Bangkok CBD but quiet enough for a good night’s rest.

It was established in 2006 by Mr. Evan (also an expat) and has since been at the forefront of providing short-term (daily/weekly) and long-term accommodation for reasonable prices. 

Tenants love Mr. Evan’s hands-on approach to walking them through the unit’s ins and outs.

For example, they said that Mr. Evan clearly explains the house rules like throwing out the trash properly or turning off the main electrical switch when going out for an extended period to save electricity. It gives us a very homey and authentic local vibe.

True to the homey feel, some Sanctuary House units are not strangers to the typical household issues like ants, cockroaches, and moldy carpets or placemats. So just be prepared with insect or disinfectant spray if you plan to stay there.

Mr. Evan also provides detailed instructions on how to get to the place from the airport. He also informs the guests of the places to eat around the area, like the bar downstairs, nearby convenience stores, restaurants, and water refilling stations.

Sanctuary House units are near Lumphini Park and Lumphini MRT station; motorcycle taxis are available below its buildings, so travel is quick. The area is also home to Goethe-Institut Thailand (a German language school), so there is a noticeable presence of European culture. 

You can plan your stay in Sanctuary House through its Airbnb listings page or give Mr. Evan a call.

If you’re traveling with a group or with your family, Bangkok Shortstay might be the best choice for you. Conveniently located in the Watthana district of Bangkok, this semi-serviced apartment mixes the old facilities with new amenities.  

Bangkok Shortstay is a group of four serviced apartments. Each apartment is large, with an area of around 220 to 250 square meters and two to three bedrooms each.

Visitors can check into the apartments 24/7; however, for early check-in from 5:00 AM to 10:00 AM, guests will be required to pay an extra THB 2,000 to THB 3,000. So the best thing to do is wait for the regular check-in hours of 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM. 

The facility is located in an old building with old furniture, but it also has modern amenities such as a gaming center and a sauna aside from the standard amenities of a swimming pool, gym, free parking, and WiFi. 

You can also do your laundry in the in-house laundry room. A continental breakfast consisting of cereal, fruit, and milk is served to guests in their rooms daily.

The whole neighborhood of Bangkok Shortstay is very lovely and peaceful. However, it is far from the major roads, so public transport such as taxis may have difficulty finding it.

To solve this, the amenity provides a shuttle service to and from key areas in Bangkok daily. Just make sure to check with the management for the schedule.

Some customers have complained that it’s tough to reach Bangkok Shortstay by phone. Water pressure in the apartment’s plumbing is also relatively weak compared to what’s expected.

Despite this, customers feel they are getting their money’s worth here. That’s why it has stellar reviews in Agoda.

This entry is for the younger generation. LITA Bangkok is a hostel located in the Ding Daeng district, five minutes from the nearest MRT station.

It offers single rooms or shared dormitory beds for a very reasonable price. What sets this apart from the other items on this list is its focus on transient, working people — definitely a short-term rental space.

As stated on its website, LITA Bangkok aims to help you “sleep, eat, hustle, and relax”. Aside from the standard rooms, it also offers a cafeteria, a coworking space, a laundry room, and community events.

For amenities, LITA Bangkok offers free towel and linen change, free Wi-Fi connection for up to three devices, a weekly cleaning service, and complimentary water and coffee. 

Sadly, the facility does not have a porter or an elevator, so be ready with some elbow grease to carry your luggage, especially if your room is upstairs.

Although it’s in a very accessible location, the environment is noisy, especially at night. Therefore, we advise you to bring earplugs if you need to stay here.

You may reach LITA Bangkok via phone, e-mail, or its website contact page. We like that there are a variety of ways to reach them, making booking a stay or inquiring more convenient. 

One of the more premium options for short-term rentals is the Bellevue Boutique Bangkok. It’s a fully-furnished serviced apartment provider in the Suan Luang district.

The best feature of Bellevue Boutique is its proximity to everything. 

You can access it directly from the Suvarnabhumi or Bangkok International Airport in around 15 minutes via the Airport Rail Link Hua-Mak Station. The nearest bus stop is just 300 meters from the Bellevue doors.

Getting food will not be a problem because it’s also near two supermarkets — Max-Value and Tesco Lotus. Food delivery services from farther restaurants are also available.

Also, Bellevue Boutique is a great option to stay at if you’re a tourist going to Thailand for cosmetic surgery. It’s near one of the best surgical centers in the country, Samitivej Srinakarin Hospital. 

Although a bit pricier than the other accommodations we’ve seen for this review, Bellevue Boutique makes the stay worthwhile with its 24/7 security and amenities like the Lady Thanita spa and wax salon, a beautiful garden, gym, and vast swimming pool. 

There are a couple of downsides, however. If you smoke, you’ll need to find another place since smoking isn’t allowed inside your unit; just ask the management where the designated areas are in the vicinity for this. 

We’ve also noted some complaints from past tenants about issues when booking a room here through Agoda. Although this one isn’t actually Bellevue’s fault, it’s best to be aware of the limits of this method — it’s still best to call Bellevue Boutique directly for room availability.

You may check out Bellevue Boutique Bangkok’s website or Agoda page for booking and inquiries.

Smart Condo @ Rama 2 is a condominium complex in the Bang Khun Thian district of Bangkok. It’s easily accessible from Bangkok’s central business district, with around 30 minutes of car travel from Asoke (you can also ride Bangkok Bus Line #76 to Yaek Hua Krabue bus stop). 

The best thing about Smart Condo is its proximity to community establishments. It’s near restaurants, convenience stores, post office, laundry shops, Central Mall Rama II, and MALI Interdisciplinary Hospital.

Many tenants say Smart Condo @ Rama 2 is a beautiful place to live in due to the comfort and amenities. It has a gym and swimming pool that are regularly maintained. 

However, the condo is lacking in some aspects. Tenants note that the rooms in this condo are pretty small and narrow for their liking; parking is also narrow and is quite tricky to find if you’re new at the place.

Also, contrary to Smart Condo’s reputation for cleanliness, some tenants notice the smell of mold more prominently. There are also allegations about the condo management’s staff misbehaving, so manage your expectations when dealing with them. 

Units in Smart Condo @ Rama 2 are available to rent weekly or monthly, so this is an excellent choice if you’re a short-term traveler on a 1-week vacation. You may reach the condo admin through the website or via phone.