| Ask any traveler who has been to southeast Asia | | | | somewhere to stay. A typical air con single room will |
| before and nine times out of ten that person would | | | | range from $10 - 30 per night, breakfast included, but |
| have stayed on Khao San Road. It's a glorious | | | | if you're willing to brave the heat and opt for a fan |
| launching point for travel into one of the worlds most | | | | room, the cost can get ridiculously cheap. KSR gets |
| popular backpacking destinations. It can all seem | | | | pretty lively at night, street entertainment comes |
| incredibly daunting the first time you put that | | | | out, loud music pumps into the street from the many |
| backpack on and step off the plane into the thick | | | | clothes stalls around, and the healthy population of |
| wet heat that bangkok so proudly possesses, but as | | | | gap year students and budget travelers head to the |
| soon as that first cold beer hits your lips and you | | | | wide array of bars that surround KSR. The nighttime |
| realise you're a world away from anything you've | | | | buzz is truly memorable. |
| known before, it all becomes worth it. | | | | You're out there to have the time of your life, so |
| Khao San Road (KSR) is infamous in Bangkok. It's by | | | | keep it that way by following a few basic rules. |
| no means the cheapest place to stay, nor the most | | | | 1) Keep your main cash and passport in the hotel |
| beautiful, but if you want to stay in the heart of | | | | safe, don't hide it under the mattress or on you in |
| backpackers central, KSR if for you. The wide | | | | person. |
| streets occupy bars, cheap hotels, clothes markets, | | | | 2) Never travel alone at night. As safe as it might |
| travel agents and endless food stalls. You can expect | | | | seem, stick with friends or a crowd of people you |
| to pay around $1 for a bowl of fresh noodles cooked | | | | know. Opt for the taxi instead of late night walk. Act |
| in front of you or slightly less for a plate of sweet, | | | | the same way you would back home. |
| sticky rice served with delicious mango. The taste | | | | 3) Drink responsibly. Some of the Thai whiskey that |
| buds are truly stimulated here in Bangkok, from the | | | | is put into drinks can go down like fruit juice but is |
| cheapest food stalls to high class hotel restaurants. | | | | very strong. Take a careful note of what you've |
| Most Hotels on KSR don't accept advanced booking | | | | drank and how much and if needs be, carry a bottle |
| and this can be pretty scary if it's your first time, but | | | | of water with you. |
| even though hotels fill up fast, you'll always find | | | | |