Friend moving to bangkok

[richatnort]

So my mate is lucky enough to work in Bangkok for an initial 6 months but needs to find some placed to live in an apartment. He's not sure where to look and if there's an ex pat type area that people live in?

Any areas to avoid too?
Thanks

[anonymous-user]

John will give you good information, but my limited experience of Bangkok is live walking distance from work, do not get a house, unless you need it, I've had two houses in my 20 years in S E Asia moved out of both because they were impossible to keep clean for a single guy, Most condominiums are effectively gated secure units so providing security and cleaning service is up to standard they can be OK regardless of surrounding area.
Also I'd try to be near to a toll road so you can get out of the city easy. And I'd walk away if I didn't like the landlord or his agent.

[anonymous-user]

DDproperty is a good resource

He ideally wants to be close to the BTS (sky train) or MRT (underground)

Personally I would avoid living anywhere near the red light areas.

If his company is paying decent baht for his place to rent, take a look at The River condo.

[richatnort]

Thanks. He looked at river condo but it's 2.5 hours walk away. His office is in HuayKwang, Bangkok 10310, Thailand

[anonymous-user]

No, the river isn't commutable to and from there.

There are however loads of condos around that area. DDproperty is his friend.

[XJSJohn]

HuayKwang is reasonably central, and has BTS running through it.

Is he on his own, with family, on full expenses or funding himself?

You can get some very nice places for not a lot of cash in Bangers, or you can spend a fortune. I had a nice new 1 bed condo (ok it was small, at 350sqt, but you spend most of your time out anyway) at teh bottom of Sukhumvit soi 42 for under GBP300 / month, that was central, brand new, full condo facilities, fully furnished and with parking.

Would suggest north side of Sukhumvit for him, probably in Ekamai or Tong Lo area's. Both nice areas in teh right direction for his offices, lots of bars, restaurants and cafe's, easy to get to anywhere else (relatively).

BKK traffic is st, it always is. Realistically either accept you are gonna sit in a traffic jam, figure out the BTS system, or use motorcycle taxi's (the fastest way to shift a hangover on the way to work, pure adrenalin)

Lots of Facebook forums, or craigslist / locanto for finding places, but view a few and do haggle.

I am sure AJS and Eween (the other BKK Ph'ers of the time will be along shortly too)

[XJSJohn]

Berw said:

And I'd walk away if I didn't like the landlord or his agent.

this is very good advise in all SE Asia.

[XJSJohn]

another option is have a chat with the hotels near his offices, may be able to get a small suite ar a very reasonable rate, especially if it is some of the smaller local chains but even the likes of Marriott etc can be quite flexible.

Saves on getting bed linen /aundry / maid (AJS has some stories there....) etc.