Is Lat Krabang a good place to stay in Bangkok?

Lat Krabang is a practical base if you have an early or late flight at Suvarnabhumi or a short stopover in Bangkok. Most hotels run shuttles to the terminal, and Lat Krabang station on the Airport Rail Link is one stop from the airport and runs on to Phaya Thai. It suits transit travellers, families arriving late and anyone who wants a cheap, quiet night before a flight.

The area is a local suburb rather than a visitor district. Lat Krabang Road is lined with airport hotels, shophouses, markets and street food, and the big university campus near the station keeps the cafés busy. Hua Takhe, an old wooden market on the canal, is a short ride away.

The downside is that you're far from everything visitors come to Bangkok for. The Grand Palace, the river and Sukhumvit are a long ride away, the main road is busy and plain, and evenings are spent in your hotel or at a local restaurant. Taxis into town can take a long time when the expressways are busy.

What makes Lat Krabang worth considering is how easy it makes a flight. Rooms are cheap, many hotels have pools and airport shuttles, and you can reach the terminal in minutes instead of sitting in Bangkok traffic. After a long-haul arrival or before a dawn departure, a quiet room this close to the airport is hard to beat.