Accommodation in Bangkok
Expats in Bangkok favour accommodation in the Sukhemvit area. Bars, shops and malls compete for limited space, sending up tall apartment buildings and hotels. Besides the shopping and nightlife, many foreign business centres cluster in Sukhemvit and nearby areas. Expat employees in Bangkok prefer living within close proximity to their workplace, which is especially important in Bangkok. Potentially horrendous commutes across the city are common. Traffic jams regularly choke main roads and passengers alike with vehicle emissions and heavy smog. A well run sky train (BTS) has helped to alleviate both commute times and dense expat communities. However, the BTS certainly does not reach all areas of Bangkok and often commuting to the BTS can be as woeful as commuting to work. 
Apartment living is as varied as Bangkok itself. Many expats prefer fully serviced apartments more akin to hotels. These usually come furnished and offer daily maid services and a staffed lobby area. Often they come with a small fitness centre and pool. Non-serviced apartments, similar to apartments in the west, are usually a less expensive option but often require a longer term commitment. These come in all styles and manners, and it is important to find quality, well run buildings as renters have less recourse against property owners than in the west. Apartments are limitlessly expensive in central areas but bottom out at US$450 a month. Apartments farther away can start as low as US$250.
On the edges of the city, expat families can find western style houses in gated communities similar to suburban housing communities in the US. These get progressively more expensive closer to downtown areas and very expensive housing accommodation can be found in the heart of the city. It is illegal for foreigners to buy land in Thailand, although there are a number of loopholes which require hiring a realtor/estate agent. It is possible to buy condominiums, which range drastically in price due to location and condition.
Apartment living is as varied as Bangkok itself. Many expats prefer fully serviced apartments more akin to hotels. These usually come furnished and offer daily maid services and a staffed lobby area. Often they come with a small fitness centre and pool. Non-serviced apartments, similar to apartments in the west, are usually a less expensive option but often require a longer term commitment. These come in all styles and manners, and it is important to find quality, well run buildings as renters have less recourse against property owners than in the west. Apartments are limitlessly expensive in central areas but bottom out at US$450 a month. Apartments farther away can start as low as US$250.
On the edges of the city, expat families can find western style houses in gated communities similar to suburban housing communities in the US. These get progressively more expensive closer to downtown areas and very expensive housing accommodation can be found in the heart of the city. It is illegal for foreigners to buy land in Thailand, although there are a number of loopholes which require hiring a realtor/estate agent. It is possible to buy condominiums, which range drastically in price due to location and condition.
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