Gateway Hotel at Pratunam, Bangkok City

My wife and I used to stay in White Palace Hotel at Pratunam. I couldn't remember anymore the number of times that we have stayed on this wonderful budget hotel during our business and leisure trips in Bangkok City. However, after I have been robbed by pickpockets in Pratunam twice in one day last year, my wife and I have decided to change hotel on our following trips to Pratunam.

My wife found Gateway Hotel cheaper and with better review on the net thus we opted to stay on this hotel on our following business trip. On our first stay at Gateway Hotel, it was a bit arduous to find it since it was  located in one of the side streets in that area. Fortunately, a huge hotel's signboard is placed along the main road pointing to its exact location otherwise you will definitely need help from the locals in searching for this hotel. Nonetheless, the wife was glad that the hotel was nearer to Pratunam market compared with White Palace Hotel.

The lobby is quite small as well as the cafeteria beside it. On the positive side, the place is obviously new due to its rooms and exteriors pristine condition.

They even have adjacent rooms for family or group. On our first trip with our two kids, we stayed at adjacent rooms 610 and 609.

Basic toiletries, including toothbrushes, are provided. Centralized hot water is piped in spacious T & B.

Two refillable bottles of water are also included on the amenities. They even have a small fridge with mini-bar which offset their lack of room service. Although the hotel has cable TV, almost all English movies have been dubbed in Thai. Fortunately, the flat screen has USB input thus we were able to watch movies from our external HDD.

Another plus factor is the accessibility of power outlets and light switches. Unlike the dimly lighted White Palace's rooms, Gateway Hotel's rooms are equipped with daylight bulbs thus providing comfortable and adequate lighting inside.

The cafeteria is facing another budget hotel at the back

The buffet breakfast is open from 7 am to 10 am. It is comprised of pork/chicken sausages and fried eggs while the fried rice and noodles menu changes daily. The buffet table also offers sliced fruits, butter, jams, juice and toasted bread aside from the usual steaming coffee and tea. In this regard, White Palace's breakfast table offers more choices than Gateway Hotel.

There is a lone elevator servicing the seven floors building. In front of the reception area are two PC for guests use; you can print your documents for a nominal fee. The WIFI is quite fast but sometimes difficult to connect probably due to "signal thieves" since their WIFI is open for public or without any password.

Outside the hotel is a huge massage parlor while plenty of Indian restaurants lined the street. At the corner of the street are food vendors; I love their dirty fried chicken which costs 20 THB for leg while the wing is cheaper by 5 THB.

Being far from the main street is the main drawback of this hotel since you need to walk less than a hundred meters before you can hail a taxi or tuk-tuk.

As usual, a 500 THB deposit is required for every room refundable upon check-out. Don't forget to avail the free safety box inside the reception area; trust me, pickpockets abound in that place. By the way, a welcome drink is offered to the guests during check-in; isn't that nice for a budget hotel?

We booked this hotel through Agoda and paid around 35 USD per night. On our second stay on this hotel, due to delay on my work visa, I was forced to extend for 5 more nights after the wife returned to Philippines. For walk-in or extension, you have to add 2 USD more to their standard online rate per night.

You won't regret booking this budget hotel if you are tight on budget.