Accommodations include deluxe hotels, resorts, guesthouses, thatched-roof huts on beaches and very basic lodging in small villages. Bangkok boasts a number of world-class deluxe hotels. There is a growing trend to chic boutique hotels and resorts. These stylish hotels offer excellent service and are a welcome change from the branded resorts.
As a general rule in Thailand, try to get a room that doesn't face the main street, because they tend to let in a lot of noise. Many of the budget hotels outside Bangkok are run by ethnic Chinese and have a distinctive style: The ground floor is an open lobby, and on each floor above, an attendant is always on duty to provide a thermos of tea, towels, and other services. Budget guesthouses in Chiang Mai offer very low rates in hopes of attracting visitors who will sign up for a trek with them. Most hotels levy a 10% service charge in addition to a 7% government tax.
