The Chao Phraya is seen as the main river in Thailand and is the reason why Bangkok has become such a flourishing city. Booking a room in a boutique hotel in Bangkok used to be a relatively easy choice as there were only a handful of high quality options for tourists. However, dozens of luxury hotels have opened near the river in recent years with boutique hotels such as the boutique hotel in Bangkok taking custom away from traditional hotel giants. Having a riverside hotel in Bangkok is seen as a guaranteed goldmine for hoteliers because all tourists wish to see what the Chao Phraya and the surrounding area has to offer. As the river is in the centre of the city, the best sights, sounds and events take place riverside.

Nightlife

If you're staying at a boutique hotel in Bangkok, you're clearly preparing yourself for a memorable night because the city is known for some of the world's most amazing nightlife. There are a host of high-class cocktail bars, some with rooftop settings which allows you to get an incredible view of the city. The river itself plays host to some zany nighttime antics with dozens of 'Party Boats' floating up and down the river during the night. Not only is there an exotic selection of alcohol, these boats are even fitted with mirror balls and disco lights which will make you feel as if you're in a trendy nightclub. The only difference is that you'll be able to see the beauty of Bangkok while sailing down the river rather than being stuck within four walls. The downside is that the music stops at midnight.

Thai New Year

If you are booking a boutique hotel in Bangkok during April, make sure you are staying between the 13th-15th of that month because that is when the Songkran Festival takes place. It is a major celebration of the Thai New Year and since Bangkok is the nation's capital, expects the wildest celebrations to take place there. Songkran involves throwing water on passers-by as a means of celebration and cleansing. It is also a very important festival for Bangkok's religious elders who bless the city's younger residents. The festival is also celebrated in Laos and Cambodia with certain cities in Thailand taking longer than three days to complete the celebrations.

Travel on the River

If you don't experience the Chao Phraya River at night, you should at least see what it has to offer during the day. Around 50,000 people take ferries on the river per day with several companies offering cheap tours covering a number of miles and lasting an hour or more. In this time, you will be able to see older and more traditional buildings on riverside which may not be noticeable from land. Staying in a riverside hotel in Bangkok enables you to visit the river any time you like.

It is hard to imagine Bangkok without the Chao Phraya River. It is likely that the city would not have been founded without it. As it stands however, riverside hotels in Bangkok are the best places to stay in the city because you can experience so many things in a day. Many tourists complain about wasting time on travel during a vacation. The riverside area in Bangkok has so many attractions and things to do that you won’t need to go anywhere else.