King Royal II Hotel Bangkok — a 3-star balcony hotel on the Thonburi side, 200 m from BTS Krung Thon Buri and an easy hop to ICONSIAM
If you want a Thonburi-side Bangkok base where you can step out the door and be on the BTS Silom Line within three minutes, King Royal II Hotel is the most practical answer in this neighbourhood. It sits roughly 200 metres from BTS Krung Thon Buri station — one stop from Saphan Taksin and the free ICONSIAM shuttle boat, two to three stops from Silom and Sathorn. A 3-star property with 136 rooms, every room has its own private balcony with city views, plus a gym, table tennis and car parking. From about ฿750/night, scored 7.2 from over 1,600 real guest reviews, and couples on Booking.com rate it a notably higher 8.6.
Who King Royal II is for — this is a hotel built around one clear advantage: a genuinely walkable distance from BTS Krung Thon Buri, the westernmost station on the Silom Line (Dark Green), at a price that sits well below what a comparable location would cost on the Silom or Sathorn side of the river. Couples, solo travellers and budget-conscious business visitors who want easy BTS access and the novelty of a private balcony for sunsets or Bangkok night views will find it ticks those boxes. The notably high couples score of 8.6 on Booking.com — well above the overall average — suggests the balcony and the neighbourhood atmosphere genuinely resonate with two-person stays. That said, this is an older property and reviewers are clear that the rooms show their age; if a pristine, newly renovated room is your priority at this price, you may be better served elsewhere.
Location and getting around — the hotel is at 291/6 Krungthonburi Road, Klongtonsai, Klongsan, on the Thonburi bank of the Chao Phraya. BTS Krung Thon Buri is about 200 metres away — a three-minute walk with no road crossings to fuss over. From the station, one stop takes you to Saphan Taksin (Taksin Bridge), where the free ICONSIAM shuttle boat departs from Wat Yannawa Pier roughly every 30 minutes. Two or three stops in the other direction and you are in Silom or Sathorn for the city's finance and entertainment core. The area itself is the western end of the BTS Silom Line and forms part of the historic Wongwian Yai-Talat Phlu neighbourhood — King Taksin Monument at Wongwian Yai roundabout is about 1.5 km away, the legendary Talat Phlu street-food strip is under 10 minutes by motorcycle taxi, and Wat Intharawihan is within easy walking range. For sightseeing further afield — Wat Arun, the Grand Palace, Khao San Road — Grab rides or the river ferry from Saphan Taksin reach them efficiently.
"The balcony view at night was honestly stunning — Bangkok lit up below us. Two minutes' walk to the BTS, one stop to Saphan Taksin, and we were at ICONSIAM with a free boat. Surprisingly good value for the location."
Rooms and facilities — all 136 rooms are air-conditioned and include a private balcony with city views, flat-screen TV, mini-fridge, free Wi-Fi and an en-suite bathroom. The balcony is the most-mentioned feature in positive reviews, and for rooms on higher floors it delivers a genuine Bangkok skyline panorama at night that punches above the price tag. Room types include Superior Double (queen bed), Deluxe (larger bed, better views on higher floors) and Twin configurations for two single beds. The hotel offers a gym and table tennis table — both genuinely useful amenities that are not common at this price point in Bangkok. Laundry service and car parking are also available. However, be clear on the gaps: there is no swimming pool, no restaurant on site, and no breakfast service — you will need to head out for your morning meal.
Service and staff — the 24-hour front desk handles check-in, luggage storage and general requests. Multiple reviewers describe the staff as friendly and helpful, though some note that English fluency can be patchy depending on which team member is on shift. Check-in and check-out are both set at 12:00 noon — a symmetrical policy that can work well or present a challenge depending on your arrival and departure times; it is worth asking about early check-in or late check-out if you land in Bangkok in the morning.
Honest guest feedback — what real reviews say — from over 1,600 reviews on Agoda (scoring 7.2/10), the picture is consistent: on the positive side — the BTS proximity exceeds expectations, the city-view balcony adds genuine atmosphere especially for evening drinks, rooms are spacious relative to the price, air conditioning works well, staff are generally kind, and the overall value for a balcony room this close to the Silom Line is hard to beat in Bangkok. On the critical side — the hotel is aging and it shows: worn carpets, dusty surfaces, some rooms with a musty or damp smell, and bathrooms where the shower and floor can be slippery. A small number of reviews mention seeing cockroaches. Cleanliness is inconsistent room to room. The practical takeaway: request a higher floor, read the most recent reviews of specific room types before booking, and set expectations appropriate to a budget hotel that has served many thousands of guests over the years.
Price and value — rooms start from about ฿700–800/night in low-to-mid season for a Superior Double, rising to roughly ฿1,100–1,400 during long weekends, high season (November–February) and major events at ICONSIAM or the Silom corridor. For a room with a private balcony, a gym, free Wi-Fi and a three-minute walk to the BTS Silom Line in Bangkok, that pricing genuinely represents value. Booking a higher-floor room — where the balcony view pays off most and renovation touches tend to be fresher — is worth the small premium on the room rate.
Bottom line — King Royal II Hotel Bangkok is a budget Thonburi base that over-delivers on location and balcony atmosphere while acknowledging honestly that the property's age means room quality varies. The 8.6 couples score tells you something real: the balcony, the BTS walk, and the river-adjacent neighbourhood create an atmosphere that works well for two people spending evenings in Bangkok. For solo travellers and city explorers who want BTS convenience and a balcony to come back to, this is a practical and fairly-priced choice. For travellers who need a spotless new room, a pool, or breakfast included, look at ibis Styles Bangkok Silom or Triple Two Silom before committing.
Summary from Booking & Agoda
- ✓ Exceptional location — 200 m walk to BTS Krung Thon Buri, easy reach of Silom, Sathorn and ICONSIAM
- ✓ Private balcony with Bangkok city views on every room — standout feature for evening atmosphere
- ✓ Gym and table tennis at no extra charge — unusual at this price in Bangkok
- ✓ Very good value for a balcony room with BTS access on the Thonburi side of the river
- ! The hotel is aging — some rooms show wear in carpets, fixtures and décor
- ! No breakfast service — you need to go out for your morning meal
- ! Cleanliness is inconsistent between rooms; request higher floors and read recent reviews before booking
- ✓ 3-minute walk to BTS Krung Thon Buri connects you to Silom, Sathorn and the ICONSIAM ferry
- ✓ Spacious rooms relative to the price; balcony adds genuine living space
- ✓ Staff are generally described as friendly and willing to help
- ! Some rooms have musty smells or signs of dampness — ask for a high-floor room when booking
- ! Shower floors can be slippery; bathroom fixtures in older rooms need care
- ! A small number of reviews mention cockroaches — uncommon but worth noting
- 💡If you need a consistently clean, freshly renovated room — reviews confirm that room quality varies significantly floor to floor and room to room. The hotel has age-related wear issues → request a high-floor room explicitly, check the most recent reviews, and compare with ibis Styles Bangkok Silom or Triple Two Silom for a newer product at a higher price.
- 💡If you need breakfast included or an on-site restaurant — King Royal II has no breakfast service and no restaurant. You must go out for meals. The Talat Phlu and Krungthonburi Road area has cheap Thai breakfast options, but this does require leaving the hotel each morning → if an included breakfast matters, factor it in when comparing total costs.
- 💡If you need a swimming pool — there is no pool at this hotel; only a gym and table tennis. If a pool is important for your stay → look at hotels in the Silom-Sathorn corridor where more properties at a higher price point include pool access.