Romance Hotel Sukhumvit 97 — a small hotel with a rooftop pool, walk to BTS Bang Chak on a budget
Picture this: you want to stay in the Sukhumvit area so you can hop on the BTS and get around easily, but you don't want to pay the high-thousands-to-five-figure rates of the hotels up at the front of Sukhumvit · you wake up in the morning, head up to a little rooftop pool, take in the city view, then walk a few minutes to the BTS to head into town — Romance Hotel Sukhumvit 97 is a small 3-star hotel on Sukhumvit 97 Alley in Bang Chak, Phra Khanong, that sells "value in a spot you can take the train from" more than luxury · around 79 rooms in Standard Double and Twin, all with a balcony, renovated in 2022 · from around THB 1,100/night, scoring 8.5 from 109 real reviews on Trip.com and 3.4/5 on TripAdvisor · a good fit for budget travelers who care more about location and price than about having a brand-new room.
Who Romance Hotel Sukhumvit 97 is for — to put it as simply as possible, Romance Hotel Sukhumvit 97 is a small hotel for budget-conscious travelers who want a Sukhumvit-area location they can take the BTS from, without paying the prices of the hotels at the front of Sukhumvit · it isn't a luxury hotel with a grand lobby or spacious rooms, and it isn't a stylish design stay built for photos · it's a simple 3-star hotel with around 79 rooms on Sukhumvit 97 Alley on the Bang Chak side, Phra Khanong, which is part of upper Sukhumvit and clearly quieter than the front end of Sukhumvit · the hotel was renovated in 2022, so it isn't too dated, even if the building and some of the decor still feel ordinary · real reviews consistently point to the same thing: the people who fit here are budget travelers, couples on a short trip, and anyone who needs a base for taking the train into town rather than those expecting luxury or a full set of amenities · another group that says they're happy are people stopping in Bangkok for a night or two before flying on, or those running errands in the Sukhumvit area who want an affordable place near the station · simply put, if you measure value mainly by "location + price" and set your room expectations appropriately, this place does its job well in this price bracket.
Location and getting around — the main selling point of Romance Hotel Sukhumvit 97 is a location within walking distance of the train · the hotel sits on Sukhumvit 97 Alley, about 560 meters from BTS Bang Chak, or roughly a 7-minute walk · once you're on the BTS Sukhumvit line, getting into town gets a lot easier — a few stops gets you to Ekkamai, Thong Lo, and Phrom Phong, packed with restaurants, cafes, and malls · from BTS Bang Chak, reaching Terminal 21 Asok or Lumphini Park is around 10–15 minutes of continuous riding depending on the trains · around the hotel in Bang Chak itself there are made-to-order eateries, convenience stores, massage shops, and a local market where you can walk out and find food at local-resident prices, which is part of the charm of staying in upper Sukhumvit, where everything costs noticeably less than at the front of Sukhumvit · for longer trips: getting to Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK) takes around 30–40 minutes by car depending on traffic, since you're on the eastern side of the city, fairly close to the expressway to Suvarnabhumi · one thing to say honestly is that the Bang Chak area is very quiet at night — reviews state plainly that nights here are pretty quiet, without the buzz of Ekkamai or Thong Lo, so if you want bars and nightlife right by your stay, this area may not suit you, but if you want peace and quiet to rest, that counts as a plus.
"Picked this place because you can walk to BTS Bang Chak and it's a lot cheaper than the hotels at the front of Sukhumvit · during the day it's super easy to take the train into town, and at night the area is nicely quiet, good for people who really want to rest."
Room types and decor — Romance Hotel Sukhumvit 97 has around 79 rooms, with the main rooms split into two simple types: Standard Double (1 large bed) and Standard Twin (2 single beds) · the rooms are compact by budget-hotel standards, not spacious, but the thing many people like is that every room has a private balcony, a detail you don't often find at this price · rooms come with air conditioning, a fridge, a flat-screen TV, and 2 free bottles of water per day · the decor is simple and warm in tone, and after the 2022 renovation the rooms look cleaner and tidier · on the positive side, reviews call the rooms "comfortable with soft beds" in several cases, with daily housekeeping · but to be straight about it, there are criticisms worth noting: some reviews say the beds in some rooms are too firm to sleep comfortably, which suggests mattress quality may not be consistent across all rooms · on top of that, the bathrooms are the kind where the shower leaves the whole bathroom floor wet because there's no clear partition separating the dry and wet zones, and some of the bathroom work looks older than the rest · the air conditioning in some rooms is also noisy, as reviews mention · the advice is, if you're sensitive to bed firmness or AC noise, it's worth flagging it with the hotel or asking to change rooms right at check-in.
Amenities and the pool — the highlight that makes Romance Hotel Sukhumvit 97 feel like better value than its price is the outdoor rooftop pool · it's a small pool, not a lap pool for serious swimming, but several reviews call it a pool that's "cute with a decent view," good for a cooling dip and for escaping the city noise to catch the evening breeze · the fact that a hotel at this price has a rooftop pool is a real advantage, since many budget stays in the same area have no pool at all · besides the pool, there's also a small fitness room, a 24-hour reception, free parking, laundry service, and free Wi-Fi throughout · free parking is a plus for people driving themselves, since many places in the Sukhumvit area charge for it · to be straight about it, the amenities overall are "enough for a budget 3-star hotel" — there's no spa, fancy restaurant, or big-hotel level service · but in terms of getting a pool, fitness room, parking, and Wi-Fi for a low four-figure rate, it covers what budget travelers need.
Food and breakfast — the hotel serves Thai and Western breakfast every morning · on the positive side, reviews say breakfast is "tasty, with authentic Thai dishes and Western options to choose from," which is a point many are happy with for a hotel at this price, not expecting a big buffet but getting solid basics for a full meal · this kind of breakfast suits people who want to start the morning with rice porridge or eggs and bread before heading out · for other meals, the Bang Chak location helps quite a bit, since around the hotel there are made-to-order eateries, noodle shops, convenience stores, and a market to walk out and find food at local-resident prices · if you want a famous restaurant or a stylish cafe, it's just a few BTS stops to Ekkamai or Thong Lo · one thing worth saying for honesty's sake is that one review mentions spotting insects in the dining area, which is a minority voice but something worth being aware of · overall, food here isn't the main selling point, but the included breakfast and the local eateries around it are enough for a budget stay.
Service — service is where Romance Hotel Sukhumvit 97 earns the most consistent praise in real reviews · staff are described as friendly, helpful, and polite across many reviews, and on TripAdvisor the service category scores as high as 3.9/5 and sleep quality 4.0/5, both above the overall average · the 24-hour reception means people arriving late or on red-eye flights can check in without trouble · staff are good at recommending transport, calling cars, and giving neighborhood info at a small-hotel level · but to be straight about it, some reviews note that certain repairs are slow, such as a broken balcony latch, which suggests building upkeep may not always be as quick as it should be · overall, the team's friendliness is a strength that does a fair job of offsetting the limits of the building and rooms, and it's why many people give an overall rating in the "very good" range.
What real reviews say (praise and criticism) — pulling from Trip.com (8.5 from 109 reviews) and TripAdvisor (3.4/5 from 45 reviews), the picture is fairly consistent · on the praise side: a location within walking distance of BTS Bang Chak, a budget price that's good value especially for train users, friendly and helpful staff, rooms with balconies that are clean with daily housekeeping, a cute rooftop pool with a decent view, and tasty Thai-Western breakfast · on the watch-out side: what gets mentioned is that the building and some bathrooms look dated even after the 2022 renovation, beds in some rooms are too firm to sleep comfortably, the shower leaves the whole bathroom floor wet because there's no partition, the AC in some rooms is noisy, the Bang Chak area is quiet at night, one review found insects in the dining area, and some say the photos online look nicer than the real thing · in short, most of the criticisms are things that are "acceptable if you set your expectations to match the price" — because this is a budget hotel that sells location and price, not luxury or newness.
"The staff are really lovely and helpful with everything, the room is clean with daily housekeeping · my only gripe is the bed is a bit firm and the bathroom floor gets all wet when you shower · but at this price with a location near the BTS, it's good value."
Price and value — the starting price for Romance Hotel Sukhumvit 97 is around THB 1,100/night at normal rates (about USD 33–38 as shown on many platforms), and it can drop to around THB 900 in low season or with promotions · a Standard Twin, or high season / long weekends, pushes it up to around THB 1,300–1,600/night · compared with hotels at the front of Sukhumvit, where rates often start in the high thousands and up, Romance Hotel Sukhumvit 97 counts as very good value among budget stays that can still reach the BTS, especially once you factor in the rooftop pool, free parking, and included breakfast · on TripAdvisor, the Value category scores 3.9/5, higher than the overall score, reflecting that most guests feel they got their money's worth · if you plan to use the hotel as just a base for sleeping and taking the train into town, every baht you spend on this location and price pays off in full, but if you expect a spacious, brand-new room or big-hotel service, this price already makes clear that's not what you'll get.
Good to know before booking — a few things help make the stay go more smoothly · one, if you're sensitive to bed firmness, flag it or test the bed at check-in, since mattress quality isn't consistent across all rooms — you may be able to change rooms if the bed is too firm · two, the bathroom has no dry-wet partition, so expect the floor to get wet after a shower; watch out for slipping and keep your things clear of the water · three, the Bang Chak area is very quiet at night, so if you want food or an evening atmosphere, plan to take the BTS to Ekkamai / Thong Lo, or stock up from the convenience stores around the hotel · four, make the most of the location near BTS Bang Chak by planning your sightseeing around the train lines, which saves both time and transport costs · five, compare prices across platforms (Agoda / Booking / Trip.com) and pick free cancellation up front if your plans aren't set, since budget-stay prices tend to move with dates and promotions.
Summary — from all the real reviews, Romance Hotel Sukhumvit 97 is the best fit for budget travelers who want to stay in the Sukhumvit area, with BTS access, at a low four-figure rate · a location within walking distance of BTS Bang Chak, a small rooftop pool, free parking, Thai-Western breakfast, and friendly staff make it good value among budget stays in this area · but you have to accept that it's a small budget hotel, not a luxury stay — the building and some bathrooms look dated, beds in some rooms are firm, the bathroom gets wet easily, and the area is quiet at night · if you're after a spacious, brand-new room, big-hotel service, or nightlife right by your stay, this may not be the answer, and you should consider hotels in the Ekkamai or Thong Lo area instead · but for a trip where you measure value mainly by location and price, with appropriately set room expectations — Romance Hotel Sukhumvit 97 is an option that does its job well, and it's why it keeps earning "very good" ratings from real reviews.
Summary from Booking & Agoda
- ✓ Location within walking distance of BTS Bang Chak, easy to take the train into town
- ✓ Budget price that's good value for train users
- ✓ Friendly and helpful staff
- ✓ Every room has a balcony, plus a rooftop pool and free parking
- ! The building and some bathrooms look dated despite the 2022 renovation
- ! Beds in some rooms are too firm to sleep comfortably
- ! The Bang Chak area is fairly quiet at night
- ✓ Good value among budget stays that can reach the BTS
- ✓ Rooms have balconies and are clean, with daily housekeeping
- ✓ Tasty Thai-Western breakfast for the price
- ✓ 24-hour reception, easy to check in late
- ! The shower leaves the whole bathroom floor wet because there's no partition
- ! The AC in some rooms is noisy
- ! Some building repairs are slow
- 💡If you expect a spacious, brand-new room — this is a budget 3-star hotel with compact rooms, and the building and some bathrooms look dated despite the 2022 renovation → set your expectations around location and price, or choose a newer hotel at a higher budget.
- 💡If you're sensitive to bed firmness or a wet bathroom — reviews say beds in some rooms are firm and the shower leaves the whole floor wet → test the bed and ask to change rooms at check-in, and watch out for the slippery floor.
- 💡If you want nightlife right by your stay — the Bang Chak area is quiet at night → take the BTS to Ekkamai / Thong Lo, or choose a livelier area if you're after an evening atmosphere.