The State Apartment — 130 m from MRT Tao Poon, the Best-Value Base Near Bangkok Grand Station
If you need to connect through Bangkok's Krung Thep Aphiwat Grand Station — Thailand's largest railway hub — or simply want a clean, affordable base at the heart of the Blue and Purple MRT interchange, The State Apartment delivers exactly that. This 3-star serviced apartment in Bang Sue sits just 130 metres (a 2-minute walk) from Tao Poon MRT, the city's only junction between the Blue and Purple lines. Bangkok Grand Station is 1.3 km away on foot. Every room comes with a private balcony, king bed, A/C, fridge and free Wi-Fi — plus free underground parking that is genuinely rare at this price in Bangkok. Rates start from approximately ฿750/night, with a guest score of 8.2 from 477 reviews on Booking.com.
Bang Sue is not a sightseeing district, but it is one of Bangkok's most strategically connected ones. Tao Poon MRT is the city's only interchange between the Blue and Purple lines, giving guests direct access to Silom, Sukhumvit and Chatuchak in under 30 minutes, or a seamless transfer north into Nonthaburi province. Bangkok Grand Station (Krung Thep Aphiwat) — currently Thailand's biggest rail terminus, with long-distance services to Chiang Mai, Khon Kaen and beyond — is a comfortable 15-minute walk away. For travellers arriving by overnight train or heading out by rail, The State Apartment is the most sensible budget base in the neighbourhood.
The apartment building itself, on Soi Nam Chai off Thanon Pracha Rat Sai 2, offers 29 rooms all configured as Apartments with Balcony at around 30 m². Each unit has a king bed, built-in wardrobe, blackout curtains, air-conditioning, satellite TV, refrigerator, private bathroom and a private balcony — plus free Wi-Fi throughout. Guest reviews consistently call out cleanliness, a larger-than-expected bathroom, and a comfortable bed as the three biggest positives at this price point. Free parking in the basement adds further practical value that is hard to find in inner Bangkok for under ฿1,000 a night.
"Right next to Tao Poon station — a 3-minute walk at most. Clean, spacious balcony, free parking. Great value for the location. Will definitely stay here again."
Booking.com's 477 verified reviewers give the property an overall 8.2 score, with location at 8.6 and staff at 8.7 — both above the broader Bangkok average for this price tier. Trip.com rates it 8.3 across all categories (cleanliness, amenities, location and service). Staff helpfulness with late check-ins and early departures is a recurring theme: guests travelling for early trains or red-eye flights find the flexible front desk particularly welcome.
Honest context is needed too. There is no signage visible from the street, so first-time guests should save Google Maps and use Tao Poon MRT Exit 3 as their landmark — walk south roughly 130 metres. Rooms near the elevator can catch some corridor noise; requesting a higher-floor, elevator-distant room helps. No breakfast is served and there is no on-site restaurant, though a 7-Eleven, local noodle shops and the Tao Poon morning market are all within a 5-minute walk. Some sources indicate cash-only payment on arrival — worth verifying at the time of booking.
From a logistics standpoint, the neighbourhood punches above its tourism profile. Chatuchak Weekend Market is 2.2 km south; the Pracha Niwet market area is 10 minutes by MRT; Nonthaburi's food market, a favourite among Bangkok foodies, is a short Purple-line ride away. For international travellers, Don Mueang Airport is roughly 16 km (about 30 minutes by taxi or expressway), making this a workable choice for an airport-layover stay without paying Lak Si hotel prices.
The bottom line: The State Apartment does not sell luxury. There is no pool, no spa, no designer lobby. What it sells is clean, comfortable, private-balcony rooms in a genuinely convenient spot — at a price that leaves money for the commute, the train ticket or the meal. With a score of 8.2 from nearly 500 guests, that trade-off is clearly working for most people who stay here.
Summary from Booking & Agoda
- ✓ Steps from Tao Poon MRT — the Blue/Purple interchange is a 2-minute walk
- ✓ Clean rooms with private balcony and a king bed larger than expected
- ✓ Free basement parking — rare for central Bangkok at this price
- ✓ Helpful staff, flexible with late arrivals and early departures
- ! No exterior signage; first-time guests can struggle to find the entrance
- ! Rooms near the elevator can catch corridor noise — request a far room
- ! No breakfast or on-site dining; guests must go out for every meal
- ✓ Excellent transit location — Tao Poon MRT under 5 minutes on foot
- ✓ Great value: spacious, clean room with a private balcony for the price paid
- ✓ Fast, reliable Wi-Fi; free parking a genuine bonus
- ! Street-facing rooms can catch early-morning traffic noise
- ! No pool, gym or spa — purely practical accommodation
- ! Cash payment reportedly required at some booking channels — confirm in advance
- 💡If you need breakfast included, a pool or a spa — this property has none of those. Consider a hotel in the Phahon Yothin or Chatuchak strip that bundles more amenities.
- 💡If you are driving and worried about parking — the free basement garage makes this one of the few genuinely car-friendly budget options in this part of Bangkok.
- 💡If you are transiting through Bangkok Grand Station — this is the most walkable, most affordable base in the immediate area of the Krung Thep Aphiwat rail hub.