Trang Hotel - Bangkok

Trang Hotel - Bangkok

Trang Hotel is not located in the southern Thai province bearing the same name but in Bangkok. The hotel is situated in an unlikely location – Wisutkasat – not a prime business district.

Located adjacent to Khao San road, the hotel is popular among international visitors, while government officials find room rates affordable. From time to time high-ranking officials or those who prefer not to be seen check into the hotel for business or private functions.

Although not as old as the Oriental, Trang Hotel is almost  50 years old. In its early years it operated under the name Vieng Sawan Hotel, not to be confused with Viengtai Hotel that was already operating in Khao San are.

When it first opened its doors to visitors, the hotel charged 40 baht for a room fitted with fan, related its owner, Sawasdi Hoontrakul, a native of Trang province in southern Thailand.

From Vieng Sawan, the name was subsequently changed to Trang Hotel after Sawasdi and his affiliated companies took full control of the property.

Later in 1963, he went into a joint partnership and opened the Manhattan Hotel on Sukhumvit 15, about the same time as Asia, Ambassador, Siam City, and Mandarin hotels appeared on the scene.

Since the partnership did not prove fruitful, Sawasdi withdrew from the Manhattan and began focusing on Trang Hotel and his frozen seafood business in Trang.

Even though it’s been around since 1957, most city residents are not even aware that it exists. It’s better known among foreign visitors, travelers from the provinces, particularly government officials.