Finding a place to stay in Bangkok is easy. Finding a place to stay that suits your needs can be a different story.

This is geared primarily to the single man looking to have a bit of fun in Bangkok. And it is for the short term stay.

If all you have is a few hours to a half day in Bangkok, I recommend that you just get a room near the Suvarnabhumi airport. If you don't know where you are going, getting from the airport to the main part of the city can take anywhere from 1 to 3 hours depending on traffic. If you are just in Bangkok on a short layover, stay near the airport.

If you have a day or two, you have many more options. It all depends on what you want to do.

For the first timer, I would recommend staying near Patpong Road, Soi Nana, or Soi Cowboy. These are three of the main night venues for the single man on the prowl. They all have advantages and disadvantages.

Patpong was the place to go during the Vietnam War and for quite a few years after. Now it is a tourist trap with a capital "T". But, for the first time visitor, it is still worth seeing. Just don't buy anything from the street vendors. Getting to Patpong at about 5 PM you can see how much work it is to set up this street market and how fast they get it going.

Soi Nana or Soi 4 is home to the Nana Entertainment Plaza (NEP). This is a three story, horseshoe shaped, neon lit, den of debauchery. Lots of go-go bars and some beer bars on the first floor for your drinking pleasure. Be careful of the transvestite bar on the second floor. A few years back, this was a great place for the local expats, but with the Internet, this is now a tourist destination. Hang out at the Nana Hotel parking lot across the street at closing time for a sight you will not see anywhere else in the world.

Soi Cowboy is still primarily for the expats. This is a small side street between Soi 21 and Soi 23 off of Sukhumvit Road. It is bar after bar after bar. Lots of hawkers and "hello' girls trying to get you inside. Most of the bars are go-go's and prices are lower than Patpong or Nana Plaza. Well worth a visit and a short cab ride from Soi 4.

There are other areas to get your hotel but I try to find a hotel near an area I plan to hang out in. I usually get a hotel near Soi 4 and this gives me easy access to NEP and also to Soi Cowboy. There is also a three-story, beer bar complex on Soi 1 where I like to hang out. I try to avoid spending time in taxis on the Bangkok streets.

If you are still undecided, get your hotel room on Sukhumvit between Sois 3 and 24 and you will be close to the action and short cab rides to anywhere else. You can walk to many of the shopping venues or catch the overhead train to get around.

Find out what you plan to do in Bangkok and pick your hotel based on where you plan to party.