The Atlanta Hotel: A historic old dame

The opposite of a modern, no-frills, budget airline-type hotel, The Atlanta is a fully-frilled art deco palace that retains its antiquarian charms, price list graciously included. Oodles of personality and swish retro interiors make it popular with Thai filmmakers.

Its large pool is said to be the first offered by a hotel in Bangkok, and is surrounded by a complement of hammocks and sunbeds. A vegetarian Thai restaurant and nightly showings of classic movies also make it a hit with a more savvy class of budget traveller.

Run purportedly for fun rather than profit, the rooms, in direct contrast to the lobby’s shabby chic swagger, are at best basic -- sometimes even a touch tatty -- but spacious and spotlessly clean. The staff can be a tad quirky too, and wonderfully sniffy with breakers of the check-in desk's long list of rules (a sign at the entrance discourages ‘oiks, lager louts and sex tourists’ from darkening their doors). You may therefore expect stern reproach for arriving back after-hours ‘a bit squiffy on gin.’