Where to stay in Thailand?

Tani Road, in Phra Nakhon, the old town, 600 m from the centre. You sleep on foot from Khao San Road and the Grand Palace, with river boats to Wat Arun and Chinatown.

In Phra Nakhon, 400 m from the centre, in the middle of the old town. You reach the Grand Palace, Chinatown and the river piers on foot, without taking the metro.

In the Thewet area, Dusit district, on Si Ayutthaya Road, away from the bustle of Khao San Road. A budget guesthouse for quiet nights, with the old town a boat ride away.

An Art Deco luxury hotel for the Bangkok stop, designed as a house-museum. For those who want to end days of temples and markets in the silence of a collection.

Opened in 2012 to designs by Bill Bensley, around the Sukosol family's collection of antiques.

Oriental Avenue, in Bang Rak, on the Chao Phraya, 3.8 km from the historic centre. You sleep on the river, with the hotel shuttle and boats to Wat Arun and the Grand Palace.

Opened in 1876 on the river; the Authors' Wing keeps the memory of Conrad, Maugham and Coward.

A teak house in the centre of Ayutthaya, for sleeping in the wooden setting of the old Thai houses. On a small budget, you reach the historical park and Wat Mahathat by bike or tuk-tuk.

On the bank of the Pa Sak, 1.9 km from the historical park, near the station. A large classic hotel for arriving by train from Bangkok, dropping your bags and cycling off to the temples.

In Khlong Suan Plu, a sub-district of Ayutthaya outside the temple island, with the temples in view. For those who want a pool and a large hotel after the ruins, by tuk-tuk or by car.

On U-Thong Road, the road that circles the historic island, facing Wat Phutthaisawan across the river. A charming hotel for keeping a temple in view after visiting the park.

Chaiyaphum Soi 1, in Chang Moi, 1 km from the centre of the old town. A hostel on the edge of the ramparts, on foot from the night market and the temples, with trek departures round the corner.

Singharat Road, in Sri Phum, 700 m from the centre of the old town, inside the walls. You sleep among the temples, on foot from the night market and the neighbourhood's cooking classes.

In a soi off Kamphaeng Din Road, in Chang Khlan, the night market district, 1.3 km from the centre. A budget hostel between the old walls and the bazaar, for temples by day and food stalls by night.

On the Mae Rim to Samoeng road, 15 km from the old town, among the rice fields. You leave the city for a countryside stop: elephant sanctuary and treks set off from here.

The pavilions surround real terraced rice paddies, worked in season with buffaloes.

In Wat Ket, on the east bank of the Ping, 2 km from the old town. A boutique hotel in a teak house, for sleeping in peace in the former quarter of the colonial trading companies.

The teak house was the headquarters of the Borneo Company in the late 19th century, in the Wat Ket district.

On the Railay East walkway, 10.5 km from Krabi Town. Bungalows on the mangrove side, a few minutes' walk from West beach and the Tonsai cliffs, arriving by long-tail.

Utarakit Road, in Krabi Town. A hostel in town rather than on the beach: cheaper, night market on foot, boats to Railay and the islands in the morning.

On Ruam Chit Road, in Krabi Town, where you arrive before heading off to the beaches. A simple hotel for a budget transit night, with the boats to Railay and the buses to Ao Nang within reach.

In Krabi district, on Tubkaek beach, 17.5 km from Krabi Town. You move away from Railay and Ao Nang for a quiet beach, with the islands by long-tail from the shore.

In a soi in Ao Nang, the beach resort the long-tail boats to Railay leave from. An eco resort for enjoying the sunset over the bay and reaching the Tonsai cliffs by sea.