Kanchanaburi

Where to stay

Most budget guesthouses cluster along Mae Nam Khwae Road, the riverside strip that runs from the WWII museum toward the bridge. A block back, Song Kwai Road has quieter options that cut down on noise from the evening bars without adding any walking distance.

Getting around

• Take the train from Bangkok's Thonburi (Bangkok Noi) station instead of the bus. It runs twice daily, costs very little, and drops you close to Mae Nam Khwae Road. The bus is faster but leaves you at the edge of town with bags.
• Erawan National Park gets swamped with Bangkok day-trippers on weekends. Go Monday through Thursday and you can swim at the lower tiers without waiting in a queue to get in the water.
• Raft houses on the river look good in photos but run hot, have thin walls, and cost more than comparable rooms on land. Book one for a single night if you want the experience, not as your main base.

When to go

Hostels are cheapest and easiest to book from May through October during rainy season. November through February fills up quickly, and the River Kwai Bridge Week festival in late November pushes prices up noticeably across all price ranges.