Forget expensive hotels: tourists in the know are turning to private room and house rentals for a more authentic, local experience on holiday.
As a result, neighborhoods around the world have seen a rapid increase in rentals, according to accommodation-listing website Airbnb.
It has named Bangkok’s Banglamphu as the number 2 fastest-growing neighborhood in the world with a 1,230 percent increase in renters between 2014 and 2015, and one of its 16 must-visit areas in 2016.
The area is famous for great food, bars, markets, historic buildings and temples, with notorious Khao San Road offering plenty of interesting nightlife for backpackers while nearby Phra Athit Road and Soi Rambuttri have cool cafes, restaurants, outdoor markets and live music to tempt others.
The area is also a short walk away from Wat Pho, the Grand Palace and Sanam Luang.
Banglamphu was pipped to the top spot by Osaka’s popular Chūō-ku district in Japan, which experienced a massive 7,000 percent growth in rentals last year.
It was followed by Kuala Lumpur’s Brickfields district in Malaysia with a 1,200 per cent growth; Bordeaux’s Capucins in France with a 960 per cent growth; and Athens’ Koukaki in Greece with a 800 per cent growth.
