Moving to Bangkok. How long should I stay in an AirBNB to find a condo? Can I get a 6 month lease?

One thing people miss is the deposit and agent fee structure, because it changes your budget math. Most agents in Bangkok charge the landlord, not you, so you shouldn't be paying a finder's fee, if someone asks you for one that's a red flag. Standard is two months deposit plus one month advance, and on a six month lease some landlords will still want the full two months since they're taking a shorter commitment.

Timing also matters more than most people think. If you're looking in a newer condo along the BTS or MRT lines, a lot of the good units get snapped up by other expats and Thais within days of listing, so the stale listings on DDproperty are often the leftovers nobody wanted. I'd book three weeks rather than two, gives you buffer for the paperwork and for the landlord to actually produce the chanote and sign.

On the six month thing, smaller older buildings and individual owners are your best bet. The big branded condos run by CBRE or similar usually won't budge from twelve months, they have policies. Negotiate the rate up front if you're going short term, expect maybe 10 to 15 percent higher than the twelve month price.

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Two weeks is doable if you're focused, one month is comfortable. The listings on DDproperty and Hipflat look endless but a good chunk are stale or already gone, so you'll want to line up viewings in clusters by area (Sukhumvit soi by soi, or around Ari, Phra Khanong, wherever you're targeting) rather than zigzagging across town. Agents work fast here and can show you several units in an afternoon if you tell them your budget and must-haves upfront.

On the six month lease: it's common enough, especially with smaller landlords and in buildings that aren't brand new. Bigger management companies often push for twelve months, but many will do six with a slightly higher monthly rate or a two-month deposit instead of one. Just ask directly, don't assume the listed term is fixed. Competition exists for the genuinely good deals but it's nothing like Western rental markets, most places sit empty for a while so you're rarely bidding against five other people.

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Krua Dok Mai Kao is solid but I've always found their som tam a bit tame on the pla ra. If you want the real funky version, try the shophouse spots along Soi Udomsuk 26, near the night market end. They pound it fresh with fermented fish that'll clear your sinuses, and it's like 60 baht. Different style from the On Nut places, more Lao-leaning.

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for som tam specifically i'd say the Isaan spots in Chatuchak are underrated, weekdays only though since the weekend crowd ruins the vibe. there's a stall near gate 2 that does tam pa with fermented bamboo shoots, super sour and funky, not something you see much in On Nut. if you're already heading north for Or Tor Kor anyway its worth the detour.

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honestly the som tam at Krua Dok Mai Kao is good but what got me hooked is their nam prik pla raa dip with the raw veggies, that funk hits way harder than the papaya does. think most people sleep on it cuz they just order the som tam and gai yang. also pro tip, go before noon on weekdays, after that teh pla ra gets milder cuz they batch it for the lunch rush

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