Bangkok Hotel Tips by dragonman64

For the past two years now, I've been staying in this wonderful serviced residence property in the quieter part of Bangkok's Ploenchit area. But don't think that the place is out of the way for the shopping and sightseeing addicts because it is nicely located less than a 100m into Soi Tonson which is right between two Skytrain stations (Chitlom and Ploenchit.) A Central Department Store (complete with a Starbucks and a wonderfully-stocked basement supermarket) is also within arms' reach. The units are very spacious - starting at around 60sqm for a 1BR apartment which contains all the amenities you would normally need - kitchen, ref, stove, microwave, utensils - while the living area has a big TV set complete with DVD, VCD, and CD players.

Unique Qualities: This being a relatively new property (around 3 years old), the facilities are all in shape and well-maintained. They have a more than adequate gym area beside the nicely-sized pool where you can literally sunbathe under the sun. They also have a fantastic cajun restaurant which doubles as the breakfast area, a Japanese resto, a very functional business center and a small convenience store. The hospitality of the staff is warm and friendly. The place offers two views - Lumphini Park on the right side and the city itself on the other.

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Theme: Other
Comparison: more expensive than average
Prices: US$40-80  » Currency Converter
Phone: (662) 6587979
Address: 9 Soi Tonson, Ploenchit Road, Bangkok, Thailand
Directions: The place is along a quiet street right between Tonson and Ploenchit Towers and two Skytrain stations.
Website: http://www.somersetsuwanparkview.com
Other Contact: reservations.sspv@the-ascott.com

This has got to be the best deal on Bangkok's famous Silom area in practically all aspects of accomodation - location, rooms, service, facilities, hospitality and to the interest of others - guest-friendliness. Sofitel Silom is not cheap because online reservationists can only go as low as USD62 nett per night/incl bfast for its deluxe rooms. But once you get a feel of the place, you would easily conclude that this is indeed an excellent value for money. It is walking distance to a skytrain station (10mins) and the shopping area of Silom and Patpong (15 mins.) Highly recommended, especially if you fancy to spend a bit more and stay in their club rooms where the service exceeds the already topnotch standard they give to their guests.

Unique Qualities: Tastefully-designed and spacious rooms with a hint of modern Thai interiors; big bathroom with a separate shower cubicle and tub; sumptuous breakfast buffet at the 2nd floor (38th floor for club rooms); reasonable-priced room service; great restaurant outlets, especially the wine bar, good spa and very welcoming - albeit narrow - lobby where people can meet in an effortless fashion. The pool area has been a constant fly in the ointment so to speak because of its small size, but that won't bother you if all the other outstanding qualities are taken into consideration. Staying here is, without a doubt, money well-spent.

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Theme: Hotel
Comparison: more expensive than average
Prices: US$40-80  » Currency Converter
Address: 188 Silom Road Bangrak 10500 BANGKOK THAILAND,

My stay at Majestic Grande – although pleasant – is not without its sour notes to cite.

I’ll start with the negative impressions first.

1) My check-in time took all of 40 minutes to process which really ticked me off. At a little after 2pm, my room was not yet ready for occupancy and the front desk was in a sort of mad scramble to find the first available unit to provide me. It is possible that they do not give enough priority to discounted hotel bookings and set aside the available room/s for direct reservations. Whatever the exact explanation was, I will never know and they will never tell. At any rate, they were profusely apologetic when I was finally handed my key card.

2) Their (two) elevators are slow. For a hotel this size and with a constant influx of people, they should have installed at least 3-4 units to bring people up and down the building.

3) The airconditioning is weak…well, at least in my room. I called up engineering to do something about it, but it still did not meet my expected room temperature. And this comment coming from a highly-tropicalized person like myself, I wonder how Europeans and North Americans would react to such.

4) The Grande Superior rooms are small and confining. Sized at 28 sq.m., these units will definitely be a bit claustrophobic to most individuals

Unique Qualities: Now…off to the good ones.

1) The employees of the hotel are amazingly friendly and people-oriented. Except for a couple of relatively grim-faced individuals behind the front desk, the rest of them behaved in a manner befitting a hotel to its guests, more especially that this is a brand-new property having opened only in late 2004.

2) The restaurant outlets are few but well-maintained and excellently-staffed. Sacz Italian Dining and Jazz Club on the ground floor is pretty pricey but the food and service they provide make your lunch or dining experience truly valuable.

3) The business center is generally efficient, while the adequately-sized - but geometrically-challenging shaped - pool area could be a delight to some guests especially the ones with kids in tow.

4) Yes, the superior rooms are small, but the furnishings are tastefully laid-out The restaurant outlets are few but well-maintained and excellently-staffed.. The push-button control system beside the headboard is really a blessing in convenience. I can switch on/off the lights without lifting a leg. There is a fully-stocked mini-bar, free coffee- and tea-making facilities, an in-room safe that could hold small laptops at most, complete set of body and bath items (all replenished daily), free mineral water (2 bottles per day) and wireless internet access. Not all rooms have separate shower and bathtub, but I’m sure that the Grande Deluxe units and up have this.

All in all, Majestic Grande Sukhumvit has equal shares of good and bad points, but in the end, the positive highlights still outweigh the opposites. Travellers used to luxurious accommodations may find this one as just an aspiring wannabe in the upscale boutique hotel category, but all things being equal, I would say that for the money I spent, it wasn’t such a bad deal after all.

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Theme: Hotel
Comparison: more expensive than average
Prices: US$40-80  » Currency Converter
Phone: (66) 02 2622999
Address: 12 Sukhumvit Soi 2 Bangkok 10110 Thailand
Directions: Right behind JW Marriott Hotel and Ploenchit Center at the start of Sukhumvit Road.
Website: http://www.majesticgrande.com
Other Contact: Fax: (66) 02 2622900

My stay at Majestic Grande – although pleasant – is not without its sour notes to cite.

I’ll start with the negative impressions first.

1) My check-in time took all of 40 minutes to process which really ticked me off. At a little after 2pm, my room was not yet ready for occupancy and the front desk was in a sort of mad scramble to find the first available unit to provide me. It is possible that they do not give enough priority to discounted hotel bookings and set aside the available room/s for direct reservations. Whatever the exact explanation was, I will never know and they will never tell. At any rate, they were profusely apologetic when I was finally handed my key card.

2) Their (two) elevators are slow. For a hotel this size and with a constant influx of people, they should have installed at least 3-4 units to bring people up and down the building.

3) The airconditioning is weak…well, at least in my room. I called up engineering to do something about it, but it still did not meet my expected room temperature. And this comment coming from a highly-tropicalized person like myself, I wonder how Europeans and North Americans would react to such.

4) The Grande Superior rooms are small and confining. Sized at 28 sq.m., these units will definitely be a bit claustrophobic to most individuals

Unique Qualities: Now…off to the good ones.

1) The employees of the hotel are amazingly friendly and people-oriented. Except for a couple of relatively grim-faced individuals behind the front desk, the rest of them behaved in a manner befitting a hotel to its guests, more especially that this is a brand-new property having opened only in late 2004.

2) The restaurant outlets are few but well-maintained and excellently-staffed. Sacz Italian Dining and Jazz Club on the ground floor is pretty pricey but the food and service they provide make your lunch or dining experience truly valuable.

3) The business center is generally efficient, while the adequately-sized - but geometrically-challenging shaped - pool area could be a delight to some guests especially the ones with kids in tow.

4) Yes, the superior rooms are small, but the furnishings are tastefully laid-out The restaurant outlets are few but well-maintained and excellently-staffed.. The push-button control system beside the headboard is really a blessing in convenience. I can switch on/off the lights without lifting a leg. There is a fully-stocked mini-bar, free coffee- and tea-making facilities, an in-room safe that could hold small laptops at most, complete set of body and bath items (all replenished daily), free mineral water (2 bottles per day) and wireless internet access. Not all rooms have separate shower and bathtub, but I’m sure that the Grande Deluxe units and up have this.

All in all, Majestic Grande Sukhumvit has equal shares of good and bad points, but in the end, the positive highlights still outweigh the opposites. Travellers used to luxurious accommodations may find this one as just an aspiring wannabe in the upscale boutique hotel category, but all things being equal, I would say that for the money I spent, it wasn’t such a bad deal after all.

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Theme: Hotel
Comparison: more expensive than average
Prices: US$40-80  » Currency Converter
Phone: (66) 02 2622999
Address: 12 Sukhumvit Soi 2 Bangkok 10110 Thailand
Directions: Right behind JW Marriott Hotel and Ploenchit Center at the start of Sukhumvit Road.
Website: http://www.majesticgrande.com
Other Contact: Fax: (66) 02 2622900

This is one excellent hotel that deserves a perfect 10. The atmosphere is very classy yet warm and inviting. The lobby is huge and opulent in split-level partitions - with the Balcony Lounge occupying the space beside the front desk and the deli on the lower ground floor providing an alternative entrance/exit to the hotel on top of the main access coming from the large courtyard it shares with Holiday Inn Bangkok. The personnel are superbly-trained in hospitality service and have adequate-to-fluent command of the English language.

Unique Qualities: The rooms are spacious - measuring 45 sq.m. with lots of space to move around. Everything is provided for - complete set of toiletries (Audley's from London), slippers, bathrobes, tv and dvd player, mineral water, coffee/tea-making facilities, a daily supply of a big bowl of fruits plus assorted chocolates and pretzels. Daily morning paper is complimentary from M-S and even includes an additional International Daily Tribune from M-F. Nightly turndown service is also standard among all guests.

The hotel has a luxurious spa, 24-hour fitness center, nicely-sized pool plus the Club Lounge on the top floors. To top it all, the location is just super! It is right beside Gaysorn Plaza, across Amarin Shopping and Erawan Arcade, with Central Chitlom a mere 3-minute walk to the left, and the Big C plus Central World Plaza (presently undergoing major renovation) right around the corner in just 5 minutes. The skytrain escalator is right outside the lobby and the skywalk going to Siam Central Terminal is a definite plus.

All told, I cannot fault the Intercontinental Bangkok for anything amiss during my stay because each day met - and often exceeded - my expectations. The high price was all worth it.

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Theme: Hotel
Comparison: more expensive than average
Prices: US$120-180  » Currency Converter
Phone: +66-2-6560444
Address: 973 Ploenchit Road Patumwan, , Bangkok 10330
Directions: Beside Gaysorn Plaza and almost at the intersection of Rajadamri and Ploenchit Rds.
Website: www.bangkok.intercontinental.com/
Other Contact: 1800 1651 888

As far as the hotel itself is concerned, I would rate Arnoma as a good 3-star hotel that may seem average on most aspects, given that the relatively small rooms are standard types you would normally see in other properties. However, the warmth of its personnel stands out as well as management's emphasis on the safety and security of its guests. Renovations are underway but nothing that would create major disturbance, while the sumptuous breakfast buffet is a real steal given its good spread and variety. On the debit side, check-in tends to be slow due to the high occupancy rate of the same and the in-room safe is primitive. However, the lobby is large and very welcoming especially after a long day of sightseeing and shopping.

Dining options are everywhere - be it cheap or expensive. A supermarket and food court sit right beside the building, while the private entrance to the EGV multiplex is in front of the lobby if you want to catch a movie.

All things considered, I would rate this hotel as one of the safest places to stay in Bangkok if you're on a mid-range budget and want to be close to just about everything. This is especially recommended for families (not so much for those with babies and toddlers) and independent travelers who are out to maximize their time in the city.

Unique Qualities: Serious shoppers and first-time visitors to Bangkok will find Arnoma to be one of the best deals available in the Land of Smiles. Location-wise, it is sandwiched by Big C, Gaysorn Plaza and Narayana Phand; a 5-minute walk to Pratunam, Platinum Mall and Central Chitlom; a 10-minute walk to Siam Centre, Siam Paragon and Siam Square; and being close to the skytrain station at Chitlom, MBK is just 2 stops away, while Chatuchak Weekend Market is a pleasant 12-15 minute-ride. Sukhumvit, Silom and connections to the subway are easily accessible as well.

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Theme: Hotel
Comparison: about average
Prices: US$40-80  » Currency Converter
Phone: 66-2-2553-410
Address: 99 Rajadamri Road Bangkok 1033
Website: http://www.arnoma.com/