thursdaysd

Bob wanted to know about the Ibis Riverside. I'm there for one night, and I've posted some photos here: http://kwilhelm.smugmug.com/Travel/R...Bangkok-Hotels password bangkok.

Warning: not all rooms have river views. There's a block of five rooms on each of four floors with good views over the outdoor bar - I have one of those on the second floor, even though I booked through agoda.com. There's another block with direct but more distant views over the swimming pool - higher floors would be better to see over the trees. Then a number of rooms have sideways views. Finally there are some rooms that look over the entrance and parking area on the side away from the river. As you can tell from the photos the view of the opposite bank isn't that scenic, but you do get a good look at the river traffic.

The pool looks nice, and there are pool towels in the room, along with a safe and fridge. The hotel has a somewhat institutional feel - it's closer to the Ibis Bencoolen in Singapore than the more upmarket Ibis in Seoul. I regret to report that the TV has Fox "News" but no CNN or BBC. The shuttle leaves on request, and you have to call the hotel to have it pick you up.

The hotel is just down-river from the Peninsula - likely walking distance. There are several food stalls on the main street, and a 7-11 accessible by a foot bridge.

qwovadis

thanks for the heads up..

Find lots better cheaper 5* Hotels usually

www.betterbidding.com Priceline from $50 or so

thursdaysd

I don't do Priceline. I like to know what I'm getting, and it's never clear to me from betterbidding. I just looked at betterbidding for the Bloomsbury area in London, and everything was way out of date. For the record, the Ibis is costing me $45 through agoda (no breakfast).

kmkrnn

Thanks for the update..I will make sure Bob see this.

Kathie

Thanks for the report, Thursdays. From your photos, it looks like the Ibis might be directly across the river from Chatrium. Is that right? For the price, it seems like an inexpensive way to be on the river at a place that is clean and functional.

qw, the Ibis is by no means 5*, nor does it in any way represent itself that way. Priceline's star system is always a bit suspect. Priceline is fine if you don't care where you stay. We've had people report on their Priceline bidding experiences here in the past. The area they call river side includes lots of hotels that are in no way river side!

Kalil_Daoud

Thank you thursdaysd for the informative report and photos.

Unless you getting a much better rate with 3rd party booking agents, I am always of the opinion to book accommodations directly with the hotel's website for better upgrades (including higher floor, room with a view, etc.) and other loyalty benefits and recognition. This Ibis Riverside Bangkok's rate is $45 ai directly with Accor's website.

Also, I agree with you both on priceline and its deceptive bidding practices. Last time I bid (July 2008) for 5 star hotel at Siam Square and got the Amari Watergate (barely a 4 star property) in Pratunam. Never again!

BillT

FOX News! I prefer to see CNN when I'm in Asia as it gives you a true world view (No one does that in the US). But at home in the USA FOX news is far preferable- hey they are number one for a reason!

Kathie

Kalil, agoda and sawasdee booking sites include tax and service in their prices (which total 17.7% in Thailand). I find I can typically get better rates through the booking sites. But if I am a frequent stay guest at a particular place, I'm better off booking directly. Nonetheless, I always check both sources.

Kalil_Daoud

Thank you Kathie. I agree that one should check all sources to get the best deal. In this instance, Accor has the Ibis Riverside at around $45 all in (ai meaning tax and service fees ... the ++ the same as the 17.7%) same rate as Agoda's. BTW, Agoda is owned by Priceline.

I am lowly Gold with Accor but usually get a better room for upgrades and other perks including the occasional breakfast buffet.

Kathie

For you, then, it's worth booking with Accor.

rhkkmk

i'm glad they chose fox, an unbiased source of news...

it is a welcome addition to the riverside, offering more affordable rates. i will continue to patronize the others however, until they price themselves out of the market, which marriott seems to be aiming for... BTW, even if the resort and spa marriott drops its marriott affiliation we will continue staying there, depending on price however..

i have had excellent results with priceline around the world and at home... our feeling is if you always choose 4* and choose an area of town you might like, then how bad could it be.... i do agree that in asia some hotels are self appointed 4*s which really should not be, like holiday inn silom or amari watergate as examples--but of course in bkk the top hotels are considered 5* which priceline does not offer, thus the problem.

thanks kathy for posting this.

MichaelBKK

Chatrium is much further down the river. The Ibis is almost right next to the bridge.

Kathie

Thanks, Michael.

thursdaysd

Ibis pricing is a moving target. Of course (duh) I checked the hotel website before booking with agoda (and why should I care that Priceline owns them - they don't use Pricline's system) and at that time agoda was enough cheaper that if I'd had to pay the website price I wouldn't be staying here.

I just spent three nights st the Ibis Bencoolen in Singapore and paid a different price each night (Thu, Fri, Sat) with travelocity. The electronic display outside also showed a different price each day, and a different price in the evening to the morning. In each case I paid less.

More on the Riverside: comfortable bed, fierce AC, faces due east but good blinds, two power outlets but right next to each other and badly located, good shower. Don't eat dinner here - I ate at the Ibis in Singapore the night before (it was pouring rain) and it was surprisingly good, this wasn't. Just saw the Chatrium boat go past, so it must be further downriver.

I fly to Georgetown for CNY this afternoon. When I come back (by train) I'll stay at the Menam Riverside, also booked through agoda - it's gotten a lot more expensive since Ramada took over. Will be interested to see whether I still like it - I enjoyed staying there Dec 2004.

thursdaysd

Another warning - Ibis has joined the foreign conversion crowd. In Singapore the clerk asked me which currency I wanted him to use with my credit card, but in Bangkok the clerk just went ahead and charged in USD without asking. Luckily I caught it and made him void the charge and redo it in baht - and read him a lecture on how he should at least ask first.

The taxi driver the hotel called for me to go back to the airport wanted to charge me 500 baht "all in"! It cost 260 on the meter to get to the hotel, 315 to get back to the airport (interesting difference, no?), plus 70 for the tolls.

kmkrnn

500 bt seems to be the asking price back to the airport for people who don't know different. Always go with the meter. Please report on the Menam/Ramada when you get back to it. We have been interested in it after the change.

rhkkmk

btw, the 3 round buildings in your pictures are the chatrium, so i guessed if you took that from your room that they are right across... i can't remember