which hotel in Bangkok in July?

Old May 19th, 2013, 05:02 PM
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which hotel in Bangkok in July?

Trying to decide between:

Chatrium Hotel Riverside

and

Centre Point Silom Hotel

The reviews are great on both. Chatrium is river front, but the Centre Point is close to the river and the river view room in comparable in price.

My question is primarily about location. Not much is written about the Chatrium's location, except that there is a free shuttle to downtown and the public pier/other transportation. Can I walk out the door and get to restaurants quickly and the night market?

The Centre Point Silom is close to the river/shuttle boats (not free, but no problem) and right next door to the Skytrain. Also above a shopping center and, correct me if I'm wrong, in the middle of restaurants and action.

I'm leaning towards a river view room at the Centre Point Silom for the location, but the Chatrium comes so highly recommended. Other than the location directly on the river (Chatrium,) and it being a beautiful hotel (slightly less important to us) I'm not sure why it might be a better choice than the Centre Point (better location? )

Thanks for any clarification and tips!

Stephanie
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Old May 20th, 2013, 01:18 AM
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I have stayed at Centre Point Silom in the past in a riverview 1 bedroom apartment. (Have also used other Centre Points and generally like them)

I find the area good with restaurants and transport very convenient - skytrain and river boats. Its handy being on top of the Robinsons store and the Tops supermarket. However I really don't think "River View" is a good description of the view at all. You do get to see bits of the river but around buildings and the balconies aren't for sitting out on at all.

So I think its very convenient but not really a river hotel - just a short walk from the river.

I haven't stayed at Chatrium but have stayed across the river from it. It looks very nice and they have regular boats. I guess I'd be thinking about how much time you have as it does take extra time to wait for the boats in both directions.

Personally I don't mind this so long as the boats are fairly regular. Its a nice wind down time.

One other thing to consider is the proposed closing of Taksin Skytrain station - that may affect the convenience of both hotels. I believe work is meant to start in July but don't know when the trains will cease stopping at Taksin.
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Old May 20th, 2013, 04:21 AM
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If you want everything right outside the door you might like the Grande Centre Point at Terminal 21. I just stayed there last month. Really nice!!! But, it is not along the river. There is no river view at all. You would have to take the skytrain to get to the river area. Is this your first trip to Bangkok?
Carol
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Old May 20th, 2013, 06:30 AM
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Staying on the river is special. As mentioned, Centrepoint Silom has some rooms with river views but is not "on" the river. The Chatrium is on the river, as are quite a number of other hotels. You might consider the Sheraton Royal Orchid, the Hilton Millenium or the Anantara as other options. All have free shuttle boats to the pier below the skytrain. That pier also has water taxis, which go to the major wats along the river - an inexpensive and scenic way to get to these areas.

Also, Centrepoint is not a hotel, but a serviced apartment. Do you have a preference for one over the other?

Carol's Centrepoint suggestion is in the canyons of the downtown area, very convenient for shopping, but not scenic.

Note that the Chatrium does NOT have a shuttle to downtown, but a free shuttle boat to the pier below the Skytrain station, which is the fastest way to get downtown. It runs every half hour.

The Centrepoint doesn't need a shuttle, as it is walking distance to the skytrain and the pier.

Shuttle boats are owned by the hotels and run between the hotels and the pier below the skytrain. There is a shuttle owned by River City that runs between the shopping center and the pier. Water taxis (more like water buses) are public transportation that run up and down the river. Many local use them for commuting. They are cheap and convenient and a quintessential Bangkok experience, IMO.
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Old May 20th, 2013, 06:35 AM
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There is also a free shuttle to the night bazaar, Asiatique, which is close to the Chatrium, but I do not know about walking to it. I don't know the distance or the sidewalk (?) conditions in that area.

I have to disagree about the Terminal 21 not being scenic. To me, the skyscrapers and rooftop lounges in the Siam and Sukhumvit areas offer an amazing view of the city.
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Old May 20th, 2013, 10:20 AM
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Any info on the post "One other thing to consider is the proposed closing of Taksin Skytrain station - that may affect the convenience of both hotels. I believe work is meant to start in July but don't know when the trains will cease stopping at Taksin"

We plan to stay on the river in January - anyone know the schedule for the construction? Thanks
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Old May 20th, 2013, 10:24 AM
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Yestravel, I posted a thread on this subject and attached a link to a story.
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Old May 20th, 2013, 10:47 AM
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thanks, let me search for that.
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Old May 20th, 2013, 05:43 PM
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Thanks for the info on the Skytrain station. Looks like we'd be fine for July.

Yes, this is our first visit to Bangkok.

I'm tempted to book the Chatrium for the river view, but I'm still not getting any sense of whether you can walk out the door of the hotel to any shopping, restaurants, or to anything other than the river taxi. Is there *anything* in the immediate vicinity of the Chatrium? Or is it just the hotel?

Thanks!

Stephanie
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Old May 20th, 2013, 06:08 PM
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Stephanie, I've never stayed there. I've been by that hotel on my way down the river to the former Marriott. I'm guessing that it is somewhat isolated. There are fodorites who have stayed there (rhkkmk for example. and they liked it a lot) but they are out of internet range in France for the next 4-5 days or more. Can you hold off on making up your mind for about a week, maybe?
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Old May 20th, 2013, 06:32 PM
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I haven't stayed at the Chatrium, but I have visited it before it opened, and I have been in the immediate area. You can walk out of the rounds to a major street that has shops and restaurants.

There have been reviews here by people who liked the restaurants near the Chatrium. And it isn't far from Asiatique. By the way, while the Chatrium has a shuttle boat, I'm not sure that the water taxis stop at their pier. I think you'd have to go to the central pier for the water taxis.

The Chatrium complex has condos, long-term apartments, and the Shrewsbury school all on the grounds in addition to the hotel.
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Old May 20th, 2013, 06:36 PM
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Asiatique is a good place for dining/shopping after 5pm.
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Old May 21st, 2013, 08:46 AM
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i have stayed at chatrium... i like it .. its local area is more thai than some locations, so shops and restaurants cater mostly to thais but the same is true for center point../.

i hate terminal 21---seems more geared to teenagers...

i love the anantara, former marriott...also nothing to walk out to..

marriott and chatrium both have fab pools, a must in bkk... CP has an ok pool.
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Old May 21st, 2013, 10:03 AM
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Bob, I have to defend Terminal 21!! and yes, a lot of younger folks go there (Thais and falongs). It is connected to the Grande Centre Point apartment/hotel, but you do not go into the mall to get to the lobby. In fact, you have to take a short walk outside to get to the entrance of the mall from the hotel entrance. Terminal 21 has lots and lots and lots of food options. That's a big plus!! It also has a gourmet market (grocery store) in the basement level. It also has many small boutique-type shops. I have actually picked up a few items in some of these shops. When Terminal 21 first opened a couple of years ago, I had convinced myself that there was nothing there for me to buy, but I've found out otherwise, over time, and also having spent a bit more time there on this last trip (since I stayed at Grande CP for several nights).

Of the two riverside options in the original post of this thread, I guess I'd opt for the Chatrium. The area around the Centre Point (though there is shopping/etc) doesn't appeal to me. I know, it's a short walk to the skytrain. I think I'd rather be closer to Asiatique (and ride a shuttle). Just my opinion.
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Old May 22nd, 2013, 05:39 PM
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decided on the Chatrium, thanks again everyone!

Stephanie
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