What are the best upscale hotels but also with great locations? Any recommendations would be appreciated. Thanks

Frani, you will get a huge variety in answer to this question. When you say upscale, what price range are looking for? When you say great location, are you looking for shopping or ambience or close to popular attractions? People usually choose either on the river or in the middle of town near the skytrain. We always stay on the river at the marriott resort, it is perfect for us but I am not sure if it qualifies as upscale, check out their website and look at the pics they have. Jeffrey

We just spent a week at the shangrila and loved it. Location is great as it is right on the river and by the sky train and boats

The Peninsula and Oriental hotels are both at or near the top of the list of the best hotels in the world (Conde Nast, I think). They both provide luxury, but they are two different kinds of atmosphere, IMO. I have stayed at both and I prefer the Pen. Prices at the Oriental are a bit higher. Both are located on the river and have exquisite service and amenities. The Pen is more lux modern with the Oriental being more old-worldy... you KNOW you're in Bangkok when staying at the Oriental. I would gladly stay at either one anytime!

Now, if you want a location in the heart of Bangkok, there are a number of excellent choices there also. The Hyatt Erewan and the Intercontinental are just two of the many available. Here, the ease of finding the best shopping in Bangkok is the big plus. It's a little harder schlepping packages back to a river location, IMO.

If you are looking for upscale, you can definitely find it in Bangkok.

Carol

the oriental and penn as mentioned are about as good as it gets, but the marriott resort and spa and the hilton and the conrad and the four seasons and the jw marriott are all very nice also ....and also the sheraton grande...

many of us prefer the river locations: marriott resort, shangri-la, penn, oriental, royal sheraton, hilton are the top ones...

rates should range from about $125 to $300+ for the oriental...

try these web sites: www.huahin.20m.com and www.asiarooms.com for great deals...

Really does depend on what you want and what type of hotel you like. Personally I would only stay on the river because it's, for me, the "magical" part of Bangkok. However, I spend zero time in large shopping malls and do very little shopping so being in the heart of shoppping doesn't matter to me. Others feel differently. On the river, the Oriental and Peninsula are at the top. The former is historic; the latter is modern with lots of technology bells and whistles. The Oriental is a lively busy hotel. I find the Penisula souless so I would only stay at the Oriental (tried the Pen once and said never again). However, others feel the exact opposite. There is no right or wrong -- depends on what you like.

Below the Oriental and Pen on the river is the Shangrila and Royal Orchid.

The Four Seasons...in the heart of town,across the street from the skytrain station, great service and staff,beautiful rooms and lobby, and down-to-earth. I've stayed there a lot as well as many other hotels in town. Happy Travels!

If price is not a concern, stay at the Peninsula or the Oriental. A hotel on the river is an oasis in the lovely chaos that is BKK. There are slightly cheaper options on the river as mentioned by RhkKmk. All have ferries to the skytrain that makes navigating BKK much quicker.

If you don't want to stay on the river I would definitely stay at the 4 Seasons.

Gloria- you are becoming quite the diplomat- giving the Penn honorable mention!

Bill- I've ALWAYS said that whether you prefer one to the other is a matter of personal preferances. They are both deluxe hotels. There are lots of GREAT hotels that I wouldn't stay in no matter what the cost or how rich I was just because they don't suit me. The Penn is one of them. The Mandarin Oriental is another one. In general I don't like big, commercial hotels no matter how deluxe they are. The only exception are the "historic" ones. But I also could care less about the size of bathrooms, or the size of the tv or number of tvs or the pook etc. Others consider those things of huge importance. That's why I always say that one should understand the differences and try to figure out which one they think would suit them best.

Gloria - relax I was just pushing your buttons a little!

I've spent the day writing about the financial scams people are perpetrating on returning Iraq War veterans the the horrible problems they are having getting the non medical benefits they deserve so I was already wound up. Sorry.