Jenni

Has anyone stayed at the Royal River hotel? We are looking at staying at the Royal River or Royal Orchid Sheraton (for $50 more a night - both are good deals), but is there a $50 difference?

Jim Rosenberg

Jenni, the Royal River is a very nice property and a $50/night difference in Bangkok is like getting your meals for free. Taxis are so cheap that you can easily and affordably hire a driver to take you anywhere you want to go. The rooms are well-appointed and comfortable. The Royal River offers several restaurants and the breakfast buffet is super. <BR><BR>The price difference probably has to do with the fact that the Royal River isn't part of an international chain and it may also have something to do with the location. The immediate neighborhood surrounding the hotel is nothing to write home about (well, maybe it is -- but not in the sense of it being filled with great places to spend time!) There are some little internet cafes where you can stay in touch, if you choose to. I don't consider it unsafe; just not particularly interesting or inviting. <BR><BR>That said, the location on the river gives you access to water transportation, which is very nice to have in Bangkok. There is a shuttle boat that will take you from the hotel to a shopping district on the other side and a variety of tours that will pick you up right at the hotel. We will be happy to return there ourselves this fall. <BR><BR>Happy Contrails!

Mary Anne Cook

This will be my 3rd year to stay at the Royal River. A very nice hotel with helpful staff. The $50 more at the Royal Orchard would not be worth it to me. It is true the Royal River is farther out of the center,but it is so easy and cheap to get down to that area. Buffet breakfast is great as Jim mentioned. If you are booking this with Northwest Airlines another plus is they have some one to meet you at the airport and someone to take you to your return alight. This is especially helpful when you have a flight arriving late in the evening and your departure is an early morning one.<BR>You will enjoy this hotel.

Jim Rosenberg

Good point by Mary Anne about the airport transfers included with the Northwest vacations package. They really make things easy and the trip is incredibly reasonable for what you get. In addition, you can book tours on an "as-you-go" basis, so don't feel as though you are eliminating things if you don't purchase them all upfront. There is a nice little half-day tour that is thrown in with the package. It's a wonderful adventure.

bob

we stayed at the royal river on our first trip about 7 years ago as part of a northwest airline package....it was adequate.....it was clean and comfortable but anything but luxuary and a bit far up the river....i would stay there again if i was looking for a bargain...the pool is a joke the size of a postage stamp....<BR>the sheraton is large and commercial and about 10 steps higher in classification than the royal river...try the marriott resort and spa, also on the river and also removed from the hastle of the city, like the royal river...it has the best pool area and many amenities but less formality and less commercialism that you will find at the sheraton...don't get me wrong the sheraton is nice and convenient but after 4 trips we like the marriott better than any other hotel we have stayed in worldwide