Hi -

I know there are a lot of old Asia hands on the board. I'm currently trying to decide between a serviced apartment (such as Rembrandt) or a hotel (such as the Landmark) across a 2-week vacation in Bangkok that my wife and I are about to take.

I am very familiar with Bangkok having lived there for 2 years in the past. I mainly need comfort and convenience, though not necessarily and luxury.

Thoughts?

Also, has anyone used Asiarooms.com before? Easily the best deals around and my understanding is that the site is just Diethelm rebranded.

Shade

I have been to Bangkok 7 times since the summer of 2001. i started out my first trip in an apartment rather than a hotel room. When you are there for a length of time, such as two weeks, it just isn't all that comfortable to settle into a hotel, when you can save money and have more space and a place to cook meals if you just stay in a serviced apartment. That said, I have also stayed in the Penninsula and the Oriental hotels, as well as the Intercontinental. They are all very nice and convenient. I just think that a serviced apartment makes more sense when I'm there for a couple of weeks at a time.

I have stayed at the Omni Tower on soi 4 and the Grand President on soi 11, both are off of Sukhumvit. I have also stayed in a very out of the way place, on soi Kasemsan 1, called Patumwan House. Patumwan House is very basic and does not have a pool, but it is spotlessly clean and the staff is very friendly. It is also smaller than the Omni or G President.

Carol

I'd go with the Rembrandt over the Landmark tho this is property specific...try and see if u can get a good deal at one of the other service apts which are nicer eg Somerset Suwan Park at Chitlom.

asiarooms.com is one of many booking sites that people on this board have used successfully. Note that no one site has all the best prices. Make sure you're comparing comperbale prices, as some sites include tax and service (17.7%) and others do not. Also read cancellation policies carefully.

Hobbes - have you stayed at Somerset Suwan Park? Not challenging you at all, just curious how you are making the comparison with Rembrandt.

Any issues with the Landmark?

Thanks,
Shade

Asiarooms is my preferred website for getting rooms reservations in Asia. Asiatravel is also highly recommended but think asiarooms is a bit better on prices. Both are professional and are quick to contact you with confirmations normally. I think you are right about Diethelm being the brains behind Asiarooms.
My experiences with Precision Reservations have been generally bad.

They have taken up to 3+ days to tell me there was no room available in spite of my telling them that time was of the essence.This happened to me twice and once to a friend before I crossed them off my list.

Serviced Apts are hands down winners vs hotels in my book. They are usually bigger rooms, better facilties (most were built as condos around 1997), not as formal or as busy as a hotel.

I have lived in Bkk many years. My choices for Serviced apts for visiting friends are #1 Chateau de Bangkok (pricy but excellent)on Soi Ruum Rudee and about 300-400 yds off Sukhumvit and nearest BTS station. I stayed there 2 months when I first moved to Bkk. Every person who I have referred there, raves about it. Jacuzzi tub in every room is their slogan. Several excellent restaurants there. Cabs are readily available.

#2 Centre Point *there are 5 or 6 at many great locations around Bkk. Seems to be well equipped and have heard good reviews.

#3 Grand President (cheapest of these svcd apts) with a very good location (200-300 yds to BTS on Sukhumvit with lots of stores and Restaurants nearby. I stayed here a few weeks several years ago.

Rembrandt Hotel is nice if you get the new wing. I am pretty sure they have svcd apt there also. Rembrandt is probably 3.5 stars and I stayed there several years ago. Not as convenient for the BTS but cabs are available all the time.

Landmark is right on Sukhumvit (near soi 4) and close to everything. Never stayed here but would rate at 4+ stars based on my observation. Several nice restaurants and lots of shops in the hotel. Friends who stayed there thought it was quite nice.

Bottom line if you want budget, try Grand President unless you get a great online price.

I just got back from Bangkok and was personally at the Somerset Suwan Park View Apartments last Saturday. I didn't stay there, but was looking at serviced apartment buildings for my 3-week vacation in Dec/Jan. The price I was given for a one-bedroom 67 square meter apartment was 3,145 baht per day...41 baht to a US dollar. The building was very nice, I just personally didn't like the interior design of the apartment...it looked very businessman-ish to me. So, I looked at other buildings and have decided on the Emporium suites at the Emporium mall which I absolutely loved as soon as I walked into the door. I'll have an 80 square meter, deluxe studio, with a very nice kitchen and an incredible view for 4,950 baht per night times 21 days. I went there, in person, and negotiated about $700. off of my rate. It's not an inexpensive place, but very convenient. The Bangkok Bank is attached to the building, the supermarket is in the basement of the Emporium mall,I already use the very inexpensive internet cafe inside the Emporium mall, and the sky train is right there. Plus the grounds of the place are beautiful and very clean. But, as I said before, the Somerset Suwan Park View is nice and I love the street that it's on. Plus the mall is a block away where there's probably a grocery store in the basement. Happy Travels!

one other site to look at is:

www.huahin.20m.com

they have some serviced apartments available on this site

contact them for others

I stayed at Chateau de Bangkok last summer and liked it. It was no more than 300 meters from the Ploenchit skytrain station. The street,that it's on, however is very dark at night. Happy Travels!

Guenmai- are you telling us that you actually stayed in a place more than a few days. You did not switch to another apartment after 3 days? Is this the same Guenmai that moves from hotel to hotel barely unpacking in the process????

Yes, it's true. And this past trip, Bill, I only stayed at two hotels in Bangkok...the Oriental...to give it a try...and then back to home sweet home...the Four Seasons...and the day before leaving BK to fly home, I didn't even leave the hotel the whole day...actually stayed in my room. I was drained from running around both Singapore and Bangkok...non-stop...in order to get specific things done...like the energizer bunny...but the batteries eventually died out! Happy Travels!

Ok Guen- what's better Four Seasons or the Oriental? Gloria raves about the Oriental so I'd like you to weigh in- no pc talk now lets have the truth!

For me...it's the Four Seasons hands down...but if I had to pick between the Pen and the Oriental, it would be the Oriental. Happy Travels!

guen....did you get a good rate at oriental and where did you get it??

bob

Ok lets summarize:

Gloria- stays,eats, epitomizes the Oriental

Guenmai- its the Four Seasons but only for a day or two then she bolts for another hotel, then another, then another....

Kathie- its the Sheraton- tower room, club level yada yada yada.

Bob- now a titanium member of the Marriott (they have named a wing after him by this timne).

Bill T- the Penn


Who have I missed??????

Hey Bill,
Put me down for serviced apartments. But I also like the Penn and the Intercontinental.
Carol

Carol- ok Serviced Apartments- is there a favorite? - after all that's the theme of my post- to associate a person with a particular establishment. (except for Guen who we all know must move around for security reasons)

don't forget gpanda---a fixture of ROS as well but soon to branch out to sheraton grande...

we also love the peninsula with shangri-la as a close follow-up

Karanasuke would probably fall under "any hotel under 50 bucks and on sale". but ya'd best ask him.

hombre; make that under 35 and you got a deal. preferably along the river.