My fiance and I are going to Thailand for our honeymoon in April. We will spend several nights in Phuket and several nights in Bangkok. We are using Marriott points...and are trying to decide which is the best Marriott to stay at in Bangkok, the Spa or the JW?

Any thoughts?

Thanks!

For a honeymood I would stay at the Bangkok marriott on the river. Bob will fill you in on the details.

both are nice hotels....let me talk to the jw first--it is a 5* hotel....it is a high rise in the middle of the entertainment (adult) and business area of bangkok on one of its busiest streets---sukhumvit....it has very easy access to the toll road to get to and from the airport....

we have stayed there many times and like it for being in that part of the city....lots of shopping and great restaurants there....skytrain stop (nana) is a 3 minute walk...it might be good for a couple of days, especially at the end of your vacation....they have an excellent work out area and the pool is disappointing honestly.....all one level, about 3 feet or so deep....maybe 3 meters....it is not large but adequate and is on the 4th floor of the hotel...there is some lounge space but not tons...i like a good pool in bkk...

the restaurants in the hotel are very good but expensive....they have a new steak house and a thai and a chinese plus a wonderful lobby lounge with atrium ---there is a general restaurant as well which has table service plus a huge bufet....the public areas are busy and lovely---tons of black marble...water...not really too thai however...

honestly the jw could be in tokyo, ny, paris or cairo....the rooms are quite large and comfortable, nicely furnished and many are not square or rectangular, but odd shapped....lots of silk and a semi-thai feeling....good amenities and fabulous bathrooms...the hotel is about 10 years old and is well kept...

now the resort and spa....it is our hotel of choice and we have stayed there more than 20 times....it is an oasis in a city of chaos...located on the far bank of the river, it is slightly removed from the hub bub of bkk....for this we like it...it is a large property...the hotel is housed in 3 thai style buildings the tallest being 5 stories....they form a "U" around the huge garden and pool...the open side of the "U" faces on the river with huge river frontage....near the river there is a huge dock from which a free boat departs every 15 minutes from 6AM to midnight to the skytrain stop (taskim)---end of the line...12 minute ride....always the highlight of our day....seeing river traffic up close....near the pier is a nice bar and beside that the terrace restaurant where a buffet is held nightly and a dance show....also breakfast is held in the indoor part of the terrace restaurant, but you can eat outside as well....fabulous buffet breakfast....very similar to a usa marriott brunch....only more food...worth the money...

there is a major bridge located just next to the hotel so access to the main part of the city by taxi is quite easy, although it does back up at certain times of day...

there are several more restaurants: benni-hana, a polyenesian rest, a chinese rest, a coffee shop/bakery outlet for reasonable meals or snacks...and fabulous cakes, etc...

the lobby is large but quite plain...it is a large open space with a jim thompson shop---the only shop in the hotel itself...there is again lots of wood, water and a sense of excitement...

service is excellent...the staff is very friendly and helpful, but not at all obtrusive...i rate the hotel a solid 4*

they have a new fitness center and spa...plus spa treatments near to the pool...

the pool is the best one in bkk handsdown....you may spend lots of time there, we do and i don't like pools....the garden surrounding the pool area is lovely, there are little ponds and lots of decorations and tons of green and orchids......there is a swim up bar with happy hour and a nice bar restaurant for lunch...we often eat lunch there in our bathing suits...each room comes with robes to wear down to the pool...

the rooms are large and have recently had a 100% re-do, including the installation of dark wooden floors throughout....the bathrooms are adequate but not exceptional...suites of course have more room and better everything....they may offer you an upgrade for an additional $40 per nite...

the main difference in rooms is river view or garden view....river is preferred but with f/f points you will be given garden view i am sure....i like either honestly...the room itself is identical...you won't spend all that much time in the room...oh, its your honeymoon....................

between the hotel and the street is the marriott mini-mall....there are probably 40 shops there: tailors, jewelry, gifts, drug store, photo, eyeglasses, a bank and atm, mcdonalds, burger king, sweansons ice cream, coffee place, shops of all kinds, laundry (outlet of the hotel laundry but much cheaper---located in the garage under the mall)....sizzler rest., bakery and many more...

i have sent many honeymooners there....i urge you to go there also...

you will not be disappointed....

if you decide not to use your points you might look at this hotel site for exceptional pricing for marriott---usually about $100 per nite including tax and service and breakfasts (worth about $25 daily)

www.huahin.20m.com
drop down window and select bkk....marriott is down just a bit

Wow- thanks for all the info!! My expectations regarding BKK are already exceeded!

We are booked at the JW...initially b/c I thought the location would be better...but now I am going to investigate changing to the Spa.

My fiance lives at the Marriott...(practially literally) so even using points we will likely be upgraded to a better room...hopefully with a river view.

I am so excited!! Anything other helpful advice is very welcome!

Cheers,
Nicole

nicole---i have recently composed a listing of restaurants we like in bkk, if you would like it send me a note at

[email protected]
and i will send it along...

this board has tons of advice for your time in bkk...just ask us and we will drown you with info...

make sure you tell the hotel in advance that it is your honey moon and also drop that piece of info when you check in....

i would spend the bulk of my time at the resort honestly....

try doing a search on this board for marriott bangkok and i think you will see lots of comments...

bob

If you want to guarantee a river view room, the Marriott website offers that for 5,000 more points per night or you an get a junior suite for 10,000 more points per night.

Typo in previous message. It should say you can get a junior suite...

Hi Bob,

I am staying at the River Marriott from December 30th to January 3rd. Your information is useful. I have a few more questions.

What are the hours when traffic is bad and we should avoid thinking taxi?

Can we get to the Face Spa from the Marriott on Skytrain or is a taxi the way to go?

Is there a good way to keep taxis from ripping us off? I know to in some cases agree to price beforehand? Any other suggestions?

Any places to Earl Grey tea near the Marriott, or a black tea with cream and sugar?

How much are spa services inside the Marriott?

Thanks for your help.

Alibi, We love the Marriot River Resort, but the spa there is really just ok, especially for the price There are lots of other recommendations on this site for spas in BKK that are better & with better prices. Do a search & you will find them. As for taxis, we found that asking for meter only was the best and most reliable way not to get ripped off. If you try to agree on a price beforehand, you will not know if it is a fair price (though it may seem cheap to you) and when you get to your destination you may suddenly find that the driver wants double or triple what was agreed to. Stick to the meter and you won't have any problems.

alibi, you can get to the Face spa via the skytrain. You have to take the Marriott boat to the skytrain station. If you've looked at the Face website, it shows the nearest skytrain station (and it is close to the station). www.facebars.com

As others have said, always ask taxis to use the meter. In the very rare case in which a driver doesn't want to use the meter, I simply get out of the taxi. (That happens to me maybe once every three or four years - there is usually no problem with taxis using the meter.)

As CFW says, the spa at the Marriott does not get great reviews, and the prices are high. Face is my recommendation.

lets see if i can answer some...

the traffic differs....i use taxis most of the time from the hotel or sometimes if i look out and see the bridge is blocked up i take the boat to taskim and get a taxi there....problem is taxi drivers often don't understand what you tell them so it is a gamble...you can have the hotel write some directions for you...

spa treatments at hotel...1900 B was posted by pool for a 60 lr 90?? minute thai massage...

the hotel would have those teas...i think you may even be able to buy them in the bakery....ask for them to be put in your room as well....there is a coffee/tea machine in each room

insist all taxis use the meter or get out of taxi....some meters are rigged...you will notice they change quickly so you know something is wrong....tell him to pull over and get out///pay him...and walk away....

you can take skytrain to face....we took taxis....you can use taxi and skytrain combo also....face is a walk down the soi from sukhumvit

traffic is bad at commuting hours which in bkk is 24 hours per day...


allow plenty of time to go places....even a one hour taxi ride will only be $5