Best bang for the buck hotel in Bangkok?
Sep 10th, 2009, 05:34 PM
#21
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 33,288
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Well, to each his/her own. Most people consider the Shangri-La ideally located for access to the water taxis and to the skytrain.
"This is the business end of the Chao Phraya River and is filled with river boats, ferries and gaudi (not in the good way) tourist boats. "
The Chao Praya is the life blood of Bangkok. Like Bangkok itself, it is filled with traffic of many kinds. For me, staying on the river IS Bangkok.
You like the cul de sac, I want to be able to watch the endlessly fascinating river life (though I don't stay at the Shangri-La, but at the Royal Orchid).
"This is the business end of the Chao Phraya River and is filled with river boats, ferries and gaudi (not in the good way) tourist boats. "
The Chao Praya is the life blood of Bangkok. Like Bangkok itself, it is filled with traffic of many kinds. For me, staying on the river IS Bangkok.
You like the cul de sac, I want to be able to watch the endlessly fascinating river life (though I don't stay at the Shangri-La, but at the Royal Orchid).
Sep 10th, 2009, 05:57 PM
#22
Join Date: Dec 2008
Posts: 106
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
The theme of being near transportation is often repeated when talking about BKK hotel locations and I think it speaks to the difficulty and IMO, hardship of getting around town.
So, setting aside the idea that holiday people would be best served by spending as little time as possible in BKK, I'd argue that picking a hotel because of transportation is a poor way to start out a holiday.
Kathie, remember me, Karen? I've been pitching river/balcony locations since day one.
http://www.fodors.com/community/asia...k-thailand.cfm
The Royal Orchid Sheraton is at a MUCH better location than the Shangri-La.
So, setting aside the idea that holiday people would be best served by spending as little time as possible in BKK, I'd argue that picking a hotel because of transportation is a poor way to start out a holiday.
Kathie, remember me, Karen? I've been pitching river/balcony locations since day one.
http://www.fodors.com/community/asia...k-thailand.cfm
The Royal Orchid Sheraton is at a MUCH better location than the Shangri-La.
Sep 10th, 2009, 06:31 PM
#24
Join Date: Apr 2009
Posts: 1,221
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
If you want a big room, check out "Tenface" - although by Jan the rates may have gone over your budget. They have suites and plenty of space and do all sorts of offers and "promotions". just off Sukhhumvit they are pretty much in the middle of everything.
Sep 10th, 2009, 06:36 PM
#25
Join Date: Dec 2008
Posts: 106
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
We went to check out the Shangri-La and (for us) the location was terrible.
No sitting on the balcony and enjoying the low hum of diesel engines pulling the barges. Even late at night, long after the Krung Thon Bridge had gone quite the low frequency sounds would faintly be heard through the balcony doors.
No pleasant walks out side the hotel past the food vendors to catch the orange flag Chao Phraya River Express boats into the "city".
Royal Orchid Sheraton is close to our 1999 favorite hotel, the Riverview Guest House.
Deep in the hear of China Town, the used auto part section and hosting some of the narrowest street in BKK. And of course, a balcony facing the river.
I added some photos of street food around the Royal River Hotel.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/traveltv/
Really need to organize the photos and thoughts.
frenquency .
No sitting on the balcony and enjoying the low hum of diesel engines pulling the barges. Even late at night, long after the Krung Thon Bridge had gone quite the low frequency sounds would faintly be heard through the balcony doors.
No pleasant walks out side the hotel past the food vendors to catch the orange flag Chao Phraya River Express boats into the "city".
Royal Orchid Sheraton is close to our 1999 favorite hotel, the Riverview Guest House.
Deep in the hear of China Town, the used auto part section and hosting some of the narrowest street in BKK. And of course, a balcony facing the river.
I added some photos of street food around the Royal River Hotel.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/traveltv/
Really need to organize the photos and thoughts.
frenquency .
Sep 11th, 2009, 04:31 AM
#26
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 11,334
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Karen
Your photos make me think of Sukhumvit soi 8. Everyone on that street "knows" me, when I return to the city. They all wave and smile. The taxi and tuk tuk drivers all ask me where I'm going, but they know my answer already... the skytrain (which is probably less than 2 minutes away).
I guess, in a sense, we think alike about a BKK location. You like a river neighborhood, alive with typical Thais going about their day to day business, and I like that same type of neighborhood, but in the Sukhumvit area.
Your photos make me think of Sukhumvit soi 8. Everyone on that street "knows" me, when I return to the city. They all wave and smile. The taxi and tuk tuk drivers all ask me where I'm going, but they know my answer already... the skytrain (which is probably less than 2 minutes away).
I guess, in a sense, we think alike about a BKK location. You like a river neighborhood, alive with typical Thais going about their day to day business, and I like that same type of neighborhood, but in the Sukhumvit area.
Sep 11th, 2009, 06:51 AM
#28
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 33,288
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Karen, I now understand that your objection to the Shangri-La is the road/bridge traffic rather than the river traffic. That wasn't clear to me from your earlier post.
We've had a number of reviews here from long-time posters who love the Shangri-La. They do always recommend one building over the other, and none have mentioned noise from the road/bridge as a downside. So were you on the road side of the hotel rather than the river side?
Many of us have our favorite hotels that are home for us in Bangkok. Like you, I'm totally addicted to the river. I've been to Bangkok something like two dozen times and I never tire of it. Indeed, I'm sad that this trip we''ll only have 5 days in Bangkok... not enough!
We've had a number of reviews here from long-time posters who love the Shangri-La. They do always recommend one building over the other, and none have mentioned noise from the road/bridge as a downside. So were you on the road side of the hotel rather than the river side?
Many of us have our favorite hotels that are home for us in Bangkok. Like you, I'm totally addicted to the river. I've been to Bangkok something like two dozen times and I never tire of it. Indeed, I'm sad that this trip we''ll only have 5 days in Bangkok... not enough!
Sep 13th, 2009, 06:48 PM
#30
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 29,053
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
we were in the main building away from the road and not directly on the river and our windows did not open...
i have had concerns about noise when you are in the krungthup wing as it literally hands over the bridge...but no one ever mentions noise...
its a very nice hotel, albeit huge...
i have had concerns about noise when you are in the krungthup wing as it literally hands over the bridge...but no one ever mentions noise...
its a very nice hotel, albeit huge...
Sep 14th, 2009, 01:38 AM
#31
Join Date: Apr 2005
Posts: 4,466
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Well i plan to stay in the KT wing at the S-la in Dec so will let you all know what i think (i LOVE a balcony) and have stayed at the Pen and the Oriental (as well as the Novatel Siam Square a few years ago) For me watching the river traffic is fascinating and its why we /i like to stay on the river.
I have toyed with the idea of staying in town BUT the river keeps pulling me back. Too short a trip this time (2 nights only) but am interested to see how the S-La compares.
It can't be that inconvenient as its pretty close to the sky train, River taxis?! but anyway am on holiday.....
I have toyed with the idea of staying in town BUT the river keeps pulling me back. Too short a trip this time (2 nights only) but am interested to see how the S-La compares.
It can't be that inconvenient as its pretty close to the sky train, River taxis?! but anyway am on holiday.....
Sep 14th, 2009, 06:42 AM
#32
Join Date: Apr 2008
Posts: 612
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
>>>i have had concerns about noise when you are in the krungthup wing as it literally hands over the bridge...but no one ever mentions noise...<<<
... well, unless the Krunthep Wing has been rather quickly moved 'south' over the past ~ eight days (I just stayed at the KW for some business meetings) the wing is indeed Not 'hands over the bridge' ... (some rooms/suites are rather close to said bridge, but where I stay for work in my all-time cherished rooms/suites, at the far northern end of the K wing, it's always been rather serene, with the wrap-around balcony and, yes, 24-hour, in-room massage treatments, if so desired. Sweet dreams, indeed. (And do hope all of you join me with SL (and Oriental, Peninsula..) hotel reviews on this family friendly forum.)
And, as for that 'seagol', have fun at the KW and do hope you land in my 'special room', containing pages of praise and all, from 'Khun Robert'. (And the SL is currently in progess of 'rotating' its staff between the Krungthep and Main wings - you'll never know which lovely woman you'll next encounter, and yes, I love it.)
Keep up the good work, do consider SQ, and should any of you be in Hong Kong, Singapore and Bangkok over the next ~ three weeks, well, drinks on me. (Preferably, at those various SIA Silver Kris Lounges, thank you.)
robert
... "We welcome you back home, Khun Robert!" ...
(Thanks forever, Khun 'N', BKK SL KW, 2009)
... well, unless the Krunthep Wing has been rather quickly moved 'south' over the past ~ eight days (I just stayed at the KW for some business meetings) the wing is indeed Not 'hands over the bridge' ... (some rooms/suites are rather close to said bridge, but where I stay for work in my all-time cherished rooms/suites, at the far northern end of the K wing, it's always been rather serene, with the wrap-around balcony and, yes, 24-hour, in-room massage treatments, if so desired. Sweet dreams, indeed. (And do hope all of you join me with SL (and Oriental, Peninsula..) hotel reviews on this family friendly forum.)
And, as for that 'seagol', have fun at the KW and do hope you land in my 'special room', containing pages of praise and all, from 'Khun Robert'. (And the SL is currently in progess of 'rotating' its staff between the Krungthep and Main wings - you'll never know which lovely woman you'll next encounter, and yes, I love it.)
Keep up the good work, do consider SQ, and should any of you be in Hong Kong, Singapore and Bangkok over the next ~ three weeks, well, drinks on me. (Preferably, at those various SIA Silver Kris Lounges, thank you.)
robert
... "We welcome you back home, Khun Robert!" ...
(Thanks forever, Khun 'N', BKK SL KW, 2009)
Thread
Original Poster
Forum
Replies
Last Post
WinterTravel
Asia
62
Nov 16th, 2008 05:03 PM
