puttakka

We are a couple in our mid-30s who will be spending four nights in Bangkok in late January 2010. We've read tripadvisor, the Lonely Planet, Time Out Bangkok, and have tried to search these forums.

Our budget hovers around $100 US -$150 per night. I realize that's quite a large range but I'd rather pay $100 for a cute, simple hotel than $150 for a mediocre luxury one. I'd rather pay $150 for a well-located stylish hotel than a $100 luxury hotel in an inconvenient area. I hope I am making some sense.

A nice hotel enhances our vacation so it's pretty important to us. As much as we like to explore, we also like to relax and just soak up the surroundings around us. We wouldn't mind splurging if an exceptional value arises (maybe the Peninsula if rates come down). We'd like a beautiful, clean, well-appointed hotel that is in an atmospheric neighborhood and close to transportation. Polite and correct service is appreciated but we don't need to be fawned over. We don't need business stuff, internet access, or a gym but we'd like a bathtub and a working balcony. We like to sleep and lounge around so we'd probably want some nice views and maybe even a balcony that we can watch the world go by. Don't worry, we'll take plenty of time to see and experience the city!!! Since we live smack in the middle of a city, noise isn't bothersome to us, so we were thinking maybe we should stay by the river.

We don't have Starwood Points but we do have loyalty points with Intercontinental so that's an option as well. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.Currently we have a refundable reservation at the Park Plaza Sukhumvit. We have a booking at the Lebua at State Tower for about $120 US per night but are thinking to cancel it for the reasons mentioned in other posts - bad location, no balcony. We don't need our own kitchen or anything.

We would love to hear your comments and suggestions abotu how to make our hotel stay in Bangkok a relaxing and memorable one!

Kathie

Maybe you would be interested in one of the little boutique hotels like Dream or Siam@Siam or the Arun Residence. There's a nice thread here somewhere on boutique hotels in Bangkok. I've not stayed at any of these, but there are some comments from others.

Kathie

Oh, and consider Chakrabongse Villas. I'm not sure how much they run...

Craig

I think the balcony requirement makes it tough - Peninsula and Shangri-la have balconies but they are out of your range. The Marriott Resort might work but again it's on the high side (though not as high as the other 2). The Marriott is also a bit out of the way, although for many that's not a problem as the boat to the skytrain is a pleasant ride. All three are on the river, which is the place to be if you want to relax and watch the world go by.

rhkkmk

any of the serviced apartments that have balconies, like centre point, emporium suites, adelphi suites ?...

imo neighborhoods in bkk don't really have much character...

simpsonc510

Adelphi Suites does not have balconies... one of its (only) drawbacks, IMO. But I still prefer to stay there, and have been staying ONLY there for the last 1 2/3 years.

Intercontinental, if I recall correctly, also doesn't have balconies. Other than that, it's a really nice hotel... with very recent renovations to their lobby/restaurant areas.

If a balcony is really important, then Marriott on the river would be my choice.

simpsonc510

I was going to say that Siam@Siam is a really cool place for people of the OPs age. But, after looking at their site, I didn't see balconies. I don't recall any when I toured the hotel.

I think balconies in Bangkok are a bit of a rarity, perhaps, unless one stays along the river. And even then, I don't think I'd pay the extra $$ to have a balcony at the Pen. We did have a balcony there one year, but didn't use it all that much. The view of the river is slightly obstructed when you take a balcony room at the Pen.

If I can come up with any suggestions, I will post them here.

Carol

Gpanda

A balcony might be nice on the river, but if you're in town, it may not be anything worth worrying about. The air in BKK can be stifling and sooty. In January, it's as good as it gets, but it can still be sticky beyond belief. I would use other factors when evaluating hotels.

Kathie

Oh, the balcony requirement, I forgot to address that. If I remember correctly, the Arun Residence and the Chakrabongse Villas both have terraces. I think you'll have trouble with that requirement.

puttakka

Thanks for all your insights. Maybe we don't "need" a balcony. It's our first time in Bangkok so we'd like to stay somewhere atmospheric if possible. I have looked into the Arun Residence.

Smeagol

Have you tried the Hilton Millenium (sort of next to the Peninsula) they do some good rates from time to time. For me a balcony on the river is a must as i LOVE to sit out side and smell the bangkok smells and watch river life.
I do though agree with Gpanda, i don't think a balcony is vital in the city.

Gpanda

For atmosphere, you can't beat the river. watching the boats go up and down and across is wonderful. When you're on a ferry or long-tail boat, it's actually cool. However, the prices in January are high on the river and there are lots of places closer to $100 than $150 near Sukhumvit and Silom. I would go online to the aggregate website, individual hotel websites and call the hotels for the lowest price on the river.

thursdaysd

I stayed at this place on the river - www.menamriverside-hotel.com - before it became a Ramada and before the prices went up. But it's within your range, and although I don't remember any balconies the river views were good. Easy walk to the ferry, too, plus a free shuttle. I found a deal from somewhere like asiarooms.

AskOksena

... well, best bang (for the best buck hotel) in beloved Bangkok. (And I do promise to keep this reply 'PG-13'.)

Now, warm greetings to the 'OP', and can't resist suggesting two places. (And 'btw': rumour has it from my little Bangkok business travel circle, the Chatrium Suites is a 'friendly' place, and I once experienced an acceptable week of work at that Lebua property, ~ 2006. Highly unlikely to stay there again (personal and professional reasons), but some joyous evenings, to be sure.)

First suggestion: a little sentimental single working guy 'three star' sweetie, La Residence hotel. (Mind you, last visit, a few years back.) Suite 7, with a little balcony, quite cozy for two; a most adequate bed 'for two'; and a little 'stuffed bear' to hang outside the door to ensure quiet, tender moments with a loved one. Never stayed for more than two consecutive nights (weekends, only), and didn't stay more than a few times, but always found the hotel (and company) a pleasant change from my 'normal' Bangkok business hotels.

Second suggestion: Most certainly not a boutique, and not exactly in your current budget, but will still give a promo for the Shangri-La, my home on the 'right' side of the river, ~ 20 nights a year. (If so inclined, check out my heartfelt review on this family friendly forum.) Nothing to lose by signing up for the hotel's Golden Circle programme on its website. (Of late, the SL has been offering rather attractive 'frequent guest' offers via e-mail - along with a few other Bangkok hotels I frequent.)

Have fun planning, and look forward to your tender times in the City of Angels.

macintosh (robert)


... Singapore Girl, You're a Great Way to Fly ...

citywalks

May I suggest Swiss Lodge, a boutique hotel on Soi Convent off Silom. This summer it was $80.00 USD on asiarooms.com. I've stayed there several times. It is in a great location, with good restuarants and street food right outside the door. It has all the amenities such as excellent breakfast, business center, a nice bar, and a lovely staff, plus soundproofed rooms. It's less than a 5-minute walk to the Sky train (Sala Deang station), which is a huge plus.

Mango7

I second Swiss Lodge. Novotel Siam Square is a winner too. Both are cute and well-located. Imo, staay away from river hotels..too far from everything.

karenmike

DISCLAIMER:
For us, the heart of BKK and easily the most alluring spot to stay near is the Chao Phraya River.

Now, can someone please explain "too far from everything"?

I'm not picking on Mango7. This conversation came up when I requested information on the Royal River Hotel on the Chao Phraya River, west from the Dusit Zoo next to the Krung Thon Bridge.


We found that the river hotel was exactly where people need to stay, while some others on Fodor's and elsewhere said it was too far from everything.

What's better than a restful neighborhood, on a fascinating river with quick access to all points in BKK?

After a long hard day on BKK's streets, why not return to a cool room with a balcony overlooking the Chao Phraya River with nearby street food and river restaurants everywhere?

Even if you stay out till dawn, a taxi back "home" only costs around 80 Bhat.

The next day, river boats quickly take you parallel to any location in Bangkok. From a river stop, head east and your quickly "there", with many places located within easy walking distance of the river boat pier and other places by a stop or two on the train, subway or taxi.


The Chao Phraya River is the fastest way to get "anywhere" unless "anywhere" is located around the block from your hotel, because getting from your "city" hotel to another "city" location by road is tough even late into the evenings.

Anyway, I'm never quite sure what "far from" stuff means in BKK? I mean, if you're a guy looking for girls, that one is easy, but, where is this elusive location that we need to be close to?

karenmike

There are many photos of the Royal River Hotel in the internet, here, I posted a few from our room.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/traveltv/

We took 4,000 plus photos over three weeks, we still have to sort through them.

simpsonc510

For me, personally, my friends are located in the Sukhumvit area, so that is where I prefer to stay. I do not travel by river, I travel by skytrain and subway. I may or I may not even go to the river during a visit to BKK... whether I am in the city for a week or several weeks. I have no reason to go to the river, other than if I want to go there and enjoy watching the river traffic, or hopping on a hotel boat and having a free ride, to a nice lunch at the Marriott or the Peninsula.....

karenmike

My two cents on the Shangri La hotel in BKK.

We have no information about the inside of the hotel except for the beautiful photos posted on the web.

But...

For us, the location sucks and the balcony rooms over look one of the largest, widest, busiest and quite possibly the noisiest roads in BKK.

Literally, the balconies face, overlook and are quite close to the Taksin Bridge, a noisy monster.

The Shangri La empties out on to a main train/river boat connection and the streets around the hotel are packed with busy people moving about.

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.

Ok, what's on the river is not a deal breaker and the hustle and bustle is unavoidable and often an enjoyable adventure in BKK, but why have it in your backyard?

For some, the convenience of flopping out of your hotel on to a train is the way to go, but, for us, we always enjoyed living in the house down the road on the cul-de-sac.