We will be in Bangkok for 4 days in mid Jan 2011.
From what I heard, Jan is considered as high-season for visiting Thai.
Is this means that most of the hotels won't be offering promo during this month?

This will be my 2nd visit to BKK, but for DH, it'll be his 1st.

I will be using the points for the hotel and the options are these 3:
Renaissance Bangkok Ratchaprasong
JW Marriott
Marriott Resort Riverside

I know a lot of ppl in this forum like the Marriott Resort Riverside, and the reviews are mostly positive, but I'm just concern about the location...
I definitely want the hotel with a nice pool (either for morning or late evening swim)
We like the convenience to come/go from/to hotel from the malls/restaurants/etc.

Out of these 3 hotels, which would you recommed ?

Also, has any of you ever stayed at these hotels with 3 or 4 ppl in 1 room?

TIA!

hotels in thailand are quite restrictive about how many people per room and usually it is 3...

i have stayed at both the jw marriott and resort and spa....the renn. is brand new...

i much prefer the R&S.... for me the location is a plus....its a 12 minute fantastic river ride from skytrain to the hotel door... i love this both day and evening... oit has the only decent pool i believe---dont' know about renn....the jw pool is shallow and small with no garden... it is a 5 minute walk to the skytrain from the jw...

the ride to the R&S bothers some people but not me....i love the air out there also... it is both cooler and cleaner...

the breakfast at the R&S is fantastic....650 B++ extra if you are using pts for your stay... but there is a very nice little bakkery on the lower level and you can get a quick breakfast there for much less...

i often split my stay --- 1'st at the river and later in town

Thanks Bob
It's Petty (from Natick)...I was hoping you'd reply

I know you're a big fan of the Marriott R&S as many ppl here do.
I read somewhere that the pool closes early at 6 pm..is it true?
(From R&S) Do you usually take the skytrain or taxi to go to places?

Last April when I was in BKK with my mom, we stayed at the Conrad, which is a great location (we were there only for 3 weeks and the focus was shopping). There were times that taxi was difficult to get (i.e: from MBK, Night market, Chatucak mkt), so I'm just concern about the transportations when we get a lil tired (my mom & I never tried the skytrain)

I'll be staying at the R & S for 3 nights, starting next Monday. I plan to take the shuttle boat to the skytrain most of the time. The skytrain is a great way to navigate the city, above the traffic jams.

I have not stayed at the R & S before, but I've taken the shuttle boat down the river to the resort a number of times. It's a pleasant ride. I would agree w/Bob in that regard.

After my 3 nights at the R & S, I will, however, bemoving to the Sukhumvit area and will spend the remainder of my 2 wk BKK visit in that area. The Conrad is fairly close to where I always stay, on Sukhumvit soi 8. So much closer to my friends, shopping, restaurants that I really enjoy, etc.

there is also a courtyard in bkk now and the serviced apartments....i am going to try two of the serviced apartments in november: mayfair and sukhumvit park....very reasonable....and well located...

It's easy to use the skytrain from the Marriott Resort and Spa. The shuttle boat takes yuo to the pier below the skytrain stop. The skytrain is very easy to use and it's clean and air-conditioned. And - you don't have to deal with traffic!

The subway is also very reasonable, very clean, and very easy to navigate. I prefer the skytrain though, as I like to look out the window!! From the river, you would want to take the skytrain anyway, because it goes from Saphan Taksin station to pretty much all the shopping areas, so the subway isn't really necessary for you.

The Resort & Spa pool stays open late.

Sometimes you have to wait a while for a shuttle boat to arrive. Since the skytrain now extends over the river you can catch a cab from the hotel to Krung Thon Buri and hop on the train from there.

I'll be back in November and this will likely be my last trip as a Marriott Platinum Elite...free club lounge access & breakfast.

Pool does stay open late now..They also keep the little eating place at the pool open late. I think it now closes at 10 pm. Very nice to have a late swim.

the boats come every 15 minutes and you can time your departures around the schedule....i have never waited more than 3 or 4 minutes using their schedule...

I am also a supporter of the R&S. It does indeed have the best pool in BKK. Its more of a resort feel than the other propetites mentioned. As this is your DH's first visit stay in BKK you should stay on the river and enjoy riding the hotel boat each day to the skytrain. My wife loves this part especially.

Thank you all for the replies! They are very helpful.
It looks like R&S is very much preferred here
And it's good to know that the pool now opens until 10 pm.
I will pass these info along to DH and let him decide.
Thanks again!

i would check that pool time....i am not sure that is right...