Thanks for all of your help thus far. My trip planning is coming along splendidly. We are leaving for our upcoming honeymoon and are not sure which hotel to stay in for the Bangkok portion of our trip. We have always stayed at the Marriott Resort and love it, but sort of feel like we would like to experience something different this time.

We are looking for something nice, but not stuffy, and are in need of decent hotel restaurants, as we don't always venture that far out due to dietary needs. We love to have a good breakfast and like to have comfortable areas in the hotel to lounge around in. We have limited time, and probably won't be at the pool while in the city.

So far we have narrowed it down to the Sheraton Grande Sukhumvit, the Peninsula and the Shangri-la.

Any comments are welcomed and appreciated. (including recommendations for other hotels)

The Peninsula and Shangrila is also by the river so I believe it would be the same experience as the Marriot Resort.
Try the Sheraton Grande. It's pretty central, and there is skytrain access nearby so it will be easy to get around. A lot of good shopping around it too like Central, Siam Paragon, Gaysorn and MBK

Last year, we stayed at the Conrad because we could stay free with points. While it was fine, it was not excellent, and all 3 of us (husband, daughter and me) all felt the same way...it wasn't the Peninsula, and it wasn't as nice eating breakfast indoors and not on the river.

So, I'd say the Peninsula or the Shangri-la or the Oriental. For the Peninsula, if you book through a Virtuoso agent, the rates are much better than any I've seen directly or through online booking sites. For an idea of rates, look at www.whatahotel.com - but be aware that they charge you $35.00 per trip for bookings, and there are other Virtuoso agents that do not charge a fee for booking for you.

The Shangri-la has some very good package rates both on their website and directly through the hotel...if you e-mail them they will advise you about them. It is, howeve, a huge hotel, much bigger than the Peninsula and Oriental.

The Oriental has a lovely atmosphere I think, and they have very good rates directly if you e-mail them. Seasonal Choices seems to be the best rate, but all room choices are for some reason not included in their website booking engine, so if you e-mail them you get more choice. They respond very quickly. You can see pictures of the room types on their website.

I haven't found anywhere in BKK stuffy, so I don't think you have to worry about that. I know that the 3 riverside hotels I mentioned all have very nice restaurant options. We've spent many afternoons lounging by the Peninsula pool in a sala, had lunch and drinks there, very nice.

i would stay at any of the 3 you mention...i am partial to the peninsula....the conrad which has been suggested is the newest of the bunch and probably has the most up to date gadgets and luxuaries....they have fantastic restaurants and are near to many other restaurants...

sh-la would be my least choice but i do like it too and the skytrain is right next door

I believe that being on the river is so nice, I'd always choose a river hotel. In addition to the ones you've mentioned, you might want to make the choice more difficult by adding in the Oriental (as Kim suggests) and the new Hilton Millenium. Really, you won't go wrong with any of the river hotels.

By all accounts the Sheraton Grande Sukhumvit is very nice. But for me, it's downtown location makes it "just another nice hotel in a major Asian city" as opposed to a Bangkok hotel... for me, being on the river means it's Bangkok.

Have you considered going for something truly unique, like Chakrabongse Villa? True, they don't have a lot of dining options, but the chef there will make whatever you want.

We have stayed at the Penn in 2003 and 2006 and both times it was a "class act" but NOT stuffy. The Oriental ia classy as well but is in a busy area so we stay in a Deluxe Room on a high floor. Nine months ago we paid $230/night with breakfast.

Thank you fantastic fodorites!!!

So far it looks like the peninsula is in the lead. Thank you for all of your suggestions regarding rates. We are checking out all of the websites mentioned. So far my research seems to indicate that the virtuoso or amex rates are the best (thanks for the tip KimJapan), but if anyone else has suggestions let me know.

Yes I can agree with piromya. Old Bangkok Inn is a well kept secret!!! Wonderful hotel with a real Thai feel about it. Surprised that it doesn't show on this board more often,
Could be just what you are looking for.

I prefer the Pen and have stayed there about 6 times - not stuffy but beautiful and friendly. I also have dietary problems and they are very very good to me. I emailed them before my first stay and they were great. We are now good friends with the manager of the riverside restaurant and he will ring other restaurants (outside the hotel) for me if I am worried about getting things I can't eat.

Can't say enough good things about that place. This year we stayed in an apartment but when we got on the river boat to cross over to see our friend, the boat staff greeted us like old friends as did the staff as we made our way through the hotel.

Thanks so much Mary. It looks like we are going to go with the Pen. We have really appreciated all the advice, but this hotel seems to get the most positive feedback.

Your advice with regards to dietary needs has been very beneficial as this is largely how I choose the hotels that we stay at.

Thanks again!

you will not be unhappy with the penn...enjoy....try the dim sum in the chinese restaurant