"Different" Bangkok Accommodation
 

Here's an interesting, unique option in Bangkok:

http://www.prayapalazzo.com/index.html

Interesting property. I love old historic properties. But the location seems inconvenient... "wrong" side of the river, access "primarily by barges."

It's inconvenient location may add to its appeal.

Yes, it is interesting, but is it just the camera or are those rooms really small? I mean -- like closet sized small?

This looks interesting. I don’t think “access by boat” would be any worse there than it is at the Penn, where you basically use the shuttle to get across the river to do anything other than arrive by car at the hotel. There isn’t much around the Penn on that side of the river either. The Marriott Riverside is somewhat similar, they have their mall, but not a whole lot going on down there and a longish taxi ride to anywhere including the nearest subway station. The boat is what I use most when staying there.

Rooms do seem small. The Superior Rooms and some of the Deluxe Rooms at 22 and 24 square meters would be <i>really</i> small, IMO they would not work for two people. Yes almost like a closet I would say. (Even the “smallest” room at the Peninsula, for example, is 43 square meters.) The river view deluxe at 31 square meters would be OK for two people. Even the suites which are between 35-40 square meters are not really generous, esp for a 2-room suite.

The dining room page seems to leave off in the middle of a sentence. Seems odd. Some of the other pages are “coming soon” like rates, which again seems odd.

On tripadvisor, a poster there has indicated that the rates are as below. There are no reviews of the hotel itself that I could find:

Superior Room THB 8,000
Deluxe Room THB 11,000
Suite Room THB 15,000
Chao Praya Suite Room THB 25,000

Rates are inclusive of service charges and tax. You also get breakfast

I would not call it cheap, esp as you probably don’t want that tiny Superior Room at US$260 a night. The Penn offers a room size comparable to the Chao Praya Suite (which I think is called the Honeymoon Suite on the hotel’s website) at 13,000 Baht. While that does not include taxes or breakfast, is quite a bit cheaper for the same room size or better, as the suite breaks that space up into 2 rooms, which could both end up feeling small. (The bedroom in that suite looks quite small to me in the photo.)

May not be great for first-timers who want to do a lot of sightseeing, but for people who have been to and know Bangkok and want a slower pace, it may be worth a look. Maybe one of our Bangkok resident posters can check it out and post thoughts.

The rack rates are listed on the website, ranging from 6500 baht for the superior room to 14,000 baht for the honeymoon suite. Those prices include breakfast, but not tax and service (17.7%). I notice the price for the suite is significantly different from the rates you found on Trip Advisor, Cicerone. That price would make it comparable to the price of the Pen suite.

The location is much less convenient than the Pen, or the Marriott (which is too far away for me). It is by the Rama 8 bridge, past the Royal Barge Museum. The pier they take you to from the hotel is the Pra-Arthit Pier, where you can catch a water taxi, but the ride to the skytrain would be at least 30 minutes, but could be more depending on the number of stops the particular boat makes. I don't know whether express boats stop at that pier. In contrast, the Pen and the Marriott both have boats that take you directly to the pier below the skytrain.

When I get around to Bangkok, right now I'm just exploring the sea coast, very beautiful.

If "downtown" is your ground zero, then it might be considered inconvenient. But, being across from Phra Arthit puts is across from Banglampu. This area has always been popular with many travelers, not just for budget accommodations, but for easy access to cultural sights.

way too expensive for rooms the size of a holiday inn....

the rooms look lovely and the public areas are really nice...

at those prices i'd do the penn, oriental or even a lux suite at ROS in a towers suite

I think the concept is more "boutique", than spa or resort.

I'm really pushing the place. I just think it is a very interesting property.

Know of any good restaurants?

Curt, I assume you meant to say (above) that you aren't really pushing the place. But understand, any new place in Bangkok (restaurant or hotel) that get mentioned here will be debated by the Bangkok regulars.

The rooms are tiny - I'd have to have the honeymoon suite.

and i'd have to get a loan for it....

we do love to see new places and often like to try them, but there are comparisons to be made before doing so

Correct.

I found it quite interesting. I would look at it more like a B&B, accommodations that aren't always the most spacious.

Personally, I look on accommodations as a place to sleep and shower. I never use the pool, only hit breakfast buffets occasionally and never visit the lounge. If it clean, quiet and comfy, I'm a happy camper.

Well, here are some comparisons;

the cheapest [and only] rate I can find ia 4,600 baht ++ for a tiny 22 sq.metre room. [Average room sizes are 36 sq.m.]

Go here with this figure in mind:
www.latestays.com

You will note that, at this time, the rate for this place puts it somewhere amongst the most expensive properties in Bangkok.

There are no reviews anywhere to be found. There is only one booking site that I've found with rates. There is no road in or out.

I found this:
http://www.bangkokpost.com/231108_Br...08_brun010.php