I will be in Bangkok for a days in November. I am looking at either the Marriott Resort and Spa, or the JW Marriott. Any positives or negatives on either one?

Thanks.

Hi, kaley, I can tell you are new here by your question. Welcome to the Fodor's Asia board. I chuckled at your question because of the regular posters here, Bob (rhkkmk) loves the Marriott Resort anad Spa and recommends it to everyone. If you do a search on Marriott Resort and Spa (and if the search function is working), you'll probably find a thousand posts from Bob about the Marriott Resort and Spa.

I always recommend that people stay by the river, and the Marriott resort and spa is on the river.

i like them both and have stayed many times in each... they are totally different hotels however...lets take the jw first..

it is a big city lux hotel, right in the heart of things and about 1-2 minutes from the nana skytrain stop...its look, while thai in some respects, is more international...its rooms are unusual in that they are often odd shapes---pleasing shapes...they are quite thai in feeling with plenty of silk....the baths are fantastic...the pool is all one level deep and not all that big and on the 4th floor---very adequate but not a place to laze around...there is a fantastic spa and gym... jw's restaurants are quite nice and they have one of the best, if not the best, steak houses in town...also good chinese and thai...the bar on the first floor has a 3 floor high ceiling and huge windowns looking out on the street...very pleasant place with live soothing music in the evening...it is a high rise building...
the area around the hotel is sukhumvit...soi 4 sukhumvit is right next door with all its sleeze and western men with asian women....there are fabulous restuarants within the 10 block area....this is the hotel if you want to be in town in the mix...it is a conjested and noisy area with tons of fumes...its the city!!

my favorite hotel in bkk overall is the marriott resort on the river...i have referred many fodorites there and i can not think of one who was disappointed....i will stay there for 18 nites in oct/nov/dec this fall....it has the best pool/garden area of any hotel in bkk...a necessity for us...the pool is large and there are plenty of sunny and shady areas with tons of lounges, plus a good restaurant and pool bar....they have a free river boat that whisks you to the taskim skytrain stop, all day every 15 minutes (12 minute ride)...we love this ride...

the hotel is low rise---5 floors max...three buildings surround the pool garden area with the river forming the 4th side...there are tennis courts too...there is a mini mall attached with many services: mcdonalds, other restaurants, jewelry, drug store, bank, tailors, laundry etc....we find it very handy...
we consider the hotel an oasis amongst chaos, otherwise known as bkk...

pricewise it is less than the jw and probably the least expensive of the lux hotels on the river...
the rooms are very thai...lots of silk...the bathrooms are a tad old, but very serviceable (marble and tile with a huge tub/shower combo in the std. rooms...the floors are recently all redone with hard woods...there are many restaurants to choose from....the breakfast is fantastic..
for FF's, unfortunately the hotel has just been raised to a level 5 from 4, so it takes more points for free stays but it is still a bargain...

the staff is particularily nice here...at the jw you seem to have very little interface with the staff...not so at MR&S...
there is easy taxi access to the hotel even though you have to go over one of two fairly busy bridges to get to it...

if this is your first stay in bkk, most of us suggest river locations...it puts a whole different spin on bkk..

you would not be disappointed with either honestly, but we prefer the riverside location!!

kathie---1001

Bob -- I stand corrected. LOL

i just noticed on one of the discount sites that the jw marriott will undergo a "refurbisment" this summer that will hopefully be completed by oct 31, 2006....a good time to avoid the place during the summer, imo....very nice when they are finsihed however!!

thais never complete much on time so early nov might be a problem???

I only visited hotel for a drink before going to Monet Sarto tailors. The lobby was quiete imprressive and bell staff very accomodating. But if the price is within $20/night of the Peninsula, a Grand Deluxe Room (upper floor) there is a good deal more elegant, Not fancy but ubderstated elegance.

in november you will find the price more than $20 in difference between the two...

for oct 29 to nov 1, i found the penn and the marriott resort to be $50 different in price, and that is low season rates still

Bob- I think you will find that all the deluxe hotels do their renovations during the summer since it is low season. And the best of the hotels have an ongoing renovation schedule. If they don't, I'd worry.

We took Bobs advice when we went last year and our stay at the resort and spa was wonderful! We are returning there this dec and will get to meet up with Bob at his home away from home!
We also felt like it was a small oasis for us, the pool area was awesome, it really did feel like the chaos of bkk was gone when you slipped into the pool!

Hi everyone,
My husband and I going to Bangkok for the first time in December and have been reading what people have written on this site. Like Kaley1kt, I am relatively new to this board. I am a little confused of the location of the Marriott Resort & Spa. Is the shuttle boat service the only means to get to the nearest Skytrain? Won't this be a bit of inconvenience and hassle after a while (waiting for the boat service, getting on the boat, getting off the boat, walking, taking the skytrain to your destination, etc.). We will only be in Bangkok for 3 days and want to be able to quickly get back to the hotel if need be during the day for a quick change of clothes, nap, etc. Will the Marriott still be appropriate for us? BTW, has anyone stayed at the Sofitel Silom? We are also thinking of staying here since it will avoid the boat shuttle hassle. Any advice would be really appreciated. Thanks.

Spend a few extra bucks if you can and stay at The Oriental. One of the world's best hotels at less than $300/night. We loved it!

I got the Oriental for less than $200. a night in 2005. Happy Travels!