I'll be in Bangkok for five days in May and am trying to decide between the Marriott Resort and the Royal Orchid. The Marriott looks perfect, but it is rather far out. I want to do more wandering and shopping than Royal Palace, etc.<BR><BR>Does anyone have an opinion on the pros/cons of these two hotel locations?<BR><BR>Thanks!

Why not stay in both, that's what we are doing! 2 nights in Royal Orchid, then we are going up to the Golden Triangle and when we come back, we are staying at the Marriott Resort and Spa. If you decide on the Marriott, I booked it with priceline for $47 per night!

OUR ABSOLUTE FAVORITE BKK HOTEL IS THE MARRIOTT RESORT AND SPA...having said that i do not think you will find it too far out, although there is not much in its neighborhood to do....their shuttle bost is very convenient taking you up river to the sky train every 15 minutes, all day and into the evening--9 or 10 PM...it takes about 10-15 minutes depending on the current at the moment...the other shuttle goes to river city shopping/sheraton orchid pier and takes about 25 minutes and now only goes hourly---used to go more often...<BR>the hotel has simply the best pool area in bangkok!!!!! and you need it with the heat...the restaurants are great and the services in the attached mini-mall are also great---try the thai restaurant on the lower level with the green awnings...very cheap and excellent...also monet II tailors on the upper level is excellent....mcdonalds and burger king in this mall, plus american ice cream and pizza...cheap laundry on second floor of mall next to monet is reasonalbe (same laundry as in hotel at a fraction of the cost)..<BR><BR>sheraton in my opinion is just another convention hotel, albeit a nice one....i know it gets rave reviews here, but i don't see it...for luxuary i'd much rather stay at the penninsula across the river...<BR><BR>give the marriott the bulk of you time, you won't be disappointed....

Hi LouiseUK -- how did it work with Priceline? Do you just take your chances that the Marriott will take your bid and none of the other riverside hotels will? I'm curious how you got the Marriott and not another hotel. Thanks!

sgotshalk<BR><BR>If you take a look at the asia section of biddingfortravel.com and then look at the hotel list, it tells you that the Bangkok Marriott Resort and Spa is the only 4 star hotel in the Riverside Silom area. Therefore if you bid in this area, you will get the Marriott! Of course, nothing is guaranteed but no-one has been booked into anywhere else. I tried to get it less than $47 but couldn't. I'm more than happy with that though, especially having read the reviews! Good luck!

LouiseUK<BR><BR>Thank you so much for your help! I'm really looking forward to it.<BR>Have a great trip!

you have a steal...i thought i was getting a fabulous rate at $65/nite no breakfast two years ago and i had to stay 14 days to get that...that was through marriott.com with an aarp rate (no longer available)....

Us Brits like to get value for money you know!! First time I used priceline was to go to Fort Lauderdale in December last year when we stayed at a Hilton there for $33 pn. It was brilliant value for money so priceline is my first port of call now, only trouble is there is a limited selection of accommodation - but beggars can't be choosers!!

i must be confused, i thought most brits were just cheap!!! just joking...<BR><BR>do you find that you get a decent room with their pricing or do you find that they put you in the parking lot view room next to the noisy elevator??

We had a nice room with balcony overlooking the pool when we used priceline last time. The rooms opposite us had rather a fetching view of the car park (I sneaked a peak when they were being cleaned!), so we were very pleased! We will be in Bangkok in 4 weeks today(!) so we shall see what sort of room we get this time!<BR><BR>Regards,<BR>Louise (who is no way cheap!) otherwise it would be a Super8!!

those are the good rooms, the ones facing the pool and the river....you are very lucky....<BR>have i given you my restaurants from this last trip: the thai restaurant with the green awnings in the marriott mall, first floor; harmonique--soi 34, new road--the soi is just to the left of the general post office on new road, half way between the sheraton and shangra-la; biscotti in the regent hotel; senor pico in the rembrandt hotel and the indian restaurant on the top floor, soi 18, sukumvit rd; crepes and co and cabbages and condoms, side by side on soi 12, sukumvit rd; gourmet gallery, off soi 39, sukumvit road; senses in gaysorn plaza shopping center, 2nd floor...??

Yes, you have given me your restaurant recommendations, a couple of them are definites on my list!! Also, do I recall that you recommended JT Silks in River City is it Monet II? I want to get a cream trouser suit made to wear to a wedding! Plus a few other things no doubt!

it is js thai silk on the ground floor in river city and monet II on the second floor of the marriott resort mall

Just for the record, I just bid on a 4* River hotel on Priceline and got the Royal Orchid, NOT the Marriott. This is fine with me, but a warning that it is not a slam dunk to get the Marriott anymore. See my post on biddingfortravel.com under Asia hotels.

Mstraveler

They must have just added the Royal Orchid then. We have just returned from Bangkok and stayed in both the Marriott Resort and the Royal Orchid. Personally much preferred the Marriott but I would still be happy to stay at the Royal Orchid again, especially at priceline rates! The Royal Orchid is supposed to be better than the Marriott anyway I think, if you read the reviews and guide books that is!

Just off to read your report on biddingfortravel now.

Louise, I was attracted to the Marriott as well, but think the Royal Orchid will be a fine alternative. Just being closer in to town will save a lot of time. Did you stay in a regular room or the Towers? I am going to try to upgrade, as a Starwood Preferred Guest, but we are also interested in getting ajoining rooms. I would love to know why Priceline has this hotel now when it has not in the past, just out of curiosity, but that sort of info is hard to come by.

I always stay in the Towers at the Royal Orchid. The upgrade is well worth it. You get full breakfast, drinks and hors d'ouvres in the evening, free laundry and personalized service. It's hard to beat the location as well. You're right next door to the River City shopping Center, which has the best selection of arts and antiques in the city. You're also close to one of my favorite places to eat - Harmonique. Do eat at the Thai place in the Royal Orchid as well. The setting - looking out on the river from the elegant dining room - is beautiful and the food is excellent.

Mstraveler

At the Royal Orchid, we got a free room upgrade from standard to superior. When we checked it, I asked for a 'nice' room as it was my partner's birthday that day and mine the next day - they checked our passports and said they would upgrade us!! We only stayed there two nights, so didn't think we would use enough of the Towers facilities to make it worth our while. However, if staying longer, I think we definitely would.

The only two niggles I had with the Sheraton were there was no balcony, and there was no complimentary shuttle boat to Taksin pier to catch the skytrain.

However, if I was paying $47 per night via Priceline, I wouldn't be complaining!