Craig

If everything goes according to plan (and there's no guarantee of that), we will arrive BKK from Bhutan at 4:30 PM, which means we'll be coming into the city at rush hour. We would like to eat out that night somewhere really nice (Gaggon?) so it would be great if we could stay at a hotel that is close by. Originally, we were going to stay at the Shangri La but as you can see from a nearby post, access to the Skytrain has become more difficult. On previous visits we have stayed at the Oriental, the Penn, the Intercontinental (executive floor), the Plaza Athenee (executive floor) and the Shangri La (Krungthep wing) so that should give you an idea of what we are looking for. Our flight the next morning leaves at 10:10 AM, which means we will be departing our hotel in time to arrive BKK 2 hours prior. If we have breakfast at all at the hotel, it will be room service supplemented by nibbles at the Thai Airways Royal Silk lounge.

Any suggestions for hotels will be appreciated.

Craig

So our priorities are:
1. Getting to our Bangkok hotel as easily as possible from the airport during rush hour
2. Being in a good location for dinner (perhaps near Gaggon?)
3. Staying in an upscale place, preferably with views and an executive floor (or good room service or both)
4. Getting to the airport easily the next morning

simpsonc510

Centara Grande at the top of the Central World Mall? Very nice, and I think you would really like RED SKY, the outside dining venue on the top floor.

Smeagol

Stay at the four seasons you can walk to Gaggan from there. Or the IC.. I know it will take a while to get into town but let's assume 1 hour you could have 9pm res and then walk back to your hotel, so once there you won't have to contend with the traffic.
Took me 30 minutes from the 4 s at that time in the morning to get back to the airport but if you give 1 hour that should be plenty! Obviously Pook will be able to be more accurate. (also isnt the Siam kempinski close by, that could be your sort of thing) Hansar is also virtually next door to 4S and I believe Filmwill stayed there a few months ago,.
Gaggan for me is worth the hassle of the traffic from the airport!!!!!

crellston

The Conrad is very convenient for the airport and has an excellent exec floor.

simpsonc510

I'm thinking it was at Kempinski where some of us fodorites met with Pook, in the executive lounge. It was really lovely!

Kathie

The Four Seasons is my suggestion as well. Enjoy Gaggan!

Craig

Okay, noting that I haven't ruled out the Conrad which has a fantastic AAA and AARP rate for the executive floor but which according to TA is dated, what are the best rooms at the Four Seasons?

AskOksena

...>>>what are the best rooms at the Four Seasons?<<<


Greetings Craig -- highly subjective to be sure, but I'll always have the fondest memories of the BKK Four Seasons' Cabana lodgings. My first Cabana experience was back in the day when the property was known as The Regent. So special; the few and cherished Cabana stays since that time have been every bit as sweet.

Should the Cabana tariff be a budget buster, will propose a ~ 'deluxe-view room', my primary room category when I stayed at the Four Seasons for work. My corporate rate package included access to the hotel's rather serene lounge. Over time, I became very partial to certain rooms on floors 7-9 with views of the Royal Bangkok Sports Club.

I so loved staying at the FS for work. Great friends, staff and management; late-night massages; great lobby and dining; and one of the finest lap pools in the city. Memorable times at my first 'proper' Bangkok business travel hotel.

Now, having praised the FS to the sky, will give a shameless promo to my current and primary BKK work hotel, the St. Regis. Various business reasons involved with staying at the SR instead of the FS, and no complaints whatsoever. For the past year, the hotel and fine management have been very good to me with a corporate package including a truly appreciated 'Fast Track' limo transfer programme at Suvarnabhumi.

Finally, over the next several weeks, I'll be making some visits to a little Bangkok riverside place called The Siam. Time will tell with that property...

And, should you end up flying ex-BKK in first instead of business, can highly vouch for TG's Royal Orchid spa treatments. (Experienced primarily flying TG F to HKG and NRT.)

Sounds like a fine holiday, Craig. Pity you'll be in BKK only one evening (but you'll be back -- and thanks for your years of supporting the Thai economy and our fine home of Singapore. Now, if I can only lure you into flying SQ J 21/22, EWR-SIN-EWR...)

Warm wishes to you and all,

macintosh (robert)


... Singapore Airlines, You're a Great Way to Fly ...

Hanuman

I haven't read all the reply but here are my suggestions:

Four Seasons
Grand Hyatt Erawan
Renaissance
IC
Siam Kempinski(go via BTS)

I have also started using kiwicollection.com and really like their service. So far every hotels that I've booked with them, using a Visa Platinum card, I've been upgraded 2 or 3 tiers higher up rooms. I've also been given all the promised "perks" that they list on their web site.

Give it a try!

rhkkmk

st regis, conrad, marriott mayfair (very close), plaza anthanee, 4 seasons, I/C, hyatt

Smeagol

The only thing I didn't like about the Renaissance was no outside space, VERY close to Gaggan. In fact Ken walked me back!
I had a pretty basic room and it was lovely, not sure how luxe it goes.

Craig

Hmmm - the Renaissance looks nice and modern with great reviews on TA and (as Nicky says) it is closer to Gaggan than any of the other hotels. We can get a room on the executive floor (good views) for a pretty reasonable price, too. It is not part of the Kiwi Collection, however, which seems to have some nice perks.

With our trip being about 4 months away, we still have some time to decide...

simpsonc510

We stay in Renaissance Hotels quite a bit. They run from OK to excellent. Our fave is in Amsterdam. I keep thinking I'll check out the Ren in BKK, but have not done so yet. I do like the executive lounges at most of the Ren properties I've tried out. Lucerne did not have the lounge, but then, the building is very old. Probably not so easy to create a separate lounge.... Lounges vary a LOT from place to place. Not all of them have free alcohol; most do have good food.

filmwill

I actually didn't stay at the Kempinski this past February, but I did meet Pook there for drinks at the Lounge and that place is magnificent! So much so that I will be staying there in December... and I can't wait!!

Location is king, the place is absolutely gorgeous and the pool is unrivaled--best pool in Bangkok I've seen (I challenge you to find a better one!) Getting there in traffic would be the only downside but as Pook mentioned, it's right on the BTS so if you take the train from the airport (not sure if that's an option with a lot of luggage) it, in theory, could be a very quick journey and potentially quicker than a taxi journey to even a non-congested part of town.

Smeagol

FW - didnt you stay at the Hansar? What was that like?

Smeagol

If you can get a good rate and your primary reason for staying in the area is to go to Gaggan I would say stay at the Rennaissance. I only wouldn't stay there again because there was zero outside space, but for a 1 night trip I would for sure.
Did you see the Oriental residences on KC website, looks VERY nice and I bet that's an easy walk to Gaggan!

mcbeanie

Have you looked at the Okura Prestige Hotel, Ploenchit @ Wireless? We haven't stayed there, but have considered it because of its convenience to shopping and BTS. It appears to be very modern and, I think, a Japanese influence (as the name indicates. We stay at the IC (club floor) in Singapore because of one of your previous reports (and will be there again in November).

Wherever you decide, enjoy!

Sandra

filmwill

Smeags, I did stay at the Hansar and I really enjoyed it. I had a huge suite that was really decked out with all mod-cons, glass and dark woods...very sexy and all for about $180USD/night all-in if I remember correctly.

They tend to have a bunch of last-minute deals too. I booked through Sawadee and they changed the rate at least 3 times (lowered it) from when I booked it (and luckily they kept giving me refunds of the difference...just have to stay on top of it!) I also remember when I saw Lucy in Cambodia I told her about the Hansar (she was looking for a place to stay in BKK for a few nights on her way back) and she did a last-minute search online and paid like 25% less than I did only a week later. She ended up staying there so maybe she can chime in on her experience there too?

Only downsides were two thing: 1) the hallways are "open" so no windows, no A/C...it's very hot and steamy getting from the elevator to your room and not ideal and 2) the breakfast buffet stunk: no real variety, food was bland, etc.

But value for dollar: it was fantastic!