Is this a good value spa or too expensive compared to other BKK spas such as Face?

Any opinions on the hotel restaurants, Basil, Orchid Cafe, Riva's?

I got a reservation thru priceline for Mar. 1-4 for $100/night.

Is the hotel within walking distance to Skytrain station?

If you pull up my thread entitled,"Siam Ocean World", I have my recent three-week to Bangkok trip report there and I talk about Basil restaurant in full...including their cooking course with the chef. Happy Travels!

the sky train station is right in front of the hotel...$100 is a good buy and the hotel if fabulous....restaurants get good ratings especially basil....the sois around the hotel contain tons of good restaurants as well....if you would like my bkk rest. listing let me know:

[email protected]

there are several listed in that area...

crepes and co
senor pico
cabbages and condoms
bed supperclub
to name a couple

typo....hotel is fabulous

The spa there will be at least double the prices at Face, for instance. There is something to be said for having spa treatments at your hotel, where you only have to push an elevator button to get back to your rooms. I've not tried the spa at that hotel, so I can't give specific feedback about it. I have used the spa at the Sheraton Royal Orchid and have had wonderful treatements there, again at twice the price of Face.

Ther are lots of free-standng spas in Bangkok. At the Sukhumvit location, there are likely plenty nearby. If you try another spa, please do give us feedback on it!

I enjoyed the spa at the Sheraton GS; it's a pleasant and comfortable space, the staff were friendly, and the masseuse was particularly good. I also had a massage at Face, and the setting (in a teak roundhouse) was much more interesting and exotic than the SGS spa.

I found the Sheraton itself to be ok, but a notch or two below the Hyatt or InterContinental, both of which are similarly-priced hotels on Sukhumvit. Specifically, I found the SGS to be not as well=staffed, and their restaurants to be not nearly as good. Riva's was empty any time I passed by, except for one late afternoon when there was a private party going on. The buffet in the lobby-level restaurant was quite nice though, every bit as good as (or maybe better than) the buffet at the IC.

I wanted to thank all of you Expert Fodorites in helping me plan my 2 week trip to BKK & REP.

I tried this forum for the first time after booking my flight to BKK and it has been SOOO helpful that I don't think I would have done w/o all of your advise and tips!!

I could anticipate this is going to be a great and different experience. I'm a week away from departure (Feb. 21) and I'm already very anxious to be there.

I will tell you about my experiences after my return.

Happy travels to all!!

Versus-could you please recount your bidding process on Priceline? Things like star rating, areas included, first bids and accepted bid. Thanks.

andy---read the rules in the biddingfortravel website and you will then understand how it works...

You've picked a winning location. The skytrain is right at the hotel...couldn't get any closer. And only one station away...1 minute 20 seconds... is the Prom Phong skytrain station where the Emporium shopping mall is which has a food court/restaurants/movie theater/Jim Thompson/ and lots of stores...check out the Propoganda store/Kinokuniya books...pick up a copy of the magazine Bangkok 101(only 100 baht)/Boots pharmacy if you need anything from there/ a big gourmet supermarket on the top level/ and the internet cafe,in the middle of the mall, on the third level directly across from Kinokuniya books....and only 40 baht for 30 minutes. Use the internet there instead of at your hotel which will be about 7 times more expensive. And if you need a bank, the Bangkok Bank is attached to the Emporium Mall building. When you exit the skytrain...go to your right...in the direction of the mall...but DON'T take the ramp leading into the mall, but go down the stairs to your RIGHT which will bring you to the street level. Then walk straight and curve to your left around the outside of the mall and Bangkok Bank will be right there. There's an exchange area and ATM machines. Have fun! Happy Travels!

Versus-please ignore Bob's (RhkKmk's) input. I'm well aware of how priceline works, I've bid many times successfully for hotels, etc. I'm interested in your (versus) specific experience in this bidding process. Some of us (not Bob) learn from the anecdotal evidence provided by others.

Versus-
I'd like to hear about your bidding experience too. How long ago did you win this hotel?
I've been checking the biddingfortravel page every day to see what's coming up lately and all that's been posted on Sukhumvit has been the JW Marriott. I know there are no guarentees with priceline, but I'd much prefer the Sheraton or even the W because I'm a Starwood preferred guest.
Thanks!

Gpanda, this was actually my first priceline experience and I must confess I didn't read or visited any of the websites that educate consumers on how the bidding process is done. I just followed my instinct.

After doing a LOT of research on BKK areas and hotels, I knew most, if not all, of the 5-star hotels in the Sukhumvit area and their discounted as well as real room rates.

So I went to priceline on Friday and placed a $90/room/night bid for this area for the hotel category I mentioned before. Soon after, my bid was not accepted. I received an email saying that I could change one or two items in my bid for a better chance, but I didn't want to.

This morning when I was checking my emails, I had an email from priceline that said that since 3 days had passed since my original bidding, I could try again and so I did, but this time I bid for $100 ($10 more than the original bid) and to my luck, it was accepted right away.

The total for 3 nights came up to $363 and change. I checked on asiarooms and the rate was $191 (including all fees) and at the hotel's website $170 (exclusive of fees), so the savings are significant.

As you can see, this was not probably a "smart" bidding but definetely a lucky one.

Versus: We'll be at the Sheraton Mar 1-4. Maybe we'll see you there
Aloha!

V-Thanks. Sounds like you did well. If one is impatient, one can re-bid immediately by changing the star level or location.I just booked a last minute hotel in Fort Lauderdale by switching levels and locations. I got a very good deal.

Happy Valentine's Day to all!!

hawaiiantraveler, my name is Susana Verdes, if you have time to meet for a drink or refreshment, feel free to contact me.