Which Hotel?
 

Although my husband and I have been to Thailand before, this will be our first with a 20 mth old. Flying out of BKK on 1/1/05 on a very early flight back to the U.S. For convenience sake, we thought of checking in at the Amari Airport the night of 31st but the rate is about $200+. Have found better rates at other 5 star hotels in the city. Question is, should we suck it up & stay at the Amari (we don't think it's much of a value at 200+/night) or stay in the city and we'll just have to get up earlier and hope that there's no traffic. Are we really saving that much time by staying at the Amari? Any comments would be greatly appreciated!

The last time I was in Bangkok I got from the Oriental to the airport in less than 30 minutes early in the morning. $200 for the Amari is absurd -- stay in the city and get up a bit earlier. If you leave your hotel before 7 in the morning you should get there very fast.

Gloria

Gloria

Just realized that the night you are talking about is New Year's Eve. Double check because many of the 5 star hotels require that you go to (and pay for) their New Year's Eve dinner.

However, since Jan 1 is a national holiday, you should have NO problem with traffic getting to the airport.

Gloria

If you stay downtown new years Eve it would be exciting but you will find huge surcharges and compulsort dinner, also it could be quite a hassle finding a taxi driver awake early on the first who is interested in working !! Trust me, new year is a big thing. A good balance would be Rama Gardens Hotel which is basically an Airport hotel 3-star, perfectly ok, I certainlt would not spend the huge amount ofr the Amari, the Rama Gardens is a fine hotel and even if they have a gala new year Dinner I doubt it will be as expensive as downtown and you will no doubt enjoy it. Try www.bangkok-online-hotel-reservations.8m.com
They certainly will have Rama Gardens and you won't be disappointed and the saving is substantial over the Rama Gardens. They have terminal shuttles but I believe they don't start until about 8 am but you certainly won't be the only ones heading early to the terminals so transport won't be a problem, they will want your outbound flight details and when you check in just remind them of your flight times.
IF however you are already booked into a Central BKK hotel I wouldn't change hotels for the sake of it.

If I'm already in Bangkok, I always stay at my in-city hotel and take an early hotel car to the airport. It doesn't take long at the early hour. (and on New Year's Day, I'd recommend a hotel car rather than a taxi. A bit more $$, but at least you know they'll show up!)

I've stayed at the Amari (which I really dislike) and at the Rama Gardens when I'm flying from somewhere else late in the day and have an early morning departure. Stay in the new wing at the Rama Gardens, the rooms are huge and lovely. My rates there have always included transport. The hotel took me to the airport for a 7 am flight last time I was there. I booked at www.asiahotels.com for about US$75 including tax, service, breakfast and airport transportation.

Anothes option is the Erawan Airport Hotel which is about $35 a night or Quality Suites about $45

Thanks for the advice guys. I'm going to check out Rama Gardens. Keep them coming if you have more ideas.

The reviews of the Rama Gardens on this site have been mixed, including hassles with transport to the airport. $200 should get you a room on the Club Level at the Amari, where you will be well taken care of. The reviews on this site of the less expensive regular rooms at the Amari have also been mixed. We have only stayed on the Club Level and have always been completely satisfied. If you are getting up REALLY early for your flight, you might appreciate the extra 20 minutes of sleep you will get by staying at the Amari. You may also sleep better knowing you don't have to worry about transport and can walk to the airport after a very quick and efficient separate checkout offered to those stay on the Club Level. On the Club Level, room service breakfast is included and will be brought to you whenever you want it.

if you could get a good rate in town and preferably at the airport side of town or near the expressway, then i'd go with that...it should make no difference with a child...a taxi is a taxi...in either case...

i found the beds rock hard at rama gardens last month in the new wing...the room was huge however...

Thanks for all of your responses. We found a rate of $159 at the Four Seasons (no N.Year's Eve dinner required). A bit far but after pondering our options, we decided that sleep is over-rated (especially on New Year's Eve) and since we'll have to get up at 3 (our flight leaves at 6 A.M.), we might as well skip it altogether. Ought to be interesting with a 20 mth old. Thank God the grandparents will be there to help. Wish us luck!!

The Four Seasons is wonderful. That's where I stay. Happy Travels!

The fireworks at the riverside hotels on New Year's Eve are not to be missed. Try to stay where you can see them.