Bangkok (Lonely Planet) - Andrew Burke [168]
LE MERIDIEN BANGKOK
Map Hotel $$$
0 2232 8888; www.lemeridien.com/bangkoksurawong; 40/5 Th Surawong; r from 6500B; Sam Yan exit 1; Sala Daeng exit 1;
For decades the thought of being right on the doorstep of sleazy Patpong scared high-end hotel chains away from this part of Bangkok. But Starwood Hotels obviously isn’t concerned and this ultra-designed, 24-storey glass tower is the result. The look is modern Asian, with bamboo, dark timber and earthy colours delivered in clean lines in the 282 rooms and edgy restaurants. Floor-to-ceiling windows ensure uninterrupted views of the Patpong action and make the rooms seem bigger than they are. Service is excellent. All up, a welcome addition to Bangkok’s top tier. Wi-fi is 650B a day; online deals from 5200B.
* * *
BOOKING ONLINE: JUST DO IT
‘You know,’ said the woman as she glanced conspiratorially around the reception of one of Bangkok’s top hotels, ‘if you book online the rates are much cheaper…about 30% usually.’ We have been offered similar surprisingly honest advice several times while researching Bangkok hotels, with the general message being that for midrange and top-end hotels booking ahead gets you discounts you can’t even contemplate when you walk in…even during the January peak season.
It doesn’t square with the years you may have spent haggling at hotel reception desks, but some hotels offer similar large discounts for phone bookings. In theory, you can call from the guest phone in the lobby, reserve a room at the discount rate, have a drink in the bar and check in 15 minutes later having saved 30%. Even around Th Khao San, that bastion of the backpacker, advance bookings can result in savings, though the cheapest places might still engage in a bit of old-style, person-to-person haggling.
Of course, online booking also has its dangers…read LP author Karla Zimmerman’s account of her unwitting encounter with bratwursts and neon bikinis in the boxed text, Click here. For independent reviews rather than endless superlatives, Lonely Planet’s Hotels & Hostels (www.lonelyplanet.com) features thorough reviews from authors plus traveller feedback, and a booking facility. For an idea of the sort of discounts you’re looking at, independent website Travelfish (www.travelfish.org) has a handy list of hotel names and their current online price in its Bangkok pages.
* * *
DUSIT THANI
Map Hotel $$$
0 2200 9000; www.dusit.com; 946 Th Phra Ram IV, cnr Th Silom; r from 6500B; Si Lom exit 2; Sala Daeng exit 4;
The Dusit Thani defined Bangkok glamour in the 1970s when it reigned as the city’s tallest skyscraper. From the outside its distinctively ’60s look remains, with balconies off every room and a triangular layout. But rather than embracing this with a thoughtful retrovation, the Dusit’s attempts at modernisation have left it with an identity crisis. Despite this, the Dusit remains a favourite among Thais and fà·ràng (Westerners) alike, and there is a palpable buzz of excitement as Thais in their finest arrive and depart for wedding banquets or conferences. It also boasts one of Bangkok’s best restaurants (and killer views) in D’Sens. Wi-fi is free only in public areas; rooms sell online from about 4800B.
TRIPLE TWO SILOM
Map Boutique Hotel $$
0 2627 2222; www.tripletwosilom.com; 222 Th Silom; r/ste 6000/7000B; Chong Nonsi exit 2;
How do you take a bland Bangkok shopping mall and turn it into a classy boutique hotel? The answer lies in this four-storey, 75-room hotel in the middle of stylish Th Silom. The 2004 makeover delivered a lot of white marble, dark wood and old-timey photographs, which come together in a pleasing pan-Asian mode. Rooms are large and kitted out with a satisfying amount of comforts and gadgetry, including DVD player and both wi-fi and ADSL internet at the large desk. Guests can use the roof garden, but will have to go next door to the sister Narai Hotel for the swimming pool and fitness centre. Online from 3800B.
THE