Bangkok (Lonely Planet) - Andrew Burke [174]
NAPA PLACE BED & BREAKFAST
Map Hotel $$
0 2661 5525; www.napaplace.com; 11/3 Yaek 2, Soi 36, Th Sukhumvit; d 2750-4800B; Thong Lo exit 2;
Tucked away in a quiet soi off Soi 36 and seven minutes’ walk to Thong Lo Skytrain, Napa offers a genuinely homey B&B atmosphere. It appeals especially to families because the rooms are huge (36 to 67 sq metres), there is plenty of communal space and solid security, and cable broadband and buffet breakfasts are included in the price. In short, it’s superb value.
72 EKAMAI
Map Hotel $$
0 2714 7327; www.72ekamai.com; 72 Soi 63 (Soi Ekamai), Th Sukhumvit; r from 2750B; Ekkamai exit 1;
The Ekamai neighbourhood off Sukhumvit’s Soi 63 (Soi Ekamai) is a magnet for young hipsters, so it’s no surprise that a stylish, sophisticated, retro-sleek hotel has opened here. The lobby sets the tone with a glowing red counter and ’60s-era TV set. Next door a shop sells old vinyl, juke boxes and other pop culture paraphernalia. The rooms maintain the theme with, for example, Fab Four walking dolls striding along a shelf. What is surprising, however, is how big the studios and one-bedroom suites are – from 30 to 62 sq metres. Modern luxuries include flatscreen TVs and free wi-fi standard. Outside a pool is accompanied by a bar-restaurant serving Thai and Italian food, and live music Monday to Saturday. All up, a top choice that’s even better with regular online discounts.
THE FUSION SUITES
Map Boutique Hotel $$
0 2665 2644; www.fusionbangkok.com; 143/61-62 Soi 21, Th Sukhumvit; d 2600-4600B; Sukhumvit exit 1; Asok exit 1;
Fusion is the word! It’s hard to classify exactly what’s going on in this seven-storey, 35-room boutique hotel around the corner from busy Soi Asok. Dark rooms with polished concrete floors are embellished with Persian carpets, Indian wooden furniture, parlour-room buttoned leather couches, Buddhist iconography and a head-spinning array of high-tech gadgetry – think iPod docks, multimedia control panel, free wi-fi, DVD player and big flatscreen TV. It sounds dizzying, but somehow seems to work. Aside from the risk of sensory overload (throw in the flavours of India in the lobby restaurant), the one small downside is that only the standard and deluxe rooms have windows; deluxe rooms are the pick. Note that the motorbike in the foyer is claimed to be from a James Bond film, though (try as we did) we couldn’t confirm this.
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MIDRANGE MANIA
Bangkok’s noughties building boom has seen Th Sukhumvit become a forest of good-value, wannabe-boutique hotels. Most are located near the office towers of Soi Asoke (aka Soi 21), and most have embraced the global Zen style so popular in this range – think faux-wooden floors in smallish rooms, white linens, hanging silks, arty prints, compact bathrooms with rain showers, flatscreen TVs and subtle, earthy colours; all very pleasing if not desperately original. Competition is fierce, and fantastic deals are often available online. Following is a list of those we liked. Note that ‘standard’ rooms in these hotels are often ‘cosy’ (aka tiny) windowless gap-fillers. Aside from Bangkok Boutique and Citichic, the others all opened in 2009.
Bangkok Boutique Hotel (Map; 0 2261 2850; www.bangkokboutiquehotel.com; 241 Soi Asoke, Th Sukhumvit; r from 3000B; Phetchaburi exit 2; ) At the north end of noisy Soi Asoke, BB combines a minimalist, polished-concrete mode with high-tech gadgetry (free wi-fi and wireless keyboards to use with the paddock-sized flatscreen). Superior rooms are best; ask for one away from the street.
Citichic (Map; 0 2342 3888; www.citichichotel.com; 34 Soi 13, Th Sukhumvit; r from 2300B; Sukhumvit exit 1; Nana exit 3; ) Everything (except the