Bangkok Travel Guide
Hotel Technology / W Hotels / Bangkok Hotels / Starwood Hotels / → All Tags
W Bangkok Loves Their Room-Wide Tech, And So Do We
There's no question we were enamored with all of the shiny objects the W Bangkok had to offer us from the moment we stepped foot into gem-toned guest room. The one thing that managed to take us away from the glitz and glam trance was on the bedside table. No, it wasn't the notepad and pen, it was their high-tech wireless tablet that's like a little handheld butler.
The tablet, tempting us with the message, "Do what you want, I'm yours" couldn't get into our hands fast enough. After a few minutes we were trying out all the different settings from the do-not-disturb sign to the climate control and even the preset lighting option; all right from the comfort of our dragon-emblazoned bed.
Hotel High Tea / Mandarin Oriental Hotels / Bangkok Hotels / Luxury Hotels / → All Tags
High Tea At Mandarin Oriental Bangkok’s Author Lounge
As much as we like shiny new hotels and seeking out the latest places to lay our heads when we’re traveling, there is something about hotels that have seen the years come and go, withstood trends rushing in and passing just as quickly, and over time been woven into the very fabric of a city.
That’s why we sought out Mandarin Oriental Bangkok recently, one of the city’s oldest luxe hotels, having had its place on the banks of the Chao Phraya River since 1876 – that’s more than a hundred and thirty years of history. Specifically, we headed to the Author’s Lounge, so named in honor of the various literary greats that have walked through the doors of the hotel (from Somerset Maugham to John Le Carré and Joseph Conrad to Barbara Cartland).
Here, inside its whitewashed walls, sitting on white wicker furniture, and among potted palms and bamboo, is a window to a different time, one of steam trunk travel, genteel afternoons spent at leisure between cricket matches (or so we imagine), and of course – taking high tea.
Hotel Art / Bangkok Hotels / Four Seasons Hotels / Luxury Hotels / Hotel Lobbies / → All Tags
Admire This Jaw-Dropping Art at the Four Seasons Bangkok
After a questionable example earlier this week, we feel the need to cleanse our palate with something a little more refined in the hotel art category. Luckily, we came across the perfect example recently at the equally refined Four Seasons Bangkok.
Enter the airy lobby and walk straight ahead to the grand staircase in front of you, behind which you’ll find a stunning mural commissioned especially for the hotel. Hand-painted on Thai silk, it depicts in extraordinary detail the ascent of the Chakri Dynasty to the throne of Thailand.
Hotel Reviews / Bangkok Hotels / M Gallery Hotels / Accor Hotels / → All Tags
Bangkok's Hotel Muse Might Be Our Guiding Spirit For Retro Travel
With all of the sleek and modern design we've seen in hotels lately, there are few places that have us longing for the romance of vintage travel from the days of Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall. Luckily, M Gallery's Hotel Muse hits the spot.
The memorable hotel brings back the mystery of retro travel and plops it right in the middle of the hustle and bustle of Bangkok, where it's not uncommon to see buildings from yesteryear neighboring towers from tommorow-land. The hotel is a little different in that it's housed in a new building made to look vintage, with a whole lot of turn-of-the-century flair.
Walking into the lobby were were greeted by dark wood panels, sexy lighting and iron work that would make a Paris Metro stop blush. The theme doesn't stop in the elevator. It extends onto the floor and into the room, where we felt like we stepped back to a time when alcohol was illegal and people dressed up to fly the friendly skies.
W Hotels / Bangkok Hotels / Thailand Hotels / Hotel Reviews / → All Tags
More Thai Talk: Inside the W Bangkok
Last week, we gave you a sneak peek into Bangkok's shiny new W Bangkokand now we'll pull back the bejeweled curtain and show you the glam rooms. Being in a world-class city, you can expect a new hotel to have all glitz and shine; the W Bangkok doesn't fail the 'come to the party' test with its rooms fit for a jewel smuggler.
From the moment we stepped foot in the door, we knew we were somewhere special. Not only did we notice that 'new hotel' smell--it welcomed guests just 2 months ago--we may have been blinded by the shimmer and sparkle of the rhinestones, like everywhere. We will admit, we like a hotel that can successfully use lots of bling and, in true W style, this hotel has pushed the envelope.
W Hotels / Bangkok Hotels / Thailand Hotels / Hotel Reviews / → All Tags
W Bangkok Wows, Leaving Us Wanting Way More
What could be better than sexy design, familiar, yet thoughtful amenities, all the pizazz you can imagine and that new-hotel smell? Not much and that's why we are absolutely loving everything about recently opened W Bangkok.
Here's a little peek into the glam that is one of the city's newest hotels hotspot. Everything you expect from the edgy brand and more featuring glass block room dividers, rich jewel tones and more sparkles than any hotel room we've stayed in, these are the digs that inspire home renovations that fail to hit the mark.
There is a little part of us that feels like we'd been teleported from Southeast Asia to a jewelry gallery mixed with a prize fighters house. Stay tuned for a full review and pics of all of the little touches and pieces of sparkle from the lobby to the room. In the meantime, just simmer in these sexy snaps.
[Photos: Rayme Gorniak for HotelChatter]
Hotel Pools / Thailand Hotels / Bangkok Hotels / Death Defying Rooftop Hotel Pools / → All Tags
Swimming Over The Edge: The Pool At The Okura Prestige Bangkok
Swimmers with a strong stomach have more and more options these days when wanting to take a dip. From the Marina Bay Sands in Singapore (55 stories up in the air) to the Joule in Dallas, we previously looked at 10 Death Defying Rooftop Pools and received many more suggestions from you.
Today we’re adding another one to our list, this time in Thailand at the Okura Prestige Bangkok. If something looks off in the picture above, believe us when we tell you it’s no Photoshop: set on the 25th floor, the pool juts out of the curvature of the Park Ventures Ecoplex building, of which the hotel is part. The curved shape, widest at its middle and tapering at both ends (reflecting the Thai symbol of “wai” – thanks and welcome), literally gives you a sense of floating over the edge. Open from 6am to 9pm, an early or late swim as the city wakes up or evening falls will have to be added to our to do’s during a next trip to Bangkok.
Hotel News / Hotel Openings / Bangkok Hotels / Thailand Hotels / Hyatt Hotels / Park Hyatt Hotels / Hyatt Place / Hyatt Regency Hotels / → All Tags
Bangkok Is Overdosing On Hyatt Hotels
Park Hyatt Bangkok
Earlier this year, we told you about the plans to open a Park Hyatt Hotel in Bangkok, due in 2014 in the above mixed-use building with-a-twist in the central business district.
Just as the year comes to a close, it turns out that Hyatt has further plans for Thailand’s capital with both a Hyatt Regency and a Hyatt Place arriving a few years later in 2017.
With the Grand Hyatt Erawan already open, the group’s selection of brands in the city is nearly complete. So Mister Hyatt, will an Andaz be next? While we wait for that announcement (we just heard about a Tokyo addition), read on for details on the two new hotels.
Hotel Openings / Thailand Hotels / W Hotels / → All Tags
W Bangkok Opens And Gets On Our Wish List
The iconic grass of the W Hotel will have no problem growing in its newest tropical location. Planning to open on December 7, the W Bangkok will wow guests with its design and cheeky sophistication.
Reflecting the city's common juxtaposition of ancient buildings next to modern highrises, the hotel will marry both of these Bangkokian elements. The structure is half 31-story glass tower and half 100 year old heritage building that used to be the former Russian Embassy. We've previously noted how sexy the building is; this place will most certainly be a scene if you are a local or passing through the city.
With 407 guestrooms, this won't be a peanut operation, but the signature features we know the W does so well will be repped. W Lounge, Great Room, WOOBAR, and WET pool bar will all play a role on making your stay fun. And, of course, being in a foodies city such as Bangkok, The Kitchen Table will serve up tradition Thai fare with a modern and whimsical twist.
Hotel News / Hotel Openings / Bangkok Hotels / Thailand Hotels / Indonesia Hotels / Tune Hotels / Hotel Construction / → All Tags
One Night In Bangkok, And Phuket, And 8 Cities In Indonesia, Thanks To A New Batch of Tune Hotels
With big things happening for Tune Hotels in the UK and Australia, it kind of makes sense that the expansion waves would also carry over to Asia, where the chain is actually based.
This September, Tune will open its third Thailand hotel, a 130-room outpost on Bangkok's Sukhumvit Soi 14, a few blocks away from Lumphini Park, and encircled by pricier hotel choices like Westin Grand Sukhumvit, Grand Millennium Sukhumvit and Sheraton Grand Sukhumvit.
But while basic rooms at those places generally go for around $150-$220 USD, Tune will be swinging into town with rates of just $15 USD/night.
Hotel Openings / Bangkok Hotels / Thailand Hotels / Hotel News / → All Tags
Now Open: The Siam Bangkok and Its Private Pool Courtyard Villas
What would you say if we told you that a hotel just opened today that has rooms with private courtyards, with private pools and rooftop terraces, and yet it's in a giant metropolis and not on some deserted island? Well, you'd probably ask where and how much. The answers: Bangkok, Thailand and starting at $516 per night for no pool and $1000 per night with the pool.
It's called The Siam and in a town where luxury rooms can usually be had for as little as $100 per night, it's a hotel with a certain demographic in mind, specifically high-spenders looking for maximum privacy with minimum big city feel.
Hotel Chocolate / Shangri-La Hotels / Bangkok Hotels / Hotel Sweets / → All Tags
Worshipping at The Chocolate Boutique at The Shangri-La Bangkok
We at Hotel Chatter like to indulge our desires on a regular basis (cake from the Mandarin Oriental Paris, anyone?) and few come any more passionate than chocolate.
The Shangri-La Hotel Bangkok with its splendid setting on the banks of the Chaopraya River is home to a confectionery cornucopia called, simply, The Chocolate Boutique.
The classy signature outlet is located on the lobby level and a heaven for chocoholics. After being greeted at the imposing entrance to the hotel by pith helmeted and putteed doormen, a homage to colonial style, head inside the chandeliered lobby, go forward and turn right and there you see it. The duck egg blue and rich mahogany exteriors and subdued lighting are enticing and suggest the dark pleasures that await.
