[gfowler-ord-1k]

I am currently staying in a deluxe suite that I got through priceline. I originally booked the presidential but was downgraded shortly after booking because of a double booking. If a moderator believes this should go in the Hilton forum please move it there. I am posting here because I think most people who have booked it will be reading this forum.

When I arrived via cab the bellman looked at my bag tags and greeted me by name. I went to the reception desk where I presented my credit card and passport. The receptionist looked up my reservation and said "Please follow me to the lounge for check in." At the lounge I was asked to take a seat and I was given the registration form to sign. Also I was asked if I wanted something to drink. It was the Afternoon Tea time at the lounge but I was not hungry.

I was then escorted to my room where I was given a tour, explaining the amenities of the room -- TVs, DVD and CD players, safe, etc. I was told that there is complementary 3 piece pressing service per stay. There is no additional charge for laundry or dry cleaning express service but you cannot use your pressing allowance for laundry.

The TV above the bath tub is a slave to one in the bedroom. When I was shown it's controls I noticed that there was a hum from the bathroom's speakers. I later checked it out and realized that a jumper cable was missing between the bedroom TV and the wall jack right behind it. I called the "Hot Line and Service Center" which promptly sent up a technician. I showed him what I thought was the problem and he got a replacement cable. Even after the cable was replaced there is still a slight hum. Somewhere there is poor shielding in the wiring. The bedroom TV is a 32" Sony Bravia LCD HD TV.

The lounge has a list of 31 DVDs that you can check out. I got "Walk the Line" and started playing it on the 40" Sony Bravia LCD HD TV in the living room. Even the the TV is HD I don.t think any of the many cable TV channels are HD. There was no sound in the external left speaker so I again called for the technical who replaced the speaker.

After these repairs all the AV equipment worked fine except for the hum in the bathroom. There is one little annoying quirk with the B&O CD player/radio. It is located behind the desk where I am now. The door to the player has a motion sensor that opens it's doors. Since it is close to the desk it sometimes opens when I move. There were 3 CDs next to the player.

The suite has several vases of fresh flowers - orchids, lotus and a dozen long stem red roses. The maid changes one or two of the flower vases daily. Her thorough cleaning takes about 40 minutes even though the place was not dirty. She also refilled the fruit bowl - bananas, apple, Asian pear, grapes and sapodillas. The evening turndown maid also refills the fruit bowl and bottled water. An orchid was placed on each bed pillow.

In the living room there are 2 chairs, a sofa, a desk with chair and a dining table for four. The drapes close with over a foot of overlap to keep out light. The living room can connect to an adjacent bedroom to make a 2 bedroom suite.

The suite came with 6 complementary 500ml bottles of water which is replaced twice daily if needed. There is a well stocked mini bar with typical hotel prices. Tea, coffee and espresso is complementary. The espresso maker is a lavAzza. It makes great coffee also, just brew 2 cups of weak espresso. I was surprised that the maid does not refill the water reservoir in the espresso maker. Every other hotel that I have stayed that has them did so. It takes 2 bottles of water and the key is left in the maker.There is also a plunger filter coffee maker. There is complementary milk in the frig for the coffee. The cups will be washed twice daily if needed.

The 3 room marble and granite bathroom has a separate tub and rain shower with lots of Conrad brand toiletries. There is also a complementary rubber elephant to play with in the tub. There is also a half bath at the foyer. The dressing room has lots of drawers and closet space with iron and board and safe.

There are so many light switches that it will take you a while to learn what controls what. It took me a while to figure out what switch controls the foyer light, it is labeled "master".

The king bedroom has a small sofa and 2 chairs. I find the bed comfortable but I am way spoiled by my memory foam bed at home. It comes with a complementary stuffed silk elephant. Mine is purple and is named Ping. The other 3 members of the set can be bought at the gift shop for THB250 each.

My luggage was damaged by the Thai Air in route and I was told by them to give it and the claim form the hotel concereige to arrange for repairs. They were familiar with the process. The luggage was returned in 3 days as promised with both wheels replaced even though only 1 was damaged. Otherwise they would not have matched.

This is enough typing for tonight. I will have further comments tomorrow on the lounge and put pics on my website in the next day or so.