I am planning a Christmas holiday in Bangkok with my parents and brother. After a lot of re-search, I have found five hotels that look nice:
Swissotel Nai Lert Park (Deluxe or Executive)
Sofitel Silom (Club)
President Solitaire
Lebua
Majestic Grande (Executive or ordinary deluxe)

Does anyone have any experiences on these hotels regarding prices on room service, drinks/beer in the bars, distance (in meter/yards) to Skytrain or if the hotels are newly refurbished or not?

Cheers

I am planning a Christmas holiday in Bangkok with my parents and brother. After a lot of re-search, I have found five hotels that look nice ... Does anyone have any experiences on these hotels regarding prices on room service, drinks/beer in the bars, distance (in meter/yards) to Skytrain or if the hotels are newly refurbished or not?
Chriscross -

Here are observations about location of hotels on your list, to help you to make a choice.
(Note: I've never been inside any of these hotels, so I can't comment on other factors).

First, my premises:

Because of severe traffic congestion everywhere in central Bangkok, the best locations are within easy walk of skytrain/subway.
You want to be safe walking around your hotel area -- if only to go out after supper for a stroll.
With your parents, you may want to avoid being in the midst of a "nightlife" area.

Swissotel Nai Lert Park:

700 meters from skytrain station: Ploenchit
No subway
700 meters to vast variety of shopping: high-end, middle-class and low-end markets
Safe area
Major tourist area; many hotels
Endless restaurants nearby in all classes & styles
Interesting: 250 meters to canal boat dock at Chitlom Bridge Pier. The canal boats connect with the river ferry so can be a quick way to get from this hotel to the river. Also, canal boats can be interesting way to see parts of Bangkok well off the tourist track. However, canals themselves are dirty and smelly.

Sofitel Silom:
350 meters from skytrain station: Chongnonsi.
No subway
1 Km to middle-class department stores - nice, but nothing special.
Office area is busy and crowded by day, but after dark around the hotel it seems deserted. I walked there one evening. Next time I will take a taxi.
Major tourist area; many hotels.
Endless restaurants nearby in all classes & styles
1.5 Km to the river, but it is an ugly walk, thru dirty, crowded, noisy, streets.
I attended a language school in this area, so I was there 5 days a week for months. The hotel may be nice, but I find nothing appealing about the neighborhood.
President Solitaire:
300 meters from skytrain station: Nana.
No subway
Many small shops, but no department stores or shopping centers within walking distance. Easy to take skytrain 2-4 stops for better shopping.
This the main tourist area and the main nightlife area of Bangkok. Busy and crowded 24 hours a day. Many, many hotels in all styles and classes.
The main road is Sukhumwit road. Crowded with street vendors, prostitutes, and pickpockets at all hours.
Endless restaurants nearby in all classes & styles.
I generally go out of my way to avoid this area, known as "lower Sukhumvit", but every year, hundreds of thousands of tourists flock there. So do the local hustlers who feed off the tourist industry.
Lebua:
500 meters from skytrain station: Saphan Taksin
700 meters from river ferry: Sathorn Pier
No subway
Many small shops and several middle-class department stores: nice, but nothing special. Can take skytrain 5-6 stops for more shopping.
Safe area
Major tourist area; many hotels
Interesting: Close to the river. If you get a room overlooking the river, will have a fascinating view.
Majestic Grande:
500 meters from skytrain station: Nana. An ugly walk at all hours. Going from skytrain to hotel pass thru one of the huge brothel areas in front of Nana Plaza.
No subway
No department stores or shopping centers within walking distance. Easy to take skytrain 2-4 stops for better shopping.
This the main tourist area and the main nightlife area of Bangkok. Busy and crowded 24 hours a day. Many, many hotels in all styles and classes.
The main road is Sukhumwit road. Crowded with street vendors, prostitutes, and pickpockets at all hours.
Endless restaurants nearby in all classes & styles.
I go out of my way to avoid this area, known as "lower Sukhumvit", but every year, hundreds of thousands of tourists flock there. So do local hustlers who feed off the tourist industry.

Bottom line:
First choice for location is Lebula, because close to the river, while avoiding the crowds and tourist congestion of Lower Sukhumvit Road.
Second choice for location -- and a good choice -- is Swissotel Nai Lert Park, but the neighborhood is not scenic.

I hope this is helpful to you.

-- Peter
.

I'd like to take note that both the Majestic Grande and Solitaire are within walking distance of Robinsons Department Store, Times Square Shopping Mall, the main branch of Asia Books and major hotels such as the Landmark and the Sheraton.

The disadvantage of both hotels is that they're a bit of a way down sois (back lanes). But this could also be an advantage as well because it means they're quieter than hotels right on busy Sukhumvit.

Of the two, I'd probably pick the Majestic Grande because it was only built a couple years ago, so it's in better condition.

Peter4 makes the Sofitel Silom sound as if it's in the back of beyond. In fact it's on a busy commercial artery and about 10 minutes (maybe 15 at the most) walk from the Silom commercial district with its food carts, bars, pubs, restaurants and fast food outlets. It is much less busy and quieter than Sukhumvit, but by no means dangerous or ominous for walking at night.

The Majestic Grande is very good value for money, very friendly staff throughout, especially the lobby and breakfast dining room. I have never stayed at the Lebula but it sounds very nice and is in an excellent riverside location near the Shangrila and Oriental. These hotels have private riverboats for crossing the river to the Bangkok Peninsula and Oriental spa and Thai restaurant annex.

Also nearby are piers for public riverboats going up and down the river, a wonderful (and cool) way to see a lot of riverside activity for a very small price. These riverboats can drop you within a block or two of Grand Palace and Temple of the Emerald Buddha compound also.

You might also consider the delightful serviced apartments like my favorite, Somerset Suwan Park View, very close to both the British and American embassies just off Ploenchit Road. Close to Ploenchit and Chitlom stations on the Skytrain. Here is a map of the Skytrain system.

http://www.bangkok-maps.com/frameme.php?page=bts.htm

deleted