KosraeTV
Jan 24, 08, 8:42 am
After spending a lot of work in BKK, I've had the chance to stay in over 30 hotels / serviced apartments. I can tell you that I much prefer the serviced apartments and boutique hotels over the chain hotels like JW, Dusit, Hilton, etc... in BKK. Plus price savings was incredible. The chain hotels charge up to double what they should.
Adelphi Suites is right near the Nana BTS on Soi 8. It just opened up two months ago and the same management company opened up another serviced apartment on Soi 22 called the Legacy that I think will try later. I felt that these were very impersonal and sterile. There was no cooking pots of knives or such in the one bedroom apartment. Maybe not opened up yet and set up yet, maybe it was too early to visit them. The location was great for the BTS but Nana area is more of a night life area then a work area. If you are into the Nana scene then this is a much better location then Landmark or JW or such IMHO. They are giving free internet right now but expect that to change, we were charged 1200 baht for car service from airport to the apartment which is three time the rate of a taxi, and about 400 baht to 500 baht over what other hotels charge for car service. I expect their prices to get higher soon once they are opened up. The pool is very small.
Somerset Suwan Park, I enjoy this serviced apartment, it is more towards the shopping area of Zen and Siam's and MBK and such and near the Chidlom BTS station. The street it is off is a little hard to find and there is rarely any Taxi around but the apartments were big and staff was friendly and it is always enjoyable to stay there. The booking of the hotel is a little complicated for corporate rates and the head office is a little unresponsive, which is why I got stationed at Adelphi recently because the main office would not confirm a reseravtion in a reasonable amount of time. The other Somerset, Lake point, I did not enjoy, the rooms were small, the staff was not friendly etc... So not all somerset's are the same. The manila Somerset's are all good by the way. But for all the serviced apartments, I really enjoy Suwan Park the best of about 15 serviced apartments I've stayed at in BKK.
Livingstones... now here is a unique place. It's on Soi 33 and close to one of the BTS stations. Not sure how to describe this place as it is unique, it's a boutique hotel with an african theme. Why is the decor African? I have no idea but the restaurant is around the pool and it is very realxed. It is right in the heart of Sukhumvit area and the street has a lot of higher end hostess bars on it but the hotel is set back and you would never know you were in the heart of the Soi 33. It is like a little Oasis seperated from the rest of the Sukhumvit. The food was good both the Thai and the Western, I do go back just for the food even if I was staying other places, and they give you all day breakfast so if you sleep in late you don't miss the breakfast service. There is wifi and wired internet free so you can continue to work by the pool or in the room. But what stood out was the service I got from the staff. Not only the reception but the wait staff and the mgmt was extremely outgoing and offered great assistance. It's a great hotel for businessmen and travellers, for a quick layover or for an extended stay. It's seculded and private and was the most friendly of all locations. Smaller size with a high staff count gave good personal attention. From the top down the entire staff was there to give you get personal service, which really sets this place apart. The rooms are rooms, you spend most of your time out anyway and the rooms are comfortable, but the service I got and get is amazing.
I'd say the most relaxed location was Livingstones. No problems at all. Very relaxing, comfortable feeling. Could sit back and have a conversation with the bar staff or the wait staff or the mgmt at any time.
When I go back in a month where will I stay.... well I won't be staying at a chain hotel that is for sure. I think anyone staying in BKK who says at a chain hotel is missing out on service and paying too much. I'll most likely stay at a boutique hotel or another serviced apartment. Out of all the places I've stayed at in BKK you can't go wrong staying at Livingstones or Somerset IMHO. One is a full aparment and the other is a boutique hotel, just depends what you're looking for. But the place that made me feel the most relaxed was Livingstones.
Adelphi Suites is right near the Nana BTS on Soi 8. It just opened up two months ago and the same management company opened up another serviced apartment on Soi 22 called the Legacy that I think will try later. I felt that these were very impersonal and sterile. There was no cooking pots of knives or such in the one bedroom apartment. Maybe not opened up yet and set up yet, maybe it was too early to visit them. The location was great for the BTS but Nana area is more of a night life area then a work area. If you are into the Nana scene then this is a much better location then Landmark or JW or such IMHO. They are giving free internet right now but expect that to change, we were charged 1200 baht for car service from airport to the apartment which is three time the rate of a taxi, and about 400 baht to 500 baht over what other hotels charge for car service. I expect their prices to get higher soon once they are opened up. The pool is very small.
Somerset Suwan Park, I enjoy this serviced apartment, it is more towards the shopping area of Zen and Siam's and MBK and such and near the Chidlom BTS station. The street it is off is a little hard to find and there is rarely any Taxi around but the apartments were big and staff was friendly and it is always enjoyable to stay there. The booking of the hotel is a little complicated for corporate rates and the head office is a little unresponsive, which is why I got stationed at Adelphi recently because the main office would not confirm a reseravtion in a reasonable amount of time. The other Somerset, Lake point, I did not enjoy, the rooms were small, the staff was not friendly etc... So not all somerset's are the same. The manila Somerset's are all good by the way. But for all the serviced apartments, I really enjoy Suwan Park the best of about 15 serviced apartments I've stayed at in BKK.
Livingstones... now here is a unique place. It's on Soi 33 and close to one of the BTS stations. Not sure how to describe this place as it is unique, it's a boutique hotel with an african theme. Why is the decor African? I have no idea but the restaurant is around the pool and it is very realxed. It is right in the heart of Sukhumvit area and the street has a lot of higher end hostess bars on it but the hotel is set back and you would never know you were in the heart of the Soi 33. It is like a little Oasis seperated from the rest of the Sukhumvit. The food was good both the Thai and the Western, I do go back just for the food even if I was staying other places, and they give you all day breakfast so if you sleep in late you don't miss the breakfast service. There is wifi and wired internet free so you can continue to work by the pool or in the room. But what stood out was the service I got from the staff. Not only the reception but the wait staff and the mgmt was extremely outgoing and offered great assistance. It's a great hotel for businessmen and travellers, for a quick layover or for an extended stay. It's seculded and private and was the most friendly of all locations. Smaller size with a high staff count gave good personal attention. From the top down the entire staff was there to give you get personal service, which really sets this place apart. The rooms are rooms, you spend most of your time out anyway and the rooms are comfortable, but the service I got and get is amazing.
I'd say the most relaxed location was Livingstones. No problems at all. Very relaxing, comfortable feeling. Could sit back and have a conversation with the bar staff or the wait staff or the mgmt at any time.
When I go back in a month where will I stay.... well I won't be staying at a chain hotel that is for sure. I think anyone staying in BKK who says at a chain hotel is missing out on service and paying too much. I'll most likely stay at a boutique hotel or another serviced apartment. Out of all the places I've stayed at in BKK you can't go wrong staying at Livingstones or Somerset IMHO. One is a full aparment and the other is a boutique hotel, just depends what you're looking for. But the place that made me feel the most relaxed was Livingstones.