Royal Orchid Sheraton - Bangkok, Thailand 2007 onward [Master Thread]

[DownUnderFlyer]

Mrs. DownUnderFlyer is a big fan of the ROS. Nice hotel, good service and great value. The furniture is a bit dated but overall standard is okay. Food is very good, we always like the breakfast options. I find the river boat transportation great so the hotel comes recommended.

[derpelikan]

Originally Posted by DownUnderFlyer

Mrs. DownUnderFlyer is a big fan of the ROS. Nice hotel, good service and great value. The furniture is a bit dated but overall standard is okay. Food is very good, we always like the breakfast options. I find the river boat transportation great so the hotel comes recommended.

hi,

i have stayed at a renovated suite at the royal orchid sheraton.

the service at this hotel is really bad . it seemed to be that i got the worst checkin staff. she was very unfriendly.

and i still hate the concierge at this hotel. this OLD man with glasses seems to be the biggest idiot in bangkok.

when i were there 2 years ago, my friend called me from the cab complaining that the driver wont use the meter. i told the concierge to tell the driver to put the meter on. the man talked talked talked ,and than told me the driver wont use the meter...

this time same thing again. friend in a taxi, meter not used, i told the same man to tell the driver to put the meter on. after 2-3 minutes of talking he told me its not possible as the driver said he has a negotiated rate of 1500baht to the hotel...........

i mean whats wrong with this guy , i told him to tell the driver to put the meter on. he should help us, but this guy is totally incompetent.

so forget about the staff at the hotel.!!!

anyway the new lounge on the 26th floor is very nice, and the new suite was very nice too .

dp

[BKKROP]

Originally Posted by derpelikan

hi,

i have stayed at a renovated suite at the royal orchid sheraton.

the service at this hotel is really bad . it seemed to be that i got the worst checkin staff. she was very unfriendly.

and i still hate the concierge at this hotel. this OLD man with glasses seems to be the biggest idiot in bangkok.

when i were there 2 years ago, my friend called me from the cab complaining that the driver wont use the meter. i told the concierge to tell the driver to put the meter on. the man talked talked talked ,and than told me the driver wont use the meter...

this time same thing again. friend in a taxi, meter not used, i told the same man to tell the driver to put the meter on. after 2-3 minutes of talking he told me its not possible as the driver said he has a negotiated rate of 1500baht to the hotel...........

i mean whats wrong with this guy , i told him to tell the driver to put the meter on. he should help us, but this guy is totally incompetent.

so forget about the staff at the hotel.!!!

anyway the new lounge on the 26th floor is very nice, and the new suite was very nice too .

dp

I know the old codger you're talking about. I dislike him too!!
I bypass him and go to the two guys on the door, or anyone else on the desk bar him.
There is a con going on at the ROS with the taxis, and has been for a long time, they will not allow anyone other than their own crowd onto the tarmac. I stay at the ROS every time I am in town and the staff know that I know the "bosses" and I must say they are very wary of me. I am back there this weekend, so I will say to four eyes, Hey hear you are still not telling your mates to turn the meters on, I mean we have to have a bit of fun sometimes, he will fumble about and no doubt pretend he doesn't understand me. I like it down by the river, I can work all day and if i choose to just relax at night, i grab a table and chair by the river and watch the world go by, dressed any old how. Up town at the Grande, i always feel I am still working. The pool is better too. Funny enough I agree with the check in staff, nobody in particular, but they have never been the happiest lot. I get on well with the front office SPG man and I always mail him before I arrive now because from Australia we arrive early Am, so now they are waiting for me with a room. regards bkkrop

[derpelikan]

Originally Posted by BKKROP

I know the old codger you're talking about. I dislike him too!!
I bypass him and go to the two guys on the door, or anyone else on the desk bar him.
There is a con going on at the ROS with the taxis, and has been for a long time, they will not allow anyone other than their own crowd onto the tarmac. I stay at the ROS every time I am in town and the staff know that I know the "bosses" and I must say they are very wary of me. I am back there this weekend, so I will say to four eyes, Hey hear you are still not telling your mates to turn the meters on, I mean we have to have a bit of fun sometimes, he will fumble about and no doubt pretend he doesn't understand me. I like it down by the river, I can work all day and if i choose to just relax at night, i grab a table and chair by the river and watch the world go by, dressed any old how. Up town at the Grande, i always feel I am still working. The pool is better too. Funny enough I agree with the check in staff, nobody in particular, but they have never been the happiest lot. I get on well with the front office SPG man and I always mail him before I arrive now because from Australia we arrive early Am, so now they are waiting for me with a room. regards bkkrop

every hotel has its own contracted taxi companies, thats fine with me.
but the concierge should tell the driver to put the meter on, if asked by a customer.

cant be too difficult to shout at the taxi driver to put the meter on.

well taxi driver arrived at the hotel, tried to tell me 1500baht ( from don muang)

i told him, ok you take this 300baht and leave right now, or you can try to talk to mike tyson (pointing on my right hand) and the police , pointing on my mobile in my left hand .

he happily took my 300baht, and i told him that i ever see him trying to ripoff a tourist, this will be his last day as a taxi driver...

i just hate it, guys like this taxi driver are giving the 90% of the fair drivers who put the meter on without asking a bad reputation, and tourist a bad impression about the country the second they enter the taxi...

dp

[DownUnderFlyer]

Originally Posted by derpelikan

every hotel has its own contracted taxi companies, thats fine with me.
but the concierge should tell the driver to put the meter on, if asked by a customer.

cant be too difficult to shout at the taxi driver to put the meter on.

well taxi driver arrived at the hotel, tried to tell me 1500baht ( from don muang)

i told him, ok you take this 300baht and leave right now, or you can try to talk to mike tyson (pointing on my right hand) and the police , pointing on my mobile in my left hand .

he happily took my 300baht, and i told him that i ever see him trying to ripoff a tourist, this will be his last day as a taxi driver...

i just hate it, guys like this taxi driver are giving the 90% of the fair drivers who put the meter on without asking a bad reputation, and tourist a bad impression about the country the second they enter the taxi...

dp

When Mrs. DUF and I took a taxi from the hotel the driver refused to turn the meter on. We had to open the doors while he was driving to convince him to turn it on.

[derpelikan]

Originally Posted by DownUnderFlyer

When Mrs. DUF and I took a taxi from the hotel the driver refused to turn the meter on. We had to open the doors while he was driving to convince him to turn it on.

anyway, i know the prices from the airport to the hotel, so if the driver does not turn it on, i only pay him 300baht for the drive and the drivers take it an leave usually.

once a driver tried to make a big scene, i called the bell boy, explained the situation and asked him to tell the driver that i will call the police if he insists of the ripoff fare he is quoting.

usually they take the money and leave.

dp

[seanthepilot]

I stayed here last week. Maybe I've just had good luck, but have always enjoyed staying here. In room Check-in was seamless. They gave me a 'Junior Suite', smaller than the end ones I've always gotten until this time, but it was fine.

Late checkout as requested. In the morning went down for breakfast, asked to eat there instead of the lounge upstairs. They said OK without giving it a second thought.

As for the taxis. I can't agree more. It's insane that I should have to drag my bags or walk out to the street everytime I need an honest taxi.

[Mr. Bob]

Thanks for all the info about the cabs at the Royal Orchid!

Mrs. Bob and I will be staying at this hotel in a few weeks.

Are there any shuttles that will take people from the airport to/from hotel?

It seems that the cab fare should be 300 baht, correct? Is it the same amount regardless of the number of passengers?

Thanks! (what a great resource FT and its members are!)

Bob

[seanthepilot]

Originally Posted by Mr. Bob

...from the airport to/from hotel?

It seems that the cab fare should be 300 baht, correct? Is it the same amount regardless of the number of passengers?

To clarify, the taxi meter has a few counters:
*Meter starts at 35 Baht
*Distance counted in 1/10ths of a KM. I don't know exactly, but should be less than 30km between the hotel and the airport
*Time standing in minutes. Counter should only go up in slow traffic or while stopped. 60 minutes in traffic only ups the meter 30thb or so
**Airport departures ADD 50THB

Tolls are an extra 65THB, IIRC.

I think 300+tolls is not enough for ROS - BKK. (Last trip cost me 465 w/toll + tip)
For BKK - ROS, you'd add an extra 50 to the meter.

[Land-of-Miles]

I always get a limo from the hotel for arrivals into BKK. I almost always stay at the SGS and find that I can typically complete the check in formalities in the car on the way to the hotel. For the relatively small additional cost when compared to taking a taxi (about £20) I really do not see the point of negotiating the taxi queue, carrying my own bags and running the risk of rogue taxi drivers.

I take taxis back to the airport more frequently but even for this journey I would typically take the hotel limo, I would far rather spend the hour or so journey in the relative comfort of an E-Class than the variable quality of taxis in BKK (none of which have working seatbelts in the rear seats). After all £10 each for 2 people to upgrade from "economy" to "business" for a one hour trip seems like rather a good deal to me

[PROBBE]

Great Service, good location, you can access the skytrain from the hotel.
I've stay a couple of times last year, never been upgraded to a suite but always put on the top floor. Free buffet breakfast in the am.

[mario33]

Originally Posted by GUWonder

The hotel is literally across the street from the Westin and so it makes for easy swapping of properties if you want to rack up stay credits.

Its actually across the river from the Millenium Hilton. You were confusing this property with the SGS

The ROS has a semi-resort like feel with gardens,tennis court and 2 pools. View of the river is pretty especially at night, but noise could be a problem if you are a light sleeper. Shuttle boat to Sky Train station not as frequent as the Hilton opposite. Very mixed service level, generally ok but certain managers and associates can be very unhelpful.

Overall not a bad place to stay if you are a tourist or a leisure traveller.

[Rusty65]

Flyingbrick is correct. The Royal Orchid Sheraton (ROS) is on the river and not close to the skytrain. However, there is a pleasant free boat ride offered to the last stop of the skytrain. It is not necessarily faster than the taxi option, but if you are not in a hurry it is a pleasant way to travel.

The rooms at the ROS are nicely furnished. I have often stayed on points which is a great value at a category 2. As a gold, I have always gotten a room with a beautiful view of the river (if that is your thing) and a couple of times I was upgraded to a Junior Suite which is nice - somewhat small, but 2 separate rooms with 2 bathrooms and quite a nice step up.

The staff are very friendly and helpful. The lobby is nice and there is free internet with about 3 or 4 computers available at 30 minutes a shot.

I never ate in the restaurants, but they all looked relatively good - but priced like a 4 star hotel and not a restaurant in cheap Thailand.

The area, other than the feeling of being on the river, is a bit desolate as most river hotels are. A taxi (or the boat to the skytrain) is necessary to get to anything of interest, but easy to get at the front of the hotel. I did walk from the hotel to the more interesting parts of Bangkok once and it is not worth the time investment as it is an uninteresting walk. There are a couple of food stalls and a 7-11 within easy walking distance, but not too much of interest.

Overall a great hotel in an OK location. If you do not value the proximity of the river, then I recommend the other locations as better options. Especially if it is the first time in Bangkok and your time is limited.

[lorribarnes]

Just returned from this hotel and was generally pleased. Have stayed here about 4 or 5 times in the last couple years. Rooms are new and very comfortable. It is nice, they have free wireless internet in the lobby and they 2nd floor. Free computers on 2nd floor also..

[worldtrav]

Strongly recommend you pay the rate for the club floors. The lounge is great and has free drinks and generous hors d'heuvres at night for a few hours. You can take a continental breakfast in the club lounge or the huge buffet in the restaurant. Staff here are extremely polite.