Greetings from the Westin Grand Sukhumvit.

I have stayed many times at the Sheraton Sukhumvit and always enjoy my stays there immensely. It is of course a Luxury Collections Hotel and even by Bangkok standards, it is not inexpensive. By going through one of the discount services, you can usually obtain a room for around $160.00

Imagine my surprise last month when I was trying to book a room there and up popped on the SPG website, the Westin Grande Sukhumvit with virtually the same address! At first I thought it was a name change. But, no. Having been familiar with the area, I knew that there were not any new hotels under construction in the area and I assumed correctly that it was a hotel called the Grand Pacific right across the street.

I was both lured and intrigued by the 76.00 rate on the website so I went ahead and booked a room. I arrived last night. The lobby is on the 7th floor and looks to have been recently redone. Gone are all references to the Grand Pacific and the name Westin in prominently displayed outside.

As platinum member, I was given a room on the executive floor (25th and 26th) floor. You are escorted to your room for check in formalities. The room was very nice, and the rooms and hallways appear all to have been redone. Heavenly bed, hi speed internet, marble bath, and luxurious furnishings I was invited to use the lounge and was told that complimentary breakfast was available as well as all day drinks and snacks and complimentary cocktails in the evening.

Upon arrival, they had by card filled out for me to choose my platinum amenity. When traveling alone, I could care less about a suite and did not even ask. I was under the impression that only a few floors are currently completed as the whole place is being renovated. (But you would not know it as the public areas and the floor you are all are completed)

Rivas, the nightclub at the Sheraton Grande, is a hot spot and always fun. Upon check in, I simply crossed over the sky bridge and found myself in Rivas. The Westin is directly across the street. They have a nightspot on the top floor, but I was too tired to check it out.

All in all, the Westin Grande is a super hotel, and while not quite as opulent as the Sheraton Grande, it is just about as nice and of course the low rates make it very, very, very attractive. As far as I am concerned, the two hotels are just about on a par, with the slight edge of course to the Sheraton, but you have to remember, the Sheraton is Luxury Collection Hotel.

I look forward to many more stays at this new Westin.

By the way, both Hotels are right at the Asok Skytrain station.