Originally Posted by
NYCtraveler
Marriott Marquis Bangkok is a horror of a hotel, if you can afford elsewhere. Crowds in the elevators, in the lobby, around the pools, good luck in the club lounge where during busy times people drop Grandma or Grandpa off early to claim big tables. Big tour hotel, in my experience the 3 times I tried it out, there were two huge Indian groups both times and 1 International group which seemed to have a mostly Middle Eastern crowd, all friendly in elevators jammed and crammed in together. Waited eternally for elevators....for front desk and often to find a seat at Goji for breakfast (if you want it, pay for it!). I met two people in the club lounge who were what I call "working the system" ..One books multiple reservations over a 4 month period, none more then 27 days in a row (used points for some nights), claiming to have beat the algorithm, flies over from the USA somewhere during winter. He is platinum for life....Eats and drinks for free at the club lounge and has a services 1 BR suite I have no doubt. The other was a retired pilot utilizing an airline rate of sorts I assume? or negotiated a long term stay rate, both were enjoying their time and companions... Personally I abhor crowds of people before Covid and now even more.....I pay more to stay at quieter lounge properties...imho, the overall is worth it. Some people are happy their room rates average out at $45 per night and thats most important.....to each their own. Wishing everyone a healthy 2021.
They have six elevators per Tower but of course with 35 floors they may still take a while. It will take years until this property is back to this buzz you experienced. For now the hotel is empty with one tower closed except on weekends and certain Thai holidays. A huge hotel like this has to market their rooms somehow and the issue with cheap Chinese and Indian tour group operators is well known all over Thailand.
I somehow don't get your point with these two guys you claim to have met at the club lounge. They have long term bookings which they pay for and enjoy the associated benefits. What exactly is the problem? Aside from the issue that I couldn't eat and drink at the Marriott Lounge for weeks, let alone months at a time.
If you want a "more quiet lounge" I have to think really hard which property in Bangkok I'd recommend. Maybe the Athenee but it's often quite busy as well. Grand Hyatt is a zoo and so is Conrad. Maybe the Le Meridien once it's back online as a regular hotel as they only have the BambooChic Bar which is mostly deserted. Marriott Surawongse was nice as well.
Bottom line: It's impossible to reflect pre-Covid property reviews to the current and future situation in Bangkok and elsewhere. It doesn't make any sense to start bickering with each other in these FT review threads about how good or bad a hotel is if one doesn't have any recent experience.