Originally Posted by
ftrichard
I've had seven stays of varying lengths so far this year since the hotel re-opened. I've still been upgraded to a suite each stay however they are in much shorter supply these days due to the vast increase in elites in Thailand now so YMMV. My loyalty - the seven stays - to this specific hotel is repaid. The room refurbishment is sensible but not radical - replacing the carpet with wooden floors, some new furniture, more USB ports, new wall coverings etc. - so you may not think it's much different. We got a suite on a high floor a few weeks ago so the refurb seems to be nearly complete. Elite benefits are broadly similar to pre-plague times. Platinums can get drinks and snacks during the day and the Creative Hour is now 5pm-7pm in Latest Recipe with a choice of about 10 canapés and wine/spirits. The food is better but the alcohol isn't as adventurous as it used to be in the olden days in Bamboo Chic. Latest Recipe breakfast is as good as it always was with sparkling wine for elites. I don't know if the round beds survived the refurb. I was personally never keen on them and I haven't been given one this year. Do they still list them on the room types?
Great to hear about the consistent suite upgrades given to a return guest. Perhaps I will get lucky as well - one reason I stayed away recently is my fear of not receiving a material upgrade given the swelling of Marriott Bonvoy elites which has (temporarily) given me an incentive to stay at other chains instead. I think 2023 will be a better time for me to return to Marriotts in Bangkok on a larger scale, rather than 2022.
Is it no longer possible to get cocktails during happy hour? If so it would be a loss.
Retaining free flow sparkling wine for breakfast is great and it avoids the "me too" factor because as of now, I believe LM is the last man standing in that regard (for Bangkok) because it's been cut from 137 Pillars.