Originally Posted by
sapguy
I am a regular at the Park Hyatt Bangkok (which I often refer to as my “home” in Bangkok) but this last trip I decided to give the Park Hyatt Bangkok Erawan a try, due to a long stay (7 nights) and the cash rate as well as the points rates were very attractive.
I must say that I am very impressed with the Grand Hyatt, especially since this was a stay with complicated check-in arrangements, combination of cash and points nights, and SUA - my WoH Concierge did her usual amazing job and the GH Bangkok Erawan executed everything flawlessly.
- I needed a combination of 3 nights paid (cash) rates and 4 award nights, with a SUA applied to guarantee a suite for me to work
- My adult son was joining us so I needed a 3 persons rate which the GH offered, and they flawlessly brought it the rollaway bed in advance
- I had business in Hong Kong so would not arrive Bangkok until Tuesday morning, but my wife and son flew into Bangkok from Tokyo on Monday morning arriving at 5:30AM so they got to the hotel at around 7:30AM. The hotel offered them a standard room for around $100 which they happily accepted so that they can take a shower, go to breakfast, and then take a nap
The staff was gracious throughout (more or less on par with what I am accustomed to at the Park Hyatt. Their restaurants were excellent for the business lunches that I hosted. We had our Globalist breakfasts at the restaurant, and we enjoyed the lounge in the evening.
But I must say that the location of the GH across CentralWorld is better than Central Embassy where the PH is - the choice of restaurants at Gaysorn and at Central World is superior, period! But what takes the cake is the expansive Panpuri wellness spa and massage facility in the Gaysorn Tower minutes away, with its amazing onsen which you can partake it for a mere $25 for the entire day. The massage at Panpuri was amazing (incidentally, the spa and massage at the PH is also operated by Panpuri).
I will be back in Bangkok later this year, and now it’s going to be a coin toss! The PH still holds the edge for luxury accommodation and their amazing Globalist breakfast but I will not hesitate to stay at the GH Bangkok Erawan again
I can confirm all of that.
I do stay at the PH from time to time, but I often prefer the GH. The main reason is pricing. On my dates, the PH is very often around three times the rate of the GH, and from my point of view that is simply too much.
I completely agree about the surroundings of the GH. They are definitely better than those of the PH. That said, the two properties are not far from each other. It is about a 15-minute walk, and you can do all of it through shopping centres and via the skywalk if you do not mind paying to pass through Chit Lom BTS station.
The service is excellent at both properties. At the PH it feels a bit more polished and businesslike, while at the GH it feels a bit warmer and more personal. In fact, the service at the GH was one of the reasons why I moved from Hilton to Hyatt years ago. I also had some slightly complicated check-in arrangements. The Conrad, despite 10 to 12 stays a year from me, handled things in a very bureaucratic way, whereas the GH simply made it easy.
Upgrades are excellent at both properties. They are among the best I know in Bangkok and genuinely impressive compared with many properties elsewhere in the world, especially outside WoH.
The breakfasts are very different, but in the end fairly close overall. Parts of the PH breakfast are genuinely excellent, while other parts sound better on paper than they are in reality. The GH offers a very solid buffet breakfast: fewer highs, but also no real weak spots.
The hardware at the PH is definitely better. That starts with the rooms and extends to Penthouse Bar + Grill. If you are willing to spend some money on restaurants and bars, Penthouse Bar + Grill is one of the best places to go in Bangkok. Gaston, with its excellent live music, is very good as well, but it is still rooftop versus basement.
The GH also offers a lounge that is accessible to all Globalists, whereas the PH does not. The PH has something similar, but it is reserved for “VIPs” rather than being available to most Globalists.
I have two stays at the GH over the next two weeks, and I am very much looking forward to them.