Shocking Grand Mercure Asoke Bangkok .. Avoid at all cost
Mar 6, 2015, 9:17 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: in my suitcase
Programs: spg, hyatt diamond, amex platinum, star alliance gold, priority pass
Posts: 24
Shocking Grand Mercure Asoke Bangkok .. Avoid at all cost
We booked this hotel based on the reviews we read, the hotel description and the "Upscale" 5 stars rating on the Accor website.
Advertised as:
1. "3 minute walking distance from Sukhumvit MRT" >> ACTUALLY it is at least 15 minutes walk.
2. "5-star international standard facilities" >> ACTUALLY it has NO facilities at all, no food & beverages outlet, no concierge, even the person claiming to be the "Front Office Manager" has no business card and not able to string two words together in English!!!
The whole place felt very dodgy. Front office staff appeared very inexperienced and nervous about what they were doing. The room smelled like moth balls, the air conditioning units were held together by masking tape, the place was definitely far from fresh and clean. Definitely not international 5 star standard. The location is also questionable.
The front office manager explained that their 5 star rating is based on their staff training and amenities. To our surprise the next thing we saw was the house keeping staff on duty using the supermarket trolley. Take a look at the photos of house keeping staff at work and decide for yourself.
The GM later wrote to me explaining that supermarket trolley housekeeping is common in Bangkok. I have been travelling to Bangkok since early 80s for as often as twice a month. I have not encountered any supermarket trolley in any other hotel.
The state of this place makes me wonder about Accor rating as well as its integrity of property descriptions.
As LC Platinum I'm very disappointed
Advertised as:
1. "3 minute walking distance from Sukhumvit MRT" >> ACTUALLY it is at least 15 minutes walk.
2. "5-star international standard facilities" >> ACTUALLY it has NO facilities at all, no food & beverages outlet, no concierge, even the person claiming to be the "Front Office Manager" has no business card and not able to string two words together in English!!!
The whole place felt very dodgy. Front office staff appeared very inexperienced and nervous about what they were doing. The room smelled like moth balls, the air conditioning units were held together by masking tape, the place was definitely far from fresh and clean. Definitely not international 5 star standard. The location is also questionable.
The front office manager explained that their 5 star rating is based on their staff training and amenities. To our surprise the next thing we saw was the house keeping staff on duty using the supermarket trolley. Take a look at the photos of house keeping staff at work and decide for yourself.
The GM later wrote to me explaining that supermarket trolley housekeeping is common in Bangkok. I have been travelling to Bangkok since early 80s for as often as twice a month. I have not encountered any supermarket trolley in any other hotel.
The state of this place makes me wonder about Accor rating as well as its integrity of property descriptions.
As LC Platinum I'm very disappointed
Last edited by spice; Mar 6, 2015 at 9:24 am
Mar 6, 2015, 2:47 pm
#6
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: in my suitcase
Programs: spg, hyatt diamond, amex platinum, star alliance gold, priority pass
Posts: 24
The whole place doesn't reflect it's 5star Upscale rating ad. Simply misleading rating and description. Shopping trolley housekeeping is just one example of the lack of professionalism in this place. Everything else looks old and tired on first glance and upon closer investigation is as bad as the AC unit.
Mar 6, 2015, 7:31 pm
#9
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: in my suitcase
Programs: spg, hyatt diamond, amex platinum, star alliance gold, priority pass
Posts: 24
AND at the time of booking it was in the price range of nearby Sofitel, M Gallery and Pullman which are of complete different class.
We checked out within 30 mins and moved to Pullman which had a slightly lower rate for the day and definitely of much higher standard.
Mar 7, 2015, 3:46 am
#11
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Between AMS and BRU
Posts: 8,852
Your expectation were too high, or you got unlucky. Plenty of favorable reviews.
For instance, they never advertise any of the facilities you were expecting. And anyone can see the location on a map.
You either didn't do your research or you were expecting too much for the price paid.
Last edited by RTW1; Mar 7, 2015 at 8:54 am
Mar 7, 2015, 3:52 am
#12
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2000
Location: London, UK and Southern France
Posts: 18,367
While it does not sound like the most exciting property on earth and plainly not the best Accor property in Bangkok, the OP's statement of "avoid at all cost" seems to me over the top; too much drama and hyperbole for what sounds like, at heart, merely like a mediocre property. But then, that is not unusual for Mercure properties which are sometimes OK and sometimes not so much but, in any event, not normally the kind of upscale properties the OP seems to be expecting.
Mar 7, 2015, 8:43 am
#13
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: YYG
Programs: Aeroplan 50K, Club Accor Gold
Posts: 441
I had a long post ready to go, but I deleted it. All I'm going to say is: if you expect Sofitel, MGallery, or Pullman quality, book a Sofitel, MGallery, or Pullman hotel. The fact that every room is supposed to have a kitchen would have been my first hint that it was a short term residential hotel and not a luxury full service property.
Mar 7, 2015, 10:45 pm
#15
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: HAJ
Programs: Lufthansa FTL, HHonors Gold, Le Club Accorhotels Platinum
Posts: 677
I stayed there in 2007 and it was ok for me, but definately not a 5 star hotel. You get a huge suite with separate living room and bedroom and a kitchen, but not much of amenities or benfits as a Le Club Accorhotels elite member. During sales times you can get a nice suite at this hotel for about 2.000 THB. If you out this in perspective it's not that bad100% agree, rather a serviced apartment than a hotel