InterContinental Bangkok Master Thread [merged]
Jan 30, 2019, 8:13 am
#1291
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: SNA/LAX
Programs: Hertz PC, Hilton DMD, IHG Spire Amb, Bonvoy Titanium Elite & WoH Globalist
Posts: 8,076
Jan 30, 2019, 10:35 am
#1292
Join Date: Sep 2000
Location: Stuck on this planet - mainly in STR and LAX
Posts: 5,019
I usually just take a Taxi. Just go to the official taxi stand and ignore anybody who is offering a taxi. Should be total around 400 B for a regular taxi (most of them have a very small trunk because of the gas tank) or a bit more for a SUV. Just make sure the meter is on. You need to pay the highway fees.
Jan 31, 2019, 8:55 am
#1293
Join Date: May 2004
Location: SIN (LEJ once a year)
Programs: SQ, LH, BA, IHG Diamond AMB, HH Gold, SLH Indulged, Accor Gold, Hyatt Discoverist
Posts: 7,739
Isn't the OP on a points stay? Maybe I read that wrong, but on a points stay I haven't seen them being generous and giving the breakfast benefit, at least not from what others reported.
Jan 31, 2019, 9:20 am
#1294
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: SNA/LAX
Programs: Hertz PC, Hilton DMD, IHG Spire Amb, Bonvoy Titanium Elite & WoH Globalist
Posts: 8,076
If you are a Platinum Ambassador (like me) or higher status elite (like the OP) you are entitled to Executive Benefits or privileges as per the sheet posted above (post #1290 ) which includes breakfast at Espresso OR happy hour at Balcony Lounge. The breakfast benefit is more substantial and essential to this particular OP than the happy hour benefit and thus I recommend he makes that choice.
Juice Bar at Espresso breakfast
Jan 31, 2019, 9:58 am
#1296
Join Date: Sep 2000
Location: Stuck on this planet - mainly in STR and LAX
Posts: 5,019
My experience is different. As Royal Ambassadow they did not upgrade to Club on a points stay.
Jan 31, 2019, 10:21 am
#1297
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: BKK
Posts: 6,741
In general I always think it is better to keep relatively quiet about the occasional special treatment we all may encounter from time to time as regular guests of any hotel. Raising other people’s expectations beyond what is officially guaranteed can result in disappointment, which leads to complaints and headaches for the people at hotels. The end result can be that hotels are pressured by corporate to apply rules very strictly. So, I have always thought it best to refrain from publicly posting about anecdotal experiences of having various things comped. It can falsely inflate people’s expectations and is a discourteous way to treat an hotel in return for its generosity.
Jan 31, 2019, 10:44 am
#1298
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: SNA/LAX
Programs: Hertz PC, Hilton DMD, IHG Spire Amb, Bonvoy Titanium Elite & WoH Globalist
Posts: 8,076
I would not use the word entitled. Actually, per terms and conditions, award stays are not the same as paid nights. The property is extremely guest friendly and often goes above and beyond, but out of consideration to the wonderful people at the hotel I refrain from posting any information that may prompt people to have high expectations and possibly lead to disappointment. It can matter, at any hotel, if one has any type of guest history with the property. For a first time guest on an award stay, I would not expect any added benefits. Anything is possible, but it most certainly is not an entitlement.
My purpose here was to advise a fellow FTer based on our experiences - YMMV - and not to encourage others to over-expect from or abuse this awesome property.
Jan 31, 2019, 11:05 am
#1299
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: SNA/LAX
Programs: Hertz PC, Hilton DMD, IHG Spire Amb, Bonvoy Titanium Elite & WoH Globalist
Posts: 8,076
I found it: https://www.ihg.com/intercontinental...rms-conditions
InterContinental® Ambassador Benefits: A room one category higher than purchased will be assigned upon check-in to InterContinental Ambassadors. InterContinental Ambassadors will be entitled to a late check-out time of 4:00 pm. Ambassadors receive fresh fruit, sweet or savoury snack and water in their room on arrival, with mineral water replenished daily. Ambassadors receive a personalised welcome letter and in-room gift. Ambassadors are entitled to one free Pay-TV film per stay (where a cost is applicable). Ambassadors are charged Single Rate for Double Room Occupancy. When staying on Reward Nights and on Best Price Guaranteed Free Nights, all Ambassador and Royal Ambassador Privileges apply with the exception of upgrades, Club Lounge access (Royal Ambassadors), Mini bar beverages (Royal Ambassadors), free Pay-TV film per stay, 24-hour guaranteed room availability (Royal Ambassador) and 8:00 am early check-in (Royal Ambassador - where a cost is applicable). A Reward Night booking must be booked under the IHG Rewards Club account of the member for him/her to enjoy the benefits.
InterContinental® Ambassador Benefits: A room one category higher than purchased will be assigned upon check-in to InterContinental Ambassadors. InterContinental Ambassadors will be entitled to a late check-out time of 4:00 pm. Ambassadors receive fresh fruit, sweet or savoury snack and water in their room on arrival, with mineral water replenished daily. Ambassadors receive a personalised welcome letter and in-room gift. Ambassadors are entitled to one free Pay-TV film per stay (where a cost is applicable). Ambassadors are charged Single Rate for Double Room Occupancy. When staying on Reward Nights and on Best Price Guaranteed Free Nights, all Ambassador and Royal Ambassador Privileges apply with the exception of upgrades, Club Lounge access (Royal Ambassadors), Mini bar beverages (Royal Ambassadors), free Pay-TV film per stay, 24-hour guaranteed room availability (Royal Ambassador) and 8:00 am early check-in (Royal Ambassador - where a cost is applicable). A Reward Night booking must be booked under the IHG Rewards Club account of the member for him/her to enjoy the benefits.
Jan 31, 2019, 11:33 am
#1301
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: BKK
Posts: 6,741
...When staying on Reward Nights and on Best Price Guaranteed Free Nights, all Ambassador and Royal Ambassador Privileges apply with the exception of upgrades, Club Lounge access (Royal Ambassadors), Mini bar beverages (Royal Ambassadors), free Pay-TV film per stay, 24-hour guaranteed room availability (Royal Ambassador) and 8:00 am early check-in (Royal Ambassador - where a cost is applicable). A Reward Night booking must be booked under the IHG Rewards Club account of the member for him/her to enjoy the benefits.
Jan 31, 2019, 12:16 pm
#1302
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: SNA/LAX
Programs: Hertz PC, Hilton DMD, IHG Spire Amb, Bonvoy Titanium Elite & WoH Globalist
Posts: 8,076
Not to belabor the point, but at this property the “Executive Room” benefits you are referencing, including the choice of breakfast or evening cocktails, are in fact a room upgrade. As I am sure you are aware, there are no physical “Club” or “Executive” rooms at this property. An upgrade between room types (except for suites, of course) means that either Executive or Club benefits are included at no charge. There is no entitlement for this on award nights.
The regular rooms are vast (in comparison to across the street GHE), the location is superb, and the staff is super nice, but, to be honest with you, without this executive benefit, it's a no go for us. We travel as a family and when the kids wake up in the morning, they have to have their breakfast immediately. And, hence, the attraction to this here property. We get treated like royalty at the MMQP as we were one of the first families to check in at that property. And, as PP with kids we get the extensive breakfast at Goji. So we have alternatives in Bangkok if this benefit was to be discontinued. I hear the Ambassador program T&C changing effective tomorrow and will see what impact that will have on this particular property and our future travel plans.
Jan 31, 2019, 12:31 pm
#1303
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: BKK
Posts: 6,741
Thank you
The regular rooms are vast (in comparison to across the street GHE), the location is superb, and the staff is super nice, but, to be honest with you, without this executive benefit, it's a no go for us. We travel as a family and when the kids wake up in the morning, they have to have their breakfast immediately. And, hence, the attraction to this here property. We get treated like royalty at the MMQP as we were one of the first families to check in at that property. And, as PP with kids we get the extensive breakfast at Goji. So we have alternatives in Bangkok if this benefit was to be discontinued. I hear the Ambassador program T&C changing effective tomorrow and will see what impact that will have on this particular property and our future travel plans.
The regular rooms are vast (in comparison to across the street GHE), the location is superb, and the staff is super nice, but, to be honest with you, without this executive benefit, it's a no go for us. We travel as a family and when the kids wake up in the morning, they have to have their breakfast immediately. And, hence, the attraction to this here property. We get treated like royalty at the MMQP as we were one of the first families to check in at that property. And, as PP with kids we get the extensive breakfast at Goji. So we have alternatives in Bangkok if this benefit was to be discontinued. I hear the Ambassador program T&C changing effective tomorrow and will see what impact that will have on this particular property and our future travel plans.
I completed agree that the building design is such that every single room is spacious. That is not true of many other hotels. At this property you never have to worry about getting a small or undesirable room, at least in my experience, they’re all okay.
Jan 31, 2019, 3:07 pm
#1304
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: SNA/LAX
Programs: Hertz PC, Hilton DMD, IHG Spire Amb, Bonvoy Titanium Elite & WoH Globalist
Posts: 8,076
I love both hotels. I strongly suspect IC Bangkok will continue to take great care of you, so I do not think you have anything to worry about. This hotel really just ticks off so many boxes for me making it an excellent choice.
I completed agree that the building design is such that every single room is spacious. That is not true of many other hotels. At this property you never have to worry about getting a small or undesirable room, at least in my experience, they’re all okay.
I completed agree that the building design is such that every single room is spacious. That is not true of many other hotels. At this property you never have to worry about getting a small or undesirable room, at least in my experience, they’re all okay.
As a family, we no longer frequent the GHE ... the IC BKK OTOH is good to us but we didn't hold back either - booked two rooms and paid for upgrade even though the wife and kids don't like or go to the IC Club. After all said and done, it added up to around $140 all in per room per night according to the latest valuations. Most importantly, and this I cannot put a price on, we enjoyed our 2 stays and highly recommend this property.
Jan 31, 2019, 7:40 pm
#1305
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: PEK and BOS
Programs: BA - Blue
Posts: 4,530
No issues really as far as the room is concerned. AFAIK, there are two types of double room, one in the middle section of the floors and the second can be found at either end of the floor (corner). Both offer comfortable bedding but for 4 people, it will be a bit cramped. There is 4 of us too and the kids are 7 and 10 but we book a king with an attached double for the kids. But tht might be too much for you. I'd ask for a baby cot for the little one as a solution.
Double room
Double corner room
As a Spire Ambassador, you are given executive privileges at this hotel to include a choice of breakfast at Espresso restaurant on the 2nd floor. The breakfast here is a culinary experience quality and quantity wise. So no need for paid upgrade to the IC Club access.
For DMK transportation, I'd get into the taxi queue at the airport and it shouldn't cost more than THB 300 (under $10) including tolls for the ride to the hotel.
Double room
Double corner room
As a Spire Ambassador, you are given executive privileges at this hotel to include a choice of breakfast at Espresso restaurant on the 2nd floor. The breakfast here is a culinary experience quality and quantity wise. So no need for paid upgrade to the IC Club access.
For DMK transportation, I'd get into the taxi queue at the airport and it shouldn't cost more than THB 300 (under $10) including tolls for the ride to the hotel.
tb