MO Bangkok
#92
Join Date: Dec 2013
Location: Homeless
Programs: Hyatt Glob; Hilton Dia; Marriott AMB; Accor Dia; IHG Dia Amb; GHA Tit
Posts: 4,820
According to their (new) naming convention of rooms, which ones are in the more newly upgraded wing? I might want to try a different room type next type and see how they compare.
#93
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: In the air
Programs: Hyatt Globalist, Bonvoy LT Plat, Hilton Diamond, GHA Tit, BA Gold, Turkish Elite
Posts: 8,682
I recently stayed at the MO BKK on a Staycation rate for 17,500THB which is about the most one can pay for a hotel room in Thailand at the moment, but came with 50% credit which I used towards a dinner at Le Normandie. I am a relatively frequent visitor to the MO for F&B (most recently to try the new Kinu by Takagi behind Lord Jim's) so this was about experiencing the legendary guest service for me.
Being alone, I booked an entry level room and that's exactly what I got. It was relatively spacious, though the bathroom was notably smaller than one would get in a new build luxury hotel of its caliber nowadays. The refurb was high quality as you'd expect, and I liked little touches like the metal mini toiletries and the various goodies which were waiting for me (potentially as part of the staycation rate). At the MO's price point, you are clearly paying primarily for the service and not the room though - it doesn't compare to the Siam or Waldorf Astoria rooms, though in those I haven't seen the entry level rooms as other hotels appear to be much more generous with upgrades at the moment.
Service was classical and highly polished. I can see how the hotel has built its reputation on it. For me personally I found it a touch cold (with the exception of reception, who were lovely) and wasn't a fan of the way staff members would often about turn and run away if I entered the corridor or the way they had a habit of lurking around corners (e.g. by the pool) to keep an eye on me without being fully seen - while offering excellent service, of course. What I noticed most was the sheer number of staff, more than any other hotel I can remember seeing recently. The middle level management were also highly visible, including someone who greeted me by name as I walked out of the elevator in the morning apparently by my demographics of being a single white man alone.
F&B is obviously legendary here. The Bamboo Bar is always special and I enjoyed the chance to try Le Normandie including their signature uni and caviar which matched with the right wine was rather special. Whenever I am in Bangkok I expect I will be returning to eat or drink here, but I didn't feel the hotel overall is a great fit for my personal preferences. At the absolute top end of the Bangkok hotel market, I feel more comfortable at the Siam which to me personally just feels much more welcoming and where you get a true stunner of a room at twice the size.
Being alone, I booked an entry level room and that's exactly what I got. It was relatively spacious, though the bathroom was notably smaller than one would get in a new build luxury hotel of its caliber nowadays. The refurb was high quality as you'd expect, and I liked little touches like the metal mini toiletries and the various goodies which were waiting for me (potentially as part of the staycation rate). At the MO's price point, you are clearly paying primarily for the service and not the room though - it doesn't compare to the Siam or Waldorf Astoria rooms, though in those I haven't seen the entry level rooms as other hotels appear to be much more generous with upgrades at the moment.
Service was classical and highly polished. I can see how the hotel has built its reputation on it. For me personally I found it a touch cold (with the exception of reception, who were lovely) and wasn't a fan of the way staff members would often about turn and run away if I entered the corridor or the way they had a habit of lurking around corners (e.g. by the pool) to keep an eye on me without being fully seen - while offering excellent service, of course. What I noticed most was the sheer number of staff, more than any other hotel I can remember seeing recently. The middle level management were also highly visible, including someone who greeted me by name as I walked out of the elevator in the morning apparently by my demographics of being a single white man alone.
F&B is obviously legendary here. The Bamboo Bar is always special and I enjoyed the chance to try Le Normandie including their signature uni and caviar which matched with the right wine was rather special. Whenever I am in Bangkok I expect I will be returning to eat or drink here, but I didn't feel the hotel overall is a great fit for my personal preferences. At the absolute top end of the Bangkok hotel market, I feel more comfortable at the Siam which to me personally just feels much more welcoming and where you get a true stunner of a room at twice the size.
#94
Join Date: Jan 2017
Location: NGS
Programs: UA Silver, ANA MC, HH Diamond, Hyatt Explorist, Bonvoy Plat, IHG Plat, Shangri-La GC, Hertz PC
Posts: 1,214
Kind of creepy staff behavior, what's going on here? Can't ever remember receiving that kind of service at a hotel before and wouldn't want to return if I did. Perhaps foreigners are viewed as potential COVID carriers that need to be monitored?
#95
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Boston, Jo'burg, HK
Programs: AA EXP, Hyatt Lifetime Diamond, CX Gold, Mrs. Pickles travels for free
Posts: 13,131
This is old-skool Asian service. I experienced it in Japan in the 1980s, and at places like the MO Bangkok. Scariest of them all is the guy who would step into the elevator with you at lobby level and press your floor button and step right out. Not just any random floor button, the one corresponding to your actual floor.
#96
Join Date: Jan 2017
Location: NGS
Programs: UA Silver, ANA MC, HH Diamond, Hyatt Explorist, Bonvoy Plat, IHG Plat, Shangri-La GC, Hertz PC
Posts: 1,214
This is old-skool Asian service. I experienced it in Japan in the 1980s, and at places like the MO Bangkok. Scariest of them all is the guy who would step into the elevator with you at lobby level and press your floor button and step right out. Not just any random floor button, the one corresponding to your actual floor.
#97
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 1999
Location: Seat 1A, Juice pretty much everywhere, Mucci des Coins Exotiques
Posts: 34,339
This is old-skool Asian service. I experienced it in Japan in the 1980s, and at places like the MO Bangkok. Scariest of them all is the guy who would step into the elevator with you at lobby level and press your floor button and step right out. Not just any random floor button, the one corresponding to your actual floor.
#98
Join Date: Dec 2013
Location: Homeless
Programs: Hyatt Glob; Hilton Dia; Marriott AMB; Accor Dia; IHG Dia Amb; GHA Tit
Posts: 4,820
This is old-skool Asian service. I experienced it in Japan in the 1980s, and at places like the MO Bangkok. Scariest of them all is the guy who would step into the elevator with you at lobby level and press your floor button and step right out. Not just any random floor button, the one corresponding to your actual floor.
Exactly. If I had to use the word "scary" it would be to say "scary good" service.
Regarding staff walking away in the hallways my interpretation is that they do not want to be a disturbance and they let you have the way. I never interpreted it as a negative, but more that if it's housekeeping then they have been instructed it's not their role to guide guests to where they are going. However if it's a manager in the hallway, it is indeed their role and they do not walk away, quite the opposite.
#99
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: In the air
Programs: Hyatt Globalist, Bonvoy LT Plat, Hilton Diamond, GHA Tit, BA Gold, Turkish Elite
Posts: 8,682
I'm clearly a bit younger and brought up a bit differently to the MO BKK's core clientele (who by the way make great people watching) and simply react better to slightly less formal and deferential luxury. I'll also note that I didn't get anything particularly welcoming or customised in the way that escape4 experienced (e.g. leaving Bamboo bar to get to Le Normandie could have been an opportunity for someone to proactively volunteer to show me the way instead of me having to go find the Concierge desk, be asked for my room number and whether I have a reservation before getting shown up). Still, an interesting experience, and the MO clearly know what they're doing. I'm sure if your family has been visiting for 80+ years it's a very special place indeed.
Last edited by EuropeanPete; Mar 15, 2021 at 12:06 am
#100
Join Date: Jan 2017
Location: NGS
Programs: UA Silver, ANA MC, HH Diamond, Hyatt Explorist, Bonvoy Plat, IHG Plat, Shangri-La GC, Hertz PC
Posts: 1,214
Creepy is unfair, just highly attentive and with a more "classical" or even colonial style than I personally react best to. I was on the same floor as some of the top level suites so there was almost always a Butler in the hallway up to something or other as well as a cleaner who as I mentioned had a habit of about turning and running into the cleaner's closet/ room whenever I was out and about. The closest I'd seen to this was at the Conrad Tokyo where I remember (pre-Covid) staff would often be in the elevators but then conspicuously get out if you then entered (nowadays things would be different - I generally don't share elevators with anyone).
I'm clearly a bit younger and brought up a bit differently to the MO BKK's core clientele (who by the way make great people watching) and simply react better to slightly less formal and deferential luxury. I'll also note that I didn't get anything particularly welcoming or customised in the way that escape4 experienced (e.g. leaving Bamboo bar to get to Le Normandie could have been an opportunity for someone to proactively volunteer to show me the way instead of me having to go find the Concierge desk, be asked for my room number and whether I have a reservation before getting shown up). Still, an interesting experience, and the MO clearly know what they're doing. I'm sure if your family has been visiting for 80+ years it's a very special place indeed.
I'm clearly a bit younger and brought up a bit differently to the MO BKK's core clientele (who by the way make great people watching) and simply react better to slightly less formal and deferential luxury. I'll also note that I didn't get anything particularly welcoming or customised in the way that escape4 experienced (e.g. leaving Bamboo bar to get to Le Normandie could have been an opportunity for someone to proactively volunteer to show me the way instead of me having to go find the Concierge desk, be asked for my room number and whether I have a reservation before getting shown up). Still, an interesting experience, and the MO clearly know what they're doing. I'm sure if your family has been visiting for 80+ years it's a very special place indeed.
#101
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Home
Programs: Virgin FC, Qantas, Golden Circle, Sofitel, Hyatt, Starwood, Nectar, and my Tesco Club Card
Posts: 1,769
This is old-skool Asian service. I experienced it in Japan in the 1980s, and at places like the MO Bangkok. Scariest of them all is the guy who would step into the elevator with you at lobby level and press your floor button and step right out. Not just any random floor button, the one corresponding to your actual floor.
#102
Join Date: May 1999
Location: New York,NY USA
Posts: 1,477
As a regular at the Oriental for 25 years the little guy at the lift knows what floor I am on without me telling him. He then puts his arm behind him into the lift and presses the correct floor button without actually looking.
#103
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Singapore / Bangkok
Programs: SQ, BA, QR, Marriott Titanium & LT Plat, HH Diamond, Hyatt Globalist, Accor Plat, AmEx Cent
Posts: 444
Recently completed a combined 10 day stay across Author’s Suite and Deluxe Theme Suite, absolutely fantastic, flawless experience, and still the very best! A perfect sanctuary, can’t wait to return.
Last edited by EGW1; Mar 21, 2022 at 7:42 am
#104
Join Date: Nov 2019
Location: Dubai
Programs: Marriott Ambassador, Hilton Diamond, Accor Diamond, BA Gold, QR Plat
Posts: 353
Thanks for sharing. Could you elaborate more on the quality of the service in general? Especially comparison to pre-COVID
Last edited by RichardInSF; Mar 21, 2022 at 10:25 pm Reason: save space
#105
Join Date: May 1999
Location: New York,NY USA
Posts: 1,477
I was just there. Bangkok is empty of tourists. No one in the airport. The Oriental is running at 10% which is better than some of the others. The service is good as always. The employees are so happy to have guests but several restaurants closed.