Kacee

It's an excellent location. The usual debate is whether Sukhumvit or the river is better for first time visitors. If you're going to stay on Sukhumvit, SGS is extremely convenient.

You can get coffee in the Library for free all day (table service). I've never had to buy bottled water at SGS, they keep the rooms well stocked. If you do want to shop for snacks, there is a 7-11 on pretty much every block and a full grocery store about three minutes walk away (below the Robinson's).

enthrop

Thanks all. Got one more question to add to my small list.

How does the St. Regis compare? It wasn't on my radar before because I have a mental block of being not able to afford a St. Regis. But I noticed it's both the same points & $$/night as the SGS (30k points/night, due to 5th free, or $137+tax on corp rate), which puts it on my radar now! I didn't realize SGS was one category (cat 5) above most of the other properties we had been discussing (which were cat 4s).

catocony

I've only walked by the St. Regis, but it's in the same general neighborhood as the Renaissance and Courtyard. There's a Skytrain station in front.

Keep in mind that hotels are fairly cheap in Bangkok. $137.00 can get you quite a bit. Also, as far as ratings go, the Cat 4 JW or Ren or Suk57 would be a Cat 8-9 property in Europe or the US/Canada.

If you've never been to Bangkok, one thing you need to understand is that it will take quite a bit longer to get somewhere than it looks on a map. Roads are congested, sidewalks are congested, you usually cross a major street by talking a walkway over it rather than waiting on a crosswalk signal. If you walk, you'll walk a lot farther than you think you will

One thing you should do is map out some of the places you plan to go and see what's closest to you. Ratchaprasong - the area where the St. Regis, Renaissance, Hyatt and lots of other big hotels - is centered on the high-end shopping. It's quite a bit different than staying on Sukhumvit, even though it's the same road and only a mile away. If you're going there for wine and women, stay somewhere along Suk. If you want it a bit quieter or plan on doing shopping, then Ratchaprasong is a better fit. If you want it a lot quieter or if the idea of rubbing elbows with drunks and hookers and touts and everything else that makes Bangkok Bangkok is not your style, a place along the river or the Suk57 might be a better fit.

SHLTP

Literally every choice you mentioned is good. You can't to wrong.

I prefer LC Athenee because of combo of breakfast, pool and lounge plus I love suites. But I also like SGS esp because of Library and evening options, though I don't find rooms luxurious.

If you don't have a favorite go on choice. Never had a bad stay at a starwoid in Bangkok

EuropeanPete

Honestly, most if not all 4-5 star Starriott breakfast options are going to be memorable. I wouldn't let that sway you at all.

Instead of a normal lounge "concierge hour", several ex-Starwood properties have a "happy hour" which is essentially free food and drink (with a focus on premium alcohol) in quite nice venues. At the SGS they really take it to the next level where you have the option between some especially beautiful venues. Every guest is welcome in all the venues, but Platinums have a pretty wide selection to choose from to the degree where you'd have to be pretty pick to choose to pay for anything for the early evening. I'd comfortably prefer this to the few $150 a night Ritz Carlton Clubs that I've been to. [q[quote]If you've never been to Asia, or even to Thailand, it is probably going to be quite different from what you've seen before.

I guess technically no. You have a minibar, room service, freebies at the Library and the SGS is connected to a phenomenal mall where you can get a 3 course meal which will blow your mind for about $5, so you won't starve or go thirsty Sukhumvit (while not the perfect location being suggested here in terms of environment) also had a lot of 7-11s

I'm as guilty as anyone else in hiding in a hotel when I really "should" be out exploring a city like Bangkok. In my defense, it's usually because I got a bit carried away exploring the night before. My point was more that there's only so good a lounge is ever going to be - and in a city where you can eat like a king for $5 it's never going to be that good. When I'm in Bangkok I don't only have nights in the SGS because I am too hungover to leave the hotel, but also because the place offers really phenomenal service and experiences in its different venues. I just don't believe any conventional lounge no matter how well prepared the buffer or how well meaning the server could ever offer that.

horizontal

Having stayed at both, they were almost equally fantastic though I had a slightly better time at the StR due to better Plat recognition in particular:
1) an upgrade to a suite
2) Platinum HH (this was before the merger though and I hear they've since done away with it)
3) being marginally closer to the malls where I spent most of that trip

The things the SGS beat the StR on were:
1) absolute quality of breakfast, particularly at Rossini's
2) availability of family rooms (which is one big reason I'd decided to stay at the SGS instead of going back to the StR)
3) live music in the evenings

I don't think you can go far wrong on either option (and that StR rate is pretty great)!

Kacee

But if breakfast is important, one difference to consider is that the Marriotts with a lounge generally won't let you eat in the restaurant for free.

dsquared37

Suk57 is quiet? It's right at the mouth of Thong Lor with crazy amounts of bars and restaurants within a 10 min walk.

catocony

Suk57 isn't next to Nana Plaza like the JW. Compared to the rest of Sukhumvit, Soi 57 is quiet.

yosithezet

Fair, but a few minutes down Thonglor and you have Soul Food, Baan Ice and then the whole bar scene down near Thonglor Soi 10.

dsquared37

Compared to the rest of Sukhumvit, Thong Lor isn't a seedy den of whores. If that's what you mean by quiet then I'll agree.

enthrop

Hi wonderfully informed folks - One more question. I noticed that when I modified my hotel searches for 2 adults, prices went up. I normally don't see a "per adult" price at non-resort locations... how much do these hotels enforce that?

EuropeanPete

Which hotels was this? I've never noticed this in Bangkok (though I've only ever stayed on the Starwood side).

funkbandit

The changed prices may just be due to some promotional rate that may be available for single travelers or something like this.
Marriott hotels in Bangkok usually calculate rooms based on double occupancy. And since there's no per person tax (like in Tokyo) expect to pay the same price whether you stay alone or with another traveler.

Kacee

Are you looking at a rate that includes breakfast? That will sometimes cause it to vary based on number of guests.