Feb 5, 2014, 6:48 am
Royal Orchid Sheraton, Bangkok, Thailand 2007 onward [Master Thread]
Jan 7, 2022, 2:22 am
#856
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: SNA/LAX
Programs: Hertz PC, Hilton DMD, IHG Spire Amb, Bonvoy Titanium Elite & WoH Globalist
Posts: 8,076
And it looks like you didn't even have a proper suite just one of the weird junior? suites. ROS was one of my favorites years ago, but a disasterous change of GM started a downhill slide that has sadly lasted many years now.Views at happy hour were majestic though and they were gracious enough to let me cancel around 1 PM and move on without penalty.
Last edited by Kalboz; Jan 7, 2022 at 2:28 am
Jan 7, 2022, 4:05 am
#857
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Mostly EU & (SE)Asia
Programs: Various shiny cards at hotel chains and airlines
Posts: 1,039
Thanks for the update. I did not stay at ROS last year and while I considered paying them a visit in coming months, looks like it is a very bad idea.
Their club lounge used to be quite decent pre pandemic. Breakfast was selection wise so-so, but riverside views/terrace was making it ok. But having poor upgrade when hotel is empty and then restricting to one plate of snacks is certainly not worth it. Better to be across the river in Hilton Millenium, where lounge is open (albeit with restricted selections compared to pre-pandemic).
Their club lounge used to be quite decent pre pandemic. Breakfast was selection wise so-so, but riverside views/terrace was making it ok. But having poor upgrade when hotel is empty and then restricting to one plate of snacks is certainly not worth it. Better to be across the river in Hilton Millenium, where lounge is open (albeit with restricted selections compared to pre-pandemic).
Underwhelming ... even for the rate paid!
- Lounge is closed - you get a 90 minutes coupon at Giorgio's. And although it's free flowing beverages, the food is limited to one plate of "canapes"!
- Horrible breakfast experience in comparison to other Bangkok properties - and limited in time!!! You chose a time slot at check in and if they have the Thai hoards, you better adhere to your allotted time! It's more like a camp than a hotel/resort!
- Delapitated rooms and flimsy furniture and room doors - way past needing a refurbishment!
- And the list goes on ...
Wonderful views though!
- Lounge is closed - you get a 90 minutes coupon at Giorgio's. And although it's free flowing beverages, the food is limited to one plate of "canapes"!
- Horrible breakfast experience in comparison to other Bangkok properties - and limited in time!!! You chose a time slot at check in and if they have the Thai hoards, you better adhere to your allotted time! It's more like a camp than a hotel/resort!
- Delapitated rooms and flimsy furniture and room doors - way past needing a refurbishment!
- And the list goes on ...
Wonderful views though!
Jan 7, 2022, 4:17 am
#858
Join Date: Jan 2017
Programs: Marriott Lifetime Titanium, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 2,198
I used to stay at this property and enjoyed it but it got too worn down and the biggest issue was the breakfast which was absolutely chaotic before covid. There are too many well priced and excellent properties in Marriott family to justify ROS at this stage
Jan 7, 2022, 8:24 am
#859
Join Date: May 2021
Posts: 2,155
Just for a slight counterbalance...
The time slot breakfast was only for 2 days over new year.
I actually prefer the 90 minutes free flow drinks at a time of my choosing, but I believe they have had some feedback about the canapes.
The carpets are brand new in my room and some refurbishment is ongoing.
And the lobby lounge suddenly closed 2 days before NYE. For 14 days. You decide...
The elite coupon can be used at any of the open outlets not just Giorgio's, although opening times do vary through the week.
Some of the furniture is definitely tired, I'm not a fan of the standard rooms with shower curtain, and I don't eat breakfast anyway. But I like being away from the downtown traffic, and the pool settings are bigger and nicer than many in Bangkok.
Depends what you like really
The time slot breakfast was only for 2 days over new year.
I actually prefer the 90 minutes free flow drinks at a time of my choosing, but I believe they have had some feedback about the canapes.
The carpets are brand new in my room and some refurbishment is ongoing.
And the lobby lounge suddenly closed 2 days before NYE. For 14 days. You decide...
The elite coupon can be used at any of the open outlets not just Giorgio's, although opening times do vary through the week.
Some of the furniture is definitely tired, I'm not a fan of the standard rooms with shower curtain, and I don't eat breakfast anyway. But I like being away from the downtown traffic, and the pool settings are bigger and nicer than many in Bangkok.
Depends what you like really
Last edited by KingCanute; Jan 7, 2022 at 9:12 am
Jan 7, 2022, 5:49 pm
#861
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: SNA/LAX
Programs: Hertz PC, Hilton DMD, IHG Spire Amb, Bonvoy Titanium Elite & WoH Globalist
Posts: 8,076
Crappy upgrade to a soiled room + staff indifference = Lost revenue!
Mar 27, 2022, 6:50 am
#862
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: bay area, ca
Programs: UA plat, , aa plat, marriott LT titanium
Posts: 4,833
no shuttle boat?
Not staying here for fairly obvious reasons, but on passing by and being at the Taksin pier I didn't see the boat any time - their dock looked deserted as I passed by and I haven't seen the boat on the river. Website says it exists - is it really running?
Mar 27, 2022, 7:38 am
#863
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: In the air
Programs: Hyatt Globalist, Bonvoy LT Plat, Hilton Gold, GHA Tit, BA Gold, Turkish Elite
Posts: 8,720
I’m 80% sure I passed one of their boats on the river a few weeks ago.
Mar 27, 2022, 9:23 am
#865
Original Member
Join Date: May 1998
Location: Orange County, CA, USA
Programs: AA (Life Plat), Marriott (Life Titanium) and every other US program
Posts: 6,411
I haven't stayed here in a while. (I think is has been 38 years). Under the "old" Sheraton program we got upgraded to a real suite. We would swim in the pool and the pool attendants would bring us Mai Tais in coconuts with orchids on wires surrounding the coconut. At lunch time they would set our table with Shrimp Fried rice and call us out of the pool when our pool side table was ready. But, because we had this retreat, we could go walking in the neighborhoods, in the middle of summer, in "comfort" because we knew we could come back to this lovely hotel. (Old time musings - we were on our way to Burma, for a one-day visit, on our own, which was a great travel story.)
Mar 27, 2022, 11:05 am
#866
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Earth ... for now
Programs: UA 2MM * Marriott Ambassador LT Titanium * IHG Diamond Ambassador * Hilton Diamond *
Posts: 1,787
I haven't stayed here in a while. (I think is has been 38 years). Under the "old" Sheraton program we got upgraded to a real suite. We would swim in the pool and the pool attendants would bring us Mai Tais in coconuts with orchids on wires surrounding the coconut. At lunch time they would set our table with Shrimp Fried rice and call us out of the pool when our pool side table was ready. But, because we had this retreat, we could go walking in the neighborhoods, in the middle of summer, in "comfort" because we knew we could come back to this lovely hotel. (Old time musings - we were on our way to Burma, for a one-day visit, on our own, which was a great travel story.)
Officially inaugurated by Her Majesty, Queen Sirikit of Thailand, on July 22, 1983 as “The Royal Orchid Hotel,”.
Mar 27, 2022, 11:44 am
#867
Original Member
Join Date: May 1998
Location: Orange County, CA, USA
Programs: AA (Life Plat), Marriott (Life Titanium) and every other US program
Posts: 6,411
I think it was the summer of 1985. We visited a place that other tourists don't seem to go - the Zoo (we have been to zoos around the world). At that time it was still allowed to feed the zoo animals - I have a great picture of me holding a bunch (50?) of small bananas which I was tossing, a few at a time, into the mouth of a hippo. The Sheraton property, at that time, to my memory (which is often wrong), was considered a competitor to the Oriental, which, if defective memory serves me, was considered a top hotel in 1985.
Mar 27, 2022, 5:15 pm
#868
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: SNA/LAX
Programs: Hertz PC, Hilton DMD, IHG Spire Amb, Bonvoy Titanium Elite & WoH Globalist
Posts: 8,076
I think it was the summer of 1985. We visited a place that other tourists don't seem to go - the Zoo (we have been to zoos around the world). At that time it was still allowed to feed the zoo animals - I have a great picture of me holding a bunch (50?) of small bananas which I was tossing, a few at a time, into the mouth of a hippo. The Sheraton property, at that time, to my memory (which is often wrong), was considered a competitor to the Oriental, which, if defective memory serves me, was considered a top hotel in 1985.
AFAIK, Dusit Zoo was allowing visitors to feed the animals as late as 2013!
Mar 28, 2022, 6:01 am
#869
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: bay area, ca
Programs: UA plat, , aa plat, marriott LT titanium
Posts: 4,833
I haven't stayed here in a while. (I think is has been 38 years). Under the "old" Sheraton program we got upgraded to a real suite. We would swim in the pool and the pool attendants would bring us Mai Tais in coconuts with orchids on wires surrounding the coconut. At lunch time they would set our table with Shrimp Fried rice and call us out of the pool when our pool side table was ready. But, because we had this retreat, we could go walking in the neighborhoods, in the middle of summer, in "comfort" because we knew we could come back to this lovely hotel. (Old time musings - we were on our way to Burma, for a one-day visit, on our own, which was a great travel story.)
Apr 9, 2022, 10:03 pm
#870
Join Date: May 2021
Posts: 2,155