correctioncx

So the million dollar question which one I should stay at?

TRAVELSIG

I am going to weigh in with an update about "Which hotel should I choose in Bangkok" 2013 thoughts:

SGS: Excellent location and direct connection to BTS- which will win you accolades if traveling with a woman wearing heels if you are headed out at night and want to use the BTS to move quickly. Very good service- the only area I think they could improve on is the Concierge desk. Excellent value property. The only improvement they made I don't like is paying more for a lake view room. F&B great. Best Sunday brunch in Bangkok (risky to say- I am laying down the gauntlet). Repeat guest recognition top level.

Westin: Same location as SGS but missing direct connection to BTS. Some guests really like this hotel because of the club- I don't really care for a club in Bangkok as there are so many wonderful places to meet for an aperitivo and to eat in Bangkok. Good service. Terrible Internet led me to stop staying here- I understand this has since been fixed? Pool area a bit sad compared to the SGS across the street although certainly better for swimming as opposed to sitting by a pool. Excellent value with often rates under 5000 THB.

Four Points: I don't like the hotel that much but many do. Beer Vault is good. 4 minute walk from Westin or take their free tuk tuk. Noise between rooms easy to hear. Excellent value as well with rates sometimes under 2000 THB.

aLoft: Unlike others I like the S11 address and also really like this hotel. Fastest internet of any SPG hotel I have stayed at in Bangkok (I have not stayed at the W). Close to many restaurants. Excellent staff. Great breakfast. Best value hotel in Bangkok if there for work and wanting to stay in the Sukhumvit area with rates around 2000 THB. Some don't like this hotel for perception of no plat benefits- I am not plat so not relevant.

PA: Nice hotel with an amazing selection of F&B outlets all great. I come here for the Japanese restaurant from time to time when not staying in the hotel. Not as good of a location in my opinion (no restaurants immediately around except in hotel). Again I don't use club level however many like this a lot. I find the suites a bit strange here- not enough furniture. Good service overall and great management.

St. Regis: Stayed one time- much prefer the Four Seasons next door which has the same pricing essentially. Better views at St. Regis. Still better service at Four Seasons (hotels both have same owner and location).

W and LM: Locations too far out of the way for me- the area around LM is not on my Bangkok agendas nor for work nor pleasure and the W location is just not convenient enough for me.

ROS: A lot of my colleagues visiting BKK for the first time love to stay here as it is on the river. Many debates over in the Luxury Hotel thread about staying on the river- the opinions there are like belly buttons- everyone has one Great service for such a large hotel and good F&B. Excellent rates available from time to time although I would compare with the Shangri-La next door and stay there if they were close.

Every Starwood hotel in Bangkok I have stayed at does a great job of SPG recognition- if other cities were like Bangkok in this regard I would shift a lot more business to Starwood.

Last closing comment- if all LM hotels worldwide got rid of the crazy elevator music I would stay more often (including the PA)

Dr. HFH

Well, I seem to have an opinion about everything else, so I might as well weigh in here!!

AmBar on the roof is very nice, -- particularly delightful at night if it's not too hot. And the staff there is great!!


Soi 11 was once described to me by a well-known U.S. radio personality as a "happening soi." And it is. Very lively, with clubs, restaurants, lots of street food choices and bars. Personally, I like the energy of soi 11; but I know that not all do.


That's interesting. Any idea who? Possibly the same gentleman who owns several LMs in Thailand (and also ThaiBev, of which Chang beer is one of the brands)?

TRAVELSIG

81 hotels in total in the portfolio:
http://www.minorinternational.com/MBiz/Hotel.php

Agree on S11- I often meet FTers there if they (and I) have time for a beer after work- I am still a Cheap Charlies fan after all these years.

Rooftop at 4Points also agree- I just like to get out of hotels as particularly in Asia I seem to spend too much time in them (meetings, banquets, etc etc etc).

IrishStephen

They have been talking about it for quite some time yes and it has been dragging on. I know that the delay was due to tourism being hurt again and again by issues in BKK over the last few years. I was told that the owners of the property had on my last visit given a green light to the renovations however I don't think that anything has started I am sad to say.

I know the management especially Richard really want this renovation of the rooms completed so I guess we all will just have to watch this space. You are right though perhaps the owners see the occupancy levels and are happy not to take any unnecessary risk right now.

seanthepilot

And Heineken, Swensons, Burger King, Coffee Club..... etc, etc, etc

ORDPLATAA

Just back from the Aloft. Checked in at 12:30am Saturday night/Sunday morning and S11 was rocking! A bit overwhelming after traveling all day from LAX with little sleep. That said, room was comfortable, fast (and free) internet in the room and inexpensive and tasty food at re:Fuel (hotel offering 20% discount for hotel guests showing a room key at that outlet for the month of February). Hung out in the pool area for a bit (really liked the infinity pool) and just chilled out. Only issue I had with the room was that the ac was really loud (even when the fan was set on low) but, since it was 90 degrees by late morning, I am sure that it has to work overtime just to keep up! Easy walk, close to Nana station and food options galore in the area. I walked over to Terminal 21 and saw both WGS and SGS and thought that, for 2500 points versus the 10000 needed at the other properties, that it was a pretty good value.

Santander

Yep, great atmosphere, decent-priced food/drink and great staff. AmBar and the Beer Vault are the only hotel bars which I can say I'm a regular at... and both happen to be in the same hotel!

snaffled

They have a lot of managed and franchised F&B outlets, but not Heineken I think. (Although Bill Heinecke is the CEO)

TCC (which owns most of the LM hotels in Thailand) was the company that went up against Heineken bidding for F&N and Tiger Beer in Singapore recently.

correctioncx

Also I just find out my rate includes breakfast as well so as a plt what amenities can I choose?

Starwood Lurker

Starpoints or the local amenity.

Best regards,

William R. Sanders
Social Media Specialist
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide

[email protected]

correctioncx

But do I get both as I was suppose to get breakfast anyway with the PLT

Starwood Lurker

No, it would be you choice of one over the over.

Best regards,

William R. Sanders
Social Media Specialist
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide

[email protected]

yosithezet

Breakfast is not a Platinum benefit but can be selected as an amenity. At most of the Starwood properties in Bangkok they provide breakfast to Platinum either because they have a lounge or as something they do over and above what they are required to do. The fact that your rate includes breakfast doesn't entitle you to something in lieu of the over and above service. I'm not sure the W is one of the properties that provides breakfast outside of the amenities in the way that the SGS, Westin, Four Points, Plaza Athenee, Le Meridien, etc. do.

UASPG

Opinions may vary on that subject. I really dislike real 'elevator music' and appreciates the creativity that Le Meridien brings in the elevator. I don't like that comes out, but that the risk that you take when you choose to surprise with something new.