flyaow

Anyone stay at the recently launched Westin Grande Sukhumvit in Bangkok? How does it compare to the Sheraton across the street?

Cheers!


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LH738

Hmm, interesting. spg.com (or westin.com) don't "know" this hotel.

flyaow

Here is a link to the details:
http://www.grandpacifichotel.com/viewall/viewnews.asp

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MaisonUnitas

I would love to try this new property during my stay in Thailand on Jan 27-Feb 1st. Any idea when it opens?

Tak

I don't know how much they made the renovation as new westin, but Grand Pacific was the 4 star hotel and Sheraton cross the street was much superior. GP was not bad at all, but it was not 5 star hotel. Since there is super market on ground floor, it was very convenient.

When it was Grand Pacific, their rate was around $60-70 per room incl. Breakfast.

tfong007

I heard from friends that Grand Pacific was a dump. My friend stayed there last week. However, they are doing some serious renovations which may seriously improve the place. Its defintely not a 5 star as it stands.

christep

It wasn't a dump - but it was a very long way below the Sheraton Grande. Unfortunately, as times have got harder in my area of business over the last couple of years we moved from using the Sheraton (corporate rate ~US$100++) to the Grand Pacific (corporate rate <US$60). (Our office in Bangkok is within 400m of both.)

Frankly the Grand Pacific wasn't bad value at that rate for the rooms, which were perfectly OK, but nothing special. I can't really compare with the Sheraton because when I stayed there as a Plat I got upgraded to the most wonderful big rooms or suites. I never used the (poky little) bar or the restaurants in the Grand Pacific because there are so many other places around there to go.

I have no doubt though that the Sheraton is overall much better value if you can afford the additional cost.

Nepal72

The grand pacific is being renovated as a westin. It's still open during the renovation but has not yet offically opened as a westin. The full hotel is being renovated to meet westin standars.

Chiangi

It's officially opened as a Westin on Feb. 1, 2003.

I stayed there for US80 dollars, the best available rate on spg.com.

Be patient with them!

Renovation does not seem to have completed yet, except the three executive floors.

I called the hotel before I arrived, to ask them to prepare a room and a folio, just to minmise check-in hassles. They never prepared both. There's a bar near the check-in counter on the same 7th floor, and I was forced to listen to the loundly singing performers while I waited to be checked in.

I showed my Platinum card but the agent did not take note of it apparently. I was given a regular room on a low, 11th floor, which I noticed after I got into the room.

I called the duty manager to see if it was possible to give me a Platinum upgrade. I was then given a suite on the 14th floor, which is a set of connecting rooms, with one having a bed and the other sofas. The manager and the check-in agent apologized for not being familiar with SPG rules.

The next morning, I called the guest service if I would have access to the lounge on an executive floor, and was told yes. I had not been told of this when I checked in or when I was reassigned to the suite.

The room is OK. It was not yet refurbished. The phones still had the Grand Pacific Hotel logo, the name of the prevous brand. Amenities were of typical Westin. A Patinum amenity of 500 points and two other options (200THB food credit or gift) was not also advised at the time of check-in. I was notified of it before I left.

I took a look at a room on an executive floor and it was fully refurbished and looked very nice with modern furniture.

They were also doing renovation work even on Sunday and on the 14th floor, it was just annoying in the morning.

The lounge on a high floor was quiet and refurbished. I was the only guest when I went there. A nice selection of continental breakfast options (they did have omlet, though).

I could not check out at the lounge as they said their computer system in the lounge was not fully linked.

It is by no means comparable to the Sheraton Grande across the street. It is a lower-cost SPG option.

The Royal Orchid, for 75USD, is a lot better, if you don't mind the location.

And it is also by no means better than the new Conrad! The Conrad is a lot, lot, lot, lot, lot better!

flyaow

Interesting update on in Chiangi! Thanks! I wonder how it develops over the next few months as the construction ends and the training picks up.

Cheers!


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GK

i have a cheap reward redemption night coming up in mid march at this hotel - shall post on how it goes.

gk

SNA_Flyer

I stayed at the Sheraton last November, and remember looking across the street at the Grand Pacific and thinking "wow, that place looks like a dump".

As a gold at the Sheraton, I was placed in a very spacious high-floor room on a low rate. It's a very nice hotel with excellent service.

They are going to have to put a lot of money into the Grand Pacific to make it better than the Sheraton, IMO.

Nevsky

I just stayed at the Sheraton Grande Sukhumvit again and was given a beautiful executive suite. I love this property. Great, attentive service. Unfortunately, I only was there for about six hours. I did not have time to investigate the Westin.

[This message has been edited by Nevsky (edited 02-03-2003).]

mpclaw

Greetings from the Westin Grand Sukhumvit.

I have stayed many times at the Sheraton Sukhumvit and always enjoy my stays there immensely. It is of course a Luxury Collections Hotel and even by Bangkok standards, it is not inexpensive. By going through one of the discount services, you can usually obtain a room for around $160.00

Imagine my surprise last month when I was trying to book a room there and up popped on the SPG website, the Westin Grande Sukhumvit with virtually the same address! At first I thought it was a name change. But, no. Having been familiar with the area, I knew that there were not any new hotels under construction in the area and I assumed correctly that it was a hotel called the Grand Pacific right across the street.

I was both lured and intrigued by the 76.00 rate on the website so I went ahead and booked a room. I arrived last night. The lobby is on the 7th floor and looks to have been recently redone. Gone are all references to the Grand Pacific and the name Westin in prominently displayed outside.

As platinum member, I was given a room on the executive floor (25th and 26th) floor. You are escorted to your room for check in formalities. The room was very nice, and the rooms and hallways appear all to have been redone. Heavenly bed, hi speed internet, marble bath, and luxurious furnishings I was invited to use the lounge and was told that complimentary breakfast was available as well as all day drinks and snacks and complimentary cocktails in the evening.

Upon arrival, they had by card filled out for me to choose my platinum amenity. When traveling alone, I could care less about a suite and did not even ask. I was under the impression that only a few floors are currently completed as the whole place is being renovated. (But you would not know it as the public areas and the floor you are all are completed)

Rivas, the nightclub at the Sheraton Grande, is a hot spot and always fun. Upon check in, I simply crossed over the sky bridge and found myself in Rivas. The Westin is directly across the street. They have a nightspot on the top floor, but I was too tired to check it out.

All in all, the Westin Grande is a super hotel, and while not quite as opulent as the Sheraton Grande, it is just about as nice and of course the low rates make it very, very, very attractive. As far as I am concerned, the two hotels are just about on a par, with the slight edge of course to the Sheraton, but you have to remember, the Sheraton is Luxury Collection Hotel.

I look forward to many more stays at this new Westin.

By the way, both Hotels are right at the Asok Skytrain station.

Gaucho100K

Is this one and the same hotel you are talking about...? I know the Sheraton Grande Shkhumvit, but you mention the Westin...?