Bangkok Hotel recommendations
 

Looking for a hotel recommendation for a 3 night stay in Bangkok. This would be for 2 adults, in their mid 30's. Have top tier status with IHG & Hilton and so something from these 2 chains would help. It seems to be a plethora of hotel options for Bangkok and so any hotel recommendations would be much appreciated.

Thanks in advance.

When? What would you like to do in Bangkok? First time in Bangkok?

Millennium Hilton would be a great choice if you are a Diamond. One room category upgrade, lounge access, choice of breakfast at Flow by the river, happy hour, fantastic views of Bangkok, etc. Pool is on the 4th floor and overlooking the river. Complementary shuttle boat to Saphan Taksin BTS and next door to ICONSIAM. Conrad Bangkok is just as good (better food and beverages) but city location and currently undergoing renovation until March or later.
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For IHG if you are RA or Platinum Ambassador, you will get great treatment at the InterContinental Bangkok. One room category upgrade, choice of breakfast at Espresso or Happy Hour at the Balcony Lounge if you are PA. Much better treatment if you are a RA with IC Club access for breakfast, teatime, and happy hour. Pool is rooftop on the 37th floor but you may use the ground floor pool at the adjacent Holiday Inn. Central location and easy access to BTS at Chtlom.

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Ended up with the Intercontinental. Was good, but they were hard selling the Club lounge access. Will definitely try out the Hilton next time there.

For a very good experience at far less money: Hotel Berkeley Pratunam.

Great Central Location. It's even walkable from the Ratchaprarop Station on the airport express rail link.

Small-ish night market next door with good seafood bbq options.

Take the Klong ferry to Jim Thompson House.

Walking distance to Central World, SIAM, MBK shopping

In Centralworld, I highly recommend eating at Kum Poon. Hip, modern interpretation of traditional provincial Issan recipes.

We stayed at 8 properties in our 32 nights/days in Bangkok & environs in December 2021 - January 2022. Here is the ranking from best to worst:

- The Peninsula Bangkok - THE BEST - King suite and a double with breakfast for 4.
- Sheraton Grande Sukhumvit - a close second but best in value - King Suite and a double with benefits for 4 including breakfast
- Millennium Hilton Bangkok - Solid location and breakfast but stingy on upgrades. Diamond benefits for 4
- The Room Charoenkrung 30 - AirBnB apartment in conjunction with final 5 nights at the Millennium - awesome location where we watched the NYE fireworks.
- Intercontinental Bangkok - location and paid upgrade were awesome but IC Club at 31st floor was closed, benefits trimmed, and executive breakfast that was ordinary!
- Hyatt Place Bangkok - One night for the required test & quarantine upon first arriving
- Novotel Suvarnabhumi - for final night great for location and to conduct the required Covid test for our US return trip
- Royal Orchid Sheraton - HORRIBLE - booked 5 nights that was reduced to one night

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The Peninsula suite overlooking Bangkok

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The XX02 suite at the SGS

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Christmas eve fireworks from the Millennium room

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NYE fireworks from rooftop of our AirBnB

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Pool on the 38th Floor - InterContinental Bangkok

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Bangkok sunrise from the Hyatt Place Bangkok King room

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Clean & comfortable room at the Novotel Suvarnabhumi

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Sunset at happy hour - Royal Orchid Sheraton

I think you can go with The Peninsula Bangkok which provides spectacular panoramic views, luxury elegance, modern facilities, outstanding dining selections and more

nice overview among the best what Bangkok has to offer
next time you can do the rest like Oriental, Shangri-La, Grand Hyatt Erawan, Kempinski etc.:rolleyes:

Exactly, Maybe they could add Waldorf, Capella, etc to the list next time instead of doing ‘the best of what US credit card points can get on the cheap’ - oh wait……. :rolleyes:

Don't forget PH and Athenee (former SPG LGM and now Bonvoy LC).

Grand Hyatt Erawan is not as grand as you'd imagine, its glory days are long gone although the location is unbeatable for city center.
We did our best to enjoy our time and our EARNED points/status but we also splurged. We did not invent the loyalty points, hotel programs did and we booked published rates - so, there is absolutely no shame about our game! Mentioned properties above have obscene rates of $300++ or more for just a room! We don't just spend money for the sake of spending. There has to be some value, inclusion, loyalty, reciprocity, etc. Here is a breakdown as our stays were NOT strictly on points:
- Hyatt Place Bangkok: Two rooms for quarantine and testing night - total spend about 9,000THB all in. No points accepted. Both, my wife and I, have Globalist status.
- SGS; Used 7 Marriott Category-5 certs and a 2,600THB++ spend to get 2 rooms for 4 nights. Lifetime Platinum here who's currently Titanium status.
- Hilton: 400K points PLUS about $900 all in for 2 rooms - the double for 11 nights and the King for 14 nights. The King got upgraded to a Panorama suite for only 6 nights. that would make it around $116 spend per room per night considering Hilton points are worth 1/2 US cent each. Diamond with Hilton.
- AirBnB: $550 all in for 5 nights in a nice apartment close to the river.
- Intercontinental Bangkok: 134K IHG points PLUS 8,000THB all in for a suite and attached double including Club benefits, breakfast, etc. This makes it $115 per room per night assuming IHG points are worth 1/2 US cent each.
- ROS: Paid about $200 all in for one night in two rooms. No pints used.
- Peninsula Bangkok: Paid about 52K THB for 4 nights in two rooms including breakfast for 4, one room service lunch, and one dinner at restaurant. About $190 all in per room per night - not cheap!
- Novotel BKK: Paid about $200 all in for one night in two rooms. No pints used.

So there you have it - no rock bottom rates or freeloading!
Unfortunately, we don't like either property due to previous experiences and published reports. Perhaps someone else can do these reports. :)

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The double room at the Peninsula Bangkok

Depends the reason for travel and preferred style of accommodation, Bangkok offers a variety. However, having stayed at MO, Peninsula and Rosewood, I highly recommend The Siam.
It is true when they say The Siam is the most Non-Aman, Aman in Bangkok. The service is unparalleled (no request is too much), the property is jaw dropping-ly beautiful, private boat shuttle is super convenient and the spa is otherworldly!

Here is a POV of our recent Christmas stay in the Riverview suite (December 2021):

I'd like to stay at a luxury property for 3 nights for my wife and I. While my wife is a Hyatt Globalist and I'm a Hilton Diamond, I'm not married to either brand, and I'm thinking of using AMEX FHR and debating between a few properties, all in the same price range ($300 USD or so/ night plus tax): Peninsula, Park Hyatt, St Regis, Siam Kempinski, or Waldorf. All seem to have excellent ratings and reviews.

This is our 1st time in Thailand.

Any preferences? I'm leaning toward the St Regis or Peninsula both of whom have 5 star ratings from Forbes: Bangkok Luxury Hotels - Forbes Travel Guide

Do your own research, stay away from St Regis and you’ll be fine :)

Among the others, any preference? If I'm avoiding the St Regis, then it'll likely be the Peninsula. Any others you think I should consider?

Peninsula is good but very old style. Great views though.

It depends a bit on which area of town you like to be in - if riverside, Peninsula is definitely not a bad shout. If CBD/Ploenchit I would say Park Hyatt, Waldorf or Conrad (my go to place was always Conrad before moving here).

Anantara Siam (next to WA) is also not a bad idea - quite different from the rest of the pack in the sense that it is ‘resort style in the city’