Hong Kong and Bangkok BA A380 First and CW, Cathay First and Premium Econ, W Hotels
Dec 10, 2015, 12:52 pm
#62
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Dec 11, 2015, 1:29 am
#63
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I get this impression also, if you are traveling a lone, then it's the best seat, but traveling with your spouse not the best..
Dec 12, 2015, 12:24 am
#64
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Dec 12, 2015, 7:42 am
#65
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Dec 28, 2015, 5:04 am
#67
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Its been so long that Ive had to re-read the whole report from the start again to refresh my memory! Fantastic pictures throughout. Tai-O looks like a fascinating place - whats the easiest route to get there to and from the city?
Pretty poor that there is no alcohol formally offered on morning regional flights on CX, and I thought the breakfast menu was pretty light in options. The washroom looked nicely fitted out, and the relatively new refurbished F cabins on the 77W is luxurious in an understated way.
Pretty poor that there is no alcohol formally offered on morning regional flights on CX, and I thought the breakfast menu was pretty light in options. The washroom looked nicely fitted out, and the relatively new refurbished F cabins on the 77W is luxurious in an understated way.
It must be a Western thing, maybe it's normal for us to drink in the morning but not so for Asia!
Not sure, just for eating on their own I guess? I don't think it's something that I would rush to try.
Jan 7, 2016, 3:07 pm
#69
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It's been a year in the making, and while I'm enjoying this report I'm not sure if you as a moderator of the trip report forum is setting such a good example by delaying the report so much? Anyways don't leave us readers hanging for too long 
Jan 7, 2016, 3:20 pm
#70
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Jan 7, 2016, 4:48 pm
#71
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Jan 10, 2016, 11:59 am
#72
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Four days and Three Nights in Bangkok
This would be my third trip to Bangkok. To be honest, the only reason that I had chosen to travel there was because of flight availability. It's not that I've ever had a bad time in Bangkok, it's just that, I felt that I'd seen all that was on offer. Obviously, I was wrong and I actually found myself returning to the city just 7 months later. That's for another time though.
It took me a while to work out the taxi system at the airport. You have to queue to get a ticket but I didn't see this so ended up trying to get someone to take me by standing near the bays. Eventually, one driver told me to go and get a ticket and then I saw the queue. I only had to wait 15 minutes or so and then I was soon on my way to the W Bangkok.
The journey took about 45 minutes which is not too bad. We went through a couple of tolls and the driver asked me to pay for these. I'm always a bit sceptical but I shouldn't have been. The ride was fine.
W - Welcome
The taxi arrived at about 1pm and I made my way to reception to get checked in. The hotel lobby was very impressive. It was my first time staying at a W and I wasn't really sure what to expect. The place looked very 'cool' to me!
The receptionist was very friendly and soon checked me in. I'd booked the room using points and then applied my suite night awards (SNA) which had confirmed. At check in I was further upgraded to a Marvelous Suite. The porter took my bags and I was escorted to the lift, passing a very colourful lighting installation along the way. The hotel dιcor definitely was in keeping with it's 'cool' image.
Reception area
Lighting installation near the lifts
I was excited to see my room but wasn't sure what to expect. Well, I was blown away! Let me talk you through it. The room was basically split into two. The entrance had a toilet to the left and a small chair. The room then opened out into a massive lounge area with a work desk, large sofa and huge TV and small bar area. There was an amazing blue glass screen which led into the bedroom area. Again, this was huge with another large TV. The bathroom was to the left and also huge with two sinks and a separate shower, toilet and bath. It even had it's own TV. It was the largest hotel room that I had ever stayed in, with two toilets, two wardrobes, three TVs and enough seating for about 6 people. There were floor to ceiling windows in both parts of the room. The view wasn't great but it certainly could have been worse.
I really did like the dιcor. It was extremely modern but comfortable at the same time. It felt very luxurious and screamed 'party room'!
The entrance to the Marvellous Suite
The lounge area and work desk
Looking into the lounge area from the sofa
The bar
The bedroom
The TV in the bedroom
The bathroom
The bath
The view from the room
After unpacking a few clothes I took a quick shower (full sized Bliss amenities) and then made my way down to the pool area for something to eat.
Like the rest of the hotel, the pool was also very cool. It wasn't large but was perfectly useful. There were several seating areas including some quieter areas up behind the pool itself. There was a great view from the pool area, into the city, following the BTS track into the distance.
I sat down and looked at the menu. There wasn't a huge amount of choice and it was very expensive. I went with the satay skewers, which were just ok. After eating I went back to my room to chill out before the evening. When I got back to the room there was a nice bottle of wine waiting for me as a gift from the hotel which was rather nice. Remember that this stay was purely on points!
I spent the afternoon watching TV and generally relaxing. I'd planned to do not very much during my stay but did vow to go out and about on the last day, to see some of the sights. Although I had already seen most of them previously.
The swimming pool
The pool, from the back
Satay
City view
Free bottle of wine, thank you very much
In the morning I woke up at 8 and then decided that was too early so went back to sleep and then woke an hour later. I got showered and dressed and then went down for breakfast. Breakfast was in the main restaurant, on the first floor. When I arrived it was pretty busy.
I was shown to a table and then made my way to check out the buffet selection. There was so much choice, it was amazing. The selection went on and on, even out of the restaurant into the next room.
I started with juice, yoghurt and cereal and then moved on to the hot items before finishing up with a muffin. Even with breakfast you can have a starter, main course and dessert!
After heading back to my room to change I went down to the pool again to relax. I happily spent a few hours here doing nothing. It was just what I wanted.
Breakfast in the restaurant
Breakfast buffet
Breakfast buffet - pastries
Breakfast buffet Asian selection
Breakfast buffet Western hot selection
Breakfast buffet Waffle and pancake section
Quiet pool area
Back in the room, should I say suite, I took a quick shower and then wanted to chill out inside for a bit. As nice as the pool area was, it was very hot and humid outside and I needed some respite.
I took the time to explore the room in a little more detail. I was quite taken with the design of the room and decided to take a few more photos.
After the photo session I had the evening to entertain myself. At check in I'd been given a voucher for a free drink at the bar downstairs. It would be rude not to take advantage of this offer so I dressed appropriately and then made my way down to the reception area where the bar was located.
The Woo bar offered quite a good selection of drinks within the offer, including cocktails. I decided to make my own and went for a caipirinha with mint and orange. It was very good, so I had two! For dinner I went upstairs to the restaurant for some Thai food. I had coconut soup and then a massaman curry. The food was excellent but as expected quite pricey. I just didn't fancy venturing out.
Boxing gloves on the bed
Bedroom detail
Work desk
Woo Bar
My cocktail
Coconut soup
Massaman curry
Feeling rather full and a bit drunk I went straight to bed, vowing to actually get out of the hotel and do something the following day.
I made the effort to get up earlyish at 8.30 and made my way down for breakfast. After that it was straight on the BTS/Skytrain to Saphan Taksin to get the ferry to Wat Arun (the W Hotel is located very close to Chong Nonsi station).
Arriving at the pier I made the foolish mistake of accepting a lift on one of the "tourist boats" for 100 baht. Don't make the same mistake as me. These are not the official ferries and such a short journey to Tha Tien pier would only normally cost something like 5 baht. Anyway, mistake made, I arrived at Tha Tien and then paid a small amount to get the shuttle ferry over to Wat Arun. Damn it was hot! I planned not to spend too long outside and I had bought plenty of water and sun lotion. Living in Australia, I'd learnt not to mess about with the sun.
Taking the Skytrain
The 'tourist' boat it was not
Wat Arun is one of the many temples that are available to visit in Bangkok but it is unique in that it is covered in what look like crushed up colourful porcelain tiles. I'd visited before, briefly but hadn't really taken it in properly, nor had a appreciated the views from the top.
The site was very busy but not so that you couldn't move and I found that going around the back of the temple made for a quieter experience. A word of warning, the steps up to the first and second levels are extremely steep. There were signs advising people to go up and down backwards, good advice.
I must have spent a good hour or so here, exploring with my camera, before the heat got the better of me and I decided that it was time to head back to the sanctuary.
Here is a selection of photos of Wat Arun:
The main structure
Looking up, watch out for the steep steps
Visitors contemplating the steps
Restoration works
Looking up
Looking up
Detail
Interesting creature
Detail on the terrace
Looking down at the steps
Very steep!
The view from the top
The view from the top
After cooling off in the shade for a short while I took the shuttle ferry back across the river and then caught the real tourist boat, the Chao Phraya Express back to Saphan Taksin ferry pier and then back on the BTS to the W. I went via the 7-11 to pick up some cold drinks to take back to the room as they were a fraction of the price than those served in the hotel.
I had another voucher (there was a little book of them in the room) for lunch at the hotel's restaurant so I decided to go there. I chose a burger, which was design your own. It was very good and with the voucher, not too expensive. The rest of the afternoon was spent lounging around in my room, with a quick swim in the early evening.
I arranged a taxi to pick me up in the morning for my early afternoon flight back to Hong Kong and then got ready for dinner. As it happened, an ex-colleague of mine (whom is also a friend of the people that I stayed with in Hong Kong) was visiting Bangkok for work, so we'd agreed to meet for dinner near to her hotel.
The Chao Phraya Express
Quiet lunch
My burger, yum
The evening sun over the city
The evening sun over the city
Evening sun from the pool area
The pool in the evening
The pool in the evening
I made my way back to the BTS and got on the train to somewhere that I cannot remember, although I had to change halfway through which was easy enough. Everything is in English. Us English speakers have it easy really don't we?
Dinner was at a local restaurant that my colleague had booked for us. The menu was traditional Thai and I chose the green curry which was excellent but somewhat spicy. Afterwards we went for a drink at one of the outside bars near the restaurant and then I made my way back to the W. Walking up the steps to the platform I couldn't help but notice the very dodgy wiring that located rather close to the stairs themselves. Had someone wanted to reach out and touch them then they could of!
Back at the hotel I packed up most of my stuff and then went to bed, looking forward to my flight back to Hong Kong the following day.
Back on the BTS
Lovely dinner
Dodgy wiring!
Vedict
The W hotel in Bangkok is a work of art. It's been carefully designed to meet the demands of a certain market. I'm not sure that I fit into that market but I had a very enjoyable stay nonetheless. The suite that I was given was truly fantastic. I quite liked the modern dιcor, the large bed and huge bathroom. If I was travelling with someone else then it would have been a party room for sure. The pool for me was a bit of a let-down. Visually it was stunning but it wasn't very big at all and therefore felt a bit claustrophobic.
The staff at the hotel were fantastic from the door staff to reception to the bar and waiting staff. All were very friendly and attentive.
This trip to Bangkok was really just to do a little detour from Hong Kong and to take advantage of Cathay Pacific's First cabin on this route but I had a thoroughly enjoyable trip along the way.
Up Next
I fly back to Hong Kong on Cathay Pacific in Premium Economy.
I fly back to Hong Kong on Cathay Pacific in Premium Economy.
Last edited by matthandy; Jan 10, 2016 at 12:12 pm
Jan 10, 2016, 1:02 pm
#73
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A nice update from Bangkok, matthandy. I particularly liked the sunset pictures taken from the pool area of the W. The modern/'cool' styling of the hotel isn't to my own personal taste, but I can see the attraction of the property.
Jan 11, 2016, 8:41 am
#75
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It's blatantly a party room when you observe that the bear pillow looks to be doing the deed with the other pillow 
Excellent trip report so far! I look forward to reading the next part of the Trip Report. Hopefully it arrives before the next Star Wars movie does, although I am skeptical. 
Excellent trip report so far! I look forward to reading the next part of the Trip Report. Hopefully it arrives before the next Star Wars movie does, although I am skeptical.
Last edited by louislitt; Jan 13, 2016 at 2:09 am