Capella Bangkok = River Suite >>>>> Courtyard Suite

I have reviewed Capella Bangkok in the past but this time I stayed in the River Suite for the first time so I thought I would add a few comments including some differences I noticed compared to previous stays.  Overall I like to mix things up by staying at different hotels in Bangkok but Capella is among my favorites to be part of a rotation of hotels I enjoy to return to. 

Last time I had the Courtyard Suite which I was not a fan of.  In my opinion the River Suite is significantly better despite having a bit less space (95 sqm vs CY Suite 101 sqm).  While the CY Suite was a bit dark and no views, the River Suite is the complete opposite because the room was built to maximize river views.  In many other river hotels, the narrow part of the room is the one in the direction of the river, but at Capella it’s the opposite.  There are river views from almost everywhere: the living room, the bathroom (including the shower), and the bedroom / balcony; this is because the suite is long and narrow with the long side being the one with the windows.  Only the half bathroom near the entrance does not have views.

Our room was on a high floor (8th out of 10) and I believe all the River Suites are in that spot at the far end of the hallway of each floor (x01) therefore there was zero foot traffic outside the room and it was very quiet.

For people with children, I was surprised to find the tee-pee in our room once again, I thought we had it during our previous stay because it was our daughter’s one-year birthday but instead they told us they systematically offer a tee-pee with child’s name on it to families with children unless they run out of them.  This definitely a nice touch.

The breakfast a la carte menu has been expanded slightly and I found a few more options than before.  For instance the Kanom Jeen was a nice addition and is not a dish I often see in Bangkok because it is a specialty from the south (Phuket, Koh Samui).  Also they now have two versions of the menu depending on the day of the week, there is some overlap between them but some dishes differ.  So for guests on a long stay, the menu would not get repetitive with always the same choices.  

Cin Cin hour has also slightly changed: instead of offering a cocktail of the day, they now have a formal menu available with various drink options.  

The service hiccups I noticed in my previous stay did not re-occur: housekeeping was always done exactly at the time I requested and they did not drop the ball.  The rest of the service continues to stand out favorably and even more so as repeat guests with several managers making the rounds at various times and venues to chat with guests and get to know their clientele.  The service delivery is more down-to-earth than at Mandarin Oriental which suits us best although that can be a matter of personal preference.  

Capella is more expensive than most other luxury hotels in Bangkok but I find the price premium justified for the product offered which is why I continue to return.  I have now seen 4 different room types at Capella.  I can understand the appeal of the Verandah room but personally Bangkok is not the place I am looking for a private plunge pool since my stays in Bangkok are almost always combined with stays in resorts where I find it more suitable.  If I want a suite then I found the River Suite far superior to the CY Suite and worth paying extra for it, and if not a suite then I think I even prefer the Riverfront Premier room over the CY suite.