Bangkok Hotels
Bangkok's Best Value
by Peter Graham
by Peter Graham
With its unbeatable shopping, awe-inspiring temples and exotic nightlife, bustling Bangkok is one of the most popular destinations in Asia. It boasts a huge range of amazingly affordable hotels catering for the millions of tourists, fun-seekers and business travellers that converge on the city. For many people, choosing a hotel from the hundreds on offer is daunting. Help is at hand! We have consulted a range of travel experts and come up with the hotels that offer some of the best value in the city. Here are our choices:
Luxury on the river - Bangkok Marriott Resort and Spa
Staying in one of the splendid hotels on the Chao Praya River is a Bangkok treat. Two hotels stand out as beacons of excellence, the legendary Oriental Hotel and the award-winning Peninsula. On opposite sides of the river, they regularly win polls as the best hotels in the world. And, for luxury and style, they reign supreme, offering magnificent river views and service that cannot be faulted.
However, on a quieter stretch of the river, another five-star hotel is winning fans for its affordability and family-friendly atmosphere. The Bangkok Marriott Resort and Spa is truly an escape from the hustle-bustle of city life, offering a resort-like atmosphere. With lush gardens, open-air dining and superb health spa, the Marriott is comfortable and classy.
Although the hotel is located outside of the central business area, it is surprisingly convenient with a skytrain station only a short boat ride away. For those who don't want to venture far, there is a shopping mall attached to the hotel. HotelTravel.com customer reviews praise the hotel: "Excellent service", "My favourite hotel in Asia" and "The place to stay in Bangkok".
Secret hideaway in Silom - Silom Serene Hotel
By day the Silom area is a busy business centre, but by night it becomes a shopping and nightlife mecca. With attractions as diverse as Lumphini Park, a Thai boxing stadium and the flagship Jim Thompson silk store, the area is a magnet for tourists. There's no shortage of good hotels to choose from, but it's hard to match the Silom Serene for superb value.
Tucked away down a small lane, this boutique hotel offers very comfortable rooms and, rare for a hotel of this size, its own swimming pool. It's the perfect hideaway in the city, an oasis of peace and tranquility. There are great shopping malls within a few minutes walk - and the nearest skytrain station is just around the corner.
The extraordinary value offered by this hotel has long been the secret of travel insiders, but the word is out. To ensure you get a room, book as early as possible. If you can't get in, a good alternative is the intimate Siam Heritage Hotel, which boasts a superb location on Suriwong Road and a rooftop swimming pool and spa. Or raise the luxury quotient and opt for
Triple Two Silom, a very trendy boutique hotel popular among young business executives and the fashionable set.
A shopper's delight - Pathumwan Princess Hotel
If shopping is your thing, then you can't beat the Pathumwan Princess for its location. This striking high-rise hotel is in the heart of Bangkok's premier shopping area, across the road from the Siam Square shopping complex and close to the Siam Paragon, Central World Plaza and Siam Discovery mega-malls. But its biggest advantage over other mid-city hotels is that it is directly linked to the massive MBK centre, the home of hundreds of discount stores and stalls in a city dedicated to bargain hunting.
It takes only a minute or two to get from your bedroom to the shops below. And if you need transport, there are scores of taxis outside the mall and the hotel is directly linked to a skytrain station. Besides its great location, the Pathumwan Princess is also a fine hotel. Most rooms have spectacular views, there are five restaurants to choose from and it has an an excellent health club and a huge swimming pool. An alternative hotel in the same area is the Novotel Bangkok on Siam Square Hotel.
Temples, tattoos and Thai food - Buddy Lodge
Part of the excitement of Bangkok can only be found by walking the streets. This is where you experience the legendary friendliness of the Thai people, taste delicious food from roadside stalls and explore the shops and temples hidden down little alleys. For those with an adventurous spirit, one of the best places to base yourself is the Khao San Road area.
Long the haunt of backpackers from around the world, Khao San Road hotels are perfect for visits to landmark sites like the Grand Palace, Chinatown and enchanting temples. Buddy Lodge sets a new standard for accommodation in an area known for rundown boarding houses. With a rooftop swimming pool and comfortable air-conditioned rooms, it offers a perfect refuge from the noise and clamour of this popular area.
Khao San Road is a tantalising mix of pubs, clubs, restaurants, street vendors, tattoo artists, Internet cafes and rowdy tuk-tuk taxis. You'll meet travellers from around the globe, as well as Thai students from nearby universities. If Buddy Lodge is booked out, you can try the Best Western Swana Hotel a few minutes walk away, or Shanghai Inn in Chinatown.
Getting down to business - The Davis Bangkok
Business executives who don't head for the riverfront usually base themselves at one of the many excellent hotels in the Ploenchit area or close to busy Sukhumvit Road. Among the top hotels are the Sheraton Grande Sukhumvit, the Grand Hyatt Erawan Hotel and the Four Seasons. However, if you need a more affordable room, there are plenty of options in this area. A hotel that continues to cause a buzz in the business community is The Davis Bangkok, handily located in Sukhumvit 24.
With trendy Asian decor and 15 different styles of rooms, The Davis maintains an aura of exclusivity and class. But all this comes at room rates that are lower than many of its competitors. It's a formula that makes it the first choice for many business travellers. The hotel boasts a superb business centre, while all rooms have Internet connections, fax lines and DVD players. For a special treat, book one of the 10 garden villas which have their own swimming pool.
For other articles on Bangkok hotels, see our archive.
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