World City Guide

Hotels

Many of the more upmarket hotels quote their prices in US dollars. Prices here have been quoted in the currency that the particular hotel uses for their prices. Payment can usually be made in either Thai bahts or US dollars.

Hotels will usually add a service charge of 10% service charge and VAT at 7% to the hotel bill at the end. This tax could change as it is a government levy.

The prices quoted below are the lowest standard rates for a double room, excluding VAT and excluding breakfast, unless otherwise specified.

Business

Chateau de Bangkok
Located close to Lumphini Park, at the heart of the business district and near to Ploenchit Skytrain station, this exclusive complex consists of studios, one- or two-bedroom serviced apartments, which can be booked for a night or a month or longer to cater for long-term business visitors. The modern apartments are bright and fresh with light modern decor and furniture. They all have excellent facilities, including a fully equipped separate kitchen, a bathroom with jacuzzi, voice-mail and satellite TV. In addition, there is an Italian restaurant – Paparazzi, a fitness centre, a jacuzzi, sauna, rooftop pool and one meeting room that can hold up to 30 people.

29 Soi Ruamrudee, Ploenchit Road
Tel: (02) 651 4400. Fax: (02) 651 4321.
E-mail: chateau1@loxinfo.co.th
Website: www.accorhotels.com
Price: From B2,000.

The Dusit Thani
This opulent hotel is a Bangkok landmark conveniently located off the Silom Road in the business and entertainment district overlooking Lumphini Park. The 532 rooms are all sumptuously decorated in Thai style and all have satellite TV, VCR, mini-bar, voice-mail and direct-dial telephones with fax/modem point. Meeting facilities are excellent, offering a range of meeting and function rooms, as well as the Napalai Ballroom, which can seat up to 1,500 people comfortably. State-of-the-art audio-visual equipment is available. Other facilities include a business centre, spa and fitness club, swimming pool, sauna, golf driving range and boutiques. Restaurants include the Thai Benjarong, the Japanese Shogun and Western food at the rooftop Tiara, with panoramic views of the city.

946 Rama IV Road
Tel: (02) 200 9000. Fax: (02) 236 6400.
E-mail: dusitbkk@dusit.com
Website: www.dusit.com
Price: From US$140.

Rembrandt Hotel
Located off the busy Sukhumvit Road and within easy reach of the commercial and entertainment areas, the Rembrandt is a popular business hotel. The 407 rooms are very tastefully furnished with cool colours and have the usual range of facilities, such as satellite TV, international direct-dial telephone and a safe. There are executive floors for travellers who require a little extra luxury and additional services, such as broadband Internet and express check-in. The hotel has a number of excellent dining outlets, including the highly rated Rang Mahal Indian restaurant and Senor Pico Mexican restaurant (see Restaurants). In addition, there is a pool, fitness room and various shops, as well as a business centre with seminar rooms accommodating up to 20 people, with audio-visual equipment available.

19 Soi 18 Sukhumvit Road
Tel: (02) 261 7100. Fax: (02) 261 7017.
E-mail: reservations@rembrandtbkk.com
Website: www.rembrandtbkk.com
Price: From US$125.

Sofitel Central Plaza
This modern hotel is ideally placed for convention delegates, being very close to the Bangkok Convention Centre and only 10 minutes from the airport. There are 607 rooms and suites, including ‘Dynasty Club’ executive rooms for corporate travellers. Rooms feature satellite TV, air conditioning and coffee/tea making facilities. Business facilities are excellent with 24 meeting rooms, including three ballrooms, which can hold up to 600 people. Diners are also well catered for with eight restaurants offering Thai, Vietnamese, Chinese, Japanese, Italian and international food. Leisure facilities include a fitness centre, pool set in lush tropical gardens, sauna and jacuzzi and plenty of parking.

1695 Phaholyothin Road
Tel: (02) 541 1234. Fax: (02) 541 1082.
E-mail: scp@chr.co.th
Website: www.sofitel.com
Price: From US$150.

Luxury

The Oriental
One of the most famous hotels in the world, The Oriental is located by the Chao Phraya River and is the hotel of choice for royalty and celebrities, past and present, such as Somerset Maugham, the Prince of Wales and Elizabeth Taylor. Although the original Author’s Wing was built around 125 years ago and is very much colonial in style, two more modern wings tend to dominate the appearance of the hotel. However, the 393 rooms (including 35 suites) are all sumptuously decorated and have satellite TV, CD player, fridge, mini-bar and telephone lines with Internet access, while some have a split-level layout. The business centre has four meeting rooms and two boardrooms capable of holding up to 14 people. In addition, there are several exquisite restaurants, including Le Normandie (see Restaurants), various bars, two swimming pools, a spa, Thai cooking school, fitness centre and shopping arcade.

48 Oriental Avenue
Tel: (02) 659 9000. Fax: (02) 659 0000 or 9284/5 (reservations).
E-mail: orbkk-reservations@mohg.com
Website: www.mandarinoriental.com
Price: From US$300.

Shangri-La
The Shangri-La is set in tropical gardens on the banks of the river, close to the business district, and has an enviable reputation. The rooms are decorated in relaxing colours and all have a big executive desk, voice-mail and modem point and broadband Internet connection. There are 26 function rooms, all equipped with the most advanced conference equipment, while the Grand Ballroom can accommodate up to 1,000 seated guests. Additional facilities include a pool, spa, fully equipped gym, tennis and squash courts, sauna and jacuzzi. There is a good choice of dining outlets, including the Next2 Terrace for evening barbecues and Sunday brunch.

90 Soi Wat Suan Plu, New Road
Tel: (02) 236 7777. Fax: (02) 236 8579.
E-mail: slbk@shangri-la.com
Website: www.shangri-la.com
Price: From US$240 (including breakfast).

Moderate

Ambassador Hotel
The Ambassador is an excellent good-value choice of hotel, mainly because of its location on the Sukhumvit Road, right by the shopping and entertainment areas, but within easy reach of the business district. The large, modern hotel has 755 good-sized comfortable rooms with private bathrooms and satellite TV. There are extensive business facilities, including a business centre, convention centre for up to 2,000 people, three function rooms for between 50 and 500 people and several smaller meeting rooms. There are a number of restaurants and bars including the Dickens Pub, a Cantonese restaurant and a beer garden. In addition, there is a shopping arcade, health club, swimming pool, squash court and outdoor jogging track.

171 Soi 11 Sukhumvit Road
Tel: (02) 254 0444. Fax: (02) 253 4123.
E-mail: rsvbkk@amtel.co.th
Website: www.amtel.co.th/bangkok
Price: From US$80.

Hotel Manhattan
Although modern and fairly uninspiring, this hotel is very friendly and, located off the Sukhumvit Road, just a few minutes from the airport expressway, also convenient for the business district. The 200 rooms are comfortable with private bathrooms, satellite TV, air conditioning, international direct-dial telephone and mini-bar. Additional facilities include a fitness room, an outdoor swimming pool and an Internet café. There is the Broadway coffee shop, serving Western food, and the Miyako Japanese restaurant and the Korean Ara restaurant.

13 Soi 15 Sukhumvit Road
Tel: (02) 255 0166. Fax: (02) 255 3481.
E-mail: reservations@hotelmanhattan.com
Website: www.hotelmanhattan.com
Price: From B1,600 (including breakfast).

Other Recommendations

Bel Aire Princess
This friendly first class hotel is conveniently located off the Sukhumvit Road, close to Nana Skytrain station and the expressway for the airport. Renovation work in 2004 is introducing a stylish minimalism. The 160 comfortable rooms are all good-sized with private bathrooms, satellite TV, mini-bar and tea and coffee making facilities. There is one restaurant serving Thai, Continental and Indian food plus an outdoor swimming pool and well-equipped fitness centre. In addition there is a business centre plus two meeting rooms which can hold up to 100 people.

16 Sukhumvit Soi 5
Tel: (02) 253 4300. Fax: (02) 255 8850.
E-mail: bela@dusit.com
Website: www.bel-aireprincess.com
Price: From US$120 (including VAT).

The Sukhothai
The decor of The Sukhothai, in the Silom area, is pure Thai and it imparts a feeling of serenity throughout the hotel. All rooms incorporate Thai fabrics, teakwood and furnishings and the public rooms are exquisitely furnished with many Thai artefacts. Guest rooms all feature satellite TV, electronic safe, high-speed Internet connection and fax machine. There is a delightful cool inner courtyard with a water garden. There are several restaurants, including The Celadon, which serves excellent Thai food. There is a business centre, two meeting rooms and a ballroom, with timber and granite flooring, catering for up to 300 people. State-of-the-art audio-visual equipment is available for hire. The hotel facilities include a pool, health club, jacuzzi, sauna, tennis and squash courts and a shopping arcade.

13/3 South Sathorn Road
Tel: (02) 344 8888. Fax: (02) 344 8899.
E-mail: info@sukhothai.com
Website: www.sukhothai.com
Price: From US$280.