The hotel has 233 rooms and suites, all with the normal 5-star facilities. They are furnished in a fairly standard way but there are a few local touches like potted palms and flowers in the room. The staff is friendly and service is at a high level on most occasions, however, anything out of the ordinary will throw many of the junior staff. Senior management seemed to be very willing to help.

Except for the glass-domed ceiling in the reception area, the other public areas and facilities are not as grand here as at the Pan Pacific but they have a more intimate charm. The swimming pool is certainly much smaller and there is little sitting area but on the positive side it rarely had more than a handful of other swimmers. There is a squash court, a tennis court and a health club with gymnasium, Jacuzzi, sauna, and steam room. The business centre will meet most travelers’ needs.

As with most Sheraton Hotels, there is an Executive Club floor which provides a ‘business class’ level of service. I did not experience this area but it is said to offer ‘distinguished services in an ambience of refined sophistication’. Sounds impressive? The floor has its own private lounge for breakfast and cocktails.

I am not an expert on the dining opportunities having only taken lunch in one of the restaurants. This was in the restaurant near the pool where they operate a buffet, but as I am not a large lunch eater, I just opted for a soup and rice dish and was able to pay accordingly. Both were good. It is difficult to get a beer in most places around Bangladesh so the Sheraton bar was a welcome find. Under the circumstances the cost at around US$4 for an imported beverage seemed reasonable.

The hotel is close to green Ramna Park for those interested in a stroll though tropical vegetation or a ride on the boating lake. Suhrawardi Park, which is where the Bangladeshi Declaration of Independence took place, and Dhaka University are also within walking distance. There are good shopping opportunities in New Elephant Road and Eastern plaza, and you can reach these by rickshaw.

Our room, which had a king-size bed, was clean, comfortable and air-conditioned. The room came equipped with a coffee-maker, cable television, and bathroom amenities such as shampoo and bubblebath. The Sheraton has its own water-purification system, so brushing our teeth and even drinking water from the tap was safe. (You can''t say that about many places around Dhaka.)

The Bithika Restaurant has excellent food and service. We especially enjoyed their buffets for the variety and quality of food, which incorporated Bangladeshi dishes and tastes along with more Western fair.

Billing itself as the country''s only five-star hotel, the Dhaka Sheraton gives you what you would expect from a hotel in this international chain. While you do not get a taste of the "real" Dhaka, you do get a luxury hotel with friendly and professional service.