For a change of scenery, I decided to try for a Priceline four-star hotel in the Silom/Riverside zone, getting the Bangkok Marriott Resort and Spa.
Actually across the river and quite a distance to the south of the Silom District, the resort sprawls over 10 acres along west bank of the Chao Phraya. Three separate buildings surround a rather large pool area, the "Grand Sala" and the Riverside Terrace, all heavily landscaped in lush tropical foliage plants and native Thai orchids. The main central building houses the front desk and concierge services as well as the business center, while the north and south buildings are atrium-style buildings with various restaurants and the fitness center on the bottom floor.
Checking in early at noon, my room wasn’t ready (normal check-in is 3pm). However, the staff was very apologetic (they shouldn’t have been), and I was able to wander around the premises and grab lunch at the adjacent shopping center. At 1pm I was escorted to my room on the top floor of the south building, with my hostess explaining all the facilities available.
The room was large for a standard, with a balcony, two double beds, a seating area, a work desk, and hardwood flooring that really enhanced the traditional Thai decor. The typical American-style bathroom was nice, with standard toiletries, marble flooring, and a full-size tub and shower, but no bidet. For your convenience, there is also a well-stocked minibar with the standard overpriced drink and snack offerings.
High-speed Internet access is available, with an Ethernet cable available in each room. You need to pick up a user-id and password card from the front desk, and pricing is very high at 642 Baht per day. The business center, with complimentary copy and faxing service, also has computer rental and internet access at 195 Baht for 15 minutes.
There are numerous high-end (entrées 300 Baht and up) restaurants on site, including brand-name Benihana Japanese Steakhouse and Trader Vic’s. McDonald’s and KFC can also be found in a small shopping center fronting the resort on its street side.
The property is set rather apart from most tourist attractions and main shopping venues. To remedy this, a free shuttle boat is offered every quarter-hour that takes guests on a 15-minute cruise up the river to the terminal station of the BTS Skytrain Silom Line. However, the hours do coincide with the operations of the Skytrain – nightclubbers need to hail a cab after midnight.
From the Bangkok International Airport, the resort is as quick as 30 minutes away on the expressway. However, it can be as long as an hour and a half in heavy traffic, so plan accordingly for your return flight home.
Pricing for this hotel varies with the seasons. However, even in the off-season, my $40/night (about $55 with taxes and fees) Priceline rate was a steal. An excellent stay this was, and if you don’t mind the out of the way location, I would highly recommend it.