An oasis of peace in the heart of Bangkok and a spectacular view of the city, this is the Conrad
Conrad along with Waldorf Astoria and LXR are the luxury brands in the Hilton family, in Bangkok there are [...]
Thailand
Conrad along with Waldorf Astoria and at LXR are the luxury brands. of the Hilton family, Bangkok is home to the first two. We stayed at this property a couple of nights during our vacation in the Thai capital, a few days before the Reopening borders without the constraints of the sandbox. After making the most of the Late check-out at 4 p.m. at the St. Regis, we moved less than 2 km to this hotel.
Reservation
In this article:
Being a Hilton Honors Diamond Member I always book through official channels. I also could have book using points, but at this time rooms are so cheap that it would have been a waste: for two nights were just under 80€., for a Conrad is really a ridiculous price.
The structure
The hotel is located in a central area, in fact bordering the U.S. Embassy on one side and the Vietnam Embassy on the other. A 10-minute walk takes you to the BTS and with little more you can also go to the very central Siam Paragon, one of the city's most popular shopping malls.
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The tower is huge and houses part of the residence in addition to the hotel. There are various restaurants and bars On the ground floor, second floor and in the pool area
On the 11th floor are the spa, gymnasium, and swimming pool. I had read some reviews that talked about A small green oasis of tranquility in the chaos of Bangkok And I must admit that this is indeed the case.
On the 29th floor is the lounge, accessible in addition to the Diamond also to guests who have booked rooms that entitle them to access.
The Check-in
We arrived on a national holiday, the hotel was almost sold out, thanks to the fact that so many Thais took advantage of the long weekend to staycations close to home. When we arrived in our cab, there were no doormen to greet us and we had to worry about our luggage ourselves, definitely not Conrad's.
Procedures at check-in were quick, I had not used the app to do it independently hoping for an upgrade, but unfortunately the few rooms of a higher category than the one we had booked were occupied.
The room
Our room was on the 24th floor; when booking I had opted for the ones that were listed as newer and larger. Compared to the rest of the hotel, you can sense that these rooms were recently renovated. The room was undoubtedly the best part of the hotel for various aspects, first and foremost the view of the city.
From both the room and the bathroom there was an open view of the western part of the city.
The bed in these facilities is always a confirmation, as is the quality and choice of pillows.
The bathroom had both a shower and a tub, this one strategically placed under the window. And, surprise, a toilet with a multifunctional Japanese toilet seat.
We love it so much that we even have it at home in Italy.
In terms of room cleanliness and amenities, the hotel definitely needs to improve. When we are on vacation, we like to go out early in the morning, then go back to the hotel to relax in the early afternoon and go out again
The birthday surprise
During this vacation to Thailand, I was "surprised" by all the hotels we visited in the days close to my birthday. Even the Conrad was no exception, like the St. Regis and the Marriott Surawongse. The night before my birthday, I was given a cake complete with a candle and a birthday card, what to say but sawadee ka.
Services
The gym is the largest I've come across, there are also small rooms for classes and lots of equipment. Let's say. Has almost the size of a regular fitness center and not of a hotel. Exiting the gymnasium provides direct access ance to the spa and outdoor pool area.
The same goes for the pool, which is very large and surrounded by lots of sunbeds, loungers, and other types of seating. The motivation I believe is the presence also of a Conrad Residence that occupies the lower floors of the facility and whose guests also have access to the hotel's facilities.
It is not an infinity pool, but it is designed to accommodate many people, with a shallow area for children and a corridor for those who want to work out in the classic pools. What is remarkable is that it closes at 11 a.m. and not 8-9 a.m. as hotel pools often do. It is also shaded by lots of palm trees and other tall plants.
From the pool there is access to two tennis courts for guests to use: you can play in a hotel above the rooftops of Bangkok, not an everyday occurrence.
There is also an outdoor area with games for children, but it was closed due to Covid restrictions.
From the pool you can take a walk through the woods, with a small greenhouse attached. A true green oasis amid the gray concrete of the buildings surrounding the hotel.
The free shuttle service to/from the hotel from Chit Lom BTS station is very useful; a new bus leaves every 5 minutes and takes, traffic permitting, about ten minutes to go from the station to the hotel and back.
The Lounge
Separate discussion deserves the lounge both because of its size and the fact that being on the 29th floor gives a panoramic view of the entire surrounding area.
Access to the lounge is free for all holders of the Diamond status in the Hilton Honors program and for those who have booked an executive rate. The lounge is open from morning until late in the evening. Breakfast is served here, and during the rest of the day there are other times where you can eat and have a drink until what in Italy is the aperitif hour and which, if you wish, allows Of dining without having to shell out a single euro.
On the first day, just in the late afternoon, we popped into the lounge before taking a dip in the pool and it was packed. As full was the hotel. The second morning, on the other hand, we had breakfast and it was very quiet, as was everything else in the hotel.
Lounge access is one of the main benefits of Diamond Hilton status, not only because it allows you to have a space where you can work in peace, set up appointments by inviting guests, but more importantly because you can drink and eat, as in this case, a real dinner without paying, a significant savings when you are traveling as a family and have children who may be hungry at any time.
Food & Beverages
As mentioned, we tried the lounge, both for dinner and breakfast. And we also had breakfast in the hotel's main restaurant.
The main breakfast was half a disappointment, perhaps because the memory of the Conrad of Ko Samui was too cool, but certainly also because the environment was not beautiful and we were sitting in a windowless hallway.
In general, I must say that of all the hotels we visited during our trip to Thailand, this was the worst breakfast. The offerings are buffet style with the chefs' station for preparing eggs and noodles. However, everything is bare, it doesn't feel like Thailand, there are no flowers, no scents, no warmth. It feels like any Doubletree in the world. In a hotel like this, not finding fresh juices is really something you don't expect. Same with the presentation, it lacks a touch of personality.
Different discussion for breakfast in lounges. Normally in these lounges it is less rich, but not in this case. Yes, everything is smaller, but also thanks to the spectacular view out the windows everything is brighter and warmer.
The buffet is well organized, and as there are only a few guests, it is really pleasant as an environment.
The quality of food and variety of offerings is similar to that of the main hall for all guests, plus there is a dedicated menu with some special dishes to choose from.
Normally I would choose the main breakfast rather than the one in the lounge, but in this case I would do the opposite. The choice is not inferior, but the location is really much nicer.
In conclusion
At this price I would book 10 more times at this hotel. If you don't have Diamond status, I would carefully consider the cost of a room with executive lounge access, this benefit makes so much difference and turns into a significant cost savings.
Sure, the common areas could use some freshening up, but the amenities it offers are certainly important compared to all the other hotels in the city center. It is not the St. Regis but this, especially if you are traveling with children, is the perfect hotel for them to relax before or after the exertions and heat of a Bangkok vacation.
This is just one of many reviews you can read on our site. Covid and restrictions permitting, Every Wednesday we publish a review of a lounge airport, while every Friday you can read the review of one of our flights or a hotel where we stayed.
Pro
- The view of the room, even from the bathtub
- The executive lounge
- The outdoor spaces
- The price
Against
- Service not impeccable, not from Conrad's
- Common areas are a little lived in and should be refreshed