An orchid on the river, review Royal Orchid Sheraton hotel Bangkok

My perennial search for theperfect hotel in Bangkok continues unabated, and this time it brought me On the bank of the Chao Phraya River, one of the two rivers that flow through the capital of the Thailand.

We are exactly on the opposite side of thehotel Hilton Millennium and to the huge Iconsiam shopping center.

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Location

As mentioned. we are in the westernmost part of the city, a short distance from a must-see stop on city tours: the Wat Tramit, or Golden Buddhah. The BTS, the monorail that runs through various parts of the city, can be reached for free by shuttles from the pier that connect the hotel via river to two different lines.

On the opposite bank of the river is the huge Iconsiam the largest shopping mall in all of Bangkok (and probably Thailand) and home to an immense street food market. Perfect for escaping the heat or monsoon rains.

Reservation

As usual I booked directly via app. Having to accumulate points and qualifying nights to renew my Titanium Elite card in the Bonvoy loyalty program is the only way to pocket all the benefits provided by the level.

The cost of the room was about 130€, which is average for this type of facility. Between bonuses and base points, this booking earned me 3,385 Bonvoy points and 136 Skywards miles, Because I remember it is possible to link accounts Marriott and Emirates and accumulate, for free, points at the same time.

Check-in

We arrived in the late evening at the hotel directly from Bangkok International Airport with a car booked on Grab. Cabs do not cost much in Thailand, but Using Grab, an app similar to Uber, I pay with Amex and accumulate points. Thanks to Airalo's eSim, I'm always connected And I can have internet from the moment I turn on my phone as soon as I land.

The lobby was virtually deserted, and in less than 3 minutes we had our key and were on our way to our room.

The room

The hotel is not new, in fact it is one of the most historic and long-lived structures in all of Bangkok and in some places you can see that the size and years are beginning to take their toll, but it is also true that in various parts of the hotel there are extraordinary maintenance works underway.

The room is a classic Sheraton room.

In our case a small upgrade brought us to a high floor and river view and, with the right zoom, Wat Tramit.

King bed, mega TV and lots of space. As in all hotels in Asia (excluding Hong Kong).

Classic amenities and a nicely stocked minibar, which is not a given in 2024.

Lived-in bathroom, but one that wore its years well. In addition to the shower also a tub and all the classic amenities that are given in these hotels.

Also waiting for us in the room was a welcome letter and some fruit. Nice touch that is always nice to receive.

The hotel

To say that it is huge is reductive. Not only is the structure colossal, but also the contents are proportionate. There are various restaurants, stores, and meeting rooms.

Two swimming pools, a private park, a mega terrace on the river, and even a reserved dock where hotel boats used to move guests along the river dock.

Sheraton Club

The most beautiful view is definitely from the lounge on the top floor of the hotel. There is a crazy 360-degree view of the city from here, sure is not as beautiful as and scenic as that of the nearby Millennium Hilton, but it is one of the best in all of Bangkok in my experience.

Open almost all day, it offers besides breakfast two times during the day where guests can eat and drink anything and everything without paying anything.

Swimming Pools and Fitness

One of the two pools, the one overlooking the river, was closed for special maintenance (and should definitely be open now).

The second is tucked away in a park, a true oasis of peace away from everyone and everything. Here there is also a chiringuito where you can eat and drink without having to move from your sunbed.

All around is a garden, it seems impossible to be in the center of one of the most chaotic metropolises in all of Asia, something similar to what the Conrad offers on the opposite side of town. There are also tennis courts here, volleyball courts, and it is possible to do sunrise yoga.

Even the gym is not small in size. It is possible to work out while admiring life flowing along the river, the only unclogged artery in all of Bangkok.

Food & Beverage

There are several restaurants and bars. Also a well-known Italian restaurant.

We, however, had only breakfast in the hotel buffet on the ground floor, thanks to the "mild" temperature we took advantage of the terrace on the river, really a remarkable plus, the only discomfort being the raptor-like seagulls ready to fly over every dish left unprotected on the table.

Needless to say, the room and proposal were appropriate for the size of the facility.

In conclusion

Not the best Marriott hotel in town, but certainly a excellent choice for families who also want a safe space where they can let off steam and use the lounge as a free parachute for sudden bouts of hunger.

The ability to take a riverboat ride along the river is a no small plus and allows you to move quickly to the BTS without getting caught up in the city chaos. The location away from the nightlife avoids getting caught up in the crush at all hours.