Bangkok - Luxury Hotels
Out of the many de luxe establishments, here are three of the best.
The visitor to Bangkok is spoilt for choice, and all 5* and 4* hotels are luxurious and can be recommended. A few have the edge however, and here are three favourites.
It is difficult to chose the top Bangkok hotels from so many great establishments, but for the seeker after peace and tranquillity, try the following:
The Shangri-La Hotel, located on the banks of Thailand's Chao Phrya River is a super luxury hotel, set in beautiful tropical gardens and with good access to the central business and shopping districts via the elevated sky-train. What impresses most about the Shangri-La Hotel is the sense of space in this elegant setting, making it easy to forget that you are in the centre of the vibrant city of Bangkok.
Apart from great dining on the river terrace, two swimming pools, leisure facilities, a dedicated staff to take care of your every whim, the Horizon Club offering enhanced services, the Shangri-La has what most people vote the best Spa in the city – the Chi Spa. The Chi Spa features Bangkok’s largest and most luxurious private treatment suites with treatments that are unique to Shangri-La Hotels, based on traditional Chinese philosophy. Therapies are individually prescribed for clients by a team of experts who base the recommended treatments on the Five Elements of Metal, Water, Wood, Fire and Earth. No other hotel has facilities quite like these.
More active pursuits are well catered for with squash, tennis, swimming, aerobics, a dance studio, yoga and massage available, and if you enjoy the food, as you are sure to do, then why not take some Thai Cookery lessons from the chef, even accompanying him to market to buy the produce you will cook.
The Oriental, again located on the banks of the Chao Phrya River, was the first hotel in Thailand and is the oldest in Asia (1876). Once owned by the son of the fabled Anna, tutor to the king's children in the musical "The King and I", and at another time by legendary Thai silk tycoon Jim Thompson, it is consistently voted the world's best hotel by influential magazines.
The Oriental has been an inspiration to some of the greatest writers to visit Thailand, and 34 of the hotel suites are named after some of them, including, Somerset Maugham, Paul Theroux, Joseph Conrad, Noel Coward, James Michener, Barbara Cartland, Gore Vidal, Graham Greene, Wilbur Smith, John le Carré, Kukrit Pramoj and Norman Mailer. The suites are decorated in a style consistent with their writings. Nor has the hotel missed out on VIP's, HRH Crown Prince Federick, George Bush, Earl Spencer, Boris Becker, Elizabeth Taylor, Pierce Brosnan and Goldie Hawn being just a few.
With eight restaurants catering to every exotic taste, two main bars, two swimming pools with cabanas and facilities for 24-hour tennis, guests are assured of a totally luxurious stay.
The Sukhothai is a low-slung and labyrinthine complex designed by Ed Tuttle(of Aman Resorts fame). It is an island of calm in the bustling city of Bangkok with gardens, courtyards and lotus pools to give a feeling of tranquillity. Even the restaurant floats on a man-made lake in the midst of lush gardens.
The décor is heavy on teakwood floors, rich Thai silk furnishings and celadon ceramics with guest rooms designed around muted earthy colours,woodwork and sleek furniture. Even the palatial bathrooms have wooden floors, and the oversized tubs and mirrored walls, add a touch of something special to bathing.
Eating is such a pleasure in the Sukhothai that you may be tempted not to venture outside the hotel,. The Celadon restaurant serves fine Thai cuisine and there are Italian and International restaurants also available.
An added attraction at this oasis of calm in the middle of Bangkok is the 82-foot outdoor infinity pool with decked terraces and relaxation areas, professional and experienced insructors are available for those who would like to learn to swim while staying at the hotel. The hotel has also signed up with a local Bangkok Golf Club to offer its guests a range of packages from beginners to experienced, all within a one-hour drive of the hotel.
