Hotel that Wow in Bangkok

Q: We will be staying in Bangkok for a week in September. My wife is not keen to stay in the city based on an unhappy experience we had a few years back, so I need to find a hotel that will wow her. Could you recommend a great hotel, preferably on the river or in an upmarket shopping area. – Neil Richter

A: I can understand your wife’s feelings, as a hotel in a bad area can really colour one;s impression of a city. Luckily, there are hundreds of stunning hotels in the “Big Mango” that should appeal to her. As a regular visitor, my favourite upmarket hotel is the Peninsula Hotel overlooking the Chao Praya River. It has been voted the top hotel in the world, as has the Mandarin Oriental directly across the river. If you think she would prefer a slick, serene Asian hotel, then the Sukhothai is a superb choice. A hotel with a resort feel is the Marriott Bangkok Resort and Spa, which is set in a magnificent garden on the river. A room with a royal touch can be found in the Chakrabongse Villas on the river, which is the home of a Thai princess. If you would prefer to be closer to the business centre and shopping malls, then the Siam Kempinski Hotel, the Centara Grand and the Pathumwan Princess Hotel are all good choices. Find the best prices on discount websites such as www.booking,com, www.asiarooms.com and www.agoda.com. You can find some excellent special offers on truly amazing hotels. The areas to stick to are the Riverside, the Silom/Sathorn entertainment zone and the Sukhumvit/Chidlom/Ploenchit shopping and residential areas. (17/7/11)