Comparing Thai service to any other country in the world just ain't a fair fight. Everywhere I've been in Thailand, I find its countrymen and women so gracious and helpful! It's so refreshing. When it comes to the service at the Sheraton Royal Orchid in Bangkok, this dedication to service is no exception. When I arrived, the check-in documents, including my room keys, had already been prepared. As a SPG Platinum, I was upgraded without any prompting, to a high floor corner suite with views of both sides of the Chao Praya river. It's safe to say, this was the best view I've ever had in a hotel room!

I looked around at my accomodations for the next few days: the room was incredibly spacious, and was stocked with plenty of complimentary bottled water, a plate of artfully cut fruit and some gourmet candies. There were terry-cloth robes in the closet. In the bathroom, I found a separate shower and spa bathtub, quite unusual for hotels these days. Of course, a gaggle of toiletries was also there. Despite a somewhat dated exterior, the interior of my room seemed fresh and newly carpeted.

The two pools have enough room to accomodate guests without there being a rat race to claim chairs. Pool food service was prompt, relatively reasonably priced for Thailand ($7-9 for entrees) and tasted decently good (but, being in Bangkok, I'm partial to super fresh street food!!). Speaking of food, the hotel offers Thai cooking classes that are well-regarded, but I recommend the short taxi ride to the Blue Elephant restaurant instead.

There is a water taxi stop quite close to the hotel, but it does require a walk through a safe, but very dimly lit walkway, so be forewarned. The hotel is located near a bunch of touristy shops and close to Silom. The Royal Orchid is not close to the SkyTrain (about a 10-15 minute walk), but in-out car access is decently easy. There are late night food stalls close by, though.

Breakfast in the club lounge included cold and hot food. In the evening (from around 5:30PM-7:30PM) there was happy hour with unlimited hot food and alcoholic beverages. As always, great service here too. Overall, the Sheraton Royal Orchid in Bangkok, Thailand is a classy property. It is also a fantastic value if you decide to use your SPG points on a Category 2.

Review by Steve B.

Posted at April 12, 2006 8:29 PM