AmyHuang
Hotel Review: Bangkok - Silom area
Silom is the business centre of Bangkok. It is also where a lot of the more upmarket hotels are based, including Four Seasons, Banyan Tree, Sofitel and the famous Lebua at State Tower.
I chose two budget sensible options here, both of equal quality to see how they rate against each other.
Holiday Inn Bangkok Silom
Room number: 1110
Nearest Sky Train station: Surasak (about 10 mins walk)
Cost paid for 1 night: advanced booking rate 2914 THB (Converted to AU$90)
Included: Breakfast and Internet
Being a Priority Club Gold member the treatment I received at reception may be different to regular travellers who simply just chose to stay at this hotel. However upon first impression (before they found out my membership status) the greeting I received was warm and friendly.
The lobby is elegantly decorated but the rest of the hotel is a little outdated. My room was comfortable but felt dusty and old. The bathroom was extremely small, you have to wedge yourself between the door and the bath to get to the toilet and the towel rack. While everything was functional, the decor of the bathroom is very 70s and has probably never been renovated since then. My room was adequate in size, the carpet was old and faded making the overall feel of the room old and tired, but I did like the small touch of putting labels on the pillows to indicate whether they are soft or firm.
Internet was included in my room rate but it was slow and hard for those who wish to contact family and friends via Skype or equivalent web based voice communication tools.
I was impressed with the selection at breakfast, one of the largest so far for hotels of the same level.
Location isn't as convenient for public transport, as it is still a good 10 mins walk to the nearest Sky Train station. It is however, possible to walk to the public ferry wharf in 20 mins and see a few things along the way, including a visit to the Lebua at State Tower just one block down the road.
----------------------------- ----------------------------- ----------------------------- ------
Novotel Bangkok Fenix Silom
Room number: 1610
Nearest Sky Train station: Surasak (about 12 mins walk)
Cost paid for 1 night: advanced booking rate 1977.36 THB (Converted to AU$62)
Included: Breakfast
Modern and new, this Novotel is only just across the road from Holiday Inn but has a completely different atmosphere. Very business-y and updated with modern art hung on the wall of the bedroom and floor to ceiling glass bathroom wall!
There is the usual Thai friendly-ness and very prompt to respond to my requests. I couldn't find the switch to the bathroom lights and one phone call to house keeping and 1 mins later, a staff came and showed me the switch (of course, it was right in front of my eyes). The room was slightly smaller than the one at Holiday Inn but the bathroom was a lot nicer and larger. Rain shower is a bonus and good quality soap and shampoo. Internet wasn't included in the room rate, and was charged at 400 THB for 24 hours, which is still good value and the connection really really good.
Breakfast had all the essentials except lacked variety on the hot foods compared to Holiday Inn. Otherwise, I thoroughly enjoyed my stay at this hotel.
I chose two budget sensible options here, both of equal quality to see how they rate against each other.
Holiday Inn Bangkok Silom
Room number: 1110
Nearest Sky Train station: Surasak (about 10 mins walk)
Cost paid for 1 night: advanced booking rate 2914 THB (Converted to AU$90)
Included: Breakfast and Internet
My room at the Holiday Inn Silom
The bathroom in my room
Being a Priority Club Gold member the treatment I received at reception may be different to regular travellers who simply just chose to stay at this hotel. However upon first impression (before they found out my membership status) the greeting I received was warm and friendly.
The lobby is elegantly decorated but the rest of the hotel is a little outdated. My room was comfortable but felt dusty and old. The bathroom was extremely small, you have to wedge yourself between the door and the bath to get to the toilet and the towel rack. While everything was functional, the decor of the bathroom is very 70s and has probably never been renovated since then. My room was adequate in size, the carpet was old and faded making the overall feel of the room old and tired, but I did like the small touch of putting labels on the pillows to indicate whether they are soft or firm.
Internet was included in my room rate but it was slow and hard for those who wish to contact family and friends via Skype or equivalent web based voice communication tools.
I was impressed with the selection at breakfast, one of the largest so far for hotels of the same level.
Location isn't as convenient for public transport, as it is still a good 10 mins walk to the nearest Sky Train station. It is however, possible to walk to the public ferry wharf in 20 mins and see a few things along the way, including a visit to the Lebua at State Tower just one block down the road.
----------------------------- ----------------------------- ----------------------------- ------
Novotel Bangkok Fenix Silom
Room number: 1610
Nearest Sky Train station: Surasak (about 12 mins walk)
Cost paid for 1 night: advanced booking rate 1977.36 THB (Converted to AU$62)
Included: Breakfast
My room at the Novotel Bangkok Fenix
The bathroom
Modern and new, this Novotel is only just across the road from Holiday Inn but has a completely different atmosphere. Very business-y and updated with modern art hung on the wall of the bedroom and floor to ceiling glass bathroom wall!
There is the usual Thai friendly-ness and very prompt to respond to my requests. I couldn't find the switch to the bathroom lights and one phone call to house keeping and 1 mins later, a staff came and showed me the switch (of course, it was right in front of my eyes). The room was slightly smaller than the one at Holiday Inn but the bathroom was a lot nicer and larger. Rain shower is a bonus and good quality soap and shampoo. Internet wasn't included in the room rate, and was charged at 400 THB for 24 hours, which is still good value and the connection really really good.
Breakfast had all the essentials except lacked variety on the hot foods compared to Holiday Inn. Otherwise, I thoroughly enjoyed my stay at this hotel.
