Hotel Review: Conrad Bangkok
Located in the Central Business District of Bangkok, the Conrad Bangkok was voted as the Best Luxury City Hotel in Thailand at the 2013 World Luxury Hotel Awards. With 22 highly versatile meeting rooms, the property was also voted as the Best Convention Hotel in Thailand at the 2013 International Hotel Awards. The Conrad Bangkok is also very accessible (being only 40 minutes away from the Suvarnabhumi International Airport) and also offers a complimentary shuttle to and from the BTS Sky train Ploenchit station.
Since I was traveling with bulky baggage, I decided to flag a taxi to Conrad Bangkok. I arrived at the hotel ahead of the check-in time at 1230pm but was quickly escorted up to the lounge for check-in. What really impressed me at this property is the level of service that is being rendered to her guests. Even though the Conrad Bangkok did not have a high occupancy rate while I was there, the number of staff were still maintained and as such there was a high staff to guest ratio. Although it's a big corporate hotel, every thing here works like clockwork.
The check-in process was professional and timely. I have only been in the hotel for fifteen minutes and I have already done the following things:
- Had my luggage taken by a hotel staff,
- Escorted up to the Executive Lounge for check-in,
- Had a coffee in the Executive Lounge,
- Proceeded to my room, and
- Had my luggage delivered to the room.
As a Hilton Gold member, I was given an upgrade to the Executive Deluxe Corner Room King Bed which is 53 sqm. The corner rooms provide 12sqm of additional space (as compared to the regular executive rooms) so if you can, try to ask for it nicely!
Those familiar to the Conrad brand will expect to find a stuffed animal (or two) located somewhere in the room. I found a handsome looking elephant stuffed toy on my bed (I have previously gotten a teddy bear from Conrad Centennial Singapore and a monkey from Conrad Bali).
There's also a small walk-in closet which also contains a safe and an area for you to put your luggage. You can also find additional pillows here (which are always welcomed)! If you require more pillows, feel free to choose from a rather extensive pillow menu that is placed near the bed. There's also a fruit platter that features seasonal fruits which is replenished daily.
The spacious room offers extensive city views from a full length window. The work desk that comes complete with a Herman Miller office chair allows business travelers to work from the comfort of their rooms. Internet does not come free at the Conrad Bangkok (although it is complimentary for Hilton HHonors Gold members!) but you can access it at the Executive Lounge for free.
The sizeable bathroom came with amenities from Tara Smith and Shanghai Tang (or you can request for the Aromatherapy Associates). I particularly like the Shanghai Tang ones as they have a really refreshing and defining zing to it. There's also a movable chair for grooming or makeup in front of the large mirror (or to act as a side table for the bathtub).
After spending an entire day out exploring the weekend markets under the sweltering heat, this bathtub allows for a great deep soak. The wooden blinds and windows also open up to a glass which allows you to enjoy the Bangkok skyline while being in the tub.
The evening cocktail hour wasn't spectacular but it was sufficient enough to make for a light dinner. However if you are in Bangkok, do yourself a favour and get yourself some Thai food! Apart from the usual canapes, I also found a small chocolate section which offers milk, white and dark chocolate buttons on top of dried fruits.
Breakfast was served next morning at Cafe@2 (or the Executive Lounge if you like). Since the hotel occupancy was low, I had ample space to choose from and no queue at all to deal with. The buffet breakfast came with a wide selection of hot food items, pastries (which I believe were the star of the breakfast), cook-to-order omelettes, bacon, sausages and the healthy corner containing fruits, yoghurts and salads (there's also a fresh juice station here).
I came back with a suspicious looking piece of cooked omelette which did not make for a good looking picture but it was decent taste-wise. There was also a cook-to-order noodle counter and a hot Chinese dim sum station for those who fancy something else.
The staff in Cafe@2 were extremely attentive and used plates were cleared at a record-breaking speed. Upon seeing that my coffee has finished, they immediately asked if I wanted another or something else.
The Conrad Bangkok offers an oasis in the heart of Bangkok. The tanning decks and daybeds by the gorgeous pool allow the weary traveler to rest and recuperate. There was a constant breeze while I was there and the weather was perfect was swimming.
The City Terrace Pool Restaurant located by the pool offers a range of healthy juices and light meals that complement your fitness regime. It is also a great place to laze away your evenings with a good book or to just simply people watch.
The fully equipped Bodyworx Fitness center is opened 24/7 for residents and is definitely the biggest hotel gym I have been to thus far. While it is showing signs of age, there's a huge variety of gym equipments which includes free weights. The latter is not as common in hotel gyms due to safety concerns and the amount of space required.
The Conrad Bangkok really impressed me during my stay. Having been to two other Conrads in the Southeast-Asia region, I can truly say that service is a huge emphasis across all these properties. Promising a luxurious stay and the opportunity to be yourself, the Conrad Bangkok fazed me way with its clockwork service and attentiveness to detail. From the moment I stepped into the hotel lobby, every thing seemed to be perfectly timed.
To make the deal even sweeter, from 01 August to 31 October, you can earn up to Triple Points on your stay at a participating Hilton property (Conrad Bangkok included!).
Click HERE to register for this promotion.
You may access the full list of hotels that chose NOT to participate here:
http://hhonors3.hilton.com/en/promotions/triple-your-trip/non-participating-hotels.html
The Best Available Rate (BAR) is at ฿5,500 (approximately S$215) before taxes for the entry-level Deluxe room and ฿8,000 (approximately S$310) for the room I was in (Executive Deluxe Corner Room King Bed). With the Triple Points and the other two Conrad/Waldorf Astoria promotions that are running, you can easily chalk up significant amounts of points at this property.
Sign up for this promotion (click HERE to access it) which will give you 2,000 bonus Hilton HHonors Points per eligible night. Also, sign up HERE to get up to 10,000 bonus Hilton HHonors Points when staying at a Conrad/Waldorf Astoria for the first three times.
1st Stay: 2,000 Bonus Points
2nd Stay: 3,000 Bonus Points
3rd Stay: 5,000 Bonus Points
The following is an estimated number of points you (a Hilton HHonors Gold member) will earn for an Executive Deluxe Corner Room King Bed for just one night under the three stackable promotions:
Base Rate = 2,480 Points
Triple Points Bonus = 4,960
Points & Points = 1,240 Points
Gold Bonus = 620 Points
MyWay Bonus = 1,000 Points
2k Bonus = 2,000 Points
First Stay = 2,000 Points
TOTAL = 14,300 Points
Conrad Bangkok
87 Wireless Road, Phatumwan, Bangkok 10330, Thailand
Website | Email
TRIBE Living Bangkok Sukhumvit 39 is a great value choice for budget-conscious travelers but its slightly longer walk from Phrom Phong BTS Station may make it less convenient compared to more accessible (but pricier) options in the area.