Justchecking
Active Member
- Joined
- Jun 6, 2010
- Posts
- 921
Hotel description - a refurbished hotel taken over the Anantara brand about 12 months ago. It features almost 500 rooms in two 39 story towers. One tower is for short stay and features daily maid service, mini bar and city views. The other is for stays over 2 weeks at a time and features twice weekly maid service, and pool views. Sathorn is a business district adjacent to Silom. It's famous for a 6 lane highway that has constant traffic problems. This highway lies right outside the hotel, you can hear the traffic even with the doors shut from the very top floors. This didn't bother me in the least but I imagine it may bother you if you are on a lower floor or expect absolute silence. If that is the case ask for a poolside room which will be much quieter.
Good - getting to the Anantara is easy. Take the airport rail to Phaya Thai, change to BTS to Chong Nonsi, change to BRT to Akran Songkhrao. Cross the road via the pedestrian bridge and you are there. Total cost 70 baht or about $2.50. Don't worry about the interchanges as all these stations are connected with good access. If taking a taxi expect delays due to the highway and also for your taxi driver to not know this hotel as it was only recently renamed. Getting the the main shopping district from this hotel takes 20mins via the BTS, it's 3 stops away and costs 20 baht each way. The area is quite safe at all hours and easy to navigate on foot.
Bad - because this is a business district you will find all the roadside stands will disappear on the weekends. Not a real issue if you know about it. There is a 7-11 nearby and a foreigners supermarket next door. But there are no local supermarkets or fruits and vegetables markets nearby. I find that self catering in Thailand to be a waste of time and money anyway, especially when you can buy a meal for 50 baht just about anywhere.
Room - I had a 1 bedroom apartment on the top floor with city views. It cost $92 per night (on a low season promotion). The apartment appeared very recently renovated with near new furniture and amenities. T bathroom was huge with a shower and seperate bath. Bathrobes were provided. The bathroom was fitted out with reclaimed marble bench tops and bath surround and matching porcelain tiles. It looked new and was spotlessly clean. Also well lit with halogen down lights. The bedroom was large with it's own balcony, flat screen TV and separate air-conditioning controls. The living room featured kitchenette, dining table and chairs, lounge table and chairs and large flat screen TV. The room was decorated in neutral tones with modern furniture. Overrall in style and comfort level it reminded me of the Melbourne Airport Hilton. the entire apartment was 64sqm and came with complimentary wifi, bottled water and tea and coffee facilities.
The daily maid service was good, I always found my room left spotless and amenities replenished.
Onsite the hotel has a large horizon pool which looks beautiful and isn't overly used. It also features a well equipped 24hr gym, steam and sauna rooms and onsite day spa. The onsite restaurant is quite expensive by Thai standards so I didn't use it. They offer a buffet breakfast, which may or may ot be included in your room tariff. It's a decent breakfast with good selection of food, but unless it's an inclusion I wouldn't purchase it. At $18 per head it's not cheap and by Thai standards very expensive. You can buy the same in a local cafe for about half the price. I ate from street stalls for less than a quarter of the price. Do try the fresh squeezed OJ from street stalls, it's like nothing you've ever tasted and you'll never be able to drink the bitter stuff they pass off here as OJ again.
Checking in and out is a breeze with a large number of staff on duty and all of them speak quite good English. They also have native English speaking staff working there as well. Lots of willing porters and a relaxing atmosphere. I liked this hotel probably because it wasn't in the middle of the tourist hotspots and because you get a lot of luxury for your money. Their standard rooms start at about $40-60 a night but in my opinion the deluxe rooms are worth the extra. The location while not walking distance to everywhere, was convenient enough for my liking.
Good - getting to the Anantara is easy. Take the airport rail to Phaya Thai, change to BTS to Chong Nonsi, change to BRT to Akran Songkhrao. Cross the road via the pedestrian bridge and you are there. Total cost 70 baht or about $2.50. Don't worry about the interchanges as all these stations are connected with good access. If taking a taxi expect delays due to the highway and also for your taxi driver to not know this hotel as it was only recently renamed. Getting the the main shopping district from this hotel takes 20mins via the BTS, it's 3 stops away and costs 20 baht each way. The area is quite safe at all hours and easy to navigate on foot.
Bad - because this is a business district you will find all the roadside stands will disappear on the weekends. Not a real issue if you know about it. There is a 7-11 nearby and a foreigners supermarket next door. But there are no local supermarkets or fruits and vegetables markets nearby. I find that self catering in Thailand to be a waste of time and money anyway, especially when you can buy a meal for 50 baht just about anywhere.
Room - I had a 1 bedroom apartment on the top floor with city views. It cost $92 per night (on a low season promotion). The apartment appeared very recently renovated with near new furniture and amenities. T bathroom was huge with a shower and seperate bath. Bathrobes were provided. The bathroom was fitted out with reclaimed marble bench tops and bath surround and matching porcelain tiles. It looked new and was spotlessly clean. Also well lit with halogen down lights. The bedroom was large with it's own balcony, flat screen TV and separate air-conditioning controls. The living room featured kitchenette, dining table and chairs, lounge table and chairs and large flat screen TV. The room was decorated in neutral tones with modern furniture. Overrall in style and comfort level it reminded me of the Melbourne Airport Hilton. the entire apartment was 64sqm and came with complimentary wifi, bottled water and tea and coffee facilities.
The daily maid service was good, I always found my room left spotless and amenities replenished.
Onsite the hotel has a large horizon pool which looks beautiful and isn't overly used. It also features a well equipped 24hr gym, steam and sauna rooms and onsite day spa. The onsite restaurant is quite expensive by Thai standards so I didn't use it. They offer a buffet breakfast, which may or may ot be included in your room tariff. It's a decent breakfast with good selection of food, but unless it's an inclusion I wouldn't purchase it. At $18 per head it's not cheap and by Thai standards very expensive. You can buy the same in a local cafe for about half the price. I ate from street stalls for less than a quarter of the price. Do try the fresh squeezed OJ from street stalls, it's like nothing you've ever tasted and you'll never be able to drink the bitter stuff they pass off here as OJ again.
Checking in and out is a breeze with a large number of staff on duty and all of them speak quite good English. They also have native English speaking staff working there as well. Lots of willing porters and a relaxing atmosphere. I liked this hotel probably because it wasn't in the middle of the tourist hotspots and because you get a lot of luxury for your money. Their standard rooms start at about $40-60 a night but in my opinion the deluxe rooms are worth the extra. The location while not walking distance to everywhere, was convenient enough for my liking.
