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- Nov 12, 2012
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Property: Banyan Tree Bangkok
Status: Explorer+ Platinum
Room booked: Vertigo Club Park View King
Room upgraded/type: No. On check-in, was told I had been upgraded but later realised it was the room booked.
Rate: A$350 per night
Early check in/late out: Late check-out to 2pm
Free internet: Yes.
Welcome drink: Yes,
Welcome amenity: Yes - plate of sweet cakes and a bowl of fruit and personal note
Recommend: Not on my experience
This was the second leg of my 'relaxing' trip home (night in Muscat. night in Bangkok then on flight to Sydney) and a second failure. Have to get this off my chest, sorry.
I was looking in advance of my trip at which hotel I'd use in Bangkok - looking for a nice plush stay and based on various comments here, chose the Banyan Tree. Hadn't stayed at that brand before.
I was notified well in advance that renos were going on and two of their restaurants weren't open and check-in may be in a temp location.
On arrival, luggage whisked away and I was escorted in the elevator to the 19th floor. Guy asked for my passport in the elevator and I handed it over. When we got out. he and my passport went to disappear into a back room. I called him back and asked where my passport was going. 'Part of check-in'. I let it go and passports get copied so many times there days, but I didn't like it just disappearing like that.
Then - check-in. Started with a cool blue drink, little bowl of pumpkin wafers and cold towel in a comfy chair. Then guy goes over to his table and starts checking me in. Overall, it was maybe 15 mins before I got my room key. No idea what he was doing, but it wasn't helped when 2 young ladies went up to him and showed him something on a phone and they all started chatting about it. I went over, told the girls that he was busy and stood there. I got some chat back in Thai but 'grumpy old man' = I didn't care. It was about 7:30pm and I just wanted to get to the lounge before it shut - at 8 I thought. No, 7:30 so I missed out.
Then - room. OK. Nice welcome amenity. I was really, really tired so had a bite to eat at their buffet restaurant (no Accor dining discount) and turned in about 10pm.
... for thuds and hammering to start somewhere. Obviously part of the renos. I called to complain. They called me back and said 'contractors just moving things' and I replied - no, its some demolition and I want it to stop. She went off, came back and said it would stop in 15 mins. I replied I hope so - I'm going back to bed and want to go to sleep.
So imagine my surprise when, 15 mins later there was a knock at my door!! Got up, put on robe, and answered door. Guy introduced himself as night manager. He had a key for another room which he invited me to use. Again said contractors just moving things. Trying to control myself, I repeated - no, its hammering/demolition and I'm not going to try to move away from it, I want it stopped.
He went off and it did stop shortly afterwards.
Just beginning.
One side of the hotel faces South Sathon Road and Rama IV Road (and eventually Lumphini Park), the other just neighbourhoods and the Chao Phraya River in the distance.
As usual, I'd asked for quiet room, away from elevators and street noise by e-mail and also by WhatsApp; acknowledged. Checked again on check-in. On reaching the room (55th floor) everything seemed OK. Roads weren't noisy, as traffic moves slowly.
It was after midnight that the 'fun' started. As the road cleared, the motorbikes had a clear run and from the 55th floor you could hear them roaring a long way on approach and moving away. The windows were plain glass so these things were loud - probably the worst traffic noise I've experienced in a hotel for many, many years. No point complaining at that hour (I should have taken that key!!), so earplugs but still a very poor night's sleep.
Oh, and the alarm clock went off at 6am (yes, I should have checked, but ...)
Next day I asked to see the senior manager and made an appointment.
He showed up 10 mins late. I apologised in advance as I would be speaking very directly and its discourteous, but I gave him both barrels (without raising voice). He said, yes, the contractors were doing some demolition and had no explanation why the check-in guy put me on the noisy side of the hotel. Yes, they have had problems before with alarms going off while not being set by the guest. FFS!!
All the problems should not have occurred.
Very apologetic etc etc etc. Asked my what sort of compensation I would like. I replied as I usually do - not going to ask for compensation, as that wouldn't undo the fact that I was feeling absolutely cough, with an overnight flight coming up. He then said they would cut 50%off the room. I actually though they might do 100% but.
I am fed up with expensive hotels where you think the expense will buy you a nice place with considerate staff and management 'tuned in', and then you are disappointed.
The room was good.
Welcome sweets were nice.
View from my room. At night, when the traffic clears, its a motorcycle drag strip.
The other side of the hotel, which my request for a quiet room away from street noise, did not achieve.
The pool
Status: Explorer+ Platinum
Room booked: Vertigo Club Park View King
Room upgraded/type: No. On check-in, was told I had been upgraded but later realised it was the room booked.
Rate: A$350 per night
Early check in/late out: Late check-out to 2pm
Free internet: Yes.
Welcome drink: Yes,
Welcome amenity: Yes - plate of sweet cakes and a bowl of fruit and personal note
Recommend: Not on my experience
This was the second leg of my 'relaxing' trip home (night in Muscat. night in Bangkok then on flight to Sydney) and a second failure. Have to get this off my chest, sorry.
I was looking in advance of my trip at which hotel I'd use in Bangkok - looking for a nice plush stay and based on various comments here, chose the Banyan Tree. Hadn't stayed at that brand before.
I was notified well in advance that renos were going on and two of their restaurants weren't open and check-in may be in a temp location.
On arrival, luggage whisked away and I was escorted in the elevator to the 19th floor. Guy asked for my passport in the elevator and I handed it over. When we got out. he and my passport went to disappear into a back room. I called him back and asked where my passport was going. 'Part of check-in'. I let it go and passports get copied so many times there days, but I didn't like it just disappearing like that.
Then - check-in. Started with a cool blue drink, little bowl of pumpkin wafers and cold towel in a comfy chair. Then guy goes over to his table and starts checking me in. Overall, it was maybe 15 mins before I got my room key. No idea what he was doing, but it wasn't helped when 2 young ladies went up to him and showed him something on a phone and they all started chatting about it. I went over, told the girls that he was busy and stood there. I got some chat back in Thai but 'grumpy old man' = I didn't care. It was about 7:30pm and I just wanted to get to the lounge before it shut - at 8 I thought. No, 7:30 so I missed out.
Then - room. OK. Nice welcome amenity. I was really, really tired so had a bite to eat at their buffet restaurant (no Accor dining discount) and turned in about 10pm.
... for thuds and hammering to start somewhere. Obviously part of the renos. I called to complain. They called me back and said 'contractors just moving things' and I replied - no, its some demolition and I want it to stop. She went off, came back and said it would stop in 15 mins. I replied I hope so - I'm going back to bed and want to go to sleep.
So imagine my surprise when, 15 mins later there was a knock at my door!! Got up, put on robe, and answered door. Guy introduced himself as night manager. He had a key for another room which he invited me to use. Again said contractors just moving things. Trying to control myself, I repeated - no, its hammering/demolition and I'm not going to try to move away from it, I want it stopped.
He went off and it did stop shortly afterwards.
Just beginning.
One side of the hotel faces South Sathon Road and Rama IV Road (and eventually Lumphini Park), the other just neighbourhoods and the Chao Phraya River in the distance.
As usual, I'd asked for quiet room, away from elevators and street noise by e-mail and also by WhatsApp; acknowledged. Checked again on check-in. On reaching the room (55th floor) everything seemed OK. Roads weren't noisy, as traffic moves slowly.
It was after midnight that the 'fun' started. As the road cleared, the motorbikes had a clear run and from the 55th floor you could hear them roaring a long way on approach and moving away. The windows were plain glass so these things were loud - probably the worst traffic noise I've experienced in a hotel for many, many years. No point complaining at that hour (I should have taken that key!!), so earplugs but still a very poor night's sleep.
Oh, and the alarm clock went off at 6am (yes, I should have checked, but ...)
Next day I asked to see the senior manager and made an appointment.
He showed up 10 mins late. I apologised in advance as I would be speaking very directly and its discourteous, but I gave him both barrels (without raising voice). He said, yes, the contractors were doing some demolition and had no explanation why the check-in guy put me on the noisy side of the hotel. Yes, they have had problems before with alarms going off while not being set by the guest. FFS!!
All the problems should not have occurred.
Very apologetic etc etc etc. Asked my what sort of compensation I would like. I replied as I usually do - not going to ask for compensation, as that wouldn't undo the fact that I was feeling absolutely cough, with an overnight flight coming up. He then said they would cut 50%off the room. I actually though they might do 100% but.
I am fed up with expensive hotels where you think the expense will buy you a nice place with considerate staff and management 'tuned in', and then you are disappointed.
The room was good.
Welcome sweets were nice.
View from my room. At night, when the traffic clears, its a motorcycle drag strip.
The other side of the hotel, which my request for a quiet room away from street noise, did not achieve.
The pool
