Thailand Bangkok Banyan Tree

[Chris26WI]

The Banyan Tree is located on South Sathorn Road (Silom), just next to the Sukothai Hotel. The access to the hotel is a bit difficult to find, and I noticed that quite some taxi drivers are not aware of the "Banyan Tree" and how to get there.. interestingly...

The building is a slim 60storey skyscraper, all rooms are suites, most of them 48sqm. The suites start from the 33d floor onwards. The Banyan Tree Club suites from the 53d floor on. The lobby is quite nice, and you just have to deliver your name, credit card, passport at the reception and then you're escorted to the lobby to sit down, get a welcome drink and some minutes later the front desk employee approaches you with all the accomodation details and escorts you to your suite.

Unfortunately, no smoking suite was available at the time of check-in (though I had asked for one before via e-mail), and so I was offered an upgrade to Club Suite for additionally 50 USD++/night to the priceline price. The suites are the same on club floors, just the view from the room is really spectacular (55th floor), two large windows (sitting room + sleeping room). Soft drinks are complimentary on club floor, access to the lounge (not worth it!), a 10-mins-massage is complimentary and a nice amenities set in the bathroom (two actually). The suite is furnished in cherry (?) wood, so brown colours. The sleeping room is seperated by a "japanese" door. The bathroom (seperate shower+bathtub) is in black-white colour and really nice and quite big, but now window. The furniture seems to still date back to the times when this was a Westin hotel, so already a bit outdated, but still ok. Two small TVs (one in bedroom, one in sitting room), which could really have been replaced by more modern ones, IMO. Daily turndown service in the evening with small gifts (which change every night). Overall, the 50 USD surcharge is not worth it.. so better just keep a standard (deluxe) suite, as the suites are the same. Fortunately, I could keep the club suite after the second night, but didn't have to pay 50 USD anymore (I said, I wanted to change to a dlx suite) (without the club floor benefits, of course).

There's a pool on the 21st floor, which is ok, but not too large.

Allover, I'd say, it's of course a very nice 5star hotel with impeccable service level, but the suites are already a little outdated; in my opinion it's not worth the money if I compare to the Sheraton Grande Sukhumvit, by example, with the rooms beeing not really much smaller there and the service level quite similar.