There are hotels well known in the world for their urban appeal, the comfort they provide amongst the big city life and the facilities they boast of to make a busy urbanite feel at home, disconnected from the hustle and the bustle of the often noisy and polluted cityscape. Adorned with the most convenient and well thought amenities, urban hotels are meant to bring to the city dweller a sense of relief as he walks through the doors, making the guest’s space a haven of relaxation. This month, HOT Magazine reviews one of such hotels at the heart of Bangkok’s most central business districts.
Overlooking the busy and well to do quarter of Thong Lor in the country’s capital, the Grande Centre Point Sukhumvit 55 is one of those refuges every traveller desires as an accommodation that caters to the needs of the city dwellers. Combining a variety of styles, the décor of the hotel is of a charming mix between modern and classic architecture, varying from the rooms to the entrance hall or the spa.
Boasting almost 450 rooms of various comforts throughout the hotel, the Grande Centre Point Sukhumvit 55 remains constant in one aspect of its service: the provision of perfectly equipped accommodation for the occasion any guest may be looking for. All rooms are equipped with LED televisions, sofa beds, free WiFi, safety boxes, a fridge with free minibar, complimentary water, tea and coffee and grooming accessories amongst others. They also offer room, laundry, poolside, limousine and 24-doctor services.
Five types of room grace the hotel, with the standard one being the Signature Deluxe or the Lady Deluxe. With its 40 square metre space, it is adequate for those who opt for practicality. A multi functioning bed, an ergonomic work desk and spacious bathroom with ample space, a tub and an automatic toilet seat make it ideal for the lone traveller or the busy couple.
Then comes the Executive Suite, an ample, much more spacious accommodation of 70 square metres for the business traveller. Separate bedrooms and living rooms assure the guest will be able to draw a clear separation of busy work hours and relax time. Featuring not one, but two LED televisions and a stationary box for an optimum indoor work experience, the executive suite is ideal for any individual wishing to pursue his busy schedule within the luxurious amenities of the hotel. This is the suite I stayed in and I enjoyed the almost floor to ceiling wall of windows overlooking the city both in the lounge and the separate bedroom, the view was spectacular. I also found convenient the two different types of electric shades; one a vanity shade that still let light thru and the other a black out shade which made for better sleeping. The suite also featured an electronic toilet in the well sized bathroom. A Japanese invention, the electronic toilet is a convenience that once experienced makes going back to a traditional commode somewhat depressing.
The Grande Corner Suite is a fantastic place to stage your leisure retreat: decorated with contemporary architecture and overlooking a skyline from the 30th floor of the hotel, the Grande Corner Suite is ideal for the golf traveller, the leisure seeker, the honeymoon couple or the visiting family. Spanning 70 square metres and possessing a fully equipped kitchenette, it is ideal for a day in or a family gathering.
But if we’re really speaking of family gatherings, the Family Suite is definitely the most appropriate pick. At a staggering 110 square kilometres, it is by far the largest of the lot, with a stunning king bed and two double beds as well as two separate bathrooms. Apart from a kitchenette, it also includes a washing machine. In definitive, it’s ideal for a whole family outing.
The hotel includes a large variety of leisure activities, ranging from the urban Onsen spa to the sunset pool. Indoor jacuzzis, fitness club, business lounge and conference halls give this hotel its mark of quality, where work and play can converge in the most accessible way.
Feeling hungry? Why not head over to the BlueSpice Dining room for breakfast? A large array of both Asian and continental cuisine awaits at this matinal buffet venue, which combines western and oriental cuisine in the most curious of ways, even hosting a Night Market Buffet, to portray Bangkok’s outdoors in the indoors.
If what you prefer is a lighter snack or some dinner and lunch, the BlueSpice Café is ideal for a bit of fusion taste: Thai, Japanese and Italian make up this colonially decorated venue. Open 24 hours, you will have no excuse to go hungry.
In Real Estate, the three most important things to know are location, location, location and it’s not much different when choosing a hotel to stay. I normally stay in the CBD area of Sukhumvit and this was my first real foray into Thong Lor. Upon check-in, I was given a copy of the Thonglo Taste Map, a map showing the location of 98 eateries and drinkeries, all within close proximity to the hotel.
Thong Lor has become the hot spot in BKK over the last few years, known for its excellent choice of upmarket and fashionable restaurants, along with plenty of trendy spots to drink the night away. As a large percentage of the Japanese expat population lives here, there are plenty of excellent izakaya, ramen, and sushi joints, and even a restaurant and shop village known as Nihonmura (Japantown). Two places I’ve been wanting to visit in the last year it turns out were just down the street from the hotel, those being Touche’ Hombre and Iron Ferries.
The Grande Centre Point Sukhumvit 55 is one of the most ideal hotels for any traveller to enjoy their urban life once they’ve left the street, combining all of the necessary amenities to make of their stay a memorable one. Located minutes from BTS Thong Lor via their free shuttle, it’s easily accessible and readily equipped.
If you’re heading to the capital for some days of hectic work and are doubting about where to seek accommodation, the Grande Centre Point Sukhumvit 55 is the ideal place to check-in.
Grande Center Point Sukhumvit 55
300 Sukhumvit Soi 55 (Thonglo)
Bangkok 10110, Thailand.
Tel: +662 020 8000
Fax: +662 020 8088
Email: sukhumvit55@gcphotels.com
Website: http://www.grandecentrepointsukhumvit55.com