The Park Hyatt Bangkok opened in May 2017, and is a hotel I’ve been eager to check out. Park Hyatt is one of my favorite hotel brands out there, and the fact that their properties are bookable with points is the icing on the cake. I generally consider Bangkok to be one of the best…
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the rooms are really disappointing- holiday inn express park hyatt edition? when i think about some of the standard rooms in other PH properties...
Seeing this makes me content to see that we will continue to stay at our Peninsula Hotel Bangkok.
A truly stunning property on what I believe was a part of the British Embassy and sold to the developers many years ago. I've stayed at this hotel a number of times and found the rooms spacious with excellent views, particularly considering the location. The amenities and service were excellent, as were the beds and bedding. My only criticism is of the hospital-like curtains in the hallways and the green carpeting. Otherwise the only other city hotel I'd rate higher is the Aman Tokyo.
Great review Ben.
Pañpuri is not the name of the spa, but rather a popular brand of Thai air fresheners (which, I suppose, furnished this spa).
@ Allano -- It does seem to be the name of the spa. What am I missing?
http://www.panpuriorganicspa.com/index-park-hyatt-bangkok.html
IT does indeed look like a beautiful hotel, but there's something - dare I say it - generic about the place? From the pictures, I don't get much in the way of a sense of place (other than from the pool), although I guess that's partly what high end hotels are designed to do.
But contrast it with, let's say, some of the older Bangkok properties: The Oriental / Manadarin Oriental, the now demolished Siam Intercontinental, and the soon to be demolished Dusit Thani. None of them have the polished luxury of the Park Hyatt and its ilk, but you know - at every step - that you're in Thailand, and the country's culture permeates the hotel at every step. Just the number of locals who go to the Dusit Thani to drink or dine connects it to the city and country in a way that I find the Four Seasons / Park Hyatt / St Regis hotels rarely do.
Not a criticism - each to their own - but I do wonder how these hotels will be placed in 49 years (like the Dusit Thani), or 130+ (The Oriental) in the fabric of the city...
unless you have a lot of points to burn I don't think it makes sense to stay at this hotel or most of the big US chain hotels in Bangkok which charge premium prices. The city has a glut of 4 and 5 star hotels that you can get for not a lot of money. Pay cash and save your points for more expensive cities. They might be local chains or independent, but they are every bit as good or better than the US chains.
I would choose based on location first and foremost, especially given how horrendous Bangkok traffic often is.
Panpuri is a luxury Thai brand of shampoo, candles, soaps, etc. They have stores in a lot of the high-end malls in BKK and even have airport stores at BKK, USM, etc. I'm sure they licensed the name to the hotel for the spa. Fairly common practice, but it's the internet so it's more fun to assume everything is bad and wrong.
I had a four night stay in November, they managed to forget to service our room two days. First time we talked to the front desk at 6pm when heading out for dinner, second time we called them at 1pm, 5pm, and it eventually again happened while we were out for dinner.
The hotel is really beautiful and in an excellent location. But the service is not up to scratch for a Park Hyatt, nor for a luxury hotel in Bangkok.
Glad you liked Central. I went to high school with several children from the family that owns the Central properties in Bangkok. Most of them are now involved in running the business. They're all great,a nd I've had great meals in a lot of the restaurants in the mall you reference.
The whole hotel, including the room and common areas, look cramped and dark. That's a $100 a nite room in any non-international chain hotel in Bangkok. As for Japanese loos...try any of the Grande Centrepoint, Somerset, or the Davis Hotel...they all have them and rates of less than $ 100. You paid daft foreigner rates to stay at your fav hotel chain.
I stayed at this property for 3 nights in January on a Cash+Points award. Good experience all around, but especially up on the roof and in top level bars/restaurants at night.
I'd stay there again, but Hilton is opening a brand new Waldorf Astoria Bangkok in July which I am aching to check out...
The mall that's a part of the hotel complex is sterile and dead. In fact, it more resembles a hospital than a lively shopping experience. We who live in Bangkok stay well clear of that monstrosity.
I have stayed in the conrad white similar amenities and just as nice or nicer rooms. For $70 a night. This is super priced for Bangkok. Their are a ton of 4 and 5 star hotels for 50-80 usd a night many of them just steps from a bts station.
But for those who are loyal to the brand I can understand wanting to stay. And the pool and living area are very nice looking and a good place to work/relax in lieu of having a suite.
@Lucky, @Tiffany, @entire OMAAT team: many thanks for your years of expert advice. Based on this review, I thought "Hey, never been to BKK. I've got some Avianca LifeMiles..." and BAM! for ONLY 77,230 miles and USD 46.56, I was able to book a ANA FIRST Class IAD-NRT connecting to ANA J Class (787 service) NRT-BKK. I seriously thought I was never going to be able to use those purchased Avianca LifeMiles and miraculously, there was some availability. Wow. I can't thanks you guys enough.
It's fine. Worth the money? Probably not, certainly not for a significant premium over GH.
I loved the design, included the rooms ( although a bit too much traffic noise).
Great breakfast and really nice eating options in the mall).
The menu says "Wanton Soup" - is that a misspelling or just a different (and possible quite intriguing) style of noodle soup I've never heard of?
Another great review, loved the high-quality, extensive photos.
Also, LOL about the mini-burgers. I don't know why these were bad, but burgers in Thailand are still not quite what you'd expect when you come from the US. The most-consistently good burgers are to be found at the Hard Rock where, I believe, they are shipped in from corporate.
There is no reason to settle for subpar service in Bangkok. So many outstanding properties, including great SPG and Marriott options.
At least they didn't stick you with the abbreviated "Globalist" menu for breakfast.
looks cold and corporate to me, if nice enough but nothing about it says Thailand never mind Asia. Over the yesrs of travelling there I have noticed that the top 5 star hotels have gotten more expensive. Personally I always stay at the Sukhothai (amazing service/breakfast/pool/spa) and it is now part of Design Hotels (Marriott) so should be abailable on points - check it out next time you are in BKK.
Agree with what everyone else said about the daft foreigner rates. And you could have got much better food at the basement food court of the attached mall - no need to leave the complex at all. It's probably the poshest street food in the city so strikes a good balance.
Btw what's that pink drink from the spa?
I stayed in an Embassy room (1807) last November and it was swank. Curved wall-to-wall exterior windows — basically an oversize, upgraded room, like an end unit. I’ve stayed at PHT and PHBA, and this new property ranks comparably, in my opinion!
I stayed here in September of last year. My experience could probably be written down due to it being so soon after opening but it was horrendous.
The design of the hotel is spectacular. To all those saying it looks bad - please go see it in person. It's a stunning property.
The first night I was there the mall was having some kind of party and the music was so loud I couldn't sleep because I could hear it in my bedroom - at 11:30pm. This is especially impressive considering I am hard of hearing. None of the staff bothered to tell me about the music when I checked in or proactively offer ear plugs or offer to move me up to a higher room. After several complaints and calling the manager they finally moved me up to the highest floor they could (the hotel was still not finished at that point, so many higher floors were still under construction) and I could still easily hear the music. Apparently the hotel received many complaints from guests that night.
I was not told about the Globalist happy hour, nor was I shown to my room when I checked in. I also had no idea that I could sit in a proper restaurant for breakfast - when I went down to get breakfast I went through the Living Room area and saw that there were some people eating breakfast there. None of the staff seemed to want to talk to me so I just sat down there assuming this was the breakfast area. Eventually someone came and brought me a menu and I ate there on the couch. Lastly, either the full breakfast buffet was not open or nobody bothered to show me the area near the open kitchen, but I only ever got food from that small area where they have smoothies.
Overall - very beautiful property, but they need someone with common sense to step in and manage service.
My wife and I stayed in the Grand Hyatt a couple of months ago and we were extremely disappointed that all of the street vendors had been driven away, which was what gave the area some character in the first place. Were there street vendors selling great food outside the hotel?
As Neil S points out above, Panpuri is an international luxury brand.
Their main site is here: http://panpuri.com - Sorry to yell, BUT DO NOTE THAT THEY PLAY SOUND BY DEFAULT SO EITHER DON'T GO TO THE LINK OR MUTE YOUR LAPTOP IF YOU'RE IN A CROWDED AREA.
They also have a standalone location in the Gaysorn Village mall right across from the Grand Hyatt/Erawan shrine. It used to be on the second or third level, but now is on the lowest level. Great for picking up candles, diffusers, etc. Then upstairs they have a larger full-service spa you can see here: http://www.panpuriorganicspa.com <--That site is sound-free fortunately.
This hotel is my new favorite in Bangkok. At the risk of stupidly complaining about luxury, the other two I've stayed at, the Mandarin and Peninsula, are both really dated, I don't get the hype about them. I actually had phenomenal service here, they paid for my car to the airport as compensation for their getting the closing time wrong of one of the spots I was headed to, and I remember one of the bellmen walked with me for what was literally five minutes to the turn off to Gaggan (amazing, and leaving soon!) rather than just pointing me in the right direction. The rooftop bar was good too, even in a city obsessed with rooftop bars.
Ben, your review is pretty spot on. Couple of observations (building on the sentiments you shared in your post):
- This property is stingy with Globalist upgrades, same experience as you here... Regarding room configurations, the odd shape of the property lends itself to strange room designs (not your cookie cutter layout as typically found in hotels)
- I concur that the service needs some serious attention; it's not up to par with its 5 star counterparts in Bangkok. I found that many requests got lost in translation.
- While the physical property is over the top stunning, there is definitely a "cold" element to the overall experience. It certainly doesn't offer the warmth of the MO or other Bangkok properties. I personally loved the former Four Seasons Hotel (now Anantara) as it had wonderful lushly landscaped outdoor spaces and a wonderful convergence of a city resort feel (which you don't get IMO at PH Bangkok).
- While the pool area is jaw dropping, it's quite impractical in terms of location. The only entrance was off the (very formal) Living Room Area, which I felt odd walking down in my swimsuit. We also encountered quite a bit of wind, but this could have just been bad timing.
- The mall is spectacular as you mentioned, although I still preferred the location of Grand Hyatt- that extra couple of blocks made a difference in terms of convenience
All in all, this property can be a steal if timed right. Bangkok's over crowded 5 star hotel scene makes this destination ideal for those seeking 5 star luxury at 3 star prices! I always love to compare the type of hotel experience you would get in the US for the same price (can you say... Hilton Garden Inn??)
Nice review, Lucky! I had high hopes for this hotel! However, from what I could see not impressed. We were going to stay at this hotel last May, however opening was pushed back so we ended up at the St. Regis.
Very happy with our standard room and the hotel was beautiful. Nothing like a $200/night St. Regis!
Doesnt reflect much Thai personality to me, seems pretty sterile and basic. When in Thailand I tend to prefer more cultural hotels.
Dear God those photos of the food. It’s 1am and I’m starving now!
We stayed at the hYatt Regency many years ago in Bangkok and we were so impressed with the food in that hotel, but looks like the Park easily has it beat.
I love the Central Embassy Mall. It is not as crowded as most Bangkok malls. The bookstore is just amazing. Bangkok has many malls that are much nicer than any malls in America.
Wondering what other five star or better four star hotels in Bangkok are often under a hundred dollars, or close. Thank you
@Andrew Berlin - plenty of choice in that category if you look outside the big Western brands. Personally I can recommend the Maduzi, a small boutique hotel. Much more luxurious than the official 4.5 star rating.
For international brands, you can try the various Novotels ( the most convenient one is probably the Siam Square one ) or the Mercure/Grand Mercure.
For a little more, say about 150usd, you will be spoilt for choice among 5stars, eg Renaissance, Conrad, Como, Pullman Grande.
Technical and more general question. When the front desk staff walk you to your room, does one tip? (Assuming they are also not carrying your bags.)
I wish I could afford to stay there someday. 😀
I've only visited the hotel's lobby when I was in BKK and I really loved every detail of it...
@kimpossible
No tipping. Not for the front desk staff walking you to your room, nor to the one bringing your luggage.
This Park Hyatt is a very nice hotel but a hotel like the Park Hyatt Saigon is my preference. Taking an elevator to check in is a pain. And there is no lobby unlike the Grand Hyatt Bangkok. The standard rooms at the Park Hyatt are better than the Erawan hotel though.
When I stayed there the breakfast buffet was in two rooms (again somewhat of a hassle), and I agree the buffet was not as extensive as many other hotels. The Park Hyatt also claims to be connected to the Chit Lom BTS station. That is a real stretch. It is easier to get from the Westin Grand to Asok, and the Westin makes no claim.
@John
The buffet still spans 2 rooms: the cold things ( bread, fruit, cold meats, yoghurt, juice, pastries etc) are in the smaller room; the hot things are in the larger area. So nothing has changed. I think that layout is a bad design choice.
That mall connected to Park Hyatt is not even close to as nice as he mall under the Conrad Hong Kong.
All Park Hyatt’s have the ultra modern sterile, boring feel. I did like the one in Sydney though. There’s a ton of amazing hotels in Bangkok. This one is a waste. Maybe good as a one time thing to check it out. Grand Hyatt has more Charachter. Even the new Marriott Marquis looks like it offers better food and beverage. The highlight of the Park Hyatt is clearly the pool.
Also try—Okura Prestige Bangkok. Under $200 per night , beats every Ritz or Park Hyatt I’ve eve stayed at. Just stay in a club room.
Great bar on top floor. Should have taken photos! Great New York bar vibe and some hidden rooms up there 😉
Staying 3 nights at PH Bangkok. Booked by Amex FHR for sub $250/night. No upgrade on check in. Bit disappointed about that. Spectacular, minimalist/scandi vibe. Room is very functional and zen. Almost a bit tedious with the mono palate. The pool area and Living area are the most spectacular parts of the hotel, with the infinity pool.
As others have mentioned the service lacks warmth. I wasn’t even shown to my room, yet saw others where they were being shown to their room. Go figure. Staff don’t seem overly happy to be there! I think the levels and lifts would be hard to work in.
The labyrinth of lifts is confusing and I think break up the flow of the place. I don’t like the lack of a lobby area to sit in. The mall is quite quiet too. Proximity to the BtS train is a plus.
To cut a long story I split my stay with the 4 nights prior at the Siam Kempinski and the experience was much warmer and luxe. It’s not terrible at PH but it’s well behind the Kempinski. I guess you get what you pay for.