During my two-part birthday trip to the Golden Triangle, I checked out four different hotels in Bangkok, given that its one of the worlds best value cities for luxury hotels, and the market keeps getting better (separately, I’m reviewing the Rosewood Bangkok, Four Seasons Bangkok, and Aman Bangkok).
Continue reading: Review: Capella Bangkok, Thailand (City Oasis, Ranked World’s Best Hotel)
Share your questions, experiences, and thoughts below.
Quick question on security out of pure curiosity: If you have to have a key to get to the guest room areas, do you still need a key to engage the elevators? Or are you able to just get on a push a button?
Looks great- also since you mentioned the Capella Hanoi, when can we expect your review??? 🙂 I’ve been browsing their pics online and it’s the coolest hotel design I’ve ever seen by a million. I’m obsessed
@ Harold -- I'm so desperate to stay there, and keep trying to figure out how I can route a trip through Hanoi to stay there. Hopefully still this year, stay tuned!
@ TravelinWilly -- Interesting question. The elevator did have a pad for scanning key cards, but if I'm not mistaken, that wasn't actually needed to go to any floor. I could be wrong, though.
The blue horse statue has the same shape legs as female politicians . And since when are Thai restaurants called 'Marlo Colagreco' .
Could it be an age thing or call me old fashioned?
I enjoyed the review, thank you Ben.
Personally, I would always pick the Peninsula, before the Mandarin, then the Capella, but, everyone to their own.
Same could be said with horse statue in front of PF Changs. And since when are Chinese restaurants called 'Paul Flemming' .
It doesn't look particularly special from the photographs but the reviews (here and elsewhere) are positive.
It's a little bit out of the way for my purposes but I am intrigued. I always enjoy tea at the Mandarin or lunch at the Peninsula, so haven't been too inclined to branch out to these less storied nouveau lux places the last few visits but the praise is very high.
I had a poor stay at Capella Hanoi and I’m not the only one, it seems very polarising - it was poor to the extent they ended up upgrading me to their equivalent of the presidential suite with a giant hot tub under a canopy on the terrace. Service was just far less polished than Capella Bangkok everywhere. Sadly as a former Capella Bangkok regular it is very much ‘discovered’ at this point including rates that basically doubled in a year after in won awards and those in the US found it. Oh well, on to the next hidden gem (which I will not be sharing here…).
They activate it after a certain time at night, I believe, but not during the day.
While it’s nice to get a bottle of Champagne as the welcome amenity, I found the brand surprising for this caliber of hotel: Rapeneau. That’s the one Trader Joe’s sells as their inexpensive offering.
Ben, just a quick info in Thai.
Moo sub means minced pork (moo for pork and sub for minced), as you had the chicken version of the dish, it will be gai sub (with gai meaning chicken in Thai).
In fact, the transliteration and pronunciation are closer to "moo/gai sab" than "sub."
Please do! One of our favorite hotels in the world. We’ve never experienced a design concept so thoroughly executed across so many guest touch points. Can’t wait to stay again.
For fun you should combine it with Shinta Mani Wild in Cambodia for a comprehensive taste of Bill Bensley’s design talents both in a city hotel and glamping in the wild. You and Ford would likely love them both (and so would many-but-not-all of your readers).
Well, step on it, please. Will be there in January. Accommodations have been reserved elsewhere, but I could be persuaded.
One is more than capable of ‘blowing one’s own trumpet’ thank you bossa …. 🙂
Yes, you might have heard that ‘tune’ before? Besides, Ben needs the click count on this article and the proletariat the education …. 🙂
100 agree. Just back from Peninsula. Old fashioned but top quality. Way more personal than the fancy hotels
Thomas, I am pleased to read that you enjoyed your stay too. I am probably biased towards the Peninsula brand as we have been regular residents at Hong Kong, Bangkok and that ‘New’ York, USA, form childhood.
I am yet to try our local Peninsula just up the road in London .
When in Bangkok we stay there with our teenagers , stellar place indeed, very relaxing…@ben if I may recommend a restaurant in bkk, try sühring… very interesting take on German food …
So Subway is actually a secret Thai fastfood chain selling minced meats?
Meatball sub literally is a Thai dish?
You learn something new everyday.
Shh!!!!
I think the first one is what Tom was ranting about yesterday because he's afraid of it being 'discovered' by Americans.
Just stayed at the last one, not as luxurious or service due to size but still very solid and much better value than Capella. Pool much better than nearby SO and probably now my top 5 in Bangkok.
Eskimo ... The old Siam Intercontinental had the best airline hostesses as guests , and the old Dusit Thani also brings a smile . But nowhere equals the Oriental .
Eskimo ... The old Siam Intercontinental had the best airline hostesses as guests , and the old Dusit Thani also brings a smile . But nowhere equals the Oriental .
Sorry Alert, but most guests of The Peninsula ‘look down’ on MO. The one advantage of being a guest at the Capella or MO, is that they have an excellent view of The Peninsula across the river …. Yes? …. 🙂
Lucky is not going to visit any hotel he can't book with points or on which Ford can't earn a commission! He's also not going to risk having to interact with local people, or to walk on the street.
Somchai, thinking about “Ford” …. 1990, is absent without leave on this subject, one has to wonder why?
Alert..
Stop living in the past. It's unhealthy.
SIC was gone probably around the same time you call them flight attendant not hostess.
Old Dusit was in a terrible shape before they tore it down.
MO and Peninsula is also just a reminder of it's past. While renovations and service can make up for being past it's prime, I really don't find significant differences in service among luxury properties. This is after all, Thailand. Where you can pay a fraction of these properties and still get very good hospitality.
Being a repeat customer greatly helps, and probably the reason each to your own favorite.
Acclimating teenagers to five-star luxury and being waited on hand-and-foot is exactly how another generations of Lucky’s and Ford’s is made.
Rich families are happy to buy the snake oil, lest they need to walk alongside commoners on city pavements, or face the horror of street food. Better to eat “German food” in Bangkok!
I have a one month - 6 weeks stay there starting shortly. Purely because it suits my needs for the trip and physical rehab. I have stayed at one Capella. I’ll probably see more room service or eating by the pool. I’m not there to experience what it offers, other than convenience for my need…………Although, reading this review seems like it is going to be Ben + Ford next child. Ben….. you elevated the already set high bar. I may actually focus on things I wouldn’t normally, by accident since this review is in my head.
And Tim Dunn Delta, this is Ben match. Aman was, until they changed dynamic. But I do appreciate how Ben can be very objective. Just at times it’s easy to see subjectivity toward certain things. I will fly 280k miles this year. 150k on Delta. I love Delta, but I can find fault or disagree easily and admit it. I think we all need a BEN V. TIM DUNN face off. Airline vs hotel brand. Ben’s will elevate so be hard for it too work. Since Tim will still be on Delta 100 years from now. But be a fun battle with other partipants. Ben wants clicks, I can promise anyone that get the web site crashing on traffic and pulling out popcorn.
Ben can you please review the river villa at capella bkk? I find the standard room very boring
another amazing review, Ben! Love these, you're the best at them. Good hotel, not for me though. For Bangkok Id rather have a cool sleek rooftop pool over this property's pool. Still a solid option though!
While this seems like a nice hotel it gives me the feeling of being similar to many other luxury hotels in Asian cities. I think there are other Capella properties that are nicer with more of a unique feeling.
World’s Best Indeed. I just priced it for next year for a 10 night stay. The pricing came out to a staggering TWELVE times the price of a 5 star Property I loved 2 years ago and ELEVEN times the price for another 5 star Property I loved even better this year (which included a staggering Breakfast buffet the likes of which I’ve never experienced in all my travels). No thanks!