Bangkok is one of the best hotel markets in the world for reasonably priced luxury hotels. Even the top five star hotels in the city can often be had for $200 per night or less.
For years I’ve been looking forward to the opening of the Park Hyatt Bangkok. However, as is common with far too many hotels, the opening date has been pushed back repeatedly. It was supposed to open in 2015, though still hasn’t opened.
The renderings of the hotel look beautiful, including of the exterior, pool, and rooms.
While we’ve been hearing that the hotel is supposed to open in 2017, up until recently the hotel hasn’t been bookable, and there hasn’t been an exact opening date. Well, the Park Hyatt Bangkok is now bookable for stays starting June 30, 2017.
The Park Hyatt Bangkok will be a Category 5 property, meaning that a redemption at this property will cost:
- 20,000 points for a free night
- 10,000 points plus $125 for a Points + Cash booking
As of now it looks like the hotel is bookable with points for free night redemptions, but no Points + Cash inventory is loaded (which isn’t unusual pre-opening).
Paid rates are definitely on the aggressive side compared to other hotels in Bangkok, but that’s pretty normal pre-opening. The lowest rate I’m seeing as of now is 9,000THB (~$255), though I suspect over time the average rate will drop by a couple of thousand THB per night.
Regardless, this looks like a great new hotel, and I’m excited to check it out when it opens. That reminds me, I actually haven’t been to Bangkok for a long time, aside from a quick overnight near the airport about a year ago.
Anyone else looking forward to the new Park Hyatt Bangkok?
(Tip of the hat to LoyaltyLobby)
They are taking reservations now from mid-May. There is an "opening offer" of 6800 Thai Baht per night plus tax on the Hyatt website now. I booked four nights on my Citi Prestige for late May with the fourth night free it is a fabulous deal.
My main criteria for a hotel in Bangkok is proximity to the BTS system. The Park Hyatt has a station right out in front so no need for taxis/Uber for most trips.
A bit like Lucky, I was looking forward to staying here for the longest while given I knew I was going to a wedding in Thailand recently. Instead I had to pick an alternative hotel and choose the Peninsula and I was actually glad the Hyatt wasn't yet open. Service was amazing and the hotel has a traditional feel which felt so right for Bangkok. Yes Park Hyatts are generally modern and awesome but there is something to be said about authenticity.
@Rob -- I bet you I am more traveled than you will ever be, so that your comparing me to "American in a Starbucks in Rome" (where I was in November and stayed at the iconic Waldorf Astoria Rome Cavalieri) is just b.s. Have doubts? Checkout out my recent 4-week 2016 Year-end Asian Escapade(tm) from which I just returned about 10 days ago and I you will get the picture: https://goo.gl/eHlDMt
Secondly, you are still...
@Rob -- I bet you I am more traveled than you will ever be, so that your comparing me to "American in a Starbucks in Rome" (where I was in November and stayed at the iconic Waldorf Astoria Rome Cavalieri) is just b.s. Have doubts? Checkout out my recent 4-week 2016 Year-end Asian Escapade(tm) from which I just returned about 10 days ago and I you will get the picture: https://goo.gl/eHlDMt
Secondly, you are still going on about the same untenable line of reasoning. If you wish to pay for local hotel rooms in BKK, just do it, but do not claim that this makes you wiser or offers you better "value". I have argued that I get better value based on my preferences, means and resources, and that's something that you cannot possibly refute.
Lastly, how one sacrifices authentic local experience because one chooses to stay at an American chain hotel, gets upgraded to a suite, and gets free breakfast is beyond me because it is such a non sequitur! Grand Hyatt Erawan, e.g., is right next door to the Erawan shrine; how would my staying at the GH in a suite alter my experience of that shrine? Would it not all, instead, enhance it? The thesis is, well, out there...
I said mindless and I am now more than ever convinced that it is.
@Rob -- Like I said, mindless bashing. All you just did is repeat the same claims without addressing the counter-claims that suggest that instead of the absolute pronouncements like "there is no way that one should stay at these bland American chains when in a city as fascinating and diverse in luxury hotel options as BKK" or "...they are terrible value every time...", other possibilities can be acknowledged as having merit of their own...i.e., YMMV....
@Rob -- Like I said, mindless bashing. All you just did is repeat the same claims without addressing the counter-claims that suggest that instead of the absolute pronouncements like "there is no way that one should stay at these bland American chains when in a city as fascinating and diverse in luxury hotel options as BKK" or "...they are terrible value every time...", other possibilities can be acknowledged as having merit of their own...i.e., YMMV.
I have stayed on points or cash+points at Conrad BKK, Grand Hyatt Erawan BKK, JW Marriott BKK, Renaissance BKK Ratchaprasong and I would do it again without hesitation because (a) I got incredible elite recognition (e.g., being upgraded to a studio suite at the Renaissance as a "lowly" MR Gold a couple of weeks ago without asking); (b) the "luxury" of each of these properties was just fine for me, and, importantly; and (c) with loads of points to burn the redemptions left me my hard cash to spend on tourist activities. I will continue to redeem for stays at American chain hotels in BKK, despite the hyperventilating and dogmatic statements here, because I get distinct "value" and advantages based on my preferences, means and resources.
G'day
@DSC - You turned a preference in to a personal attack... but in any event -- re: the sentiment you're expressing --> Bollocks!
I've also been to BKK ~10x in the past 5 years. I 100% agree with J - I would never sacrifice that cities experience by staying in a formulaic western hotel for a free breakfast or an extra 25 sq foot or room space. With so many great unique 5* hotels...
@DSC - You turned a preference in to a personal attack... but in any event -- re: the sentiment you're expressing --> Bollocks!
I've also been to BKK ~10x in the past 5 years. I 100% agree with J - I would never sacrifice that cities experience by staying in a formulaic western hotel for a free breakfast or an extra 25 sq foot or room space. With so many great unique 5* hotels in that city - opting for American chain in BKK says much about the traveler. Particularly somewhere as soulless as a Park Hyatt. GAH!
I'm here in BKK now at new marriott marquis ( nicely done btw) and have seen the Park Hyatt exterior. It looks impressive! And more importantly in prime location for shopping / bts access. I will stay in July !
"There is no way that one should stay at these bland American chains when in a city as fascinating and diverse in luxury hotel options as BKK."
Oh, boy, it's the night of mindless bashing of American hotel chains/brands when, as already argued above, there are plenty of circumstances and perfectly sound reasons to justify using points (even cash) at an American chain in BKK that one patronizes rather than paying cash at a local...
"There is no way that one should stay at these bland American chains when in a city as fascinating and diverse in luxury hotel options as BKK."
Oh, boy, it's the night of mindless bashing of American hotel chains/brands when, as already argued above, there are plenty of circumstances and perfectly sound reasons to justify using points (even cash) at an American chain in BKK that one patronizes rather than paying cash at a local luxury chain. Here's another reason: ELITE RECOGNITION, which is almost uniformly outstanding in Asia, with perks like access to executive lounges, free full breakfast, suite upgrades, etc, that one may have to pay for at local luxury chains thereby nullifying their perceived cost advantages or other selling points...
"...even Shangri La and Anantara would easily ace all of these lifeless American brands so out of place in a city like Bangkok..."
I have visited BKK more than a dozen times in recent years, and the claim above is simply bullshit. American brands would look "out of place in a city like Bangkok" only to someone who has never been in BKK or stayed at one, or simply wants to indulge in gratuitous bashing American chains.
There is no way that one should stay at these bland American chains when in a city as fascinating and diverse in luxury hotel options as BKK. Heck, you don't even need Siam and MO and the Pen etc; even Shangri La and Anantara would easily ace all of these lifeless American brands so out of place in a city like Bangkok.
YMMV, but "terrible value every time" is unquestionable an exaggeration, especially for travelers on extended personal holidays with points to burn and need their cash for other touristic activities. For instance, outright redeeming for a suite, as I just did at JW Marriott BKK, is one way to get great value. I returned a week later and used my free anniversary night from the Chase Marriott visa to redeem a one-night award stay the Renaissance...
YMMV, but "terrible value every time" is unquestionable an exaggeration, especially for travelers on extended personal holidays with points to burn and need their cash for other touristic activities. For instance, outright redeeming for a suite, as I just did at JW Marriott BKK, is one way to get great value. I returned a week later and used my free anniversary night from the Chase Marriott visa to redeem a one-night award stay the Renaissance BKK and was upgraded to a studio suite. Those are reasons to go with western chains one patronizes and use points, if the idea is to pay as little out of pocket as possible when on personal holiday travel.Tough to beat, I think.
Those rates are very high for Bangkok - and the points rate is even worse. I have stayed countless times in Bangkok over the last 15 years and not once redeemed points - they are terrible value every time I check! You get much better value on cash rates...
And I agree with the others, independent hotels or local chains are much better value, too. Marriott, SPG, Hilton, Hyatt are all overpriced. The only...
Those rates are very high for Bangkok - and the points rate is even worse. I have stayed countless times in Bangkok over the last 15 years and not once redeemed points - they are terrible value every time I check! You get much better value on cash rates...
And I agree with the others, independent hotels or local chains are much better value, too. Marriott, SPG, Hilton, Hyatt are all overpriced. The only foreign chains I've found value with are Carlson, Accor and IHG.
@Santastico -- It depends. If I am going to do single-stay award redemptions, it may make sense to pay cash rather than to use points when the rate in cash a relative low. Each person does that calculation for themselves to determine their threshold level for when to use cash or points (sometimes I would use cash for expensive stays if there is, e.g., a promo that would allow me to rake in loads of...
@Santastico -- It depends. If I am going to do single-stay award redemptions, it may make sense to pay cash rather than to use points when the rate in cash a relative low. Each person does that calculation for themselves to determine their threshold level for when to use cash or points (sometimes I would use cash for expensive stays if there is, e.g., a promo that would allow me to rake in loads of points if I pay cash). However, when one is doing multiple-stay redemptions on a single extended personal holiday as I do yearly (I just did 5 countries in 4 weeks), using points as much as possible, even on fairly "cheap" cash rate stays (for me that would be $150-$200 per night), to offset out-of-pocket expenses (cash that can be used for other activities during a holiday) becomes the more attractive strategy.
Staying at The Siam on the river in Dusit in a month -- can't wait!
In the end not a big Park Hyatt fan, rather stay at SUKHOTHAI when in Bangkok. A bit more intimate. But, if it's a points thing, go for it.
The renderings look nice. Loyalty Lobby took actual photos though and it looks horrible.
The renderings of the Park Hyatt are lovely; however, I could not imagine ever forsaking the Mandarin Oriental.
Too bad it's not Cat 4, so it could be booked using the annual Chase free credit card night. Given the prices that they will ultimately be able to charge, maybe it will eventually get demoted to Cat 4...
@DCS: Agree if you are redeeming points it makes sense to stay in US hotels. However, in places like Thailand, Malaysia, Philipines and other SE Asian countries upscale hotel rates are very cheap compared to other places that I think it is better to pay cash than to use points. For the example above, redeeming 20,009 Hyatt points for a $255 and assuming like Lucky said the rate will drop I don't think it is...
@DCS: Agree if you are redeeming points it makes sense to stay in US hotels. However, in places like Thailand, Malaysia, Philipines and other SE Asian countries upscale hotel rates are very cheap compared to other places that I think it is better to pay cash than to use points. For the example above, redeeming 20,009 Hyatt points for a $255 and assuming like Lucky said the rate will drop I don't think it is a good redemption. Also, if I can pay $250 to stay in an upscale Asian property I would prefer it than a Hyatt.
@Santastico -- That assumes that you pay real money for your stays when in Asia. For US travelers redeeming points for award stays, the Asian hotel chains, which are definitely great, are not a viable option. This new Park Hyatt is a nice addition and definitely on my list of hotels where I will redeem points for award stays when in BKK as it is located within walking distance of other hotels where I have...
@Santastico -- That assumes that you pay real money for your stays when in Asia. For US travelers redeeming points for award stays, the Asian hotel chains, which are definitely great, are not a viable option. This new Park Hyatt is a nice addition and definitely on my list of hotels where I will redeem points for award stays when in BKK as it is located within walking distance of other hotels where I have redeemed points for award stays before (Conrad BKK, JW Marriott, Grand Hyatt Erawan, Renaissance by Marriott).
I agree. The rates WILL drop. St Regis tried to go for THB 10k per night when they first opened and couldn't. There are only two major chain hotels that can fetch over 10k baht per night; Peninsula and Mandarin Oriental.
It looks great but when in Asia I like to stay at Asian hotel chains. In countries like Thailand you can get amazing quality and service at hotels like Mandarin, Peninsula, Okura, Oriental, Shangri-la, Anantara, etc... for very interesting rates.