TotallyOz Posted May 23, 2012 Posted May 23, 2012 Wanting to try something a bit different, the BF and I took up residence last night at the Holiday Inn Express. It is on the same road as Siam Paragon and MBK. It is within walking distance of MBK. It is a nice, clean hotel. There are no doormen but for the price, totally worth trucking your own luggage up to your room. The Internet is fast and FREE. The free breakfast was OK. Nothing special and noting to write home about but it was fine for me. What was really great is the Opening Price special. 1999 baht per night. This is a great deal IMHO for a really clean, nice hotel in the middle of Bangkok that is easy to get to all the shopping centers and the gay area. Book before the special ends. Bangkok Siam http://www.hiexpress.com/hotels/us/en/bangkok/bkkrb/hoteldetail Quote
Guest fountainhall Posted May 23, 2012 Posted May 23, 2012 This is just the first of what the parent company IHG announced will be a considerable number of hotels under the Holiday Inn Express brand in Bangkok and other parts of the country. Quote
Guest thaiworthy Posted May 23, 2012 Posted May 23, 2012 Michael, that is a very good rate. And from the sound of it, you are very happy with the place. I think you made a wise buy. That, with the price you paid for your business class seat on Korean air tells me you made some very good choices. Congratulations. You should be complimented for your effort. Quote
TotallyOz Posted May 23, 2012 Author Posted May 23, 2012 FH, it is good they are doing this. I have look at IHG properties in India and they are few and far between. That means I stay at Marriott properties more. If IHG had more choices, I'd stay there. I do like the HIE brand. TW: Thank you. I am trying. Still, I miss my 24 hour room service at the Intercontinental but the BF says he will go get me something down the street if I get hungry and he will only charge me 1k baht per trip (still cheaper than the Intercon). Quote
Guest thaiworthy Posted May 23, 2012 Posted May 23, 2012 . . . the BF says he will go get me something down the street if I get hungry and he will only charge me 1k baht per trip (still cheaper than the Intercon). For 1000 baht, I think I would even serve you breakfast in bed and you don't have to kiss me, either! Quote
Guest fountainhall Posted May 23, 2012 Posted May 23, 2012 That means I stay at Marriott properties more. So no Maharajah's Palaces? I'm told they are a unique experience - but then they don't give you points Quote
TotallyOz Posted May 23, 2012 Author Posted May 23, 2012 For 1000 baht, I think I would even serve you breakfast in bed and you don't have to kiss me, either! LOL Thank you so much! You are too kind Sir! So no Maharajah's Palaces? I'm told they are a unique experience - but then they don't give you points I am spending more time in India based on your recommendation (not directly but by proxy listening to you and the vast amount of history there FH) and the things I want to see. I am open to any good hotel or experience. But, if a true palace, the max I would pay for any hotel is 300 USD (OK OK, I paid more for a hotel in San Francisco last week but this is Asia). Over 300 USD, I turn into an Evil Queen! Quote
firecat69 Posted May 24, 2012 Posted May 24, 2012 Michael Please take photos of the room now that you finally have the new Iphone. hehehe Quote
Guest thaiworthy Posted May 24, 2012 Posted May 24, 2012 Michael Please take photos of the room now that you finally have the new Iphone. hehehe Yes, I would like to see those photos, too-- I want to see the bedroom of the evil queen and that famous mirror that says she is "fairest of them all." Quote
Guest fountainhall Posted May 24, 2012 Posted May 24, 2012 Having looked at the hotel website, I'm a little disappointed they do not have king beds - only queens! (No, I'm not going to comment further!). If I am with someone, I always like plenty of room and find queens a little too small (oops, I'm doing it again!). Quote
TotallyOz Posted May 25, 2012 Author Posted May 25, 2012 Michael Please take photos of the room now that you finally have the new Iphone. hehehe haha. I don't have a personal IPhone. I have a Nokia and I love it! Would you take a pic from a Nokia? Yes, I would like to see those photos, too-- I want to see the bedroom of the evil queen and that famous mirror that says she is "fairest of them all." Well, the mirror broke so no mirror photos. However, this is what the room looks like. Having looked at the hotel website, I'm a little disappointed they do not have king beds - only queens! (No, I'm not going to comment further!). If I am with someone, I always like plenty of room and find queens a little too small (oops, I'm doing it again!). I had the exact same thought when I checked in. I even expressed that to the BF. He smiled and said it was OK as he likes to cuddle. I am more a hands off kind of guy. This has given him the opportunity to cuddle every night and I can't complain. LOL But, the Queen turned out to be fine. There is plenty of room there for the 2 of us. It was a bit tight with a 3rd the other night but we managed. He didn't sleep over or I would have slept on the floor. Quote
Guest Posted May 25, 2012 Posted May 25, 2012 Nice view out of the window, but best to ensure your guests get dressed before opening the curtains. The bed definitely looks big enough for three. Quote
TotallyOz Posted May 25, 2012 Author Posted May 25, 2012 Oh, and for breakfast, I have not seen another Farang the entire time. It is filled with Asian businessmen and ladies. On the elevators, I have yet to see another Farang. Quote
Guest fountainhall Posted May 25, 2012 Posted May 25, 2012 The bed definitely looks big enough for three. In my experience, website photos of hotel rooms always make the space look bigger! Presumably because you need a wide-angle lens to get most of it in. A queen ain't no king Quote
Guest travelerjim Posted May 26, 2012 Posted May 26, 2012 In my experience, website photos of hotel rooms always make the space look bigger! Presumably because you need a wide-angle lens to get most of it in. A queen ain't no king A queen ain't no king but in Michael's case he is KING! tj Quote
Guest Posted May 26, 2012 Posted May 26, 2012 Whatever size it is, if they're cute enough, that bed's still big enough for three. Quote
TotallyOz Posted May 28, 2012 Author Posted May 28, 2012 The last comments I'll make on this hotel as I don't want to bore you all. One thing I really loved about it was they have a laundry room with coin operated machines. Each machine is 100 baht for the cycle. So one load in washer is 100 baht and one load in dryer for 1 hour is 100 baht. We needed this as we wanted clothes done fast as we were traveling. It was very easy to drop down and do this. I have not seen this in other hotels in Thailand and I hope it becomes the norm. I love the area. You can easily walk to MBK, Siam Discovery, Siam Paragon and other malls all in 7-15 minutes easy walk. The sky train is out front of the hotel with an escalator to the entrance. You can't ask for a more convenient hotel. Quote
Guest thaiworthy Posted May 28, 2012 Posted May 28, 2012 200 baht sounds just a tad expensive to me, but cheaper than having the hotel laundry do it and certainly more convenient. I'd pay it, though-- just to save a trip to an off-site laundry and to save time. Hotel laundries often take overnight and tack on a surcharge for quicker turnaround. Much appreciated info, Michael. I wonder if the hotel realizes just how valuable this feature is. With cheap manpower so plentiful, I'm surprised but pleasantly delighted. Great discovery. I'd be interested to know if anyone else has found other hotels in Thailand with this same kind of facility. Quote
Guest Posted May 28, 2012 Posted May 28, 2012 One laundry in Pattaya does complete bags of laundry for 70 baht. They wash it, hang the clothes out to dry and bag them up for that. Ironing not included, but for casual clothes, they come out flat enough. I can also see the advantage of coin operated machines & driers for 100 baht -speed. Ideal for anyone only using that hotel for one night. Quote
fedssocr Posted May 28, 2012 Posted May 28, 2012 The Siri Sathorn has token operated laundry as well. Also Bt100 per token need 1 for the wash and 1 for the dry. At least you don't have to provide your own detergent or anything. I have a lot of cotton socks and things like that though which never seem to dry so I have to hang them up to finish drying. The Fraser Suites Sukhumvit 11 has a washer/dryer unit in each apartment which is even more convenient. Quote