Mercure Siam Hotel, Bangkok
To my mind, this was the best of the three hotels I stayed at during my recent trip to Bangkok. It certainly had the best location for somebody who wants to see it all.
Just near National Stadium BTS station (and opposite the actual stadium) and around the corner from the Jim Thompson House, the Mercure shares a tower building with its Accor Hotels sibling, the Ibis Siam.
National Stadium BTS is the terminus for the Silom Line and is one station away from Siam Central station, which allows easy access to the Sukhumvit Line. (You can actually walk directly to Siam BTS station in about 10 minutes.
The room has the lot for a short-term stay — a comfortable large bed with sofa, a desk with all the connectivity, a cupboard with an iron and a bathroom with a good shower and all the necessary product.
The breakfast buffet has an egg station and waffle station, bread selection, and Asian and western selections.
And, though I’m no big fan of heights, there was a great view from my 16th floor window (the hotel lobby is on the ninth floor; the Ibis occupies the lower levels), and from the infinity pool on the roof.
Although perhaps not the most luxurious room I’ve stayed in, it ranks very highly for convenience, amenity and, especially, staff friendliness and helpfulness.
Highly recommended.
Postscript: On my previous visit to Bangkok, I stayed at the Four Points by Sheraton, and I nearly did again, except the price of about THB4,000 per night exceeded my budget. It’s a very comfortable hotel with all the extras you’d expect from Sheraton, plus a great location in Soi 15 Sukhumvit. On my previous visit, the Drunken Leprachaun pub had just opened at the hotel, now it is joined by one of several Thai branches of the US chain Hooters.
