The brand new Waldorf-Astoria Bangkok has opened and it’s incredible. Our suite upgrade and status gave us an experience that we can’t wait to repeat.
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Location
Located between the Grand Hyatt Erawan and the St. Regis Bangkok, the Waldorf-Astoria is in the heart of the city. Walking distance from both Central World Mall and between BTS stations Chit Lom and Ratchadamri on either line, the hotel is easy to get to, though taxis are still not used to finding the “Magnolia building” in which it resides.
Address: 151 Ratchadamri Rd, Khwaeng Lumphini, Khet Pathum Wan, Krung Thep Maha Nakhon 10330, Thailand
Phone: +66 2 846 8888
Suite
We were fortunate to secure a substantial upgrade following the Lunar New Year holiday where all premium hotels in the city are packed. We had just come from suites in Laos, and the Park Hyatt Bangkok that simply never disappoints, so the hotel had a tall order before we even checked in.
Living Room
Located on the end of the building, our suite offered a very large window with a view on the golf course and BTS line. The living room had tables from which to work, a TV, wall to wall windows (with automated shutters) and to our daughter’s delight, a teepee.
Bedroom
The bedroom was decorated in perfect Waldorf-Astoria esthetic. Their trademark light blue and aquamarine gave the bedroom every bit the five-star rating the hotel has achieved.
The bed was as comfortable as any other we have slept in, and the hotel added smart plugs (international adapters built-in) with USB ports tucked underneath the bedside table conveniently. The closet was sizable and suitable for our needs.
Bathrooms
Both the guest bathroom and master bathroom suite feature Japanese bidets, a welcome sight. The guest bathroom is just near the entrance in the foyer.
The master bathroom suite features a separate water closet, ideal for families traveling together. A separate soaking tub is centered in the middle of the bathroom suite, dual vanities opposite are split by the entrance. To the far left side, a large shower with a full window (with shades, thankfully.)
Food and Beverage
We tried a number of different dining options during our two-night stay. Regardless of whether we ordered food to our room, ate breakfast in the Brasserie the food was generally very good. It was hard to pick the hotel over our favorites in Bangkok but many times we did.
Breakfast
I have had hotel breakfasts on every continent except Antarctica and this was the best I can recall. The french toast was incredible, so much so that as I write this now, I want to return. The selection wasn’t as much as other hotels but there was a flawless execution to it all that made it unbelievable.
Room Service
As has become our tradition, we ordered a cheeseburger for our daughter from room service. This one was not the best that we’d had but the crab fried rice was and that’s a bold statement from a family that frequents Thailand and has lived there.
Bars
The bars are split between the Peacock room off the lobby (floor 9) and the Champagne room which is hidden behind a concealed door which opens only by pushing a large art piece on the wall outside. The views are great, though in a city of open-air top floor bars it feels like the clever privacy and limited seating is not enough to compete.
Pool
The pool is on the 16th floor along with the spa. The pool has limited space but was sufficient for our stay. It’s open-air and beautiful, overlooking the BTS and the park. We were brought fruit skewers and cold bottles of water.
Service
The hotel is five-star from top to bottom and that extends to the service. In fact, for a later post, I will cover how a bell woman (total badass) owned the entrance experience and when we had an issue with a taxi driver, reported him on our behalf. For now, I’ll just say that every interaction we had with service was exemplary. The property lives up to its designation, and the standard one would expect from a Waldorf-Astoria hotel.
Value
Bangkok is a tough city for expensive hotels. This Waldorf-Astoria hotel would be perfectly priced in New York, London or Rome at $700-1,000/nt. However, in Bangkok, premium hotels are abundant and that drives the price down and expectations up. I have stated before that $220-280/nt for the Park Hyatt Bangkok seems steep, yet a bargain anywhere else. I find this true here too. At 70,000 Honors points/nt, it seems steep, and for the market, $240-280 (the dates I searched) is also the very top of the market and better values can be found for less money.
That being said, US and European travelers with inflated expectations will be surprised and delighted by how far their money goes at this property.
Have you stayed in the Waldorf-Astoria Bangkok? What did you think?
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Lucy always makes our day! (And, of course, so do you… 😉 )
Love to hear that.
She sure is a cutie. But I suspect she has a secret loathing for cheeseburgers and really has a hankering for a tofu burger and a plate of vegan nuggets. She’s too polite to say so.
Maybe I’ve watched too many sci fi movies/TV series, but those outdoor rinse stalls look like ‘Star Trek’ transporter pads (or time travel portals for two companions).
Too many sci fi movies for Luke Vader? No such thing!
The luxury hotel space in Bangkok is becoming more crowded. These days it seems that the GH and SGS are no longer regarded as real luxury, as newer, flashier properties open. Consequently rates at those 2 properties have decreased a little…so it’s good for consumers.
I’m not part of the target market for this hotel. Although it looks lovely, I wouldn’t pay B10,000 ( USD300), when the better located GH can be had for half that ( and other Hilton properties for that matter)
I can understand the hesitation to pay that much in BKK, however, the hotel is maybe, just maybe, 100 meters from the Grand Hyatt so I’m not sure you could say it’s better located with a straight face. It’s the same location really, just one driveway down.
Nice write up Kyle. Headed to BKK in a few months. WA or Park Hyatt assuming you want the best experience?
I’m penning this exact post now so I won’t disclose that here, but I’ll email you my verdict.