-
Trying to decide between the Conrad and the Hilton Sukhumvit for a few days on a side-trip, has anyone been to either?
Am also open to a non-hilton if anyone has suggestions.
I really like the Hotel Indigo Bangkok that is next to the Conrad
Conrad is excellent, especially in the refurbished rooms.
Conrad was the go to hotel for me when I used to travel to Bangkok with work. Unlike other hotels that were recommended to me I found that I always was able to sleep in the Conrad. Comfy bed, exceptional sound proofing, and I also liked the fact that it wasn’t all bells and whistles. Just a really good, functional hotel.
+1 for the Conrad.
Conrad lounge has really gone downhill since precovid. Not sure how Hilton lounge is doing. Though would still pick Conrad if price is reasonable
Definitely a no for the Conrad from me. I was there a few weeks ago. Service in the lounge was dreadful. Car service was a shambles. The pool is far too busy to enjoy, same goes for the gym, and worst of all it suffers badly from the noise of slamming doors that will disturb you all through the day and wake you all through the night. Three times they ignored the “do not disturb” and rang the bell or knocked on the door, and once an employee opened the door and walked right in without even a knock. The food and drink in the lounge was OK but the service was bad and the lounge absolutely rammed with people at all times including screaming children during the evening cocktails and canapes, which really should not be allowed. The seating in the lounge is uncomfortable – either hard backed or too low for the table. I vow never to return. Also the aircon was far too feeble and the in-room coffee was a naff and inconvenient cafetiere.
Definitely a no for the Conrad from me. I was there a few weeks ago. Service in the lounge was dreadful. Car service was a shambles. The pool is far too busy to enjoy, same goes for the gym, and worst of all it suffers badly from the noise of slamming doors that will disturb you all through the day and wake you all through the night. Three times they ignored the “do not disturb” and rang the bell or knocked on the door, and once an employee opened the door and walked right in without even a knock. The food and drink in the lounge was OK but the service was bad and the lounge absolutely rammed with people at all times including screaming children during the evening cocktails and canapes, which really should not be allowed. The seating in the lounge is uncomfortable – either hard backed or too low for the table. I vow never to return. Also the aircon was far too feeble and the in-room coffee was a naff and inconvenient cafetiere.
…but apart from that was it ok?!
I was having this exact dilemma the other day. I’ve stayed at the Conrad many times and liked it a lot, although it has been a few years since I was last there. Stayed at Hilton Sukhumvit a few times and also liked it – the lounge was very nice with a good F&B offering, but again that was a few years ago. Pool was a bit busy – I think I prefer the Conrad for that, although the views are better at Hilton. If you have status and can get upgraded to a terrace suite at the Conrad, that would make quite a difference 😉 I think I slightly prefer the location of the Hilton, for nearby things of interest, but there’s not much in it. One consideration – the last mile or so of the car ride to the Conrad can be painfully slow if you hit traffic…
I’ve actually opted for the Millennium Hilton for my next trip (if anyone thinks that’s a really bad idea, please shout 😉 I fancy being on that side of the river for a change, and it’s closer to the things I want to do, and having seen the fairly iconic building from afar many times, I thought I’d finally try it out.
FWIW the Indigo was also on my shortlist.
(@MichaelC – 😂)
@Slidey, you’re coming at this backwards. First decide where in the city you want to stay and only then decide on the most suutable hotels. The four most popular choices are Silom, Sokhumvit, Central World or Riverside. Franly nether Hilton or Marriott would e top of my list in any if tge four. If you want to use points you will get better value, and arguably now better hotels across all budgets with IHG. Unless things have changed very recently, it is better to pay cash not points at the moment.
-rant-
…but apart from that was it ok?!
Apart from that it was reasonably close to 4 or 5 restaurants that are on the Amex dining offer list, for those without club lounge access.
Definitely a no for the Conrad from me. I was there a few weeks ago. Service in the lounge was dreadful. Car service was a shambles. The pool is far too busy to enjoy, same goes for the gym, and worst of all it suffers badly from the noise of slamming doors that will disturb you all through the day and wake you all through the night. Three times they ignored the “do not disturb” and rang the bell or knocked on the door, and once an employee opened the door and walked right in without even a knock. The food and drink in the lounge was OK but the service was bad and the lounge absolutely rammed with people at all times including screaming children during the evening cocktails and canapes, which really should not be allowed. The seating in the lounge is uncomfortable – either hard backed or too low for the table. I vow never to return. Also the aircon was far too feeble and the in-room coffee was a naff and inconvenient cafetiere.
How strange. I was at the Conrad 3 or 4 weeks ago and faced none of the issues you did. I found the lounge to be at around 20% capacity and the service to be excellent (afternoons only, didn’t go in the evenings) and the pool pretty empty (again perhaps 20% capacity).
I’ve actually opted for the Millennium Hilton for my next trip (if anyone thinks that’s a really bad idea, please shout 😉 I fancy being on that side of the river for a change, and it’s closer to the things I want to do, and having seen the fairly iconic building from afar many times, I thought I’d finally try it out.
FWIW the Indigo was also on my shortlist.
(@MichaelC – 😂)
@Jon we had a GREAT stay there: as you already mention, it’s completely dependent on where you want to be in the city, but we had a lovely v large room at a great price, and the daily river trip was extremely easy: a boon, rather than a bind!Had a good stay at the Conrad pre Covid but a few reports of it going downhill recently, i’ve got a 4 day break in late Oct and it was very expensive as well
Depends if the location is important, if you want to be in the business district or close to Nana/Soi 4 etc etc for the nightlife there is also the Doubletree Ploenchit – the terrace suites there can be the same price as the Conrad and are very nice, albeit no nice lounge and the facilities are a bit more limited
The Millenium Hilton on the riverside is also good, if you are diamond booking a family suite usually gets you a top floor panoramic suite with great views, hotel is well located for shopping but a bit away from the nightlife around Sukhumvit, nice food and a decent bar though
@Jon we had a GREAT stay there: as you already mention, it’s completely dependent on where you want to be in the city, but we had a lovely v large room at a great price, and the daily river trip was extremely easy: a boon, rather than a bind!
Thanks @Michael C, good to know! And thanks also @AndyUK101. Happy to be away from the nightlife this time! 😂
@Slidey, you’re coming at this backwards. First decide where in the city you want to stay and only then decide on the most suutable hotels. The four most popular choices are Silom, Sokhumvit, Central World or Riverside. Franly nether Hilton or Marriott would e top of my list in any if tge four. If you want to use points you will get better value, and arguably now better hotels across all budgets with IHG. Unless things have changed very recently, it is better to pay cash not points at the moment.
Main reason I was looking at the Hiltons is I need a couple of nights to renew diamond and if I dont get them in BKK I’ll need to do a matress run at some point.
Ive not been to Bangkok before so will probably be doing the touristy bits so location, or more accurately ease of getting around (BTS/MRT), is important, Id previously discounted the millennium as Id read the other side of the river wasnt a good location in terms of getting to places?
If it is your first time in Bangkok, the riverside Millenium Hilton is a good bet
Next door to huge shopping centre / entertainment complex, close to a number of nice 5 star hotels with decent bars and restaurants and there is a short spur for the BTS that gets you onto the main lines along with the river boat crossing (I think this drops you off at the pickup point for Asiatique as well)
Depends on your budget but if you want to get most of the sites out of the way in a single day, a private tour in a modern SUV with aircon is a good bet, think it was around 6k baht for a full day with a personalised itinerary last time i did it and avoids the BTS/Cab/TukTuk combo you would need to get around the sights
You could do Wat Pho, Wat Saket, the grand palace, local flower market and dragon boat tour in a single day with pick-up and drop off (just make sure you prebook somone reputable)
Cheapest for both points or cash will likely be DT Sukhumvit but it’s dark and dreary IMO. One Soi over is Hilton Sukhhumvit ehich is newest after WA. Both are very close to Phrom Phong Skytrain (BTS) and walkable to Sukhumvit Underground (MRT). However, I always recommend first time visitors stay within walking cistance of Lumphini Park as it is a lovely respite from the bustle of Bangkok and very much part of the local pop culture. It also puts you walking distance to Lumphini MRT and BTS Sala Daeng. Not the best fir Hiltons though. Conrad is on Wireless Road and about half a km away from Phloen Chit do depenfing on traffuc and weather taxi would be best. For Central Wirkd area tgen WA but nit worth tgebpoints or money required compared to other options. I agree eith Andy that Millenium could be good, but IMO only if you are going to do most on organised tours or are a patient and confident independent traveller.
Conrad is on Wireless Road and about half a km away from Phloen Chit do depenfing on traffuc and weather taxi would be best.
There is a complimentary shuttle every 15 minutes from the front door to the BTS station (and back).
@Aston, by the time you might wait, take the shuttle, buy tickets and get on a train you can ve well on your way to your destination by taxi. Have to love taxi in Bangkok, cheap, cool, comfortable and mostly readily available. If the roads are jammed up just take a motorbike taxi instead.
@Slidey, you’re coming at this backwards. First decide where in the city you want to stay and only then decide on the most suutable hotels. The four most popular choices are Silom, Sokhumvit, Central World or Riverside. Franly nether Hilton or Marriott would e top of my list in any if tge four. If you want to use points you will get better value, and arguably now better hotels across all budgets with IHG. Unless things have changed very recently, it is better to pay cash not points at the moment.
Main reason I was looking at the Hiltons is I need a couple of nights to renew diamond and if I dont get them in BKK I’ll need to do a matress run at some point.
Ive not been to Bangkok before so will probably be doing the touristy bits so location, or more accurately ease of getting around (BTS/MRT), is important, Id previously discounted the millennium as Id read the other side of the river wasnt a good location in terms of getting to places?
Cheapest for both points or cash will likely be DT Sukhumvit but it’s dark and dreary IMO. One Soi over is Hilton Sukhhumvit ehich is newest after WA. Both are very close to Phrom Phong Skytrain (BTS) and walkable to Sukhumvit Underground (MRT). However, I always recommend first time visitors stay within walking cistance of Lumphini Park as it is a lovely respite from the bustle of Bangkok and very much part of the local pop culture. It also puts you walking distance to Lumphini MRT and BTS Sala Daeng. Not the best fir Hiltons though. Conrad is on Wireless Road and about half a km away from Phloen Chit do depenfing on traffuc and weather taxi would be best. For Central Wirkd area tgen WA but nit worth tgebpoints or money required compared to other options. I agree eith Andy that Millenium could be good, but IMO only if you are going to do most on organised tours or are a patient and confident independent traveller.
@Aston, by the time you might wait, take the shuttle, buy tickets and get on a train you can ve well on your way to your destination by taxi. Have to love taxi in Bangkok, cheap, cool, comfortable and mostly readily available. If the roads are jammed up just take a motorbike taxi instead.
Taxi drivers are reluctant to use their meters when dealing with tourists.
There are multiple threads on this subject on TripAdvisor.
I experienced it myself a number of times.
Ended up using Grab just to avoid all the hassle.In regards to scooter taxis, with all due respect I think you’d have to be completely bonkers to risk your life like that.
Ive got 2 x seperate weekend stays booked at the Millenium Hilton in October, as well as the decent reviews on here and elsewhere, its very near where my son and his family live. Will be booking more nights pre-flight home, when I have sorted out Chiang Mai schedule.
Previous time in BKK stayed at the ( non hilton ) Centrepoint Silom , just for a couple of nights pre-flight home. Very handy for the BTS & the river.
@Aston, IME (and that is a lot of years and taxi rides) it is rare for drivers to refuse to use the meter. The reason you get so many of these stories from tourists is because they are mostly staying in the busiest areas and mostly want to take short rides at times when the roads are often jammed. You have to come and go with them on that, I don’t get why the same tourists that would happily pay £10 for a short journey at home suddenly throw a fit when a taxi driver in Bangkok or some other places ask for £2 for an even longer journey instead of using the meter. I’ve had more issues with drivers wanting to use the expressway at times when I know the regular roads would be no worse or even better. Only two rides in the last twenty years spring to mind where the driver has intentionally tried to take me the scenic route, by comparison I’ve had that in Edinburgh twice this year already. In Bangkok it is not unusual for a taxi driver to be way outside their usual area and sometimes they genuinely do not know the way but this is not usually much of a problem for the places tourists want to go. I use the bikes only in traffic jams, not much chance of getting hit then.
… when I have sorted out Chiang Mai schedule …
If you’re choosing hotels in Chiang Mai I can recommend the Melia and I can promise you that the Shangri-La is awful in every way.
I know nobody asked. But the Shangri-La was so bad!
- You must be logged in to reply to this topic.
Popular articles this week:
