MDAccount

OK --
I'll be in BKK at the end of April (my first trip) and need to select a hotel. There's going to be some heavy shopping involved, so I am looking for a great hotel at a great rate near either the Skytrain or the stores themselves -- the river area doesn't really appeal to me. The kicker is that I'm terrified of heights, so all the nice hotels who would like to put me on the 45th floor are OUT. The same for glass elevators -- one of the worst hotel features ever invented. The problem is that I can't figure out which high-rise hotels still have low floor rooms. Some seem to start 20 stories up, and that's too much for me. So,any help out there for a pathetic wimp? What great hotels will let me stay 10 floors or fewer from the ground? (The hotel can have a 100 floors as long as it will let me stay low to the ground.) All help greatly appreciated -- a wrong choice on my part would make the trip truly unbearable, so I'm grateful for any guidance you folks can offer.

hobbes

Four Seasons should work well for you. Not particularly high and rooms start on first floor itself. Also reasonably close to BTS.

Joelle

The Sukothai is a very nice hotel and only has 4 or 5 floors.
I can't tell about current rates though.

glorialf

Sukothai would be perfect in terms of heights but it's not in a particularly convenient location.

Guenmai

The Four Seasons hands down. I hate tall hotel structures,too. I don't like looking out my window with everything and body looking ant size. and I'm definitely not a stay-on-the-river person. You can't get better than the FS for shopping location.I'm a shopper. The Rajadamri skytrain station is right across the street and you can walk to several malls from the hotel. The building isn't that tall and the non-smoking rooms are on the 5th/6th and 7th floor if I remember correctly. I always get one of those.As for the Sukothai....yes it's beautiful, but the FS location is MUCH better and the atmosphere MUCH warmer and the food is absolutely delicious....morning brunch and Biscotti Italian restaurant especially.You should be able to get a rate of $158. Mon-Thurs and $138. Friday/Sat/Sun for a standard room which is quite spacious and more than adequate. Happy Travels!

tnnc

Guenmai- where do you find the best rates for Four Seasons? I've checked huahin and the other sites.

Walter_Walltotti

Many of the hotels should be able to accomodate you on a low floor as people like me always want to go on the high floors. Hotels like the Peninsula have there cheaper rooms on the lower floors. Would agree that the Sukothai and Four Seasons standout as good choices.

A little bit cheaper would be the low rise former Hilton at Nai Lart Park (now I think the Raffles hotel) You might want to check the lift situation out as I think it might be an atrium lobby (and attriums often have glass lifts)

Guenmai

TNNC- As for my getting a hotel room, I just pick one of interest out of a travel guide or from what I've read in a travel magazine and then call up AmExp Platinum and have them search for the best rate. I usually get very decent rates through them.If the rate sounds a little high, then I ask them to hold the room...so that I have a room.... and then keep calling back before departure to see if any specials have popped up or if the room has been discounted which it usually has. But I don't prepay hotel rooms,99% of the time,(I have them held with a credit card) so I seldom use the internet to book them on.Personally I have gotten rates as good or better than ,what I've looked up on the internet, through either AmExp Platinum or by just calling the hotels myself. For example, I was just in Ghana and the internet rate for a standard room where I stayed was $199.00 on two websites. I called the hotel in Ghana directly and got the room for $74.00 after negotiating with the person over the phone. So shop around and use different methods. The same with flights. I called United directly and got a $581. fare to Paris, from L.A. and the same flight on Expedia was $100. more. Happy Travels!

sandi

MDAccount - It's called "speaking up" and ask for a room on a low floor. You're not alone in not wanting to be on a high floor. Many people, me included won't stay above the 8th floor. Easy enough to walk in case elevators are out, and as high as fire ladders extend.

When we checked into the Peninsula, our room on some high floor (which we didn't request) wasn't available, but they did have a room on a lower floor (which we wanted anyways). Only problem - the lower floors are not cheaper (there were 2-bedroom suites that took up half the floor here as well as on upper floors), but some are smoking floors. I just wanted to be in a room so we could get out and see BKK, so we decided to check-out the room and if there were any telltale smoke odors... and there were none. You'd never know a match was struck or a cigarette smoked; hallways were just as refreshing - and I'm very sensitive to odors of all kinds. We took the lovely 1-bedrooom suite.

So when you book your hotel, be specific and just request a room on a lower floor.

glorialf

The problem is they probably won't guarantee a lower floor. However, you're not going during high season so you really should not have a problem.

MDAccount

Thanks for all the response. I do know about requesting a low floor, but it seems some hotels in BKK are constructed in such a way that rooms don't even begin until a high floor (the JW Marriott lobby, I think, is on the 7th floor.) My problem is figuring out which hotels are built this way -- a good deal goes bad when the best they can do is a room on the 23rd floor! I'll investigate the Four Seasons, though the rate may be a little higher than my budget plans -- I was thinking of something around $100 to $120. Does anyone know about the Westin ($91 a night)or the Landmark ($109)? In the end, I may try for either the Four Seasons or the Pennisula, simply because hotels of that quality shouldn't be passed up when they're available. I've also thought of bidding on Priceline, but didn't know if they'd pack me of to a "top-story only" sort of hotel.

rv224

Try Asiarooms.com for good discounts on hotels.

fishskis

I concur with the Four Seasons recommendation; very good location for shopping. See if you can get one of their "cabana rooms"; these are on ground level, and are very nice rooms in the back of the hotel. The Peninsula is a fantastic hotel as well. Bangkok offers some of the best hotel deals in the world; these are fantastic hotels - the rooms and the service are incredible. If you can, splurge. For the price of one night at a comparable room at a top hotel in Paris, you can get a week here.

Cicerone

The Bankok Marriott Resort & Spa on the river is only 4 floors. It is an excellent hotel and very popoular on this site. Being on the river is much more convenient, not to mention scenic. They should have rooms in that price range. People have also gone through Priceline.

Guenmai

MDA...I've also stayed at the Pen...just Aug 2004, and I really prefer the Four Seasons over it.The Four Seasons is smaller and more intimate and a happier environment. Plus, the Pen is on the river and the opposite side of the river. You stated that the river area doesn't interest you. As for the river, I personally use it for transportation purposes only...like going to the Grand Palace, etc..But, you have stated that you want to shop so I would suggest the Four Seasons area or Siam area or somewhere along the Sukhumvit skytrain line.If you can work a five-star hotel into your budget then definitely do it. I've traveled to a lot of countries and all of the continents over the past 30 years and I can't think of anywhere that has the high hotel standards that Bangkok has and with such great prices...for example the George V-Four Seasons in Paris is going for $700. a night for a standard room on Expedia compared to $158/$138 a night in Bangkok. Bangkok is the place to take a splurge in. Hope this has helped. Happy Travels!

tnnc

Guenmai- Unfortunately I don't have AM ExpressPlatinum and when I called the hotel 800 # the rate was $203 with breakfast but not taxes. Online I found $182 with taxes, but not breakfast. I'd like to try the Four Seasons b/c I like the location, but the Marriott is a better deal.

Guenmai

Keep trying...prices fall a lot. I have been quoted over $200. by Amexp,too and then have called back weeks and even months later and found that the price has dropped to $138/$158.They have bed and breakfast deals. Happy Travels!

glorialf

If you want to be near shopping the Peninsula is NOT for you. I would stay at the 4 Seasons over it.

You might also try some of the new boutique hotels which are smaller. www.asiahotels.com is a great website for discounts and also for information and reviews of hotels in Bangkok. I'm sure you can find one that meets all of your needs. No reason to settle.

orgy7

the westin may not work, I believe the first couple of floors belong too robinsons department store.

glorialf

Some thoughts -- The Davis, Metropole, Silom Serene.