Shangri-la Bangkok, Bangkok

Fabulous hotel in a fantastic location by the river. Lots to do around the hotel with excellent transport links by boat and the city BTS train system. Hotel staff are all very friendly and helpful. Try to get a room with a balcony and whatever you do ensure breakfast is included with the room unless you want to eat out in the morning. Breakfast options include everything food-wise from dim sum to baked gammon and vegan! Good local eateries and supermarkets nearby. The Grand Palace is 10 minutes by “orange flag” local boat up the river to pier 9 and cost 30 Baht per person. Dress appropriately to gain access to the palace and get a local guid for an hour 500 Baht. Get the boat from the pier under the bridge next the the hotel. Need a Thai SIM? Get one from AIS in the Robinsons store around the corner - about 1200 Baht for unlimited internet for a month. Also try “the queen of curries” behind the hotel. I highly recommend the Shangri-La hotel as a place to stay in Bangkok. Friendly and helpful staff, a luxurious place in an ideal location. The pictures I include are taken from the balcony of room 1815 in January 2019. Have a great stay!

Since returning from our 4 country Asia trip, we cannot stop talking about Shangri-la Bangkok! This hotel just wowed us from the first day we checked in and throughout our stay. The hotel limousine picked us up from the airport, and was told to look for the gentleman in the red jacket. He was so easy to spot in the group of 75+ waiting for arrivals. He quickly took our luggage and called the limo and within minutes picked up by hotel Mercedes Benz. Waiting in the car was chilled bottled water in thai decorated bags and lavender scented cold towels. The driver (30yrs with Shangri-la!) informed us the car was equipped with wifi and if he can play some relaxing music for the drive. Wow... When we arrived we were greeted by many shangri-la staff all well dressed, smiling, bowing with their hands cupped together. We were handed fresh flowers and whisked immediately into the lobby. Greeted by our hotel assistant and informed he would escort us up to our executive suite (#2401) and check us in personally! Wow... The suite was BEAUTIFUL. Living Room and Bedroom both with view of Bangkok. Room was well stocked with L'Occitane toiletries, vanity, and every detail provided. Kreuig Coffee/pods, Hot Water, Tea Pot/cups, 6 cans of variety of loose tea leaves, and fully stocked fridge with snacks. Room included a bowl of fresh tropical fruit daily, with a little guide outlining each fruit with plates, fork, knife, and napkins. The Host thoroughly welcomed, introduced, and gave us overview

First the Krungthep wing is a bit out-dated, this was expected from other people’s reviews. Another previous guest had left my coat at the hotel for me to pickup which the hotel had already confirmed they would dry clean before my arrival. (I ended up asking 6 times and 18 hours before I got it) Check-in was friendly and good nothing to put a finger on. (First time i requested my coat) Friendly bellboy who showed us the room. The afternoon cocktails were not properly made but the small dishes of food were great. We went to our room to enjoy a bath the picture is what came out (second one is the next morning). Called the operator, who said we should flush it for 10 minutes (no change). Called again she said that we could get another room (now around 11:30 pm for a one night stay I politely declined and said this was most likely not a room fault but a central heating tank) she would send an engineer (that did not didn’t arrive). I asked about my coat again (fifth time still didn’t find it) Next morning I contacted the concierge again before breakfast. (sixth time) We went to breakfast were the waiter forgot 2 out of 6 orders of food. After the breakfast I went to the concierge finally the found my coat. At checkout I told them the story as compensation they waived a (400 THB / 10 USD) dry cleaning bill. Even the service charge on the champagne I ordered was more than that. Unfortunately a very displeasing first stay at Shangri-la wouldn’t recommend it.

I booked the elephant sanctuary through the hotel, one of the only reason I came to Thailand was for this...the hotel ruined m y whole experience. it took us 3 hours to get to the venue only to find out that it was closed. I contacted the hotel about 6 times only to get a run around, mind you this was all on my cell phone with international rates being charged to me on my own expense. finally I had asked to talk to a manager, mind you the workers who kept on telling me to go from one location to another to another. I spend about 5 hours in the car. thank god to our taxi driver who kept taking us to other hotels to use the restrooms and was so amazing and patient. if it wasn't for him I would have lost my mind. finally after 5 hours the manager gets me to the proper address only for me to pay the full amount for the elephant excursion to miss more than half of it. I was only to do 30 minutes of the excursion because I was late. now with the hotel staff, I feel like you have to be white to get any respect from them. our room and floor had mole smell all over. good luck with this hotel.

The Shangri-la in Bangkok is one of my favorite hotels. After all these years it still never fails to impress me, delivering fabulous service with a decor that is timelessly classic. I chose to upgrade to a suite for this stay, with access to club amenities, making this stay that much more pleasant. Most staff are extremely polite and professional. I did however have a small encounter upon my departure that left an unpleasant taste. When checking out I asked for a taxi to the airport. It was early in the morning, but while waiting outside two taxis pulled up dropping off other guests. Rather than being allowed to board these taxis, I was instructed to wait by the front door staff, after a few minutes another taxi pulled up and we were loaded in. On the way to the airport, I noticed that he did not turn on his meter. My wife informed me that he had a plaque in back basically charging a fixed fee of 500 baht. If I recall, the ride in from the airport on the meter is under 200 baht - excluding 75 in tolls. the amounts are small, but it is the principle. If I had been informed up front by the front door staff, I would be okay. But to pass up not one, but two available taxis to wait for one that charges an off meter fare stinks of collusion. I am not sure if this is Shangri-la policy, but it seems obvious to me that the front door personnel are getting a kick back from these fixed fare taxis.