Centara Grand (Bangkok)

I have been going to Bangkok more often than I expect to. Not that I am complaining since the hotel expenses were paid for this time. 

Everything about Centara Grand hit the mark. 

1) Hotel 

The check-in counters are located on the 23rd floor  and all the rooms are located above that. This can only mean that you get some pretty good views from your room. 

The room had free and fast working wifi. The only issue was that you had to log in again after a period of inactivity. Cable channels were available on the TV as well.

Bed was comfortable - the pillows felt too soft though, probably time to upgrade those pillows!

There is something with modern hotels and their preference for glass screens separating the sleeping area and the toilet. Don't worry though, there is a white screen as well as curtains for those who rather not have the glass screen.

2) Amenities 

This hotel has a tennis court, swimming pool and gym- everything that you require to keep fit on a trip (assuming that you are not fulfilling your exercise quota by going to the shopping malls nearby instead). I only used the gym and it was well equipped- the moment I stepped in, I was given a towel and a bottle of water. Now that's service for you!

3) Breakfast 

The breakfast selection was wide ranging- a whole selection of bread and muffins, some resemblance of Chinese food, and the usual baked beans and potatoes. Pity though, their Thai food did not look exactly appetising. One popular counter was the Thai tea counter where Thai iced tea was made on the spot.

4) Location

The location here is amazing. A fully air-conditioned short cut to Central World, 5 minutes walk to Siam Paragon, 5-10 minutes walk to Platinum mall. At night, there were many night stalls set up near the Central area and I did a fair bit of cheap shopping at the night market.

Centara Grand
999/99 Rama 1 Road
Pathumwan
Bangkok, Thailand 

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Sukhumvit Chic, Keyne Residence (Bangkok)

This is the first time I am staying in an accommodation on airbnb and it was a very pleasant experience. 

1. Location 

The location is not in the shopping district. However, this place is just 1 or 2 minutes away from the Thong Lo BTS station. It takes around 15-20 minutes to reach the shopping area (e.g. Siam). It is also a short walk to convenience stores if you want to stock up on food / water. 

Just a couple of minutes down the road, at soi 38, there is a famous food street where we tried crab wanton noodles and mango sticky rice. 

2. Interior 

This place is basically a condominium, with good security. The doors to the units are electronically locked. 

3. Room
The apartment had everything we needed- many power sockets, comfortable bed, wardrobe with hangers, sitting area etc.

Tastefully decorated.

The TV has cable channels, so if you have nothing to do (how could it be), it will be nice to just spend your time on the couch channel surfing.

Towels, packets of shampoo and soap bars are also provided.

4. How to get here
You may wish to get here by taxi or if you have the time to spare and the strength to carry your luggage around, taking the train is also an option. From the airport, take the train to Phaya Thai, buy another ticket and continue to Thong Lo. This will take more than an hour.

5. Amenities 
There is a swimming pool and gym, if you wish to work off those fats from eating too much.

5. Conclusion 
While this place does not offer services that hotels provide, this is a really good option if you want somewhere safe, clean and convenient. The price is also very reasonable (around Sin$70 per night).

Keyne Residence
Sukhumvit Road between soi 36 and 34
Bangkok, Thailand 

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