A veritable grand dame in the Thai hotel business, The Peninsula in Bangkok is an Art Deco masterpiece and a triumph of both style and substance. Don’t go here for 21st century mod-cons and wizardry – but for a classic, charming and old-fashioned experience, The Peninsula wins hands down.
The Peninsula is located on the Chao Phraya River, opposite the Mandarin Oriental and Shangri-la hotels. The stunning pool area, complete with cabanas, smiling waiters distributing iced water, a terraced swimming pool and chilled-out tunes was the perfect place to enjoy a late afternoon jug of lemon margarita. The hotel’s riverside location is one of its biggest draws – a constant stream of boats and barges steam up and down the muddy Chao Phraya, making for a memorable sunset backdrop and an ever-changing landscape.
We were given a deluxe room located on the 24th floor of the hotel with great views across the river and city. We couldn’t help but have a nose around the rest of the rooms though – the Thai suite is absolutely gorgeous – miles of plain, dark wood creates a calm and cooling ambiance, with an intimate bedroom that runs a little smaller than might be expected, but lends the whole place a cosy charm. If you really want to kick off your weekend in style, fly in on a helicopter and land on the rooftop helipad for a truly sensational experience.
Service is friendly and unobtrusive, and despite the riots in Bangkok a few months ago, the city seems back on track for another hot and busy summer. The hotel was fully-booked the weekend we stayed, which meant we didn’t get to have breakfast at the riverfront cafe, but apart from that, it was pretty much perfect.
Deluxe rooms from THB 14,000 per night (approximately GBP 280). The Thai suite costs from THB 45,000 (approximately GBP 900) per night.
Peninsula Bangkok
333 Charoennakorn Road, Klongsan
Bangkok 10600, Thailand
Tel: (66-2) 861 2888
Email: pbk@peninsula.com
