Banyan Tree or Shangri La hotels

We are looking to book a trip to Thailand next year and are looking at various hotels that our tour operator provides.

We think we have decided between the Banyan Tree Club room and the Shangri La Krungthep room.

We are looking for any advice as to which may be better suited for sightseeing around Bangkok in the day and hotel facilities during the evening.

We probably won`t venture out after sightseeing too much so things like service, facilities and room quality and restaurants will be important factors to making our choice.

Would be grateful for any advice.

Kind regards.

Diane

Banyan Tree or Shangri La hotels

Hi Diane

I do not know much for the facilities of these two hotels offer but all I know is Shangri La is close to a sky train station and a pier so you can do sighseeing with no problem. Banyan tree hotel is located on Sathon road and it is not in walking distance to a sky train station and you will be probably get struck in the traffic jam when you get back to the hotel during peak hours because Sathon road is one of the horrible streets for traffic jam!

Cheers

Celine

Banyan Tree or Shangri La hotels

In my humble opinion the Banyan tree is seriously overated, i stayed there for 10 nights in May 06 (club floor) and i very nearly checked-out due to my suite being dirty! dust everywhere + staines on the carpets -this is NOT what one expects in a 5* hotel. I was however moved to another club room -no upgrade unfortunately, -and yes the new room was better although still very dusty. overall i believe that the Banyan tree is rapidly becoming %26#39;%26#39;tired%26#39;%26#39; and deserving of a 4* rating only.

10 years or so since we stayed in the Shangri-La Krungthep Wing but rooms were superior to the rest of this fabulous hotel - and that says a lot! Our Krungthep River View Room had a huge crystal chandelier, blinds, curtains, radio and TV all remote controlled. Understated but expensive furnishings and fabulous marble bathroom with his and her vanities and huge walk in shower. The maid arranged all our and the hotel%26#39;s toiletries His and Hers in ascending height order - great little touch!

Wonderful pool overlooking the river with attentive but discrete staff seeing to our every need. We went in pool, there was a dry towel on our lounger waiting for us. Drinks were brought to you.

A high class hotel with high class service. They even changed the carpet in the lift every night at midnight, so when you got in it was Sawadee Monday, Sawadee Tuesday etc.just in case you lost track of time! LOL

We had a meal in the international restaurant, Great steak! Fairly expensive though. There was also a very nice looking (but we didn%26#39;t try) Thai restaurant by the river.

We were tempted to return there next year but got a great deal for a Junior Suite down the river at the Bangkok Marriott.

It%26#39;s not far from Silom Road either.