Mandarin Oriental Hotel – Bangkok, Thailand: One of the most reliable luxury hotel chains in the world, the Mandarin Oriental Group of Hotels provide consistent five-star service and superb accommodations in almost every part of the globe. Its franchise in Bangkok is one of its two flagship properties (the other one being in Hong Kong). Being the first hotel in Thailand, the Mandarin Oriental Bangkok is legendary, having been frequented by luminaries such as Joseph Conrad and Somerset Maugham. It has consistently won many awards and considered by many to be one of the world’s best hotels.

First Impression/Lobby: After passing through customs at the Bangkok Airport, we were met by two sharply dressed young men from the Oriental who escorted us out to a waiting BMW 7 Series. Our luggage was quickly loaded in the car as we comfortably settled inside. The drive to the hotel took about 35 minutes and the moment we pulled up the entrance, an attendant welcomed and quickly showed us to reception.

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The lobby of the Mandarin Oriental Bangkok was expansive yet warm and charming. Upon entering, a massive six- or eight-foot tall flower arrangement gave us a delightful welcome and immediately made the statement that we were in a true five star, luxury hotel. I am not sure which impressed me more—the over-sized flower display or the windows that reached up to the high ceilings and looked out to the lush gardens. Either way, I was elated with what I was seeing. In addition to the glorious views, there were elegant and classic sitting areas, perfect for just sitting and taking in the gorgeous views.

Reception: Our registration was promptly completed without a hitch. It was so nice to see that even when we arrived earlier than expected (due to an early flight), the hotel was prepared and the registration process took mere minutes to complete. Indeed, as what the Mandarin is well known for, the service was professional, fast and friendly.

The Suite: Our suite was an Authors Suite known as the Captain Anderson Suite, and was apparently named after a sea captain. As can be expected, our room was decorated in a masculine nautical theme and as nautical themes go, this one was bombastic!

As we entered in past the foyer into the living room, we were surprised, quite happily, to see a complete wet bar on the left side (small but perfectly sized for the suite) and a work area surrounded by windows on the right side, which overlooked the Chao Phraya River. Ah, I could work for a bit and then head over to the bar for a drink when I was done, I thought.

Further into the living room were a couple of upholstered side chairs and a large brown leather couch. A wonderful combination of peach, beiges, browns and blues filled the room with a cheery yet elegant ambiance. Spread across the beautiful wooden floors was a large area rug that tied the room together perfectly while two bouquets of fresh flowers in the living room provided a romantic touch without sacrificing the masculine feel of the room. A flat screen TV and a selection of CDs provided a complete entertainment system.

Off the living room was a small balcony that overlooked the river and provided views of Bangkok from all directions. It was strategically furnished with a small table, two chairs and one lounge chair without being overcrowded.

The bedroom was located behind the living room just off from the bar and also had great views of the river. Decorated in reds, mauves, blues and browns, its interior kept with the masculine nautical theme of the suite. The heavy wooden bed and over-sized brown leather chaise completed the look giving it just enough testosterone to let anyone know this was a man’s room.

Off the bedroom was the master bathroom tiled in marble (there was a half-bath by the foyer, near the work area). It was fitted with twin basin sinks, a large soaking tub, private toilet stall and large rain shower stall. Ample closet space for shoes and clothing was available but the luggage space was a bit limited. Hermes amenities and plush robes and slippers completed the luxurious bathroom.

Minutes after we had arrived in our suite, and before I had the chance to check out all that the room had to offer, our bags were already delivered. After awhile, there was a knock on our door. Not sure who to expect, I answered it and was greeted by a young gentleman who introduced himself as the floor butler. He came to bring us freshly squeezed orange juice and to let us know that should we need anything, all we needed to do was press the buzzer alongside the bed and he would come to attend to us. Now, this was what true five-star service was all about!

Room Service: If you ever want to experience amazing five-star room service, then you must try Mandarin Oriental Bangkok. Not only is the food superior, the presentation is top-notch and the delivery and set up is unparalleled. Whether it was breakfast on the balcony or a light lunch in the room, the room service staff did an amazing job of preparing the table and making sure everything was perfect before they left. This was pure, unadulterated five-star service.

Housekeeping: As with Room Service, the Housekeeping staff was spot-on each and every time, and to my delight, invisible. Not once were we interrupted to see if they could service our room or were bugged about when the room would be vacant. The housekeeping staff is like fairies that magically appear to tend to the room, leaving only a sparkling clean room as evidence that they had been there.

Concierge: Overall the concierge service was professional and offered great recommendations except for one night when we were told all the restaurants took their last orders at 10 PM and that the only place she could recommend was Sala Rim Naam, the hotel restaurant located across the river. We tried it and while it was great (a separate review of Sala Rim Naam is available here), we found out the next day that there were plenty of other restaurant options that we could have chosen from.

Restaurant: Mandarin Oriental Bangkok has a wide range of dining options serving local and international cuisine. Le Normandie serves French cuisine with an Asian flair. A beautiful Thai dinner complete with a traditional dance show can be experienced at the Sala Rim Naam. Grilled seafood and meat as well as Middle Eastern, European and Asian dishes are best enjoyed at the Riverside Terrace. Other restaurants include Ciao (Italian), The Bamboo Bar (jazz and cocktail bar), Lord Jim’s (seafood buffet), The China House, The Verandah (breakfast and pastries), and the Authors’ Lounge (for afternoon English tea).

Pool/Spa/Activities: Mandarin Oriental has an exquisitely world class spa, the Oriental Spa, housed in a traditional wooden teak Thai–style house, recognized at various times as one of the best spas in the world. Other recreational activities offered by the hotel include swimming pools, private cabanas by the poolside, Thai cooking classes, tai chi, yoga, and a host of sports activities.

Overall Impression With this being the first Mandarin Oriental hotel built and having been in operation for over 130 years, it is clear that the Mandarin Oriental Bangkok have had the time to perfect every operation, every service and every five-star experience that you could imagine. At every turn, I was impressed and repeatedly reminded why the Mandarin Oriental Hotel chain is one of our favorites. Class, style, service and true warmth made our stay at the Mandarin Oriental Bangkok Fantastic Bombastic.

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