Solid SPG offering in the heart of Bangkok
If you're headed to SE Asia then it's given that you'll end up flying in/out of Bangkok at some point. Even if Bangkok doesn't top your list of places to stay for a weeklong vacation, it is a comparatively inexpensive place to spend 2-3 nights on either end of a trip (or, just on a really long layover). Starwood happens to be very well represented in Bangkok, featuring a St. Regis, W,
three Meridien properties, a Westin,
three Sheraton properties (one fits into the Luxury Collection), and of course an Aloft. Having stayed at the St. Regis, the W, and the Le Meridien by the airport/golf course (looooong layover), I decided to give this Le Meridien a shot, and here's what I thought about it...
What's awesome:
- location by Patpong night market is quite lively; some good dining options and plenty of nightlife nearby
- Good happy hour out front; pretty good breakfast spread in the morning (free for SPG Platinum)
- The hotel overall was clean, felt secure, and you really can't beat the price -- Le Meridien in general in Asia seems like a good value for cash or points
What's not:
- this is a classic Le Meridien experience with a Thai twist; I found it to be a good value/experience but true hotel snobs should look elsewhere
- small but still adequate pool area
- the bathroom design could use some work (if I'm allowed to nitpick a little)
First up - it's pretty cheap
Sure you can find cheaper hotels in Bangkok, but for a points-earning experience steps from dining and nightlife, I think this Le Meridien is hard to beat. A night will run you ~$100 or 10,000 SPG points (thank you SPG card from Amex), which is roughly half of what the St. Regis will go for, and the W is somewhere in between. I really enjoyed both of those other hotels (both had great pools, bars, and breakfast), but price and location make this Le Meridien a strong contender for my points/dollars.
But did you get upgraded??
Here's what my fellow hotel aficionado friends always want to know: "but did you get
upgraded?" Yes, as a Platinum I
would've been upgraded, but I was with a friend and we needed two beds, which either means a base room or one tier up, OR a massive two bedroom suite, but the latter has only happened to me once... The base room was totally adequate, though, and I still got my Platinum bonus points and free breakfast, as expected, and that is always a nice perk. As for the pool, it's probably not the first thing you think about when you think "what should I do in Bangkok?" but it is nice to have a late afternoon beverage and take a dip after a long day of sightseeing. To that end, the Le Meridien Patpong will get the job done, but it is noticeably less awesome than both the St. Regis and the W.
Cash or Points (or Cash and Points)?
My take? if the rate is $100-ish, as it was for my stay, go cash all the way. Why? Well, $100/10,000 points = $0.01 per point, which IMHO is not a good redemption at all. In fact, I will buy points at $0.01 all day long. Then take into account the fact that as a SPG Platinum 75 with the SPG credit card I earn 6 points per dollar - 2 from Amex and the other 4 from Starwood Platinum (3) 75 (1 extra). For a stay of 3 nights that's 1,800 SPG points which I value at over $0.03/dollar (blended hotel/airline usage), making a "savings" of ~$54...or getting me 1,800 points closer to something I really, really need...like
Cathay Pacific first class...totally reasonable :)
The Gallery:
The Bottom Line:
I dig the Le Meridien properties in general, and in Asia I find them to be a good value -- decently modern without the scene associated with staying at a W, assuming I can't find a reasonable way into a St. Regis or there isn't one around. If you're looking for luxury then hit the St. Regis, otherwise I recommend checking out the Le Meridien given the price and location considerations vs. the W.
Missing anything?
Have you stayed at this Le Meridien before? What did you think? Or are you maybe planning a stay here? Let us know in your comments below!
