News and Reviews on Thailand's
best hotels and resorts.

Condé Nast Traveler has just released their annual Gold List for 2012 listing the 511 top rated hotels, resorts and cruise lines in the world, as voted for by their well-traveled readership.

After over eight million votes through their readers choice survey, eleven hotels throughout Thailand- six in Bangkok, two each in Chiang Mai and Phuket and one in Chiang Rai have come out amongst the best in the world.

Readers were asked to rate hotels on six aspects; rooms, service, food, location, design and activities. Each property is awarded an overall score as well as each category being scored separately.

Mandarin Oriental Bangkok

A perennial favorite among tourists, the Mandarin Oriental Bangkok scored the highest of all hotels in Thailand, achieving an overall 97.9 points. Broken down by category as follows:

  • Rooms- 98
  • Service- 98.7
  • Food- 97.4
  • Location- 97.4
  • Design- 98

Mandarin Oriental Dhara Dhevi

Good news for the Mandarin Group as they snag the two highest rated hotels in Thailand this year. The Mandarin Oriental Dhara Dhevi in Chiang Mai garnered some attention last year when it hosted an episode of the American ABC reality show The Bachelorette, and scored an overall 95.7 points on the Gold List this year.

  • Rooms- 98
  • Service- 100
  • Food- 96
  • Location- 88
  • Design- 96

Four Seasons Chiang Mai

Four Seasons Chiang Mai

This luxurious 5 star resort blends in beautifully with its surroundings – lush vegetation, rice paddy fields, and distant mountains, create a scenic backdrop for the Four Seasons Resort Chiang Mai, which earned an overall score of 94.8 in this years list.

  • Rooms- 94.9
  • Service- 94.9
  • Food- 97.4
  • Location- 93.5
  • Design- 96.2
  • Activities- 91.5

The Peninsula Bangkok

The Peninsula Bangkok

The Penisula Bangkok is another famous riverside hotel that is well regarded among many and appears on many people’s bucket lists. With an overall score of 94.2, The Peninsula has appeared on this Gold for more than five years in a row.

  • Rooms- 95.5
  • Service- 94.9
  • Food- 94.4
  • Location- 92.1
  • Design- 94.4

Amanpuri Phuket

Amanpuri Resort Phuket is the first of two Phuket resorts to earn a place on this year’s Gold List. Overall score of 93.2.

  • Rooms- 90.9
  • Service- 95.5
  • Food- 86.4
  • Location- 95.5
  • Design- 100
  • Activities- 90.9

Shangri-La Hotel Bangkok

Shangri-La Hotel Bangkok

Another Bangkok hotel on the banks of the Chao Phraya River, the Shangri-La collected 92.3 overall points and is a long term resident of the Hot List.

  • Rooms- 92.6
  • Service- 94.2
  • Food- 89.3
  • Location- 93.4
  • Design- 91.7

Four Seasons Tented Camp Golden Triangle

Four Seasons Tented Camp Chiang Rai

“Set on a jungle hillside along the Mekong River, the stunning Four Seasons Tented Camp has views of three countries—Thailand, Myanmar, and Laos. Three tents have custom-made wooden hot tubs on the decks, with views of the surrounding jungle.” Overall score of 90.7

  • Rooms- 96
  • Service- 88
  • Food- 92
  • Location- 92
  • Design- 88
  • Activities- 88

Banyan Tree Phuket

Banyan Tree Phuket

“Each low-rise villa at the Banyan Tree Phuket is set next to a private landscaped garden and has his-and-hers dressing areas, an open-air sunken bath, teak-framed floor-to-ceiling windows, and dominant colors of black, gold, and red. The 24 two-bedroom pool villas have private infinity pools along the lagoon, plus 24-hour butler and in-villa chef services and a separate check-in lobby” An overall score of 88.6

  • Rooms- 88
  • Service- 84
  • Food- 88
  • Location- 96
  • Design- 88
  • Activities- 87

JW Marriott Bangkok

 JW Marriott Hotel Bangkok

The JW Marriott Hotel Bangkok embraces traditional Thai hospitality and offers guests a quiet retreat from the hustle and bustle of Bangkok streets. In true Marriott style, the hotel offers contemporary, well-designed suites, personalized service and top class dining venues. Overall score of 88.4

  • Rooms- 94.7
  • Service- 92.1
  • Food- 78.9
  • Location- 86.8
  • Design- 89.3

Grand Hyatt Erawan

Grand Hyatt Erawan Bangkok

I’m glad to see one of my all-time favorite hotels, the Grand Hyatt Erawan Bangkok on this list. With a fantastic location, great rooms and always a cool, busy atmosphere in the public spaces, this is always the first hotel I stay in whenever I am in Bangkok. The Erawan scored an overall 88 on the list this year.

  • Rooms- 83.3
  • Service- 90
  • Food- 93.3
  • Location- 86.7
  • Design- 86.7

The Sukhothai

The Sukhothai

The Sukhothai on Sathorn is another well established Bangkok hotel that has made a solid appearance on this list for more than five years running. An overall score of 87.8.

  • Rooms- 95.7
  • Service- 91.3
  • Food- 913
  • Location- 69.6
  • Design- 91.3

While I am happy to see some personal favorites, such as the Grand Hyatt Erawan and the Chiang Mai Four Seasons, I am a little surprised that some of the newer properties such as Siam Kempinski and Hansar didn’t get a mention. These two hotels are both quite new and are probably still under most people’s radar (though the Hansar is consistently fully booked), but I think that they can certainly offer a serious alternative to some of the hotels on this list, especially the aging Peninsula and Oriental.

What do you think of this list? Do you think all of these hotels deserve their spots? What, if any, other hotels do you think should be added to the list of best hotels in Thailand?

 

Bangkok hotel discount deals

Here are this week’s hot deals on hotels in Bangkok, courtesy of Agoda.

As always, for all the deals on this page, click through to check your dates.

Some discount offers at some hotels have a minimum stay requirement, which I have listed next to the price. For such hotels, the promotional rate will be displayed once you have selected dates that cover the minimum number of nights required.

The Lit Bangkok Hotel Lebua at State Tower Hotel 50% off Min 2 nights.
(Featured in The Hangover 2)5 stars
Location
: Riverside. See more Bangkok riverside hotels
From 260 130 USD
Park Plaza Bangkok Soi 18 Park Plaza Bangkok Soi 18 4 stars 20% off, min 2 nights. Location: Sukhumvit. From 54 43 USD
Oakwood Apartments Trilliant Sukhumvit 18 Oakwood Apartments Trilliant Suk 18 3 and half stars
13% Off. Book 14 days ahead

Location: Sukhumvit.
From 65 56 USD
Ramada Plaza Menam Riverside Ramada Plaza Menam Riverside5 stars 40% off.
Min 2 nights.
Location:
Riverside. See more Bangkok riverside hotels
From 165 99 USD
Nara Suite Residence Bangkok Nara Suite Residence Bangkok 3 stars 20% off. Book 7 days before.
Location: Silom / Sathorn
From 49 39 USD
Bandara Suites Silom Bandara Suites Silom 4 stars 40% off, Min 2 nights.
Location: Silom / Sathorn
See more Sathorn Hotels | See more Silom Hotels
From 79 47 USD
Majestic Grande Hotel Majestic Grande Hotel 4 stars 15% off. Min 2 nights.
Location:
Sukhumvit
From 90 76 USD
FX Hotel Makkasan FX Hotel Makkasan 3 stars
47% Off. Book 15 days ahead
Location:
Sukhumvit
From 55 29 USD
FuramaXclusive Sukhumvit Hotel Radisson Suites Bangkok Sukhumvit 5 stars
39% off Location: Sukhumvit. Min 2 nights.
From 115 70 USD
Heaven @ 4 hotel Heaven @ 4 Hotel 3 and half stars 15%off.
Location
: Sukhumvit.
From 42 35 USD

Check back here mid-week every week for the latest discounts and deals on Bangkok and Pattaya, Phuket and Samui hotels. For previous week’s specials, you might like to peruse the “Deals on Hotels” category.

If you want to be sure that you won’t miss any deals, it’s a great idea to subscribe to the RSS feed, or you can Subscribe to updates by Email and be the first to know about any new Bangkok hotel deals, as well as all the other cool stuff that I post to this blog. Email subscriptions are handled by Google Feedburner and you will only receive an email when a new post is made to this blog. You can unsubscribe with one click at any time.

January 2012 desktop calendar wallpaper

Choose your desktop calendar wallpaper size

2560 x 1440 | 1920 x 1200 | 1920 x 1080
1680 x 1050 | 1280 x 800

It is a couple of days late this month but here the desktop calendar wallpaper for January 2012.

This photo was taken in Ayuthaya at the Great Chedi Chaya Mongkhol, which was built by the command of King Naresuan the Great, to commemorate his decisive victory over the Burmese invasion in A.D. 1592. The battle climaxed in a momentous elephant battle between the King and the Burmese crown prince Maha Uparaja, in the province of Suparnburi. The renown of King Naresuan after this battle was such that there were no more outside invasions for the following 200 years.

Download the size that fits your desktop and have a beautiful desktop calendar all month long. Check back towards the end of next month and every month for new ones. If there is a size that you would like me to make it in, please leave a comment below requesting it. I might even make up an iPhone version if anybody ask for it.


If you like this and other Thailand themed desktop wallpaper calendars that I have made, please take the 2 seconds it takes to use the buttons at the top or bottom of this post to Tweet it or like it on Facebook. I would greatly appreciate it.

Don’t forget to check back this time next month for a new desktop calendar download. Better yet, why don’t you subscribe to the RSS feed or Subscribe to Thai Hotels Blog by Email?

Bangkok hotel discount deals

Here are this week’s hot deals on hotels in Bangkok, courtesy of Agoda.

As always, for all the deals on this page, click through to check your dates.

Some discount offers at some hotels have a minimum stay requirement, which I have listed next to the price. For such hotels, the promotional rate will be displayed once you have selected dates that cover the minimum number of nights required.

The Lit Bangkok Hotel The Lit Bangkok Hotel 4 and half stars
Location
: Siam
From 116 107 USD
Ramada Encore Bangkok Hotel Ramada Encore Bangkok Hotel 4 stars 50% off. Location: Sukhumvit. From 96 48 USD
Bangkok Boutique Hotel Bangkok Boutique Hotel 3 and half stars 50% Off.
Location: Sukhumvit.
From 46 23 USD
Chatrium Suites Chatrium Suites 5 stars 43% off.
Location:
Riverside.
See more Bangkok riverside hotels
From 158 90 USD
Amari Boulevard Bangkok Hotel Amari Boulevard Bangkok Hotel 4 stars 26% off. Location: Sukhumvit From 122 90 USD
Courtyard by Marriott Courtyard by Marriott 4 and half stars 20% off.
Location:
Siam / Rajadamri
From 115 92 USD
Golden Tulip Sovereign Hotel Bangkok Golden Tulip Sovereign 4 stars 28% off
Location:
Ratchadaphisek
From 64 46 USD
Best Western Plus Hotel @ 20 Sukhumvit Best Western Plus Hotel @ 20 Sukhumvit 4 stars 50% Off.
Location:
Sukhumvit
From 11859 USD
FuramaXclusive Sukhumvit Hotel FuramaXclusive Sukhumvit Hotel 4 stars 25% off Location: Sukhumvit. Min 2 nights. From 7750 USD
Heaven @ 4 hotel Heaven @ 4 Hotel 3 and half stars Stay 4 nights, pay for 3.
Location
: Sukhumvit.
From 42 31 USD

Check back here mid-week every week for the latest discounts and deals on Bangkok and Pattaya, Phuket and Samui hotels. For previous week’s specials, you might like to peruse the “Deals on Hotels” category.

If you want to be sure that you won’t miss any deals, it’s a great idea to subscribe to the RSS feed, or you can Subscribe to updates by Email and be the first to know about any new Bangkok hotel deals, as well as all the other cool stuff that I post to this blog. Email subscriptions are handled by Google Feedburner and you will only receive an email when a new post is made to this blog. You can unsubscribe with one click at any time.

Ring in the New Year in style with these parties at some of Bangkok’s best hotels.

Hansar

At Hansar Bangkok, you can start the New Year’s Eve celebrations early at EVE restaurant with a choice of a special set dinner with one glass of champagne for THB4,555++ or with wine pairing for THB6,055++. Dinner guests will receive party favors and are invited to the New Years Eve party on the 19th floor Sky Terrace (free entry).

Sky Terrace at Hansar Bangkok

Or you can skip dinner and head straight to the rooftop party from 10pm to 1:30 am. Cover charge is THB700 and includes a snack buffet and one glass of champagne. Views from the Sky Terrace are of the Royal Bangkok Sports Club and the Bangkok Skyline.

Hansar Bangkok tel: +66 2209 1234

Millennium Hilton

Three Sixty Lounge

On the 32nd floor of the Millennium Hilton Bangkok, which is situated on the banks of the Chao Phraya River, Three Sixty Lounge was mentioned in my list of the best places to view the NYE fireworks in Bangkok.

 

Banyan Tree Bangkok

Vertigo Grill and Moon Bar

On the 61st floor, the open air rooftop bar offers spectacular views, rivaled only by Sirocco and Breeze at State Tower. On New Year’s Eve this year Vertigo Grill is holding a “Party with the Stars” gala dinner, with a seven course meal, live band and a DJ, with glass of champagne upon arrival. 8pm to 2 am. Children under 12 years of age not admitted.

THB18000++ per person (around USD575)

Latitude Bar & Lounge

Celebrate the new year with a “Latino Night” at Latitude Bar & Lounge on the 51st floor, with salsa, merengue and the best in Latin tunes to dance the night away. Open from 8pm to 2 am.

Two pricing options- THB 1,800 with 2 standard drinks or THB 2,000 for “Unlimited” drink package which includes house wines, house spirits, local beers, soft drinks, and juices. 8:00 pm to 2:00 am. Children under 18 years old are not allowed.

THB1800 (USD57) for 2 drinks or THB2000 (USD65) for unlimited drinks

Banyan Tree Bangkok Tel: +66 2 679 1200. Download the pdf of all the Christmas and New Year celebrations at Banyan Tree Bangkok

Dome @ State Tower

Located on the roof of the Lebua at State Tower, this is one of the premier locations for high end New Year celebrations.

The prices are high but the views are spectacular and the atmosphere is truly a once in a lifetime experience. All dinner reservations include a Complimentary Champagne hour from 7.00PM to 8.00PM at the outdoor 64th floor Flute Bar. Guests are also invited to the After Midnight Party held at Distil Bar and Cafe Mozu.

Mezzaluna

Mezzaluna is Lebua’s signature Italian restaurant on the 65th floor, offering superb views of Bangkok and the Chao Phraya river.

THB 28,246.82 ++ per person (USD838)

Breeze

Pan-Asian restaurant with incredible views from its outdoor perch overlooking the skyline from the 52nd floor.  Million dollar views of NYE 2012 celebration all over Bangkok.

THB 25,892.82 ++ (USD827)

Lebua at State Tower tel: +66 2624-9999

Distil

An elegant bar on the 64th floor, featuring an international menu.

THB 14999++ (USD565)

Reservations are required in advance for all NYE 2012 celebrations at Lebua restaurants and bars. Download this form and apply by Thursday December 22nd.

 


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