Marriott Marquis Bangkok, how to sleep in Thailand's largest hotel

Is there such a thing as the perfect hotel? What are the ingredients that make up the recipe and lead to "crying" When leaving the room headed for home or the next leg of the journey? I lost count of How many hotels have I reviewed in Bangkok On this site.

The capital of Thailand is undoubtedly the destination where I have been several times and every time I land I try to go to a new hotel, in a different part of the city, where maybe I've never been, always looking for something new.

Location

Bangkok is a city in turmoil, I think nowhere else in Asia runs at this speed, every time there is a new construction site and every time a new tower completed. Those who were to return to the city for the first time after the pandemic might have a hard time recognizing many areas, they level and rebuild much faster here than in Manhattan.

This hotel is in Soi 22, a side street of the endless Sukhumvit Road. The one where the BTS runs and where the energy of Thailand's capital flows. We are in the neighborhood of Phrom Phong. Here the old soul still breathes, but the new Bangkok is conquering new spaces day by day.

Here is the giant EmQuartier shopping mall and the crazy Emsphere, a cross between a lush paradise, an art gallery and a 4.0 shopping center, has recently opened.Among the hotels I reviewed in the city within walking distance are the Hilton and the DoubleTree Sukhumvit, which are located on the opposite side of Benchasiri Park.

Reservation

I was supposed to spend three nights in the city and decided to spend two nights here and one in the new Moxy. I booked through the app and paid cash the approximately 160€ per night, trying to get the most out of the Marriott double points promotion at the beginning of the year.

The cost in points was not convenient And in any case I wouldn't have used the points since in this case stay would not have triggered the promotion-related bonus.

If you don't know Marriott hotels to have Marquis in the name must have two special features: have more than 1,000 rooms and at least 5,000 m² of conference and banquet space.

Check-in

I arrived with a Grab from Don Muang Airport in about 40 minutes, which in Bangkok traffic is almost a normal thing.

The first thing that left me speechless was the lobby, a monumental thing. Crazy pageantry with marble columns, giant chandeliers and endless spaces. Formerly known as Imperial Queen's Park, the Bangkok Marriott Marquis Queen's Park is the largest hotel in Bangkok (in terms of number of rooms) with more than 1,360 rooms and suites.

I made my way to the check-in desk dedicated to Bonvoy elite status holders, but the attendant asked if I preferred to do the paperwork directly in the M Club Lounge on the 27th floor, so I did and she escorted me to the lounge.

Here while having a drink sitting in a comfortable sofa I signed everything I had to sign and received the key to my room.

The suites were sold out, and so to apologize for the inconvenience I was offered the opportunity to receive a small consolation gift: a bottle of wine, €50 to spend at the facility or 2000 Bonovy points. Needless to say what I opted for. For the first time the "welcome thought" was given to me by hand, with printed letter: really cheap as a feeling, I prefer to have the surprise in the room.

The room

My room, 2860, was just one floor above the lounge and overlooked the second tower, the pool, and partially over Benchasiri Park, one of the many green lungs of this megalopolis.

A very normal room in this category of hotel. King bed with "made 4 Marriott" mattress and a killer topper 5 fingers high.

Bathroom "with a view" of the room and the classic standard equipment, with no special flare, not even the Japanese tablet.

In the room the mega TV, bathrobes, a small armchair and a work table. Under this aspect absolutely did not excite me, but I understand that managing nearly 1,400 rooms is a cyclopean task and there is no room for imagination.

The hotel

As mentioned. the hotel is divided into two towers which are connected to the lower floors: that of the lobby, meeting rooms, and pool.

There are several restaurants, cafes, and gathering spots, not least because potentially more than 3,000 people including employees, guests, and attendees of meetings or wedding banquets could also wander the hallways.

Some things are duplicated, such as the M Club lounges, although the one in the south tower is the main one. Like the rooftop, but again the most beautiful one is in the south tower.

The Lobby

Flamboyant is putting it mildly. The mega chandelier that welcomes guests is crazy, as well as the decor and how everything sparkles to perfection. Staff always smiling everywhere, of course we are in Thailand it is everywhere like this, but here it is x3.

To the left of the entrance is the Tea Room, which is also a bakery and spice store.

On the opposite side, however, is the piano bar and very elegant lounges where you can wait for friends before going out.

The rooftop

Bangkok's Skyline becomes, month after month, more interesting, and rooftops, or viewing terraces to put it in Italian, are the best places from which to view it

Here on the 39th floor is a true event plaza and a rooftop bar where you can eat, drink, and watch the sunset.

I popped in there one night for cocktails before going to bed, prices obviously equated to the location, but absolutely cheap compared to other similar places in the world. (And then every dollar becomes points)

M Club Lounge

I think, from memory, this is the first time I have found a lounge open H24. Probably the best lounge along with that of the Hilton Singapore, but there is also a beautiful terrace here that also allows you to warm up in the warmth of Thai evenings, not to mention the view. It also beats that of the Hilton Dubai Marina.

Regular appointments are breakfast, with the same times as the main restaurant. Then lunch, snack and dinner. All free and all with menus that change daily. Unlike breakfast here, I appreciated the quality of the food offered.

The first night, Saturday, I arrived for evening cocktails and there was a line outside. The second, however, was uncrowded, a miracle of the Staycation weekend.

Gymnasium, Pool and SPA

On the eighth floor is the hotel's other common area. The pool is ridiculously small, 1300 room and about 30 sunbeds. Of course you don't come to Bangkok to go to the pool, but if 1 in every 10 guests decided to go there they would almost all be lying on the floor And there would be no water inside the pond.

The gymnasium, on the other hand, is already larger and full of equipment. If desired, guests can also take a sauna or relax in a hot tub.

Then there is a spa, but in this case the prices and quality of what the city offers make it really too exorbitant.

A monumental breakfast

There is a new re in on TFC as of today this hotel snatches the crown of the largest buffet from the Singapore Hilton.

The hall is huge and the various islands are scattered everywhere, let's say on the first day you lose 20 minutes to see what there is to eat, however, be careful because they are Swiss and at 10:31 a.m., even on Sunday morning, everything is taken down.

Never seen anything like this, here there is even embers where the meat is cooked and even pineapple.

So much quantity, however, clashes with quality: "tasteless" cheeses, soulless omelets, local dishes many, but really standard flavors.

Of course I don't expect the a la carte menu at the St. Regis, but at least a real cappuccino and not from the machine. What has bothered me most, however, is the Swiss precision in unpacking the buffet: 7 minutes after closing, everything was practically clean.

In conclusion

Great, great, but it is also the limitation of this hotel. I prefer places like the Marriott Surawongse On the opposite side of town. Also a Marriott, but definitely more intimate, with a beautiful rooftop pool and an equally scenic rooftop, without having to wait for the elevator 10 minutes or queue for the lounge.