Posted by Bangkok should be on every jetsetter’s bucket list. While often associated with backpacker travel, Bangkok has so much to offer travelers who enjoy the finer things in life including luxury resorts, incredible cuisine and beautiful cultural sites.
Wondering where to stay on your next trip to Thailand’s bustling capital? We spent a few nights at the Banyan Tree Bangkok — read on to find out whether this hotel is worth a stay during your visit.
Ratings rundown
| Accessibility | 8/10 |
| Ambiance | 7/10 |
| Accommodation | 6.5/10 |
| Pool(s) | 6/10 |
| Food and Drink | 7/10 |
| Facilities | 7/10 |
| Service | 8/10 |
| Overall % | 70% |
Accessibility
The Banyan Tree is roughly one hour’s drive away from Suvarnabhumi Airport (Bangkok’s international airport) — but timings can be highly variable depending on traffic. We strongly recommend booking an airport transfer service with the Banyan Tree in advance to make your journey from the airport to the hotel as smooth as possible.
Once settled in at the Banyan Tree you are only a short walk away from Lumpini park and the MRT (metro) stations that can connect you to the main tourist sites in Bangkok.
Accessibility rating: 8/10
Ambiance
The hotel feels very calm and serene from the moment you step in the doors — this is testament to the hotel’s spa & wellness culture. While in some places dark & dated, the hotel is well maintained with polished surfaces, and carefully arranged furnishings.
If you are someone who prefers a bright and vibrant hotel with glitz and glamour, this hotel may not be for you — but if you want a peaceful and relaxing sanctuary to rest in, the Banyan Tree may be what you are after.
Ambiance rating: 7/10
Accommodation
We originally booked a Serenity Club King room, which was upgraded upon arrival to the Spa Sanctuary Suite, which had in-room spa facilities (including a separate room with massage tables). The upgrade also meant we received some additional privileges with our room including Club lounge access and complimentary laundry (2 items per person per day).
Accommodation highlights
- Space: the suite was really spacious, with a living area, one full bath, one half-bath, one spa room and the bedroom
- Amenities: the amenities in the hotel were excellent with good quality toiletries and also pillow menu & essential oil mist to ensure a good night’s sleep
- Comfort: the bed was also really comfortable — perfect after a long day of exploring Thailand in the heat
Accommodation lowlights
- Design: the interior design of the room did feel dated, with old-fashioned furniture and finishing
- Dark: there were also certain areas of the suite that had no natural light (e.g. bathroom), which created a dim and dark feel — this may be ideal for when you are receiving spa treatments, but not so great otherwise
Accommodation rating: 6.5/10
Pool(s)
The hotel has a stylish rooftop pool which is great for a refreshing swim throughout the day. There are not that many sun loungers though, so do keep this in mind when visiting. The pool is also not that well-positioned for privacy, since many of the corporate skyscrapers look directly onto the pool.
Pool rating: 6/10
Food and Drink
As Thailand is known for it’s incredible food, we ate the majority of our meals outside the hotel. We did, however, eat breakfast in the Club Lounge most mornings.
Breakfast
The breakfast buffet was surprisingly extensive given it was in the Club Lounge, and not the main restaurant — there was an egg chef, noodle chef and also a wide variety of items including traditional Thai dishes, sushi, fresh fruit, pastries and dim sum. The dim sum in particular was super tasty. Given the extensive choice, you are sure to find something that takes your fancy here.
Room service
On our first night we also had room service, which we were able to order from our airport transfer car. The pad thai we had was ok but nothing super special, so we do recommend exploring options outside the hotel for lunch and dinner.
Food and drink rating: 7/10
Facilities
In addition to the roof top pool, the Banyan Tree has a variety of other facilities including a gym and, of course, its spa where you can receive all sorts of spa treatments to relax and unwind.
The Club Lounge was also great, providing not just breakfast in the morning, but also afternoon tea, and then canapés and cocktails towards the evening.
Facilities rating: 7/10
Service
The service in this hotel was very good — from the professional and smooth airport transfer, to the room upgrade and various other interactions with staff, it is clear this hotel wants its guests to feel welcome and appreciated.
Service rating: 8/10
Summary
Overall, while this hotel may feel slightly dated and old fashioned, the care and attention you receive from staff really is excellent. If you are looking for somewhere to stay that is near Lumpni park, we do recommend considering the Banyan Tree as the place to stay for a night or two.
Luxury Jetsetter 