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The Hôtel
Plaza Athénée is the new kid on the block among
Bangkok’s five star hotels. Situated on historic and tree-lined
Wireless Road, this sister of a famous hotel in New York City is
a short distance from several embassies, the entertainment action
of Sukhumvit Road and the shopping of the Siam Square area.
The Ploenchit Skytrain station is only two blocks away and the
expressway leading to the airport can be reached with relatively
little difficulty. The exterior of the hotel is sheathed in shimmering
glass that reflects the panorama around the hotel. The upper floors
have rounded corners, giving the building a futuristic feel that
observers either seem to love or hate. The massive lobby is one
of the most spectacular in Bangkok with a cream colored marble floor
and dramatic, parallel sets of stairs that lead to mezzanine level
public areas. The décor is modern and eclectic with a color
scheme that emphasizes amber, gold and maroon.
The 354 guest rooms and 28 suites at the hotel are particularly
impressive and have a cozy warmth that is sometimes missing in the
public areas. All of the rooms have standard five-star amenities
and have large windows providing panoramic views of Bangkok. The
Club Athéné Floors are designed for those in town
on business. Guests on these floors have their own lounge where
they can enjoy a buffet breakfast, complimentary afternoon tea and
complimentary cocktails in the evening. They also enjoy a variety
of special services, that include, among other things, roundtrip
airport limousine service and complimentary use of the health club,
steam room, sauna and outdoor pool.
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The hotel’s suites are particularly spectacular. There are
business suites, suites connected to the spa, and luxurious Thai
theme suites. The latter are paneled with rich brown wood, furnished
with Thai-style furniture and decorated with silk and beautiful
works of art that take one back in time while retaining the comforts
of modern life. The Ratanakosin Theme Suite with a published price
of US$2200++ has to be seen to be believed. It redefines concepts
of comfort and self-indulgence.
Speaking of self-indulgence, the Aspara Spa at the Plaza Athénée
may provide it in generous doses. If you are seeking a massage,
seaweed body wrap, exfoliating body scrub or moisturizing facial,
this is the place to come. For those into hi-tech comfort, there
is a computerized hydro-massage bath that directs more than a hundred
water and air jets onto your body. The numerous packages available
at the spa include those designed for loving couples who want to
enjoy their spa experiences together. The spa also contains a fully
equipped exercise room, jogging track, sauna, steam room and outdoor
pool with a Thai sala for those who want an outdoor massage.
The Plaza Athénée’s proximity to 20 embassies
makes it popular with those on embassy business. The business center
is well-equipped and provides numerous services, including secretarial
services and the printing of business cards and stationery. Equipment
rentals include office computers, laptops, projectors and mobile
phones.
For those interested in having a conference of any size, the Hôtel
Plaza Athénée might be the best and most reasonably
priced venue in Bangkok. There are 15 rooms of various sizes available,
that can accommodate between 10 and 1,200 people, and the use of
these facilities for special parties, has really caught on. The
size of the lobby and the spectacular stairs leading up to the function
rooms on the mezzanine have an appeal that many can’t resist
for things like large weddings and other grand celebrations.
Bangkok’s hotels are noted for their numerous restaurants
and the Plaza Athénée is no exception. The Rain Tree
Café is a 24-hour dining spot that features international
buffet breakfasts, lunches and dinners in a relaxed and casual atmosphere.
There are also Chinese, Thai and Japanese restaurants that are open
for both lunch and dinner. The Silk Road Chinese Restaurant is already
well-known for its dim sum lunches and is a regular midday stop
for nearby embassy and business people. On weekends families arrive
for the popular all-you-can-eat dim sum lunch promotion that the
restaurant has been featuring recently.
The Utage, a small Japanese Restaurant, has fast set menus at lunch
that appeal to busy executives. Thai food in the Smooth Curry is
noted for its authenticity, making it popular with both hotel guests
and Thais seeking their national cuisine in spectacularly modern
surroundings.
Reflexions is the hotel’s most talked about dining and entertainment
spot. The ceiling is designed to represent a nighttime sky, there
is a spectacular mural on one wall and the nightly live jazz music
is some of the best in Bangkok. The menu is eclectic and features
a variety of fusion dishes that are fresh, healthy and spectacularly
presented. Popular with many of Bangkok’s movers and shakers,
Reflexions is a great place for those who wanted to break away from
the traditional and experience thing new and different. Fittingly,
Reflexions is open until 01:00 on week nights and 02:00 on Friday
and Saturday.
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If you simply want to stop by the hotel for a drink, try the Glaz
Bar. Situated adjacent to the lobby it can also be reached from
the sidewalk outside. Although modern, it has an intimate atmosphere
and always seems to have someone playing the piano. It’s a
fitting spot to clinch a business deal or quench your thirst after
a busy day of sightseeing and shopping.
Although the published rates of the hotel, begin at US$220 a night,
the Plaza Athénée has numerous promotions and special
rates that provide significant discounts. During this summer, for
example, when staying a minimum of two nights, superior rooms are
only US$120++ a night and include a buffet breakfast, daily newspaper,
welcome fruit basket, complementary use of the health club and pool,
late 18:00 checkout and one way airport limousine service. This,
and several of the other promotions available, make the Hôtel
Plaza Athénée one of the city’s most notable
hotel bargains and a place anyone seeking five-star comfort should
seriously consider.
The Hôtel Plaza Athénée
Wireless Road, Bangkok 10330
Tel. (662) 650-8800;
Fax: (662) 650-8500
Website: www.hotel-plaza-athenee.com
Email: bangkok@hotel-plaza-athenee.com
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