For the second part of this stay in Bangkok, we chose to stay at the Kimpton Maa-Lai Hotel, recently opened in the city, and located not far from Sukhumvit and Lumphini Park.
As a reminder, here is the itinerary followed:
Booking
This reservation is the result of a last minute change in our itinerary. Since my wife didn’t like the rather old-fashioned atmosphere of the Sheraton (according to the photos on the website), I chose to change a large part of the reservation originally for four nights in this hotel to a one-night reservation, followed by a three-night reservation at the Kimpton.
It is for a little more than 6000 baths the night, that is to say approximately 150 €, that I will reserve a standard room in this hotel. I will make the reservation via the IHG app, and use a Corporate rate.
Arrival
We arrive at the hotel after having made our late check-out at the Sheraton, that is to say at the end of the afternoon, around 5 pm. Previously, I had noticed a few days after the initial booking an upgrade to the Maa-Lai Suite with lounge, and had checked-in the day before via the IHG app. It is thus with a car reserved with the Grab application that we arrive at the hotel.
Our luggage is taken care of by the reception staff, and we are directed to the reception to complete the arrival formalities.
We are installed in armchairs, a welcome drink is brought to us, and the check-in formalities are done by the receptionist, Loic. The latter takes our passports and credit card, and carries out the necessary formalities for the allocation of our room.
These are simple, and Loic takes the time to explain all the services available in the hotel, as well as the advantages linked to my IHG Diamond status.
Once these explanations are finished, he accompanies us to the elevator, then to our suite, where he explains some elements related to the equipment of the room.
Suite
Our suite was located on the 21st floor of the hotel.
Such a height necessarily facilitates great views of the city, which will obviously be the case.
What is striking is the huge differences in design between this suite, very modern and totally to our liking, and the design of the Sheraton we just left. This suite totally matches our decorating taste, and we are impressed.
The entrance leads to the very elegant lounge areaof two sofas, a very large coffee table on which was arranged a welcome service, a small dining table, which also serves as an office, is located near the very large bay window and its superb view of the Bangkok skyline. On the opposite side is located the minibar, well equipped and complete with an espresso machine and a kettle.
A large TV faces the lounge area, and is easily connected with all the devices you have to display your content, via the various Google Chromecast features.
Then comes the night space, equipped with a large closet that will allow us to unpack all our stuff, a very spacious bathroom and also perfectly to our taste, equipped of course with a toilet, a large shower with perfectible pressure, a large bathtub, two basins. The hotel no longer has toiletries in individual pods, but for environmental reasons favors dispensers, which is fine to me.
The bathrobes have been replaced by very elegant kimonos, and the hair dryer is a Dyson brand, which is essential for my hair.
Finally, the king size bed is located in a very spacious room with an exceptional view. Here too, a retractable television allows you to display your own content, and an elegant chaise longue will allow you to read in front of the view, always superb.
This suite is probably one of the nicest suites I’ve stayed in in the last few years, and I would definitely return to this hotel just for the view.
For my second stay, I will be in the same suite two floors down.
Finally, the virtual visit in video:
Hotel facilities
Like most Asian hotels, the Kimpton is no exception: the facilities are resort-like.
Fitness room
The hotel has a fitness room, located on the third floor of the property and open from 7am to 10pm. The latter even has a coach, freely accessible to all customers who use the room. This reminds me of the beautiful experience we had with Bertrand at the Andaman hotel, unfortunately since ravaged by flames, and which should reopen in the coming months.
Beyond that, the fitness room is very well equipped, with many machines but also free weights, and more surprising, a climbing wall!
Sauna and steam room
On the third floor of the property, there is also a sauna and a steam room, accessible to all hotel guests from 7am to 10pm. We will not use this facility this time.
Pool
The hotel pool is also located on the third floor of the property. A very pleasant feature is that it is open until 10 pm, which is quite rare in a hotel pool, especially in Asia. I will make limited use of it, being a bit overused by the kids even in the evening.
Spa
A spa is available on the fourth floor of the property.
On my second visit to the property, I will book a 90 minute treatment which will be perfect.
Catering
There are many food outlets available in the hotel. We will use a number of them during our stay.
Stock Room – Breakfast service
We will enjoy breakfast service each day at the Stock Market, located on the fifth floor of the property. This property also serves lunch and dinner daily.
Breakfast is offered in the form of a buffet, with all kinds of hot and cold, sweet and savory options. The selection doesn’t seem very large, but the quality of the products is there.
Above all, the quality of service is exceptional, with very frequent clearing of the table, repeated requests to know if we need something, and this, despite a completely full breakfast room during our three visits.
Special mention for the omelettes, absolutely excellent, much better than in many European properties.
Stock Room – Dinner Service
We dined twice at the Stock Market, mainly because of the rain that fell in Bangkok at night during our stay. The menu is quite interesting, offering options of course Thai, Indian, Arabic, and international cuisine.
On the first night, I would order a pad thai, and my wife a green curry, both of which will be excellent. We will finish our meal with a Mango Sticky Rice, one of our favorite desserts.
The second night, if my wife stays on the thai option, I will go on a surf-and-turf which will also be excellent. Note the quality of the dishes and the kindness of the service.
Mrs. Jiggs – Dinner Service
On my second visit to the hotel, I would have the pleasure of dining at the hotel’s Italian restaurant, Mrs. Jiggs, highly regarded since its opening.
Despite the unavailability of online reservation slots, the attendant kindly found me a table for 8pm as a guest of the hotel.
The menu is excellent, very complete: many starters to share, boards of cold cuts and Italian cheeses, a large menu of pastas, pizzas and main courses.
I would have truffle arancini as a starter, and a parma ham pizza as a main course. This one will be perfectly proportioned, but I’ve eaten better…
I would have an ice cream for dessert not being very hungry anymore.
The service will be absolutely perfect and the bill very reasonable.
Craft – Snack
One of the afternoons, since we had skipped lunch, we were a little hungry and stopped at Craft, the hotel’s coffee bar, located in the lobby.
I had read several reviews on the Internet mentioning the invasive presence of pets, this was not the case at all: there are a few, very well behaved, who do not bother anyone. Again birds of ill omen…
First of all, you have to order what you want at the bar, hot or cold drinks, or pastries, and then a waiter comes to bring your order to the table.
We choose a pastry, as well as an ice cream, since a ice cream cart is available in the lobby. My wife’s pastry will be excellent, my ice cream a little less, I have a little trouble recognizing the pistachio.
Craft – Nightcap
On the last night of our stay, we decided to have a drink after our (catastrophic) dinner.
We shared a pastry with a cocktail, which turned out to be excellent. My Negroni will be perfect and my wife’s Aperol Spritz perfectly to her taste. The service will be perfect again.
Bar.Yard – Rooftop bar
On the first night of our stay, we wanted to have a last drink at the rooftop bar of the hotel, the Bar.Yard, very popular with the local female youth.
We will have a cocktail and something to nibble with this superb view of Bangkok in the night. The service will be a little slow but very attentive.
Service
I must say that with each staff member, the service is perfect. Not a very good service like the one you get in the big international chains, a service like Four Seasons, Mandarin Oriental or Peninsula. Don’t be fooled by the very cool appearance of the decoration, the service is certainly done in a relaxed way, but above all very professional. Also, never the slightest order will be forgotten, never the smallest request will be omitted, the housekeeping will be just perfect.
Departure
The departure formalities will be simple, the invoice fair and our luggage will be taken care of until the arrival of our Grab.
Bottom line
An excellent stay. I did well to change to this newly opened hotel, with a decoration that we particularly appreciate. I was also surprised by the high luxury level of service. The only point of improvement would be perhaps the pedestrian or motorized accessibility: both can be difficult, the fact of finding a cab can be painful (even very painful) in rush hour.
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