Review : The Athenee Hotel, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Bangkok

For this booking, we decided to pay in cash with the HSBC World Elite^® Mastercard^® to avoid conversion fees and to earn HSBC points instead of using our Marriott Bonvoy points.

Depending on the season, an overnight stay costs between 32,000 and 42,000 points. In cash, an average overnight stay costs $340.

This 5-star establishment is located in the Pathum Wan district, just a 5-minute walk from the Phloen Chit skytrain station (Sukhumvit line). The journey from Suvarnabhumi airport to the hotel takes around an hour and a half or less by public transport, depending on traffic. Getting there by cab or private transport is much more efficient, taking less than 40 minutes. Given that transport prices are generally cheap in the capital, this is a much better option.

If you have a car, daily parking and valet parking are free.

The location of this property is ideal, as the Pathum Wan district is home to most of Bangkok’s mega-malls, where tourists can shop and, more importantly, eat. It’s difficult to pay by credit card in Thailand in general, but the big shopping malls usually accept card payments without having to go through the usual ATM, which is a considerable time-saver.

On arrival, we were immediately met by the valet for our luggage, which was quickly taken with us to reception. Thanks to our Marriott Bonvoy status, we were able to skip the queue and be immediately attended to by the reception agent, which is always nice. As there were three of us, there was a small problem during the check-in process regarding the price we had to pay for the third person (usually the price of the room + the price of a bed). The agent escorted us to the Royal Club lounge on the 26th floor to finalize the check-in process with a manager, during which drinks were offered to us.

Then we were shown to our room, and our luggage quickly followed.

We had booked a standard double room (2 beds), but were upgraded to a royal double room on the 25th floor, as we had Titanium Elite status.

The hotel normally states that the room is available from 3 p.m., but we were able to check in much earlier, which was of course very convenient.

When we entered the room, we were immediately surprised by its size for a double room, with enough space for a large circular sofa and a desk. Not only was it impeccably clean, but it was also bright and offered us a stunning view of the city.

There was also a slightly small TV, but it didn’t bother us at all since we weren’t staying at the hotel to watch movies, as there was so much to do, like enjoying the dining experiences for which the hotel is renowned.

We were also greeted with a bowl of fresh fruit and a welcome note from the hotel.

The room had all the usual amenities one would expect, such as a minibar with drinks and alcohol, snacks, coffee and tea (Illy brand), and fresh bottles of water that were replenished daily or upon request. The wardrobe was spacious enough to accommodate the clothes of two people, and comfortable bathrobes were provided.

The bathroom was very spacious, offering both a shower and a bathtub. The personal hygiene products were presented in a small black lacquered box, which added style to our pampering rituals. However, we were a little disappointed with the brand they chose to work with for the products, as Thann is normally found in lower-ranking Marriott properties, and we were expecting something more luxurious for a Luxury Collection property.

The Rain Tree Café is an international buffet restaurant, and this is where breakfast is served. Frankly, there was so much choice for breakfast that we didn’t even get to try it all during our 3-night stay.

There was a fresh pancake and waffle station (the highlight of our breakfasts), hot and cold Asian breakfast dishes, a dumpling station, a full range of freshly baked pastries and muffins, a fresh fruit and juice stand, charcuterie and cheese, and a large selection of ice creams and sorbets (you read that right). We could also choose from an included à la carte menu, and there was an egg station, where you could order your favourite eggs. Everything we ate was fresh and delicious, especially the egg dishes and fresh fruit.

Breakfast was included thanks to our Marriott Bonvoy status, but is normally priced at 850 THB per person, which is more than reasonable given the choice and quality of the food.

We also had the opportunity to experience fine dining at the House of Smooth Curry, which serves rare authentic Thai cuisine. The restaurant, located on the 3rd floor, is magnificent, decorated in shades of green and enhanced by wood tones. The decor is a blend of Thai and almost Chinese influences. It’s a very small restaurant, so reservations were necessary to ensure a seat.

The food and drink menus are very large, so it was difficult for us to choose. We started with cocktails, all original in taste and presentation, and quite refreshing. The drinks cost us around THB 350 each, but there were cheaper options (mocktails), which were also delicious.

For starters, we ordered the Korat Wagyu beef satays (which were served with sweet and spicy cucumber and peanut sauce), the pomelo salad with coconut and river prawns and finally the fried prawn spring rolls (served with sweet plum sauce). All the dishes were incredibly tasty and wonderfully presented. The starters were so good, we couldn’t wait to try the main course!

Next, we ordered the shrimp fried rice with pineapple and cashew nuts (a surprise, it’s served in a whole empty pineapple), the crab meat sautéed with egg and curry powder and finally the whole river prawns fried with Thai garlic and coriander. It was truly a feast for the eyes and the soul, and we were compelled to finish the plates even though we were starting to get full, because everything was just perfect.

Finally, we couldn’t leave without trying something from the dessert menu, so we each ordered one of Thailand’s traditional desserts: sticky rice with fresh, sweet mango and coconut cream. A house specialty, it was so simple yet so flavourful, the perfect ending to an truly exceptional culinary experience that we highly recommend to all our guests.

Here is the complete list of other available restaurants:

• The Allium Bangkok – Modern French and European cuisine (lunch and dinner)
• Kintsugi by Jeff Ramsey – Classic Japanese Kaiseki (lunch and dinner)
• The Silk Road – Authentic Cantonese cuisine (lunch and dinner)
• The View Bar – Poolside bar serving light dishes.
• The Bakery – Fresh bakery products and great tea
• The Glaz Bar – A la carte items and cocktails

The hotel has a large outdoor pool near the View Bar, located on the 4th floor. Although it doesn’t seem that high up, it was enough to admire the Bangkok skyline and the sunset.

The pool was very warm and quiet, which gave us a break from the hustle and bustle of the city. We enjoyed swimming after our days of temple-hopping, and there weren’t many guests at the times we were there, even though the hotel was crowded, so we felt like we were alone most of the time.

The lounge serves hot and cold dishes in the evenings from 5:30pm to 7:30pm, along with a full range of drinks throughout the day. Although there isn’t much choice (bear this in mind if you have a fussy group), everything we ate was delicious.

Afternoon tea is also available from 2:30pm to 4:30pm, but we decided not to try it as there was so much to discover in Bangkok during our limited stay. The lounge also offers a breathtaking view of the city, which is always nice when sipping a free drink.

There is also a large fitness center, located on the 4th floor near the pool, where you can work out and take Muay Thai classes, as well as group weight training and stretching classes (free of charge).

In addition, the hotel offers many activities for those who enjoy spending more time at the hotel, such as cooking, flower arranging, and mixology classes. They are free, except for the cooking class, which costs 1,800 THB per person and must be booked in advance.

The best way to earn Marriott Bonvoy points for free stays at over 8,000 hotels worldwide is with the Marriott Bonvoy Business American Express^®* Card. The Marriott Bonvoy^® American Express^®* Card (and/or the Marriott Bonvoy^® Business American Express^®* Card).

In addition to the excellent welcome bonus on both cards, you’ll earn 2 points per dollar on all your purchases and 5 points per dollar at Marriott establishments. And each year, you’ll earn a certificate for a free hotel stay (worth 35,000 points) and 15 Elite nights toward Marriott Bonvoy status.

The best and cheapest way to get from your hotel to the most popular tourist attractions, such as Wat Phra Kaew (Temple of the Emerald Buddha), is to book a Hop-on-Hop-off bus tour, which will take you from the nearest mega-mall to the temples, while allowing you to explore the city on the way. As the temples are closely grouped, this is the most efficient way to maximize your temple visits.

Below, you can book some activities in Bangkok with our partner, Viator:

I cannot recommend this hotel highly enough to any traveller who decides to come to Bangkok, as our stay was perfect from start to finish. The staff were professional and attentive, the restaurants and culinary experiences were up to scratch and commendable, and we were able to visit the city quickly and efficiently thanks to its strategic location.

We’ll be back!