Bangkok: My thoughts on my recent travel there

So happy to finally leave on a jet plane and travel! I was in Bangkok recently and I honestly wished I could just stay there permanently! Most of the people we met there are so humble and friendly! Not forgetting the many yummy, delicious street food! 

Anyway, I am posting my thoughts on our hotel stay this time as I think most of you do know Bangkok or you can actually Google lots of info. We have taken loads of photos too and I have uploaded some to my Instagram so you can view it there at:

Susan Lee (@sholeesphere) • Instagram photos and videos

This time around, we have stayed in 2 hotels, The Key Bangkok and Palazzo Hotel. I wanted to highlight my experience here as it's such an eye-opening one that hubby and I decided we should just stick to boutique hotels in the future as opposed to staying in prominent ones.

A summary of both hotels:

• The Key Bangkok is located at Sukhumvit soi 19, a 3-star hotel with 7.9 rating in Agoda. Nearest train station is Asok BTS and Sukhumvit MRT stations and in the heart of all the buzz.
• Palazzo Hotel is located at Ratchadapisek Road, a 3.5-star hotel with 7.6 rating in Agoda. Nearest train station is Huai Kwang MRT station, and the nearest mall is The Street Mall which is a good 10 mins walk away.

The Key Bangkok was our first stay for 2 nights in Sukhumvit, 5 mins walk from Terminal 21 shopping mall. A quaint boutique hotel, we arrived 2 hours early from the usual 2pm check-in time. We were hoping for an early check-in since we were a little tired from having to wake up at 3am that morning to catch our flight to Bangkok. As expected, the front desk politely explained that they were fully booked and asked us to sit at the lounge to wait or to go to the mall for a walk. When we decided to sit and wait, the bellboy quickly offered us ''welcome drinks'' whilst we wait. Such class service from a small boutique hotel! Surprisingly, they were able to check us in an hour early! Unfortunately, we found out that the water was not flowing smoothly after shower, so we quickly informed the front desk and after some discussions, we topped up a little for a different type of room on higher floor. 

Overall, it was such a comfortable stay that I would rate them 4/5. What I liked:

• The staffs are very attentive. When we sat at the lounge outside, they would switch on the fan for us. Very friendly too with great hospitality! Even the bellboy would always smile and opened the door for us.
• Definitely very convenient location with shopping mall and train stations within 5 mins walk!
• Ample street food to satisfy our palates!
• Hotel WiFi was good.
• They have bathtub and good hot shower with nice toiletries.
• There's umbrella in the cupboard too!

What I didn't like:

• The pillows and bed were a tad soft for us.

When we came to Bangkok pre-Covid days, we always stay at Palazzo Hotel and there were lots of stuff going on there. Post-covid, we have been staying around Sukhumvit area so we thought of staying at Palazzo for 3 nights this time just to reminisce and check out Huai Kwang to which we eventually regretted. After checking out of The Key Bangkok, we took the MRT from Sukhumvit to Huai Kwang station. We reached the hotel nearly 2 hours early. After walking under the scorching sun for 10 mins, we were hoping for an early check-in which we had experienced before the last time plus we did indicate it during our booking.

Unfortunately, the front desk declined us with an abrupt response ''cannot''. "This cannot, that cannot, everything cannot... check-in time is 2pm... why don't you go out and have lunch first? You can leave your luggage with the bellboy." I was just too pissed for words! We thought of sitting at the lounge for a bit as we were so hot! 

Unfortunately, all the sofas were occupied by locals. Us tourists eventually had to sit on a hard, uncomfortable, long table / stool without any welcome drink, mind you. You can say I'm entitled or ''Karen'' but if you were in my shoes then, you would know how I felt. After cooling down somewhat, we left our luggages with the bellboy and headed out for lunch which was another 15 mins walk under the hot sun. Please bear in mind the temperature here is above 37*C ya... 

After we came back from lunch around 1.30ish, we waited near the front desk and the same staffs just looked and continued being ''busy''. By 1.45pm, I have lost my cool and went up to them. I asked if we were supposed to continue waiting until 2pm sharp or we can check-in now. Then only they decided we can check in!!! I saw the pre-prepared file being pulled out, and if my eyes were correct, the key card was pulled out from the file too!!! WTF!!! They could have just called us to check-in when we returned instead of me asking!!! No initiative at all!!! I was speechless and proceeded with the check-in process whilst fuming inside. We decided instantly we will NEVER EVER go back to this hotel! This used to be one of our favorite hotels but now, definitely the last...

TBH, I do not know what is wrong with their process! Just because we booked via Agoda with cheaper rates so we can be treated differently? Or because we are Asians and not Matt Salleh??? I cannot fathom what was going on in their mind or is this hotel so atas (high class = snobbish) and supposed to serve businessmen only??? Honestly, such bad impression given by the front desk!

Overall, it's 2/5 from me. Why 2 and not 1?

• The bed and pillows were comfy.
• The room maintenance was good and clean although dated.
• There's a post office at The Street Mall! I liked the simple, quiet mall here filled with locals shopping and not many tourists. Good cheap bargains too!

Aside from the bad front desk experience, here's what I didn't like:

• The old Panasonic hairdryer was blowing cold air... we just couldn't be bothered to complaint to the front desk and risks getting high blood pressure.
• Nothing much around the vicinity. Even the Huai Kwang night market has reduced with nothing much to see.
• Quite a distance from the places we wanted to go to and had to switch trains hence our travelling budget increased (from MRT to BTS or vice versa).
• Nearly forgot that we always have to open the door ourselves at the main entrance and the bellboys are always sullen looking except for 1 older chap who's very friendly. Honestly, I have never felt so ''unwelcome'' in a hotel before!

So much drama, right?!!! I'm just surprised with the level of courtesy and initiative between these 2 hotels. Moving forward, we are definitely staying at Sukhumvit area and boutique hotels, no more fancy schmancy atas ones for us. It is pointless when we have to pay more and yet they add a sour note to our rest-and-relax memorable holidays.