Emerald Hotel Bangkok

I came for a small group seminar today and had the lunch buffet, though I didn't stay overnight. The dishes were varied, and the flavors and ingredients worked well together. It was a tasty and satisfying meal. I first stayed here more than 20 years ago for my wedding reception, in a medium-sized circular buffet room with about 20 tables. We stayed the night too, and everything went smoothly. In the morning we went to make merit at a temple. I still remember the beautiful elevator doors on the ground floor. I returned another 2-3 times for family gatherings, including older relatives' birthday celebrations.

The internet was a real plus here. Wi-Fi stayed stable, and there was wired Ethernet in the room too. The lobby is spacious, with a high ceiling and a classic central elevator design. The Christmas decorations looked great and made it a nice place for photos. Public spaces felt comfortable. The bed was quite firm, and the room facilities seemed dated, though they worked. The room itself was an acceptable size. Check-in was careless: we were first given a room that had already been assigned to someone else, so we had to switch. The next day the key card suddenly stopped working, which meant another trip to the front desk. Staff professionalism and service efficiency could be better. Basic facilities are decent, but the bedding and older fixtures could use attention. It may suit guests who care more about reliable internet than modern design.

The staff were amazing, friendly, and helpful. We had two rooms with family, and one had been smoked in by the previous guest. They moved us to another room straight away. The bed was on the hard side but still comfortable. Room prices were pretty nice, and it's an okay place for a night or two, with a nice eating spot by the lobby and a swimming pool. The air conditioner smelled a little odd, though I got used to it after about five minutes. It took me 45 minutes to figure out how to turn off the hallway lights. The controls are on the pad by the door, the same one used for the make-up-room setting. I never worked out how to switch on the lights over the bed and desk; there is a floor lamp that works if you plug it in. The bidet spray was painfully strong, with only an on/off button and no way to adjust it. My wife tried reducing the water pressure under the toilet, but then the toilet didn't work properly and made a loud noise when not in use. I'd recommend not using the bidet.

The location is great, with a metro station nearby, and the rooms are very good and exceptionally clean. A couple of drawbacks: if you're vegetarian, don't book breakfast, as there aren't any vegetarian choices. They also ask for a 2000 Baht security deposit, which seems unusual compared with other hotels.