First Pride Hotel

Update: the issue was resolved and I received my refund. For the future, a credit card payment link would be better than an online bank transfer, since bank fees are much higher with the transfer. Because we were arriving the next day, I’d also have preferred to show our air tickets instead of paying online. Transfers cost us more, may involve extra or unknown fees from the hotel’s bank, and can take time to clear. The booking and refund experience was very disappointing. I reserved through WhatsApp with First Pride Hotel and sent a 2,500 Baht deposit by bank TT at 11 a.m. on 30th December, a normal working day. I sent the receipt immediately, but they said the money hadn’t arrived. At check-in I was asked to pay another 2,500 Baht deposit. Despite following up repeatedly, I couldn’t get the original deposit back. They said 31 Dec, 1 Jan and 2 Jan were public holidays and that the refund could only be processed Monday, 5 Jan. Luckily I was staying until 6 Jan. I still hadn’t received it at the time, and after several conversations with the front desk the matter was unresolved. I was worried I might not get my money back at all. The communication and handling of customer funds were unacceptable. I asked the hotel manager to contact me and sort it out.

There’s a lively hawker center just outside or nearby, and a few stalls serve Halal food. A 7-Eleven right across from the hotel made it easy to grab snacks and drinks. You can also walk to Pratunam market, Platinum shopping mall, Tofu skincare and Halal food or restaurants. The room felt cozy and comfortable, and getting around from this location was easy. Just know there’s a 1000 THB deposit at check-in, though it’s fully refundable, and the hotel doesn’t provide an iron or ironing board.

The room was spacious and well kept, at least 30% bigger than rooms I’ve had at nearby hotels in the same price range. It’s worth what I paid, and I’ll pick it again when I visit Bangkok every year. There are plenty of hotels around, but this one is the most convenient I’ve found. Pratunam market is a few minutes to the right, Platinum fashion mall is about ten minutes to the left, and Central World is a little farther on foot. Walking to these places means you can skip a lot of traffic.

There’s a 7-11 opposite the hotel, and Yee Chinese Noodle is just a few steps away. The hotel goes up to the 8th floor. The corridors aren’t air-conditioned, but there’s a water refill machine there. They also give you one large bottle of mineral water in the room. Late at night, most of the lobby lights are switched off, and there’s a traditional scale if you need to weigh your luggage. We booked three rooms and got upgrades for two, which wasn’t bad. One was called a suite and had lots of space, a shower cubicle and a bathtub. The shower pressure kept changing, sometimes weak and sometimes strong. Some rooms can connect to each other.