Jasmine 59 Hotel by Favstay

We only stayed one night before heading back to the airport. The room was spacious and the bed was comfortable, and the pool was nice, though a little cold. The gym worked fine, but its heaviest weights were 30lbs, and it could use 50lbs weights and some extra towels. The hallway on floor 12A smelled antiseptic, almost like a dentist's office, while the elevator smelled great. The area isn't the best in BKK, but it isn't bad either. I recommend it.

I've stayed at this hotel many times, and the experience has been consistent every visit. The staff are all very friendly and helpful, and most have been here long term, at least for the past three or four years. It's on a quiet street in busy Thonglo, which suits a city person like me who prefers a calmer atmosphere.

Both executive suites we stayed in were nice and well equipped, and for the price we paid, it was great. Still, the hotel didn't feel like a five-star stay. I'd have paid a bit more for a true five-star hotel, or expected a little less from this one. I booked it as a five-star place at a four-star price, thinking the location explained the deal. The location and the quality both turned out to be factors. The pool and onsen spa were good, and the staff tried hard and were very good. But getting to nearby restaurants or much of anything was inconvenient. The shuttle helps, though sometimes you still end up walking back in the rain. There's no proper bar, just a breakfast restaurant with dinner tables that doesn't feel like a place to relax, so you'll likely go elsewhere for a drink. Breakfast was okay, more like a four-star hotel breakfast. We had to switch rooms because of a ceiling leak, and weren't offered an upgrade or anything complimentary as an apology. The bathroom supplies, shampoo, conditioner, soap, and moisturiser, didn't even seem four-star quality. Not a huge issue by itself, but it added to the feeling that Jasmine group is just trying to get by here rather than impress. The air conditioning in both rooms also struggled. It blew cold regardless of the setting, so we left it at 30 degrees in the main room and turned it off in the bedroom. The two other four-star hotels I've stayed at in the same area this past month were much better, and the nearby five-star hotels I've tried aren't comparable. If this hotel advertised itself as four-star, I'd rate it four or five stars. That rating is subjective, and I know that.

The pool has a lovely view, and there are also a hot spring, steam room, and sauna on that level. The staff were great and went above and beyond from the moment we arrived. It's my first stay here this year, and we'll be back without hesitation. They have a complimentary TukTuk that will take guests to the BTS at the end of the road anytime, which is a wonderful extra. There's a smoking floor too, though we didn't use it. It's a beautiful hotel.