Malaysia Hotel Bangkok

For an affordable place to sleep near the queer nightlife, this works well. The pool loses the sun after about 3 or 4 pm, and the water looks disgusting. I couldn’t even tell whether they have a system to keep it circulating. If you’re after somewhere fancier or hoping to meet other solo travelers like me, it probably isn’t the right place.

I like this place and will definitely come back. The service was wonderful, the rooms are big, and the pool is refreshing. The bar and restaurant are reasonably priced too. It’s a 7-8 minute walk to Lumpini park, Lumpini metro station, and the new One Bangkok mall.

The room itself was small and old, but the bed and furniture were clean. The bathroom was clean too, with a good shower, and we slept well. The air conditioning worked well, and I managed to keep it on without the key fob by putting a little weight on it while we went across the road for a meal. Housekeeping seemed nice. I even cleaned the filthy window myself. The walk from Lumphini metro with our cases was hellish. The roads were busy, and the pavements were either missing or too narrow. First impressions were mixed: one man at reception was friendly and helpful, while the place looked run down and the other reception staff were less friendly. Someone mentioned our inclusive breakfast, and we took the impressive elevator to the top floor, then went along an oppressive corridor to our room at the end. Breakfast was meagre at best. Then they asked us to pay. It turned into a scene, and we were humiliated in the restaurant before being marched to reception. First they said breakfast wasn’t included. By then some Western guests had gathered to speak for the hotel, saying they’d been coming for years and had never had breakfast included. I showed my email confirmation, and the explanation changed: we supposedly had to collect a voucher from reception and take it the short distance to the restaurant. I hadn’t been told that, and I protested. I said that if I had to pay for breakfast, I wouldn’t stay that night and wanted my money back. She backed down, and we went to our room. I wonder what will happen tomorrow.

The location is the main draw. Malaysia Hotel is on Soi Ngam Duphli, close to Lumphini MRT, the Silom and Sathorn business areas, Lumphini Park, One Bangkok, and Dusit Central Park. There are also plenty of restaurants, bars, and massage shops nearby, plus a 7-Eleven across the street. It’s easy to find food, and the restaurant stays open 24 hours. The hotel is more than 30 years old. Some rooms have been renovated and look fairly modern, while the lobby still has an old-fashioned feel. I stayed in a renovated room that felt clean and quite new. It was a good size, with basic things like a kettle, desk, TV, and large fridge, and the lighting was bright enough for reading or work. The hallway was a bit dark. The bathroom was small, and the bathtub made it feel even tighter. You have to stand in the tub to shower, so older guests should be careful. Most of the staff are older and experienced, and the service is reasonable for the price. I found it good value overall, with a central location that makes getting around Bangkok easy.