Samyan Serene Hotel

The room was big and the location is convenient, close to several shopping malls, a metro station, and parks. But there was extensive water damage, with mold and unpleasant smells. Staff wouldn’t unlock the balcony so I could air the room out, and parts of the bathroom ceiling were nearly falling off. The water smelled rusty. The air conditioner blew right at my head and there was no way to redirect it. We paid for breakfast but only went once because it didn’t look sanitary or clean enough to eat.

The only things I liked were the nearby laundromat, a 7-11, and having Netflix in the room. The street was very busy and noisy, with no restaurants or cafes on it. I’d wanted to stay more centrally in Bangkok for my first time here, but I really regret choosing this hotel and would never book it again. They need to close it and redo the rooms so they’re suitable for people to stay in. I’d just come from Japan and needed to check in and rest. Room 712 smelled so strongly of mold that I couldn’t eat or drink. At first I wondered if the smell was coming from me and tried to ignore it, but I couldn’t. I packed my things and went to ask for a different room, crying because I was worried they might not have another hotel room available. After about 20-30 minutes, they gave me key 701. The woman wasn’t rude and did try to help, but I don’t understand why they gave me 712 with that smell. Room 701 was less bad, though it still had a bit of a moldy smell. All the rooms look very worn down, and the photos speak for themselves. The towels and bedding were dirty or had holes, the floors were marked up, and there was mold at the sides of the wardrobe. Its light kept flickering, so I didn’t use it. There were mold stains on the bathroom loft and ants around the sink. The rooms are dirty and rundown, nothing like the photos on booking.com.

We got good value for our money, and the hotel’s proximity to the train station made visiting Bangkok easy. They let us check in early, the room was in good condition, and breakfast was very good too.

The power went out unexpectedly the next morning. Nobody at reception had warned guests there might be an issue, and I’d been charged the full standard room rate. Since the parking area used a vehicle elevator, I couldn’t get my car out, and there were significant delays. Staff gave no assistance or compensation for the trouble. It left me with a very negative impression of the property.