The StandardX Bangkok Phra Arthit

The rooftop pool looks out over the water and is peaceful, a lovely way to unwind after a day in the city. I only wished we’d had a balcony with a river view. I imagine they might have upgraded us if the hotel hadn’t been full. The location worked really well for me. The boat dock entrance is right next door, and across the street there’s a pleasant walking area full of cafes and shops. Chabad is just down the block, which made Shabbat very convenient for me as a Jewish traveler. Laundromats, 7-Eleven’s, and convenience stores are right outside. I absolutely recommend it. I even heard more Hebrew than the local language in the lobby, which made it feel welcoming to me.

The staff were friendly and did a lot to make the stay easy. The room was comfortable, with a soft bed and simple air conditioning controls. I liked small touches like the rug beside the bed, so your feet don’t land straight on the hard floor when you get up at night. Breakfast covered plenty of ground, from congee and noodles to eggs, beans, toast, pastries, and fresh local fruit at just the right ripeness. You could also order eggs or pancakes from the kitchen. My favorites were the spicy buffet noodles and fruit. The rooftop pool and bar were a treat, with river views and water at a perfect temperature for Bangkok heat. It’s near just about everything you might need, including restaurants, spas, salons, and tailors. There are plenty of tuk tuks and taxis outside, and N13 Pier (Phra Arthit) is right behind the hotel, handy for the orange flag local ferry or tourist hop on/off ferry.

Getting to the Kings Palace is easy since the ferry stops right behind the hotel. You can also walk to bars and restaurants, and the location is just perfect. The ferries start at 6.30, so you do hear staff whistles and they leave ear buds in the room, but it didn’t bother us. It was our first time staying here, but we’ll definitely be back. The hotel is modern and very clean, and the beds were probably the best we had during our four weeks around Thailand.

The included breakfast was good, and we liked eating each morning on the outdoor patio overlooking the river and ferry. The rooftop deck was a pleasant place for a drink at sunset or after a night out. Since it’s a relatively new hotel, it’s modern and clean with fewer maintenance issues. I’d ask for a river-side room, as the street side is noisier. At times the AC smelled a bit like a subway bathroom, but running it cold, at 24 C or below, made the odor go away. The area has plenty of dining and nightlife, with a main pier for ferries just beside the hotel. Ram Buttri is right there, parallel to Khao San. I liked both, though Ram Buttri was quieter. Khao San was a big, fun party area, but didn’t feel especially sordid. For instance, I didn’t see anyone soliciting prostitution. The tradeoff is there’s no direct train access. If you’re not on a tight budget, Grab rides around town and to or from the airport weren’t too costly. A warning about ferries to see sunset at Wat Arun: they’re packed, people shout at you in Thai, kids can be unruly, and the staff seem to make everything more chaotic than needed. We enjoyed the StandardX, but our room wasn’t ready until at least 25 minutes after we arrived at 5 PM, three hours after the official check-in time. There wasn’t even a line, so push for your room instead of patiently waiting on a bench like we did. At checkout they asked us to wait about five minutes while they checked for minibar use or missing robes. Our Grab was already there, so we couldn’t stay. They should tell guests about that in advance so checkout time can be planned. Book ahead too, since we saw prices rise by at least $75 USD when checking a week out.