Weeping Willow Sukhumvit 26 – Hostel

The hotel is old, but it's only a few hundred metres from the BTS. I've just checked in, so this is only about my first hour, and I'll update after the stay. The check-in was the best I've experienced. It took less than a minute, and the forms were already filled in for me to sign, which some hotels do too. What made it stand out was the people. Everyone was smiling and friendly, and I felt at home straight away. After living in Thailand for 8 years, I can say the entrance, front desk, and bell staff are well trained at making guests comfortable. It felt like checking in at an AMAN hotel, but at a lower price. Keep it up!

Staff were polite and helpful, and their smiling faces made a difference. The room wasn't especially spacious, but it worked well for a short trip. There are a swimming pool and gym, while the breakfast buffet was repetitive, ordinary, and only average in taste. The location in Sukhumvit is prime, with a 7-11 barely 50 m away. Swadeeka!!

The room and amenities were decent, and the neighbourhood was great. Check-in staff were awesome. But the bell boys quoted us 300 baht for a taxi, and we confirmed the price three times because Grab cost more. When we arrived, the driver charged 600 baht. That ruined the whole hotel experience for us, and we'd never stay here again.

We stayed at The 4 Wings Hotel in the Phrom Phong area for my year-end treat, eating my favourite Thai food. The location makes getting around easy: the Phrom Phong metro gets you to Central Bangkok in about 15 minutes, and three upscale malls, Emporium, Emp Quartier, and the Empsphere, are within walking distance. There are plenty of cafes, bakeries, international restaurants, and food choices nearby, plus massage retreats and onsens. Benchasiri Park is close for a run. Push-cart food along the main road is worth a look, too. I expect it's safe since many office workers take food away, and the 7 Eleven has lots of inexpensive packed food. The hotel itself is a big, grand place with spacious, clean rooms and an old charm, including teak and marble furnishings. It used to be popular with Japanese expats, some of whom made Bangkok their home after working in Thailand for years. The neighbourhood still has restaurants, bars, a tour agency, and a supermarket serving the Japanese community and visiting families. A 24-hour 7 Eleven is right across from the hotel, and there are motorbike taxis stationed out front. The metro is about a 15-minute walk away. It would be useful if the hotel offered tuk tuk rides to the main road, as many hotels off the road do. Tourists seeking a safe, reasonably priced hotel in Phrom Phong could consider it.