The Okura Prestige is a super luxury, 5-star hotel, ideally located
adjacent to the Phloen Chit BTS station in the Wireless Road area.
If you are not familiar with this area, it is famous for it’s
embassies, and proximity to the shopping and nightlife districts that
Bangkok is known for. The hotel is stunning, with an extremely grand
and opulent atrium, luxurious rooms, friendly and attentive staff,
and, like many Bangkok hotels, this is all available at less than
the price of similar hotels in the West.
It is incredibly easy to find, whether you choose to travel by taxi
or sky train, and is literally a stone’s throw from the entertainment
and shopping Mecca of the lower Sukhumvit area. The hotel itself is
very spacious and grandiose, and offers a whole host of relaxing spa
and massage treatments, as well as an infinity salt-water pool, Swedish
massages, and a modern fitness centre.
As you would expect from a world-class hotel, the rooms are mind-blowing,
adorned with beautiful hardwoods and designer furniture, whilst being
spacious, light, and airy, a breath of fresh air compared to the chaos
down on the streets of Sukhumvit. The beds are supremely comfortable,
and with no discernable noise audible from adjacent rooms, you’re
certain to get a great night’s sleep here. The rooms have a
definite Japanese theme and ambience, with Japanese style pyjamas
provided for the guests.
Although this area of Bangkok offers a huge variety of foods to suit
any taste and budget, if you choose to dine in one of the hotel’s
three on-site restaurants, you certainly will not be disappointed.
On offer are international breakfasts, buffet lunches and a la carte
dinners, provided by Michelin trained staff with a distinctly Japanese
twist to the flavours on offer. The hotel contains the “Up and
Above” bar which is a stunning place to enjoy a pre-dinner cocktail
whilst listening to some live jazz, and, unusually for many Bangkok
hotels, the Okura offers a spectacular wine list with knowledgeable
staff to assist you in your choice of drink.
It should be noted that the Okura Prestige is a very high-end hotel
by anyone’s standards, and would not really be an ideal base
for someone wanting to explore some of Bangkok’s more notorious
nightlife activities. The hotel itself is confirmed to be “guest-friendly”
which mean they tolerate guests bringing people back to their rooms,
however, I would feel self-conscious about doing so in a hotel such
as this, and would expect to get some unusual looks from members of
staff and/or other guests at the hotel.
To recap, this is a super-luxury hotel, great for relaxing, with
rooms from around $400 a night. Great location, world-class interior
with sensational spa and restaurants, but I would choose somewhere
a little more down market if you are travelling to enjoy Bangkok’s
nightlife. Truly a super-luxury hotel, this is a great place to
relax after a hard few months of corporate life, but if you are
looking for something more nightlife based, there are better options
for you, and without spending quite so much money.
