Grand President Bangkok

Poor Service and Cockroaches!

We booked the hotel directly in early November to reserve a suite for three adults for the New Year's Eve long-week-end. We identified that we required a three beds (twin +one single bed/or pull out couch.) The hotel acknowledged the request and accepted our reservation.

When we arrived we were told that no suites were available and asked if my father, sister and I could share a bed?!? This was completely unacceptable and after much discussion/negotiations we were given a suite, in Tower 2. The extra bed was simply a matress thrown on the floor. It took 4 calls to housekeeping to get this and an additional telephone call for extra linen. A lot of hassle.

We were initially very satisfied with the room. The suite was spacious, modern & having a fully equipped kitchen was helpful. However, this does not compensate for the fact that we had cockroaches climbing out of the air vents and scurrying throughout the suite. I understand that cockroaches are going to be a problem in big cities like Bangkok; and although unpleasent, it wouldn't have been such an irritating issue if the hotel staff had at least responded to our complaint. We mentioned the issue to hotel management and they were completely non-responsive.

So between the check-in hassles, the coackroaches and the additional 3.5% credit card surcharge they add to your bill at the end- we will definetely not be staying in the Grand President again.

Pass

There are better, more honest places to stay in Bangkok.

I reserved two nights in Tower 3. The first night I was upgraded to a 2br suite on the top floor, still in Tower 3. I had to move to a standard room for my second night.

Although the rates for Tower 3 may look appealing, they are not cheap enough to make Grand President a "budget" place by Bankgkok standards. The rooms are no better than OK, and are not what I'd call warm or inviting. The wood furnishings are old and rotting, the beds are firm (typical for SE Asia) and the linens are bargain basement. OTOH Everything was clean, the bathrooms were fine, the TV was good (10-12 English channels) and the refrigerators were full-sized in both my rooms. The larger 2br apartment had a washing machine, but no dryer. The hallways were worn down and smelled mildewy.

There is a small pool on the roof of Tower 3. Guests can also use the pool, spa and exercise facilities in one of the better towers across the street. The sauna was out of order when I was there but the steam room worked well.

It is a couple of minutes' walk to the Skytrain, and a 24-hour grocery store (Villa Market) is right down the street.

Biggest complaint was the hotel wanted to charge me a 5% surcharge for paying with a credit card. This worked out to 500 baht (about U$14)! On complaining to my credit card company, the surcharge was removed on the spot. But I was not advised of this when making the reservation and it is not common practice any longer in Bangkok (or anywhere else).

Towers 1 and 2 may be nicer, but there's nothing great about this place, and I resented the surcharge. I won't stay here again, and there's no reason for you to, either.

Reasonably nice with a very good location

The hotel is in a very good location as it is in the heart of the lively Sukhumvit neighborhood. It is a short 2-minute walk to the Skytrain which makes it convenient as well. Some sites rate this hotel as a 3 1/2 star which I think is a bit generous. It is fairly nice for Bangkok, but the rooms are only up to the standards of a cheap American motel. The room had a kitchennette, which we didn't need but could be nice for some, and a comfortable bed, tv, etc. The shower was a bit pathetic as the water only trickled out and the shower head was half broken. We had two rooms and it was the same in both. Also, the room smelled a bit musty which can easily be explained by the mold on the ceiling in the bathroom. I don't mean that this place was a dump, because that's not the case. It is completely remodeled and is very modern, just signs of the aging building underneath are apparent. It is a perfectly nice place to stay if you get a good price. I wouldn't spend more than USD$70 as you can find better hotels in Bangkok at that price.

Not bad for Bangkok

Spent 2 nights here during my 2 week trip to Thailand. While it was not the best hotel we stayed during the trip, I think for Bangkok this is quite a reasonable hotel.

I paid £28 per night for the Topaz Studio. The hotel has 3 towers and the reception is in tower 1 which is very nice. I was slightly disappointed to be taken across the road to tower 3 which looked slightly less nice. I guess these are the cheaper rooms. Having said that it was still pretty good. The tower has it's own rooftop pool which is a superb way to escape the crowds and pollution of street level Bangkok. The room was decent, and even had it's own small kitchen though we didn't use that.

Location-wise the hotel is pretty good. It's a 2 minute walk to sky train (Nana station) which is the best way to get around avoiding the traffic. Also there's loads of markets very close by as well as bars and restaraunts. The road next to the one the hotel is on seemed to be a red-light district but this wasn't a problem and is probably common to a lot of Bangkok.

Staff were freindly and helpful as well as speaking good English.

Love the refurbished Grand President !

We have always stayed at the Grand President since the last 4 years. They have refurbished the lobby, restaurant & have started on the rooms.

The staff is the best.....so is the location, as is the food. Soi 11 is really happening ! with all the new pubs & restaurants that have opened. Especially Contrazi, right across the road from the Grand President.

We have been there last month & will be back in December.

Highly recommended !

Did what I hoped it would

What can I say - I was impressed. I had never been to Bangkok before and I was a little concerned whether I had booked the right hotel in the right location.

The hotel part of three within walking disatnce of each other was to a good standard. Rooms were serviced daily, there was a safe, a small kitchen that I didnt use as its cheap enough to eat out, a good quality cd player in the room, TV, ample cupboard space, two types of shower, A/c, good security, concierge, an outside rooftop pool with towels on tap on the 9th floor.

The rooms were well placed for the BTS skytrain, loads of restaurants, launders, street food vendors, within easy walk of all the attractions Bangkok has to offer.

The only perhaps slight downside is the traffic inthe whole of Bangkok - gets even the locals down - so plan to go anywhere before 1000 and aim to be back before three. Or take the motorcycle taxis, cheap, quick and beat the traffic

Bad place that should be avoided

The grand president has the worse staff, that I have ever encountered. I ordered a suite for a week end and payed in advance. When I arrived, the suite was not ready and they put me instead into a normal room. the clerk did appologize and offered me some compensation in form of a supplementary breakfast. On check out, the breakfast was charged, and when i started to complain, i was told, that if I don't pay immediately, they call the police.

Lot's of trouble for the cost of a breakfast. I did not see my money and I won't see the grand president from the inside again.

If you want to stay in a good hotel - stay away from the grand president

Love the Grand President

A great place to stay. I travel to Bangkok several times each year; have stayed at Ambassador (cheap, and deservedly so), Royal Asia Lodge (same), Majestic Suites, and several others, but Grand President is my favorite. Hotel has three towers, each with a swimming pool. Several nice restaurants, and a small but decent gym. This is not the JW Marriott, but is a great value for the money.

Never again

Website shows renovated apartments, which we booked. When we arrived there were none available (Sorry) and for the same price we had to stay in a very tired appartment. When we checked out with credit card a 5% surcharge was requested. Place is also under renovation.