Lots of room for improvement

Just spent 3 nights at this hotel because they are currently giving away rooms at $80/night. Beware of the small print: there is a 7% government tax and 10% service charge that is added to the rate.

We received an upgrade to what they called a suite, which included a kitchen. When I looked for a hotel folder, the first thing I flip through when I get to any hotel, I realized that such a thing does not exist here. Asking the concierge was hopeless in pretty much every instant. They did however inform us about pool and gym, which is state of the art, with mini TVs on your treadmill etc. (but no water, as somebody pointed out earlier).

Rooms are modern, flat screen TV, comfortable bed/matress. Everything you expect from a 5* hotel. Lighting in the bathroom isn't finished yet, though, and the telephone voicemail system doe not work either, so you get your messages in an envelope under the door. Not very 21st century.

Location is both good and bad. Sukhumvit is a busy street with lots of shops, which at night turns into a Thai amusement park, which lots of prostitution. Still, it does not feel as seedy and intimidating as one might expect. The lane leading up to the hotel from Sukhumvit is narrow and quite dark, has a deserted parking garage to one side and the site of a demolished building on the other - not very inviting and for single female travelers not too pleasant to negotiate when returning to the hotel at night.

The hotel will be officially opend at the end of the year, and we almost felt like guinnea pigs. I would not rate this hotel highly, and might add that, as somebody said before, you just expect more from a 5* hotel.

Oh dear!

We stayed for 3 nights in a Silver room. This was the most basic category but the room was clean, comfortable and spacious.

Unfortunately the walls were poorly soundproofed and we were 'entertained' from 2 to 3am one night by a guest and his female friend.

No utensils, no folder highlighting information about the hotel, no TV guide, no in-room movies (not that you would be able to watch the TV in bed as the set was placed too far away), the sauna/spa was not operational, unable to check in even at 4pm and the room door would not close without slamming.

Staff were generally polite but service could have been better.

Plus points would be the scrumptious breakfast, stylish swimming pool and lounging area, and the close proximity of the Nana BTS station. The promotional pricing was attractive.

To reach the hotel, one has to go pass Nana Plaza which is particularly sleazy with go-go bars and noisy watering holes or use the other soi which is graced by an uncompleted, abandoned building (home now to assorted pushcarts, squatters etc).

Avoid this hotel

Stayed 3 nights at this hotel in early August 2006. Made our reservation through Smartstay website which is cheaper than the Accor website and includes breakfast. We stayed at this hotel because of the reputation of the Sofitel brand as a 5 star hotel.

Was surprised to find so many middle eastern guests staying at this hotel. Was later informed by the hotel that 70% of their guests were from middle east. Was also informed that cooking utensils are only provided if guests made reservation for at least 7 nights or else the cooking utensils are provided upon request. The room is bare but has lots of wardrobe space. Stationery and pen provided in the room was from the Mercure group. Had to request for complimentary newspaper before it was delivered to my room. The only consolation staying here was that we were upgraded from a gold room to a diamond room. Only 2 lifts were in operation and have to wait a long time to get to your room if there are many guests waiting. The telephone operator is impolite and staff are not knowlegeable on questions asked.The gymnasium is new but no water was provided for guests and no baskets were provided for used towels. This hotel will tarnish the image of Sofitel as I have stayed at sofitel hotels in other parts of the world which are really 5 star hotels.

This is our first and last time staying at this hotel. We usually stay at the Holiday Inn, Ploenchit Road which has a better location as well as more friendly and helpful staff.

Go to the Mandarin - do not pass go!

Well, if this was not considered a five star hotel I would not complain about our stay but when comparing the Grand Sukumvit to the other 5 star choices in Bangkok, I feel it will be a disapointment to most travelers.

The lobby has little warmth and there is little sense of welcome. The hallway leading to our room smelled strongly of cigarette smoke and the doors were not sound proof. The doorways had some chipping paint. . . well you get the picture.

The rooms had a very modern design with low blockish furniture. Our room had a kitchen, living area and seprate bedroom. I was surprised by the poor upkeep of the bathroom as there was a bad tile job and the ceiling paint was peeling. The best part was that all the lighting in the unit can be controlled from the bed- even the kitchen. A coffee maker was provided but there was only enough instant coffee for one cup per person! In addition, the unit had to be placed on the floor and plugged in as there was no available outlet for it otherwise.

I guess the real best thing about this hotel was that we got the room at a very reduced rate. Unfortunately, some of these savings were reduced when the 'metered' cab that the hotel procured for our trip to the airport turned out to be un-metered, despite our specific request!

Underrated Sukhumvit

I had read various scathing reviews about this hotel and I must admit, I was pleasantly surprised by it. Stayed 3 nights in a silver room which was comfortable, spacious and modern. Room was clean, no complaints.

Hotel was tucked away in a soi (lane) about 3 minutes walk from the main road and the BTS station. The alley leading to the main access road is usually busy, but we had no problems traversing it.

The only problem was that there are only 2 lifts functioning in the hotel at any one time, so it can be quite a hassle to get about during busy periods.

On the whole, though, service was efficient and friendly and we would definitely go back again.

Worst experience ever

We ended up in this hotel after we saw great pix on the Sofitel web site and soon found out we had been fooled.

This hotel is terrible and the noisiest I ever visited in my whole life. Believe me, I am a frequent traveller and I always am flexible, easy going when it comes to hotels and restaurants but this hotel was a dramatic experience.

The hotel is in a nice area but beware, it is located at the end of a shabby, dark and unsafe path. It is packed with large families with young kids from the middle east in Bangkok for a cheap experience.

Customers cook food in their room and this all is very noisy.

The furniture is a joke, there are no hangers, no slippers, no mini bar.

The service is rude (concierge did not reply to my requests, check in at front desk was long and unprofessional although we dealt with the so called head of front desk), there are only 2 lifts for 30 floors or so and they are always packed with families and their food shopping for the day.

We checked out in the middle of our first night (thanks to the night auditor who appeared to be very heplful - she clearly understood our distress and gave us access to the internet room to find a more suitable place to stay), although we originally booked for 3 nights and we ran away as fast as we could.

It is hard to believe this hotel is managed by Sofitel and I fear this is going to cause them serious trouble in terms of image. This Grand Sukhumvit matches 2** standards with non existant service, so be prepared for this. And it probably is noisier than any youth hostel in the Kao San district !

Not a luxury hotel

This is probably the newest hotel in Bangkok and is located near Nana Skytrain, making it a good location for tourists as well as business travellers. We were recommended this area by people who had lived in Bangkok.

The fact that the most of the rooms were apartments with kitchenettes was also attractive to us as we intended to prepare our own meals at some times.

We had checked with the hotel that key features such as the pool were in fact operating prior to booking our 3 night stay. The hotel also advised the best rate was from the Accor website.

First impressions were fine - the lobby looks quite modern and check-in (at 2.30am) efficient. The room was huge with a great view and two LCD TVs but no DVD player. There was no kitchen equipment or hotel service directory. There was no room service and only one restuarant, coffee shop and bar in the hotel

The rooms were quite stylish althought not well finished - lots of cupboards! The lack of carpet didnt worry us - not a great idea where humidity ~98%.

The breakfast buffet was ok - not 5 star hotel and not worth the 560 Bhaht + tax. It was cheaper to have breakkfast in the coffee shop.

We found the lift service excrebable - only two lifts serving 32 floor and frequently the door would close prior to loading passengers - there was no infrared safety device and the 'safety shoe' (thought these were no longer was fitted in most countries) to one door only is very dangerous.

The hotel guests were mostly families with children from Middle Eastern countries who appeared to be in Bangkok for cheap shopping; the overall ambience of the hotel was more a tourist class hotel than a luxury/ business hotel.

Although our room rate from the Accor website (Room only 5060 Baht + Tax) represented a significant saving on the rack rate, we found some guests were paying significantly lower rate for the same room (4800 Baht incl tax and breakfast) which was direct from the hotel.

We also found that although only a short walk to Nana station, it was not pleasant as Soi 6 is a very narrow lane with no footpath and a lot of traffic - one morning it was dug up!

Although we found the staff very helpful and the rooms comfortable, we dont feel the hotel represents value for money at the rate we paid.

Still unfinished

We stayed for 4 nights at this hotel in a silver room which I presume is a standard. The light fittings are all modern and more than adequate. Bathroom fittings are high quality with excellent shower/wet room and bath. There is plenty of wardrobe space but no bathrobe provided, so bring your own. Despite being officially opened for a month, the hotel is not completed yet with building work going on in certain areas, although there is no obvious noise in the rooms or reception areas. The small swimming pool is relaxing but the suana is not finished. Fitness room is very good. Internet is provided free of charge in the business centre. Ask at receptiion and they will log in with password.

There was no information booklet in the rooms and was told by reception that they have not been printed yet. If you need to find out anything, you have to ring reception or speak to the conceige who are fairly helpful. They do not cash travellers cheques which is inconvenient. The roads outside the hotel are fairly narrow, with heavy traffic. Walking towards the skytrain station, we have to walk pass some huge dustbins which were overflowed and unpleasant.

Overall, our stay was very comfortable with good buffet breakfast. As expected with a large hotel chain, it is rather impersonal and has teething problems which need to be rectified.

Bad experience at this Sofitel

I would recommend travellors to avoid this hotel for the following reasons:

1. I have stayed in many hotels, 6-star to budget, this is the first time I come across a NON-CARPETED room! Not sure what the guidelines are for hotels I think this does not meet even 1-star standard. Even the wardrobe looked cheap and fragile...

2. The hotel is new, but the room offered to me is not even properly equipped. There was nothing in the mini-bar. No wardrobe or slippers. There was NO room service menu nor hotel guide... no internet connection explained...

3. Next I was offered a corner room and the bed was pushed against the window! Have you ever been to a Sofitel where in a standard room, the bed is pushed right up against the window???

4. Lastly, my check out took more than 30 minutes! Apparently my name was not linked to the room number. No receipt was given. This hotel cannot even get a check out done right.