Apr 04, 2008 07:06 PM
1818 Views
(Updated Apr 05, 2008 09:26 AM)
*3-star hotel
Location** - Bangkok, Thailand
Neighbourhood - Chinatown
Price range - 2000-3000rs for a double room, 6000rs for a family suite for 4 adults(includes huge breakfast served from 6am to 10am)
Most suitable for - Families, couples, tour groups
Amenities - swimming pool, 2 indoor restaurants, gym, bakery, shopping mall in the ground floor
My family and I stayed in Grand China Princess hotel for 4 nights in the 3rd week of December 2007. This is a review of the hotel.
Why GCP?
Since I planned the trip as a anniversary gift for my parents, I did not go for a tour operator(for the money they charge for a 4D trip, we stayed for one week in Bangkok and Pattaya). I did all the tour scheduling and bookings myself - of course this took me months of research but I enjoyed it. Also, I wanted us all to stay in one room, not separated. And 2-bedroom suites in Bangkok were few and expensive. no tour operator can guarantee that!
Eventually, my research came down to 3 hotels - Grand China Princess(GCP), Baiyoke Suite Hotel, and Riverfront Residence. Then I learnt from online reviewers that Baiyoke Suite hotel rooms were old and had cockroaches in them! and that Riverfront Residence(a superb hotel that was cheaper than GCP) was located was away from city center. So I settled down to GCP, which was located bang in Chinatown and next door to inexpensive shopping and eateries, and booked a family suite for myself, my parents and my 18-year old brother.
Check in process
Check-in was fairly fast, since I had booked the room for a discount rate through hotels2thailand.com. So the room was already paid for. When I showed them the printout of the booking, they sent us right up to a.a tiny suite! It was just 2 rooms opposite to each other and one cramped bathroom.when I called the reception, they immediately arranged for us to be shifted to a palatial suite. at no extra cost. It was so speedy and done with so much courtesy that I was really astounded and happy.
The service, throughout our stay, was like this. prompt and polite, and no one lingered for a tip(so awkward to see when people don't stand there and scratch their head!).
Rooms
The new suite in 16th floor was quite big, as big as a 2-bedroom apartment(no kitchen). The master bedroom had superb views of the city. Beds were comfortable and bathroom was sparkling clean, with tub and a glass-shower cubicle. Two TV, one in the hall and one in the master bedroom. Phone in the bathroom too, and we also had electronic safe.
Rooms were cleaned and made up everyday, it was spotless. Sure the corridors smell of smoke, but what do you expect from a smoking floor?
Food & amenities
The fact that you are in Chinatown means there is a world of restaurants right at your doorstep. The hotel too has its own revolving restaurant that had some amazing views and will be ideal if you have someone with you to impress. Yes, the food there is overpriced, but the ambience makes up for it. The complimentary morning buffet(served from 6:00 to 10:00) is delicious and had over 30 dishes, even Indian pulao! The bakery is the ground floor also serves tasty snacks and pastries which are quite affordable(Rs. 50 for a Black-forest cake or a big seafood bun)
Other amenties like swimming pool, gym etc were there, but we didn't have time to check them out. There are, however, three minor problems I had. The pool was open only after 9am. it was difficult to have a dip when we had a busy touring schedule ahead of us. Like most other hotels in Bangkok, we had problems with English-speaking staff. we had to speak real slow to make them understand what we were asking. and the internet cost 200 baht an hour! Really steep!
Bottom Line
Apart from a few minus points, GCP is a gem of a place to stay in Chinatown. The staffs in the reception were always smiling, and the concierge and the porters were very willing to help us, and guide us. I'd definitely return!
