Asoke Residence Sukhumvit by UHG

Guests at the Asoke Residence Sukhumvit are greeted in a small but bright granite-floored lobby, where a sleek wooden front desk is accompanied by gray couches and illuminated by large windows. The feel is welcoming and pleasant, a feat achieved by a collection of DVDs and books that's available to borrow is a convenient touch, and coffee tables are topped with magazines and newspapers. White wicker furniture also provides seating right outside the lobby by the entrance. The main lobby is located in the new building, known as the CS Building, and there is also another sitting area in the RS Building, the older wing, which is just adjacent. Style throughout is a mix of modern and traditional decor, a motif that can look tired at times and carries over to some of the guest rooms. The hotel is popular with long-term as well as repeat visitors, who enjoy its large furnished rooms and kitchens, and despite being a mid-range hotel, it manages to have an upscale vibe.

The hotel is located along busy Asok Road, a 15-minute walk north of the bustling Asok-Sukhumvit intersection where one can find many restaurants, bars, and shops, including the popular Terminal 21 shopping mall. The hotel is only a five-minute walk to the Phetchaburi Metro station, which makes it easy to get around the city. The skytrain is just one stop away by metro, and it will take 15 minutes to reach the Nana area -- which has plenty of lively and/or seedy nightlife -- using the metro and skytrain, while the trendy dining and malls along Silom Road are only 15 minutes away by metro. The Asok stop on the Saen Saeb Canal ferry line is also a five-minute walk from the hotel and trips to CentralWorld mall only take 10 to 15 minutes by boat. The ferries also take guests closer to the historic areas around the Grand Palace, though a taxi is recommended from the terminus of the ferry line to the Grand Palace. Though the hotel is set back from the street, Asok Road is often filled with bumper-to-bumper traffic and it can be hard to access a taxi during rush hour. In ideal conditions, it takes around 30 minutes to reach Suvarnabhumi or Don Mueang Airports, though budget up to at least an hour because Bangkok traffic is intense, to say the least.

The hotel is designed as a long stay residence, but it also attracts plenty of overnighters seeking spacious rooms with a few more comforts than traditional hotel rooms. The standard-level Studio Deluxe units have full refrigerators and microwaves, while larger One- and Two-Bedroom Suites come with full kitchens that include cooking ranges, toasters, and dining and cooking-ware. Studios start at 38 square meters of space (409 square feet), and rooms only get bigger from there. All rooms are modern and mostly stylish, with fine hardwood floors and contemporary furniture in neutral hues including plush armchairs, along with black-and-white photos of Bangkok temples on the walls. There are some more traditional or classic looking design elements, like work desks with carved wooden legs, while certain accents such as the metal-frame side tables we saw in the Two-Bedroom Family Suite and bedding throughout all rooms just look tired. Standard features include flat-screen TVs, DVD players (with a large collection of DVD movies to borrow at the front desk), safes, and free Wi-Fi. Bathrooms are small and have walk-in rainfall showers, while Family Suites have bathtubs as well. Though the road outside can be busy, the rooms are well soundproofed and noise is not a disturbance.

The hotel has a small outdoor swimming pool with a kids' area, and though it's not big enough for swimming laps, it offers a refreshing plunge as well as several sun loungers and umbrella-shaded tables on the surrounding sundeck. Just adjacent to the pool is the hotel's restaurant and coffee shop, which serves breakfast and other meals upon request, plus room service is available. Unfortunately, breakfast is not included with room rates. The hotel has a small fitness center, which includes a decent number of machines for its size. Back in the lobby, one can find a collection of DVD movies and books to borrow, along with several computers to use. Wi-Fi is free throughout. Tour services are available and the hotel can provide airport transfers, though it will be significantly more expensive than hailing a cab.