Bangkok City Suite

Though the charmless concrete building and adjacent expressway aren't the nicest welcome to the Bangkok City Suite, the tiled lobby is quite spacious, and there are clusters of simple, generic furniture along the walls and arranged by the snack bar for guests to sit. Make no mistake, though, this is a value hotel through and through, with little in the way of charm or ambience. The property is well-maintained, and this no-frills hotel is popular due to its bargain prices. Lots Thai business travelers pass through, looking for a cheap Bangkok stay, as well as a mix of travelers from the Middle East, India, North America, and Europe. Aside from the lobby and fitness center there aren't many public spaces here, and most travelers leave the hotel after breakfast, returning at night just to sleep.

Bangkok City Suite is located right by Urapong Junction, a densely trafficked area next to a rail line, the freeway overpass, and an endless flow of cars. It certainly isn't the best location in town -- it's a mile or two down the road to the nearest skytrain station (a 20-minute walk), which can be a daunting prospect at rush hour (an almost 24/7 state of mind in Bangkok). Taxis and tuk-tuks are the only ways to get around, aside from the once-daily shuttle to the skytrain and MBK Mall. The fancy restaurant areas of Silom or Sukhumvit are 20 minutes away by car at the best of times, and there isn't much in the way of nightlife in the area. On the other hand, the Pratunam shopping district is less than a 10-minute drive from the hotel, and there are lots of Indian restaurants in the neighborhood. The city's two airports, Suvarnabhumi and Don Mueang can both take up to 50 minutes to reach by road, though Suvarnabhumi is also serviced by the Airport Rail Link, a 15-minute drive from the hotel.

There are only Standard Rooms here, available as Singles, Doubles, Twins, or Triples. Decor is basic, with no artistic touches or colors, just white, beige, and wood tones throughout. They are clean, and have light tile floors and taupe walls plus dark wood built-in headboards. Each room is furnished with a desk, small table, and some waiting-room style chairs tucked into a small unlit alcove, and there's a small closet for storage. Amenities include mini-fridges (stocked with two bottles of free water), electric hot water kettles for making free provided tea, air-conditioning, large safes, and flat-screen TVs. Wi-Fi is also free in rooms. Bathrooms come with shower/tub combos, large hairdryers, and basic toiletries. There aren't any balconies or real views, although there's a decent-size window in each room, mostly looking out at the expressway and construction sites. 

For a hotel of its size, Bangkok City Suite is a bit short on extra facilities. There's no swimming pool or spa, but there's a small fitness center with three cardio machines up on the second floor. The hotel's restaurant is in the lobby and it serves free buffet breakfasts with Asian and international dishes, but then shuts down for the rest of the day. There is a small snack bar adjacent to this, which has sandwiches, coffee, and other items and is open throughout the day and evening. Wi-Fi is free throughout the hotel and there are also a couple of computers for use in the lobby area (with small fees for usage and printing). Laundry and ironing facilities are available in one of the hotel's stairwells. The hotel has no other facilities except for their free van service once a day to the Ratchathewi Skytrain station or MBK Mall, and since space in the van is limited, it usually requires booking ahead. There's also a shuttle to Chatuchak Weekend Market on Saturday and Sunday.