Centara Grand at Central Plaza Ladprao Bangkok

The 24-story Centara Grand is one of Bangkok’s largest hotels. Open since 1983, it’s also one of the oldest, though decor is modern throughout the property. It’s a sprawling affair, starting in the airy and contemporary lobby, which has high ceilings, striking suspended chandelier-style downlighting, and a stylish front desk with an attractively lit back wall. The relaxing ground-floor garden is a highlight -- and a rarity in Bangkok -- with palm trees and traditional Thai pergolas, while the intimately decorated basement-level spa is similarly impressive. Each of the nine restaurants and bars feels particularly spacious and the indoor/outdoor Suan Bua Thai restaurant has especially welcome bright, modern decor. Nevertheless, the sheer size of the hotel means it can feel impersonal; given that fact and its northern Bangkok location, it's better suited to business travelers than those looking for an intimate property near lots of sights.

The Centara Grand is situated in a busy, built-up area of northern Bangkok, a 10-minute walk from the Phahon Yothin Metro station and directly connected to the Central Plaza Ladprao shopping mall (though access is through a parking lot, which is less than pleasant, and the hotel isn’t particularly well signposted from the mall). Chatuchak Weekend Market is a 10-minute drive away, and a free shuttle runs to there and to Mo Chit Skytrain station. The hotel is also close to the freeway, but it’s still a bit removed for those seeking downtown nightlife or looking to explore historical sights. Expect a 40-minute train journey to the malls in the Siam area, about 45 minutes to the bars and nightclubs around Sukhumvit Road, and up to an hour by train to the Silom area. It's also a little over an hour by metro and walking to reach Chinatown. While the airports are technically easy to reach given the hotel's highway-adjacent setting, travelers should still budget up to 45 minutes to reach either Suvarnabhumi or Don Mueang.

The hotel’s air-conditioned rooms come in 11 different categories, ranging from 377-square-foot (35-square-meter) entry-level Deluxe Rooms up to 1,830-square-foot (170-square-meter) Royal Suites that sleep up to four. Rooms have neutral-toned carpets and comfortable beds with dark wood-panel headboards plus modern lamps and built-in reading lights. Gray-tiled accent walls feature modern art, and rooms come with contemporary oval glass desks with stylish office chairs, plus chic orange armchairs. Club Deluxe Rooms -- located on the five dedicated Club Floors -- come with access to the executive lounge and have wood floors, but are otherwise the same as the Deluxe Rooms. The 484-square-foot (45-square-meter) Deluxe Suites add sofas and coffee tables but don’t have separate living areas. Standard amenities include flat-screen cable TV,  safes, well-stocked minibars, and coffee- and tea-making facilities.Elegant Deluxe and Club Deluxe bathrooms have windows to the bedroom (with blinds), contemporary white sinks protruding from white marble or glass vanities, and large walk-in showers with power showerheads. Deluxe Suites have open-style bathrooms with sliding wood-panel doors, and add lovely slipper tubs alongside separate walk-in showers with feature rainfall showerheads. Robes, slippers, hairdryers, and toiletries are provided. None of the Centara Grand’s rooms have balconies, but there are large windows with heavy curtains; rooms on higher floors have impressive views, though these are less spectacular from cheaper rooms on lower floors. Note that rooms overlooking the freeway can get noisy; some guests also report maintenance issues and unpleasant odors.

The Centara Grand is huge and has an impressive list of facilities to match. A total of nine restaurants and bars serve cuisines including Italian, Thai, Chinese, Japanese, and Vietnamese. Most are open only for lunch and dinner, but the Cappuccino Corner coffee shop is open throughout the day. The Lobby Lounge bar serves drinks until the wee hours and the Chatuchak Cafe local and international buffet operates 24/7. There’s also a 24th-floor rooftop bar with impressive views, a pleasant poolside bar, and 24-hour room service. The international buffet breakfast (for a fee) gets great reviews. Guests in pricier rooms have access to the Club Lounge on the top floor (with a pleasant outdoor deck). Some guests may find it worth the upgrade for the free continental breakfast, afternoon tea, evening cocktails, and all-day tea and coffee. The well-sized outdoor pool has plenty of lounge chairs, some in the shade. There's also a large, modern gym with an extensive range of cardio and weight options. A spa and beauty salon are also available. In addition to the Central Plaza Ladprao mall, there’s a small shopping arcade built into the property itself. Meeting facilities include 22 different event spaces, one of which is a ballroom that can accommodate up to 2,000 guests. A full range of services is available at the business center, and there’s reliable free Wi-Fi throughout the property. The hotel offers a free shuttle service to and from nearby destinations such as Chatuchak Market and the Mo Chit Skytrain station, and there’s plenty of secure on-site parking.