Centre Point Hotel Chidlom

Centre Point Hotel Chidlom is a chic, upscale apartment hotel occupying a 26-story tower that was renovated in 2013. The lobby is sleek and elegant, with elegant polished marble floors and accent walls, light-box style columns, recessed lighting, and soft chairs and sofas in hues of gray and muted taupe. A large restaurant with a similar decor scheme (think gray seats and lots of cream-hued marble) sits off to one side, with big windows that look out on some planted ficus trees that flank the side of the building. The hotel gets a lot of Chinese and Japanese tourists who stay an average of three days, including many older couples and some families. 

Centre Point is situated in Lumphini, a chic neighborhood that's home to many of many of Bangok's major embassies. The hotel itself is on a broad boulevard that's full of upscale residences and hotels, plus a few restaurants and minimarts -- but none of the seediness of nearby Sukhumvit to the east. Sprawling Lumphini Park is an eight-minute walk south of the hotel, and both the United States and United Kingdom embassies are within 10 minutes on foot. Public transit is easy to access, too. It's a seven-minute walk from the hotel to the Ratchadamri BTS station (via a back road), while the Phloen Chit BTS takes about 12 minutes to reach by foot. Bangkok's tourist attractions aren't too far and both Wat Arun and the Grand Palace take around 15 to 20 minutes to reach by car. Suvarnabhumi and Don Mueang International Airports each take around 25 minutes to reach without traffic, but are considerably more challenging to get to quickly during peak traffic times. 

The hotel offers a range of rooms and one- to three-bedroom suites ranging in size from 35 to 180 square meters (377 to 1,938 square feet). There isn't much variety in terms of decor or amenities. All units have chic, minimal interiors, with light-wood floors and a mix of white and charcoal-hued furniture paired with off-white walls and decorated with simple black-and-white art prints. Pops of color are limited to red or burgundy-hued throw cushions on gray sofas and the occasional vase full of purple flowers, though light-wood wall paneling in living areas and kitchen brighten spaces up a bit. All rooms have dining areas, along with kitchens or kitchenettes with stoves, microwaves, toasters, and coffee- and tea-making facilities. Free bottled water is provided and replenished daily. Deluxe Premium units and higher also have washing machines. Other standard amenities include safes that are big enough for laptops, flat-screen TVs with satellite cable (in bedrooms and, where applicable, in living rooms), small sound systems, and DVD players -- loaner DVDs are available from the front desk. Bathrooms are sleek  and bright, with big bottles of toiletries, hairdryers, and electronic Japanese toilets. All but the two-and three-bedroom suites have shower/tub combos. Bathrobes are available on request.

The hotel offers great amenities for tourists and business travelers alike. Most of the facilities are on the sixth floor, and include a small, but lovely, semi-open saltwater pool with fountain features and a sauna, plus a few lounge chairs. There's also a small putting green (in what used to be the hotel's squash court) along with a large 24-hour gym with all sorts of cardio and weight-training equipment. On the same floor is the hotel's library, with lots of books in English, plus three meeting rooms, the largest of which can accommodate up to 60 people theater-style. Other features include free hotel-wide Wi-Fi and free parking, and there's a free tuk-tuk service up to the main road. While most rooms have washing machines, there are some coin-operated facilities on the fourth floor for those who need them. All three meals are served at the hotel's on-site Blue Spice & Herbs restaurant, which offers Thai and international dishes  along with an extensive buffet breakfast (only included in some rates). Room service is available. Coffee, tea, and a changing selection of Thai herbal iced teas are provided in the lobby throughout the day. Guests get free credits to use in snack vending machines, depending on the length of stay.