Citichic Hotel Sukhumvit by Compass Hospitality

The Citichic by iCheck Inn is a modern and bright hotel that lives up to its name, with colorful interiors and plenty of bright and fresh accents throughout. The lobby and the hotel's colorful cafe share the ground floor, and there is plenty of light here plus views of the busy street outside. The lobby and cafe areas feature black tiled floors with lots of maroon, red, and orange hues, plus wood paneling, designer lighting, and a plush couch to sit on while waiting for check-in. The reception area itself is quite small, with the focus here on getting guests to their spiffy rooms, though guests can always relax and check their social media feeds in the cafe's seating area, even when it's not open for business. The stylish touches continue in the hallways and stairwells, where there are multi-colored lantern lights matched with warm orange carpeting. The hotel is a popular spot for couples looking for a good value mid-range hotel with a handful of features like a pool and fitness center, amenities that aren't a given at many three-pearl Bangkok hotels.

The hotel is located a 10-minute walk from one of Bangkok's main arteries, Sukhumvit Road. The sois and alleys off of Sukhumvit Road are filled with hotels, restaurants, and nightlife. It’s a good spot for tourists or business travelers visiting the city, as the Nana Skytrain station is only 10 minutes from the hotel on foot. The hotel does provide a free tuk-tuk service every half-hour during the day for those who don’t want to walk to Sukhumvit Road. Some of the biggest malls in the city, including CentralWorld and Terminal 21 are within 15 minutes of the hotel by using the skytrain. The spectacular Chatuchak Weekend Market is about 40 minutes away by skytrain.The immediate area includes a relatively busy three-way corner that can get backed up throughout the day with cars and motorcycles trying to turn on the narrow streets. There aren’t many eating or shopping options right next to the hotel -- simply head to Sukhumvit Road for a dizzying array of cuisines of all types (there's some great Indian and South Asian food in this area as well). This area can be a bit seedy at night due to its proximity to the Nana nightlife area, but it is still safe, and visitors shouldn’t be put off from walking around at night. Trips to the airports vary. At the right time of day it may only take 25 to 30 minutes to reach Suvarnabhumi or Don Mueang, though travelers should budget at least an hour because traffic can be horrible.

Citichic by iCheck Inn has just 37 rooms, 35 of which are Deluxe Rooms, with the remaining two being Deluxe Terrace Rooms, which are the same as Deluxe Rooms but with a small, furnished outdoor patio on the ground floor. Rooms are hip and stylish, but like many small central Bangkok hotels there aren't any views of which to speak. Expect to see wood floors and contemporary Thai decor, along with sharp furnishings such as designer lamps and desks, a settee, and graphic-art-inspired prints mounted on the walls. Colors blend warm wood tones with off-white and soft purple hues, and accent panels and padded headboards give rooms a softer appearance. All rooms have 40-inch flat-screen TVs with satellite channels, DVD players, stocked minibars, safe boxes, and come with free Wi-Fi and breakfast (although it is possible to pay for rooms only without breakfast). Bathrooms here are also stylish, with an open floor plan and separate walk-in toilets and rain showers, as well as large bathtubs. For comfort, space, and design, rooms here are good value compared to some of the surrounding competition. We did spot a bit of wear on some furniture.

Citichic by iCheck Inn has more facilities than many of its nearby competitors in the same price range. The hotel has a small swimming pool up on the roof with a few lounge chairs, and next to it is a compact fitness center with weight and cardio machines. It's a pleasantly bright and modern space with plenty of windows and a decent set of free weights as well. Down in the lobby, the Chic Cafe restaurant serves a breakfast buffet that's only included with certain bookings, plus Thai and western lunch specials. Free coffee and tea are available around the clock in the lobby and there are also a couple of free computers for guests to use in a small alcove in the lobby. Wi-Fi is free throughout the hotel. The hotel provides a free tuk-tuk shuttle service every half-hour to Sukhumvit Road, saving guests a hot 10-minute hot walk.