The Ecotel Bangkok

There isn't much of a scene here, other than the lobby seeming packed, as it is small and contends with a significant tour bus crowd. The Thong Come restaurant only serves breakfast, and is often quite crowded. White tile floors, elegant chandeliers, graceful archways, and wide windows separated by columns lend a rather regal air to the space. After breakfast, most folks are gone for the day, out touring and sightseeing. The hotel owns a cute, old-fashioned cafe outside on the corner; it serves good Thai food, but is small and seemingly more popular with locals than guests. The hotel is a value stay so draws a casually dressed crowd, with the main market being Southeast Asian countries such as Malaysia, Indonesia, and Singapore. With the spacious suites a great bargain for groups, there are a lot of families and tour groups around, as well. 

The Ecotel is located away from the more major hotel drags, hidden slightly on a back street off of busy Petchburi Road. The location is great for tour bus parking; there are tons of places to eat and drink within a few minutes' walk; and it's a pleasant area to stroll in, as it is far less touristed than other parts of Bangkok and certainly not as ritzy. The main downside to this location is that one is very far from the Skytrain -- about a 20-minute walk. This means guests must often rely on taxis and tuk tuks to get around, and as the surrounding arteries get clogged with traffic during rush hour, this can be off-putting. There's an Airport Link station about five minutes' walk away, and the trip to the airport takes about one hour and 20 minutes. 

There is a wide selection available when it comes to rooms at the Ecotel Bangkok. The entry level category room is the Superior, with choices of double and twin bed rooms, or even three single beds. Deluxe rooms have much more space, and the Junior Suites are veritable palaces, with the Junior Family Suite being a great value choice for families. All rooms come with tube-style or flat-screen TVs, mini-fridges, small tables and chairs, plus free Wi-Fi; some have inclusive breakfast. Bathrooms have white tile with brown checkerboard touches, and glass-walled stall showers. The furnishings are simple and plain, but the rooms are clean and cozy, with tile floors, white bedding accented with red-patterned fabric, and framed Thai artwork. The windows cannot be opened, and the views are of building walls or scaffolding, with Bangkok constantly under construction.

For a hotel with 155 rooms, the Ecotel really is lacking when it comes to extra features. The hotel has no swimming pool, no gym, no spa, and no bar; the only real public space is the Thong Come Restaurant near the lobby, which serves buffet breakfast only, and is only for guests. There is a rather cute old-fashioned cafe, The Cafe d'Elite, which is part of the hotel but outside on the corner -- it looks like a local coffee shop but actually serves up good Thai fare for lunch and dinner. The hotel does have a tiny mini-market next to the lobby, selling snacks, basic toiletries, and candy.