Holiday Inn Express Bangkok Siam

The lobby is smart and fresh-looking, with clean lines and high ceilings where huge abstract blue rectangular lights hang down. There isn't much furniture in the space, so travelers don't tend to hang about. The rooftop terrace has an equally clinical ambiance -- its square rectangular benches and square plant pots are a bit bland. If guests are looking for glamour and stimulation, the streets of Bangkok provide plenty, though, and this is a good base from which to explore them.

The easiest way to get to this hotel from Survanabhumi Airport is to take the Airport Rail Link to Phaya Thai and then connect to the BTS National Stadium; this cuts out the hefty cab fares. The hotel is within walking distance of Jim Thompson House, Siam Square, and Siam Discovery Centre. Also nearby are Siam Ocean World and MBK Center. The Pratunam shopping area is about 20 to 30 minutes away by foot. If walking is not an option, then hail a cab or tuk tuk as there is no BTS station at that area. This particular area comes alive at night, with a street market that's pretty much opposite the hotel -- serving up local delicacies like mango sticky rice and pad thai. The Golden Buddha, an eye-wateringly magical statue, is about a 10-minute bus ride away and is the world's largest solid gold statue, with a colossal weight of 5.5 tons. A cultural must-see is the Grand Palace, which takes 15 minutes to reach by public bus. It's an architectural and spiritual treasure, that glistens in gold, and is ten times more dazzling if you see it on a bright, clear day. A tuk tuk can get travelers to the infamous Koh San Road in about 10 minutes, if backpacker trinket shops and cheap bars are the order of the day. A McDonald's also sits next door to the hotel.

Rooms here are spotlessly clean. The bright and modern spaces are far more sophisticated than you might expect from a Holiday Inn, although it can feel a bit sterile to some. Most rooms are quiet (even though they're near the BTS sky train) and have plush beds complete with pillows that can be hard or soft -- depending on your preference -- and large windows that flood the room with light. Amenities include climate controls, minibars, free bottled water, flat-screen TVs, and coffeemakers, as well as an in-room safes that are big enough for laptops. Some rooms have spectacular views over the stadium, and the bathrooms are large with marble accents and powerful showers. Toiletries aren't top-branded and come in hand dispenser pumps, but bath towels are plush.

The restaurant -- The Great Room -- on the top floor is huge and has the benefit of a large patio area outside that has sweeping views over Bangkok. Guests help themselves to free breakfast here using the hotel's Grab-and-Go counter, and can find snacks in the vending machines. The bar isn't open late, but Bangkok is a city that never sleeps so guests won't have to travel far to find alternatives. The gym has a good range of cardiovascular equipment including an elliptical machine and treadmill, and there's one good-sized meeting room. Excellent laundry facilities are a definite perk. Wi-Fi and parking are both free.