Salil Hotel Sukhumvit Soi 11

This 13-story property, part of a local chain with hotels around Bangkok, is sophisticated and welcoming both inside and out. The reception area is marked by glossy, off-white floors and a lavender check-in desk, with a huge floral mural on one wall and a crystal chandelier hanging overhead. There are a few cushioned benches lining the opposite wall, and several faux windows, but not much in the way of a lobby or lounge area. The restaurant, serving buffet breakfast and then functioning as a coffee shop and casual cafe for lunch and dinner, is popular among both guests and non-guests due to its hip indoor-outdoor ambience, rustic and artistic bar, and occasional live DJ. There's something of a feminine vibe throughout the hotel, from the pastel shades and floral motif in the lobby, to the pretty French doors and wrought iron awnings at the entranceway, to the pink electric fan and whimsical colored balls hanging above the bar. Even the facade has touches of pastel paint.The overall effect is warm, inviting, and entirely void of any chain-hotel stiffness, which travelers of all stripes will appreciate. 

Surrounded by restaurants, bars, and nightclubs, the Salil Soi 11 has easy access to anywhere in Bangkok, thanks to the Nana BTS Sky Train Station a five-minute walk away. Queen Sirikit National Convention Center is about 15 minutes away via public transportation, whereas popular attractions such as the Wat Pho, National Museum, and Grand Palace are about 40 minutes away via public transit. The trip to Suvarnabhumi Airport is around 60 to 80 minutes by train or bus, but about 30 to 40 minutes by car.

Superior, Premier, and Deluxe rooms are available, each with a different name, such as Dragonfly, Benjamas, or Lotus. The colors are decidedly pastel, with floral motifs and hardwood floors throughout, along with charming touches such as opaque bathroom windows and patterned wallpaper. Comfortable beds are typically nestled into painted arches in the walls behind them, or flanked by antique-style hanging lanterns. All rooms have free Wi-Fi, flat-screen TVs with DVD players, air-conditioning, minibars, tea and coffee facilities, two free water bottles daily, safes, robes and slippers, and hairdryers. Deluxe rooms include microwaves and separate bathtubs and showers. A few bathrooms could use updated tiling, but most are new and pretty, with shower/tub combos, inlaid walls, and brightly colored tiles. Rooms on higher floors have great views of the city.

The Salil offers free Wi-Fi in rooms and throughout the hotel, as well as free DVD and books to borrow. A welcome drink is served upon arrival. The hotel has a golf cart shuttle to take guests the short distance down the road to the BTS station. The restaurant serves an ample breakfast buffet – included in many room packages – and is a popular coffee shop, cafe, and bar, with Thai fare for lunch and dinner. The bar occasionally hosts a live DJ and is open late.