Sheraton Grande Sukhumvit, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Bangkok

The Sheraton Grande Sukhumvit is a large, luxury chain set in a busy location. The hotel attracts a mix of both tourists and locals, both on the business and pleasure end. As the hotel has a large ballroom and conference facilities, plenty of business groups come in for functions, and the large number of excellent restaurants in the hotel brings in a whole other crowd. Hanging around the restaurants, there is a pretty fashionable air to the place, but this is probably due to the dress code requirements in all these places (no shorts, singlets, or flip flops allowed). On the other hand, head out around the pleasant pool and that all changes, with plenty of relaxed guests. There's a pretty eclectic mix here, with the most happening area of the hotel probably being right in the lobby, home to both the Orchid Cafe where they serve buffet breakfasts and the stylish Living Room Bar, which has a New York City jazz bar vibe. Black and white photos of jazz stars hang on the wall, and there's live entertainment. The overall atmosphere of the property is refined but a touch generic in places. 

The Shertaon Grande Sukhumvit is located in the heart of some of Bangkok's best eating, drinking, and nightlife options. The hotel sits on Sukhumvit Road, just near the Asok Junction, where one can find the skytrain, the metro, and the Terminal 21 Mall. There is easy access to public transport here, making it easy to avoid Bangkok's famous gridlock, and there are hundreds of choices for eating and drinking just near the hotel. While Sukhumvit Road is forever crowded, noisy, and chaotic, the hotel sits just off it, with rooms at the back and good insulation, so noise isn't an issue here. However, the hotel is also between Nana Plaza and Soi Cowboy, two of the largest red light areas of town, so the seedy vibe at night may be off-putting to some. 

The rooms at the Sheraton Grande Sukhumvit have been renovated to include fresh decor, and all plush beds have 300 thread count sheets. All rooms also come with large safes, 40-inch flat-screen TVs, large walk-in closets, large work desks, stocked minibars, irons, and robes and slippers. Bathrooms have separate bathtubs and showers. The suites are even more decadent, featuring armchairs and sofas, coffee tables and sofas, and carved wood armoires. While the suites come with 24 hour personal butler service and high speed Internet access, the standard Deluxe rooms do not  -- an expensive fee is required to access the Wi-Fi. 

The Sheraton Grande Sukhumvit has a wealth of in-house dining and drinking options. Rossini's is an upscale Italian restaurant that serves classic Italian as well as hosting jazz brunches on Sunday. Basil features high end Thai cuisine with some excellent set menus for both lunch and dinner. The Orchid Cafe is where the hotel serves its breakfast buffets as well as an international a la carte menu for lunch and dinner. For drinking, the stylish Living Room bar has lots of black and white photos of jazz luminaries up on the wall, and plays host to live jazz music in the evening to go along with the signature drinks. There is also a Sala bar by the pool, and the elegant Bar Su, which is a gastro cocktail and tapas lounge that gets going after dark.

For health and wellness, the hotel features a large fitness center with plenty of cardio machines, a spa, and sauna, and also a large swimming pool. Unfortunately, the swimming pool is long and narrow, somewhat meandering through the garden, so it isn't really suitable for lap swimming but more just a spot for a dip. There is a pesky fee for Wi-Fi.