Swissotel Nai Lert Park

Once a premier Bangkok VIP destination, this hotel now draws a wide swath of travelers, from couples and business guests to families. The low-slung, tiered building sits amid palm trees in what feels like a slice of tropical jungle in the middle of the city, with curving pathways cutting through trees, waterfalls, and ponds. Public areas throughout the hotel are stunning, and the lobby is a minimalist, grand statement, with atrium-style ceilings, sleek teakwood furniture, shimmering string panels, and towering sculptural elements. Gold velvet furniture and brown silk couches give a vintage-modern aspect to the space, while the hotel’s second atrium is decorated in the style of an Asian rock garden. There are many dining and drinking options on-site, ranging from the funky, eclectic Noble House to casual Gourmandises Cafe, a laid-back coffee and pastry shop.

Just south of Bangkok’s Khlong Saen Saeb canal, the hotel sits on a reasonably sedate road in one of Bangkok’s most upscale neighborhoods, Chidlom/Ploenchit. A five-minute walk leads to Ploenchit Road, home to the designer-packed Central Embassy Shopping Mall and plenty of restaurants, bars, and cafes. The Ploen Chit Skytrain station is a seven-minute walk from the hotel and gives quick access to Chatuchak Weekend Market (30 minutes) and the trendy Sathorn area (25 minutes by connecting to the metro). Sukhumvit Road, one of Bangkok’s main drags, is a 15-minute walk from the hotel and is lined with international restaurants, coffee shops, street food, malls, and a vibrant night market that can be seedy around Soi Nana. Don Mueang and Suvarnabhumi International Airports are both a 40-minute taxi ride from the hotel depending on traffic, though Suvarnabhumi can be reached by taking the skytrain to the Airport Rail Link in about one hour.

The hotel offers several room categories, ranging from simple Classic Rooms to the Valentino-designed Presidential Suite. All rooms are spacious, with Classic Rooms starting at 388 square feet, and most categories are simple, if slightly bland and dark, with contemporary dark wood veneer furniture. Classic Rooms have wood laminate floors and purple-brown walls with tan padded headboards over comfortable beds topped with white linens. Translucent black statement lampshades give these rooms a dash of sophistication, while green throw pillows on faux-alligator patterned chairs brighten up the space. The large tropical flower photos arranged near the room’s entrance look a little out of place, and some Swiss Advantage Rooms that we saw had tired tan carpets, with maroon mica wall panels that seemed outdated and furniture with some wear-and-tear. All rooms include electronic safes, flat-screen TVs, minibars, telephones, work desks, and individually controlled air-conditioning. Classic Room bathrooms have chunky, gray, ’90s tiling with contemporary fixtures, bathtub/shower combos, and Swissotel’s own brand of Purovel toiletries. Bathrooms in higher category rooms, like Swiss Advantage Rooms and Alcove Suites, have more personality, with curvilinear walls and vanities as well as separate walk-in showers and bathtubs, though we did see dirty grout in some showers. Suites also have additional in-room amenities like Lavazza coffee makers, free newspapers, and fruit baskets, and the Presidential and Royal Suites embody luxury in its truest sense. Additionally, many rooms have unfurnished terraces that overlook the hotel’s garden, though of course these rooms come at a higher price point.

This hotel’s outdoor pool is a beauty, bringing some of Thailand’s tropical jungles right into the heart of Bangkok. A wide terrace curves and swoops around the crystal clear water, while broken stone pathways wind through ponds, drooping palm trees, and tropical plants. It’s almost possible to forget that there’s a city out there, except that some of the towering high rises in the neighborhood loom over the property’s tree-lined edge. There are tables and chairs tucked into planted nooks throughout the area, as well as a terrace bar and cafe that’s lit with paper lanterns hanging from the trees at night.

A spacious fitness center looks out onto the hotel’s gardens and has several cardio options, plate-loaded equipment, and cable machines, as well as an outdoor tennis court. The fitness center, which includes towel service and a racquetball court, is connected to the Amrita Spa, offering a full range of traditional Thai massage and wellness treatments. Guests should keep in mind that the hotel does allow access to its gym, pool, and spa to visitors who are not staying at the hotel as well.

Access to the Executive Lounge is reserved for guests staying in suites, and the comfortable, if slightly stodgy, lounge includes free breakfast, snacks, evening cocktails, as well as coffee and tea throughout the day. ISO Restaurant serves the hotel’s excellent breakfast buffet, which is only included with some bookings, and offers buffet-style international meals with Swiss specialties for lunch and dinner as well. Traditional Cantonese dishes are available in Noble House for lunch and dinner, and Genji Restaurant serves excellent Japanese sushi, sashimi, and traditional dishes in a chic, simple space. Gourmandises Cafe serves coffee and pastries all day and poolside drink service is also available.

The hotel has 10 meeting and event spaces ranging from conference rooms to ballrooms, the largest of which can hold up to 800 people. Wi-Fi is free with most rooms, but not all, and some Classic Rooms can be subject to fees for Internet access. There is a 24-hour front desk as well as a dedicated concierge who can arrange everything from restaurant bookings to private car services and airport transfers, and of course the hotel offers standard services like laundry and dry cleaning. Some of the artwork in the lobby is for sale, benefitting various charities throughout Thailand, for guests looking to take home a big ticket memento of their trip.