The Okura Prestige Bangkok

The Okura Prestige Bangkok is suave and sophisticated, with its stylish glass facade towering above the Ploenchit area in the heart of the city. Immense glass doors usher visitors in from downstairs, though the lobby is also reached by the hotel's own personal skytrain entrance from Ploen Chit station. The lobby is immense, and contains not only the check-in facilities, but also the Up and Above breakfast and buffet restaurant and bar. There are sleek marble floors here, and the entire area has austere brown and gold tones. The reception desk is lit up with glowing lights and there are elegant seats and couches placed throughout. Plush black chairs with small tables are also set up to enjoy the views of Bangkok, as the whole lobby has massive windows opening out to panoramas of the city beyond. There is even a raked, sand Japanese-style garden with vases of flowers, along with a grand piano. Every detail here speaks to this being one of Bangkok's finest hotels, and it caters to a large Japanese clientele as well as business travelers, couples, and families from around the world. 

The Okura Prestige Bangkok is located in the heart of downtown Bangkok on Ploenchit Road, close to the Central Embassy shopping mall and countless numbers of restaurants and shops. The hotel is particularly convenient for getting around Bangkok, as it has a direct entrance from the Ploen Chit Skytrain station, making it possible for guests to access restaurants, bars, and sights across the city with ease (the Silom area takes 20 minutes to reach by skytrain while Chatuchak Weekend Market takes 30 minutes to reach). It's best to stick to the skytrain here, as the traffic in this neighborhood is horrific, especially at rush hour, making it a real hassle for those who opt for taking taxis. The hotel's triple glazed windows ensure there is no street noise. The U.S. Embassy is a 10-minute walk from here, and the airport is a 60 to 90-minute drive depending on traffic, though it can be reached by connecting to the airport rail link from the skytrain in 40 minutes. Don Mueang Airport takes up to 45 minutes to reach by taxi, depending on traffic.

There are 240 rooms at the Okura Prestige Bangkok, and they all offer outstanding panoramic city views, with large triple glazed windows in each room blocking out noise and heat. Spacious rooms start at 43 square meters, or 463 square feet, and feature contemporary dark wood veneer furniture. Rooms have stylish carpeting with floral patterns, beds with Egyptian cotton linens and bedside control panels, work desks with multi-media panels, and all rooms have free Wi-Fi, 42-inch flat-screen TVs, media hubs, Internet TV, safes, minibars, air-conditioning and electric kettles. The hotel is aimed at the Japanese business market, so rooms feature plenty of Japanese touches, such as modern electric toilets with bidets in the marble bathrooms, along with bathtubs plus separate walk-in showers and quality toiletries. There are also plenty of rooms offering an even higher level of luxury, including the Presidential Suite, which has striking marble accents, gold-tinged artwork, sleek low-slung furniture, and many different rooms. About the only downside to the rooms here is the lack of any balcony or terrace in any of the room categories.

The Okura Prestige Bangkok has several excellent facilities, including a 25-meter cantilevered swimming pool surrounded by lounge chairs up on the roof. It's perfect for swimming laps and has great city views. There is also a state of the art fitness center as well as one of Bangkok's top spas, the Okura Spa, which offers an array of signature treatments and massages. There are several fine dining options on site. Yamazato serves high end Japanese food, such as fresh sashimi flown in from the Tokyo fish market, _kaiseki ryori _(Japanese haute cuisine), and teppanyaki barbecue. They have private tatami dining rooms as well as regular seating. Elements is another stylish restaurant that has an open kitchen and deck, and serves international cuisine alongside fantastic views. Up and Above is the hotel's breakfast buffet and all day dining spot. It's noted for its outstanding Sunday brunch buffet, as well as high tea in the afternoon, and has a small outdoor area high above Bangkok. There is also a bar here that's popular for sunset views and cocktails. There are several large meeting rooms and conference facilities at The Okura Prestige, and the hotel is constantly hosting major events, making it very popular for business travelers and corporate groups. Wi-Fi is free throughout. The hotel has shops in its public areas, including a flower stand. There are several benefits for Club Level benefits for guests staying in those rooms, including complimentary limited laundry services, free evening cocktails, personalized concierge services, and refreshments throughout the day. Car services can be arranged, as can airport transfers, though like the daily breakfast, these are subject to fees.