The Sukosol Hotel

Contemporary
Thai design defines The Sukosol, and in the open, spacious lobby and other
communal areas the hotel does an impressive job of pulling it off -- think: bright walls and high ceilings, and gorgeous colonial-style courtyards with
cream- and faded blue-painted arches, black-and-white checked floor tiling,
relaxing fountains, and outdoor pavilions with sofas decked in bright cushions. Various pieces of art and antique artifacts from the owners’
collection complement the interior decor throughout the property. From the
street, too, the hotel’s glass frontage is impressive. (Note: This design isn't sustained in the guest rooms.) This property mainly sees couples, along with significantly fewer business travelers and families. 

Despite a
location on a busy street with little to offer in the immediate vicinity, The
Sukosol is well positioned both for airport access and for getting
around Bangkok. The hotel is situated a seven-minute walk from Phaya Thai
station, on the elevated Skytrain’s Sukhumvit line and the Airport Rail Link’s
City Line. A free hourly shuttle bus runs from the hotel to Phaya Thai station; from there, Suvarnabhumi international airport is a 30-minute train ride away. Alternatively, a taxi will take around 20 to 45 minutes, traffic-depending. Bangkok’s famous shopping
centers in the Siam area are two stops away by Skytrain (a 15-minute ride), while a taxi ride to
attractions like the Grand Palace in the capital’s old town takes 20 minutes.

Rooms at
The Sukosol display a surprising range in terms of design. Larger Family Rooms and Suites with separate living rooms
are modern and elegant, while compact Deluxe Rooms look worn and dated. These less expensive rooms have bland gray carpets and
curtains, and bamboo-like backdrops that are intended as a hint toward Asian
design, but look past their prime. Numerous reviews describe the mattresses
as hard -- even by Thai hotels standards. And guests report problems
adjusting the temperature of the air-conditioning units. Another downside is the views: Some rooms only face the street. Rooms in the new, taller
building on the pool side of the hotel are generally quieter. Bathrooms,
though still small, tend to be more modern, with toiletries and attractive mosaic tiling in neutral shades; older bathrooms have weary-looking marble and shower/tub combos, while newer rooms have walk-in showers with rainfall showerheads and separate bathtubs. All rooms come with well-stocked
minibars including spirits and local beers, as well as flat-screen cable TVs, safes, coffee/tea facilities, writing desks, built-in international adaptor plug
sockets, and wired Internet to make up for the unreliable Wi-Fi. Slow elevator
service means it can be worth staying on a lower floor, though higher rooms
have impressive city views, and those from the 17th floor and above offer access to the
slightly dated, but nonetheless comfortable, Club Siam Lounge.

The hotel's large
pool is surrounded by daybeds and views of neighboring
skyscrapers, though the barebones pool bar is uninviting. The poolside
spa offers a range of treatments including massages, though its lobby feels tired, in spite of beautiful floor tiling. The
air-conditioned gym is brightly decorated and well equipped. The Sukosol's breakfast
buffet included in some room rates and the lunchtime and evening buffet, all served in the Patummat International Restaurant, get mixed reviews. Breakfast can be particularly busy, making it a challenge to order a
coffee and occasionally guests have to share tables; wood-paneled areas offer more
intimacy. The Lin-Fa Chinese Restaurant strikes a sleek and contemporary design and serves Cantonese cuisine, including a dim sum buffet
lunch, while the Sapphire Bar offers cocktails with tapas and other bar food. Two further dining
venues, The Deli Shop and Spice and Rice, offer coffee with bread and pastries, and
Thai cuisine, respectively. The somewhat dated Club Siam Lounge has high
ceilings and plenty of sunlight from large windows; dark wood floors add a
touch of luxury, and there are flat-screen TVs, and computers available for use,
as well as snacks, and fresh fruit and juices. The hotel offers 24/7 room service
and can accommodate meetings and functions of up to 1,000 people. There is free
Wi-Fi throughout the hotel, though this gets poor reviews for speed and
reliability.