Vic3 Bangkok

With its bright interiors, modern design, and bustling atmosphere, the Vic3 Bangkok brings a lot to the table despite its slightly less-than-central Bangkok location. The lobby -- a light-filled, contemporary space with sleek edges and low-slung velvet furniture -- sees guests and non-guests coming and going throughout the day, many of whom are checking their email of making their way to the cute bistro restaurant, Love Eat. The coffee corner at one end of the lobby serves up fresh espresso and cappuccinos, and it's a relaxed spot for a quick afternoon recharge or respite from the Bangkok heat. The hotel is a stylish choice for travelers who don't mind using public transit to get around or who want a more authentically Bangkokian stay when in town. The hotel mostly sees business travelers, solo tourists, and couples on vacation.

First things first: The neighborhood surrounding the Vic3 is not a tourist mecca and the popular hotel and dining areas like Sukhumvit Road or Silom are a hike from here. However, guests have access to some great street food and local flavor, plus the Sanam Pao Skytrain station is only a two-minute walk from the hotel's front door. The area is quiet at night, so it's not the best choice for those looking to experience wild Bangkok, but the trendy Ari area's bars are one stop north on the skytrain or a 10-minute walk. The Chatuchak Weekend Market, a massive must-do, is just over 15 minutes away by skytrain, and trips via skytrain to the lively Nana area in bar- and restaurant-mad Lower Sukhumvit is only 18-minutes away by skytrain. It will take 30 minutes by skytrain to reach the happening Silom area and notorious Patpong Night Market. Expect trips of 30 minutes to an hour to reach Suvarnabhumi Airport, and marginally shorter drive time to Don Mueang Airport, dependent on traffic.

There are 162 rooms at Vic3 Bangkok and all of them are compact, though not necessarily by Bangkok standards -- entry level Studio Executive Rooms start at 22 square meters (237 square feet). Bright and cheery minimalist decor gives the rooms a nice, contemporary look, and plenty of natural light streams in through large windows, though views are nothing to write home about. Expect to see light-wood veneer furniture, light tile floors, white bedding and walls, and simple abstract art providing welcome pops of color. All rooms come with modern amenities like flat-screen TVs with cable channels, safes, electric hot water kettles, free Wi-Fi, and individually controlled air-conditioning. The Wi-Fi doesn't work that well in many rooms. Bathrooms are sleek and modern, with black faux-slate tiling, walk-in showers, and large vanities with vessel sinks and contemporary fixtures. We did spot mineral build-up in the shower and moldy caulking around the sinks in some rooms. 

Vic3 Bangkok is a small hotel, but it does have a decent selection of features for its guests. There is a small outdoor swimming pool which is long enough for swimming laps -- it stays open late and is nicely lit up at night. An elongated deck is adjacent to the pool and is set up with sun loungers and umbrellas. The hotel also has a bright fitness center with a small-but-sufficient selection of modern equipment.For dining, Vic3 is home to Love Eat Bistro, a cute and charming restaurant with two areas filled with bespoke-looking knick-knacks and quaint furniture in pleasing turquoise hues. The hotel serves a breakfast buffet here every day. It includes Thai and western options, but it is not free and can be pricey.  There's a cozy interior section with red chairs plus a terrace and bar. The menu here is primarily Thai, and the whole enterprise is charming enough that it draws a fairly large walk-in crowd. There's a small coffee corner in the lobby that's open throughout the day. Wi-Fi is free throughout the hotel, though it's not the best. The hotel also has space for meetings and events.