W Bangkok

Hip, chic, and urban-modern are what the W Bangkok is all about. While the hotel's exterior more closely resembles a slick office tower -- save for the giant W engraved on the front wall (which is especially striking at night) -- the real treat awaits guests inside. The front door, resembling a metal panel out of a sci-fi movie, automatically opens to reveal a giant glowing W -- the branding here is never far off, but that's part of the draw at this ever-popular Bangkok destination hotel. The lobby has a dazzling marble floor, glitzy tiger-and-dragon art along the walls, a mod spiral staircase, and an elongated hallway with comfortable designer sofas and chairs where guests can chill. The snazzy, glittering Woobar, with its purple tones, mirrors, and gleaming-white seating, is adjacent to the lobby area -- it's just one of the many to-notch dining and drinking establishments on site (some of which draw crowds from across the city). This smart, chic, trendy hotel is all about what's happening now, and its dapper clientele of young business executives and jet-setters reflects that fact. 

The W Bangkok has one of the most convenient locations in town, in the central business and embassy district of Bangkok. It sits on Sathorn Road, just around the corner from the Chong Nonsi skytrain station, which is a five-minute walk from the hotel and provides easy access to the rest of Bangkok. It’s a one-stop ride, or a 15-minute walk, to the notorious Patpong Night Market on Silom Road, and there are plenty of trendy eating and drinking destinations right by the hotel on Sathorn Road and along Convent Road (a 10-minute walk). While Sathorn Road gets a lot of traffic throughout the day, it has a bike lane -- useful for motorcycle taxis at rush hour -- but the hotel is set back from the street, so traffic noise is not a problem. The area around Chong Nonsi station, reached through a building adjacent to the hotel, is full of inexpensive local and authentic restaurants, with plenty of good Chinese restaurants. The historic sights around the Grand Palace are a bit of a hike from the hotel, but can be reached using a combination of trains and river ferries, or by taxi in 20 to 40 minutes. Allow at least an hour to get to Suvarnabhumi Airport or Don Mueang Airport, though travel times fluctuate wildly depending on traffic. 

Rather than ascribing their rooms common names like Superior and Deluxe, the W Bangkok adds a bit more personality: lower-level rooms (which are by no means basic) are called Wonderful and Spectacular, while suites are divided into Marvelous and Fantastic categories. All rooms are ultra-modern and cutting edge, with open floor plans and perks like 40-inch flat-screen TV’s, iPod docks, and sound-bar systems. By Bangkok standards -- or any standards, really -- rooms are spacious, with the lowest category Wonderful Rooms starting at 41 square meters of space (441 square feet). Rooms across all categories are flush with the luxe accents for which the W brand is known, and include details like fine patterned carpeting, alligator leather end tables, cowhide ottomans, chic bedspreads with Thai dragons, and the rooms' signature golden Thai boxing glove pillows on every bed. There are glass-top desks with ergonomic work chairs, designer lighting, and tablets for controlling all the room's panels, lights, and switches. Large, flat briefcase safes are hidden in a drawer, and large minibars sit behind mirror-like doors. Bathrooms come with high-end toiletries and include rainfall showers. All but Wonderful Rooms have freestanding tubs set in the middle of the room (separated only by a curtain), and guests should be prepared as the sink area in may rooms is only obscured from the main body of the room by translucent purple glass. Suites come with 46-inch LCD TVs, and the larger Marvelous Suites have extra living rooms and TVs above the tubs. Rooms have giant windows that offer outstanding panoramas of the Bangkok cityscape, but none have balconies. 

Wet, a 200 square meter (2,153 square foot) outdoor swimming pool, comes complete with colored LED lights and underwater music, cabanas, and stunning views of Bangkok. It's an eye-catching feature that's surrounded by a large, futuristic sculptural detail that adds to the overall apart-from-it-all effect that's cultivated by the hotel. Adjacent to the pool is the modern gym with treadmills, ellipticals, stationary bikes, free weights, yoga mats, medicine balls, and free headphones. The Away spa has a Turkish hammam plus four relaxation zones (they're labeled Decompress, Delight, Detox, and Refuel).The W Bangkok has several dining and drinking options on site, many of which are destinations for the city's younger denizens. The Kitchen Table is a gourmet East-West bistro that serves one of the best breakfast buffets in Bangkok. It also offers top-of-the line Thai and Western fare for lunch and dinner, preparing everything from wood-fire pizzas to imported steaks to traditional specialties. Next to the Kitchen Table is the Kitchen Pantry, which is a snazzy bakery, deli, and cafe in an ambient-lit industrial space with an outdoor area called the W Terrace. The House on Sathorn is the hotel's newest restaurant, housed in a restored, century-old colonial-style mansion that was once the Russian Embassy -- it's now an elegant bistro, bar, and club lounge serving innovative cuisine, with an outdoor courtyard under where guests can drink or eat. The Woobar, a colorful and trendy lounge with in-house DJ’s spinning tunes, is off the lobby.Guests should expect fees for amenities such as spa services and breakfast (though the gym is free). The hotel has a proper business center, with printing, laptop rentals, and all manner of business services available. There are also multiple meeting and event spaces on site. The lobby-level shop sells W-branded goods as well as items crafted by local designers. Car services and airport transfers can be arranged and the hotel has a dedicated concierge.