Review: Park Hyatt Hotel Bangkok (Thailand)

Wednesday newsletters always feature a luxury hotel and/or flight review.

I recently enjoyed a FABULOUS holiday in Thailand, including a stay at my favorite hotel in the world, Soneva Kiri. You can read my trip reports here:

Review: Lufthansa First Class Terminal at Frankfurt Airport
Review: Lufthansa Airbus A380 First Class from Frankfurt to Bangkok
Review: Soneva Kiri, my favorite hotel in the world
Review: Four Seasons Resort Chiang Mai
Review: The Naka Island, a Luxury Collection resort & spa, Phuket
Review: Park Hyatt Hotel Bangkok (today)
Review: Banyan Tree Hotel Bangkok
Review: Thai Airways Boeing B747 First Class from Bangkok to Munich

Today (July 18, 2018): Review of Park Hyatt Bangkok (Thailand).

Location: Google maps
Hotel website: Park Hyatt Bangkok

Embracing its enviable location in one of the world’s most popular tourist destinations, Park Hyatt Bangkok offers a refined and uniquely Thai experience, reflecting the country’s rich culture and legendary gracious hospitality. A devoted team of hosts dedicates themselves to providing Park Hyatt’s world-class discreet and sincere service. Iconic architecture, sophisticated interiors, spacious guestrooms, and exceptional drinking and dining venues all provide a level of service and hospitality that will wow even the most discerning travelers.

Park Hyatt Bangkok features in my lists of the 10 best hotels in Bangkok, the best new hotels of 2017, and my favorite Hyatt hotels in the world.

In this review (more info below my Youtube clip & slideshow):

Pros & things I like
Cons & things to know
My verdict
Tips for future guests & save money
Best time to visit
How to get there
Photos

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*** Get the most out of your (luxury) trip to Thailand with my online Thailand travel guide ***

PROS & THINGS I LIKE

The Park Hyatt Bangkok hotel is centrally located in the heart of the Thai capital’s central business district. Set on the site of the former British Embassy, the hotel calls Phleon Chit its home, a neighbourhood known for its premium residences, embassies and high-end retail, including Central Chidlom, one of the best performing department stores in Thailand for over 30 years. The hotel has direct access to a station of the BTS (Bangkok Transit System) sky train and also offers easy access to local expressways and both of Bangkok’s airports.

The hotel is housed within a new, modern mixed-use building, Central Embassy. This 37-floor complex has become one of Bangkok’s most iconic modern landmark since its opening, both because of its futuristic architecture (more on that below) and its ultra-luxury lifestyle mall (which can be accessed directly from the hotel). The mall – the most exclusive one in the Thai capital – boasts an impressive collection of high-end designer stores, fine-dining restaurants, and swanky cinema screens, projecting Bangkok’s status even further as one of the world’s leading shopping destinations.

As mentioned above, the Central Embassy features a breathtakingly spectacular architecture. The Park Hyatt hotel and adjacent luxury shopping mall are bound together by a continual looped form merging plinth and tower. The twisted coil forms a three-dimensional figure of eight, a lucky number in Chinese culture, that seems to reach for the sky like a giant, uncoiling snake. Drawing on motifs and patterns found in traditional Thai architecture, the eye-catching façade is clad in extruded aluminium tiles, creating a shimmering moiré-like pattern.

The hotel’s interiors are as impressive as its exterior, and create the feel of a sophisticated private residence and sanctuary reflecting Thailand’s rich culture. The interior design was eloquently executed by New York-based Yabu Pushelberg, who also designed the brand’s flagship Park Hyatt New York hotel (which I reviewed here). This is the award-winning design duo’s first hotel in Bangkok, and they have created a calm, stylish and softly colored environment unfolding through a series of unique and intimate spaces that are characterized by a clean and understated look.

If there is one thing abundantly clear when stepping inside the property, it’s that the hotel’s impressive art is not for decoration. The private art collection of Central Group CEO Tos Chirathivat rivals Asia’s best contemporary galleries, with carefully selected works by Thai and international artists strategically placed throughout the public areas. Two of the hotel’s most dramatic installations were created by renowned Japanese artist Hirotoshi Sawada: ‘Pagoda Mirage’ incorporates hundreds of small, conical copper swirls, suspended en masse to evoke the reflection of a pagoda on water, while ‘Naga’ – a series of batons suspended from the ceiling – resembles a mythical water dragon traveling between the pool and internal waterfall.

The hotel has two very elegant and ultra-chic lobbies. Guests are welcomed on the ground-floor lobby by a cascading copper installation, also created by Hirotoshi Sawada, from where they are escorted by the staff to the hotel’s main lobby on the 10th floor. The main lobby area features a circular reception and concierge area, which gives way to a foyer where a beautiful white statue overlooks the city’s lovely skyline through the floor-to-ceiling windows. The statue is a modern interpretation of the iconic seated Bhudda image by artist Nonthivathn Chandhanaphalin, Thailand’s best-known modern sculptor. The lobby also features a minimalist lounge, small library and a bar with outdoor terrace.

Park Hyatt Bangkok features 222 rooms, including 49 suites. During my visit, I stayed in a 17th floor Park King room, which featured one king bed, a chaise longue, a desk and chair, a flatscreen TV, and floor-to-ceiling windows showcasing views of the park and city skyline. Decorated in a soft neutral palette of creams and taupe, the room felt surprisingly homely with white oak timber floors, sycamore veneer panelling, and a few sharp black accents. The ensuite bathroom featured a stand-alone soaking bathtub, a separate rain shower, an enclosed toilet, two sinks with an illuminated make-up mirror, and bathroom amenities by New York brand Le Labo.

Check-in is done inside the room, so there’s never a waiting in line upon arrival at the hotel. However, I am not sure whether this perk is offered to every guest, as it may be part of the airport limousine transfer package, which I had booked in advance via the hotel.

On the 9th floor, the hotel’s magnificent and largest outdoor deck features a 40 m (130 ft) saltwater pool with an infinity edge lap-swimming section of 25 m (82 ft). The pool enjoys unobstructed views of the gardens of the former British Embassy and the surrounding skyscrapers. One row of sun-loungers decked out in chic white cushions lines the pool, while landscaped and terraced gardens with several more sun-loungers and a few cabanas flank the pool’s western end.

Set on the 11th floor of the hotel, the wonderful Panpuri Organic Spa offers distinctive treatments in 8 treatment rooms, including 2 double suites, tastefully adorned in subtle sophistication. The spa features state-of-the-art facilities including a relaxation lounge, female and male lockers, crystal-steam rooms, laconium dry-heat rooms and whirlpools as well as “experience showers“ which combine relaxing acoustics and rejuvenating aromas.

New York-based AvroKO designed the three uppermost floors of the hotel’s, which houses a sublime entertainment complex – called the Penthouse Bar + Grill – consisting of six bars, dining venues and lounges. The main restaurant features an open kitchen so you can watch the chefs sweat it out over the barbecue while preparing steaks flame-grilled to perfection. The other venues include the Chef’s Table, a whisky bar, a lively cocktail lounge, a mezzanine and an incredibly cozy rooftop terrace with breathtaking views across the city.

A majestic stairway – which seems to be a very popular background for Instagram perfect picture – leads from the lobby to the 9th floor Embassy Room, the Park Hyatt Bangkok’s international restaurant that offers a ‘home-styled’ dining experience where you can enjoy a variety of dishes generously prepared along with interactive offerings from The Pantry. The Embassy Room is also the scene of a superb breakfast service, offered daily from 6 am to 11 am. A lovely displayed buffet of fresh fruits, a juice station, cheeses and cold cuts, freshly-baked breads and pastries is complemented with à la carte options such as eggs Benedict and buttermilk pancakes with chocolate, cream and berries.

CONS & THINGS TO KNOW

The new Park Hyatt Bangkok is a fabulous addition to the Thai’s capital luxury hotel scene. The property features stunning contemporary architecture matched by luxurious room interiors, expertly curated art, world-class food and wine, and refined service. I couldn’t fault my stay at the Park Hyatt Bangkok, but you need to know the following:

Due to the unusual architecture and curving shape of the building, the hotel has many different room configurations as the skyscraper tapers on the higher floors. This results in some variations in room layouts floor by floor, so the room you end up in may look slightly different from the photos of the same room category on the Park Hyatt Bangkok website.

Unfortunately, you don’t really get a good sense of the spectacular exterior and design in the immediate surroundings of the buildings. To get a nice view of the property, you need to walk a few blocks. Don’t forget to do this if you are an architect junkie!

The wonderful Panpuri Organic Spa is located inside the hotel but it operates independently from the Hyatt brand. Consequently, you won’t get World of Hyatt reward points for spa experiences, nor are they eligible for World of Hyatt points.

MY VERDICT

Location: 8/10
Design: 10/10
Pool: 9/10
Rooms: 8/10
Food: 9/10
Breakfast: 9/10
Spa: 9/10
Service: 9/10
Value for money: 9/10
Overall experience: very good: 8,8/10

TIPS FOR FUTURE GUESTS & SAVE MONEY

Save money: read my tips for getting the best deal at a luxury hotel like Park Hyatt Bangkok (and/or receive many free perks).

Save money: make use of Hyatt’s best rate guarantee. If you find a better rate, the Hyatt Hotel Group will match it and give you $50 USD toward your next stay.

Save money: elite members of Hyatt’s loyalty program, World of Hyatt, are well treated, with – amongst other benefits – complimentary room upgrade (when available), early check-in or late check-out (when available), and free breakfast. Click here to read my review of the World of Hyatt program (with pros & cons).

Room tip: book or ask for a room on a higher floor to get a better view as lower floored rooms on one side are looking on the skyscraper accross the street.

Read my tips for preparing your trip in time.

BEST TIME TO VISIT

The weather in Bangkok is dominated by a tropical monsoon climate which means there are three main seasons: a cool, dry season between November and February (which is the best period to visit the city); a hot, dry season from March to June, and a rainy season from July to October. As Bangkok holds claim to being the hottest city in the world, expect daytime temperatures to be in excess of 30 degrees centigrade throughout the year (with the possible exception of late December and early January). The two periods April to May and September to October are characterised by high, almost untolerable humidity. The southwest monsoons arrive between May and October bringing unsettled, cloudy conditions and, for many, this is a welcome respite.

HOW TO GET THERE

The hotel is easily accessible for international visitors, only 300 m (1000 ft) from the expressway and 22 km (14 mi) and 27 km (17 mi) drives from Don Mueang Airport and Suvarnabhumi Airport, respectively. Allow a 35–55-minute journey in a hotel limousine, which can be booked in advance or at the airport.

Suvarnabhumi International Airport is located 25 kilometres (16 mi) east of downtown Bangkok and is a major hub in Asia. Check the Wikipedia page of Suvarnabhumi International Airport for an updated list of airlines that offer direct flights to this airport.

Don Mueang Airport is Bangkok’s regional commuter flight hub and the de facto low-cost airline hub. Check the Wikipedia page of Don Mueang Airport for an updated list of airlines that offer direct flights to this airport.