Long river boats noisily rip across the waters of Thailand’s Chao Phraya River, easily overtaking the much slower barges chugging along one of the city’s main waterways. Dusk was fast gaining upon the busy city as we sip cold Chang beers from glasses filled with ice—watching as the day transformed into early evening—a hot and sultry evening.

We were at The Chatrium, several storeys above the sparkling metropolis, and it was our first time in Bangkok.

► CHECK OUT: CHAO PHRAYA RIVER TOUR

OUR FLIGHT FROM KATHMANDU, NEPAL

We arrived at Bangkok’s Don Mueang airport, all groggy and spent after a flight from Kathmandu with an interconnecting ride from Kuala Lumpur. We just came from Nepal—a very diverse and beautiful country; dusty and chaotically crazy. After two weeks around its key cities, we were definitely ready for some rest.

Our body was craving for luxury, a splurge, a staycation of sorts. And our chosen abode for some R&R before hitting the road again, Chatrium Hotel in Bangkok City.

CHATRIUM’S FREE RIVER BOAT SERVICE

It took a few wrong turns and much tinkering with maps before we finally found the correct train and river dock that would take us to The Chatrium Riverside Hotel. From the river station in Saphan Taksin, we waited as the long wooden boat from the hotel fetched us, free of charge, and putted away to the riverside restaurant of Chatrium. We went in with style.

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SNAZZY HOTEL LOBBY

THE RIVER BARGE RESTAURANT WHERE THEY SERVE COMPLIMENTARY BREAKFAST

The blast of the hotel lobby’s cool air conditioning was a welcome relief from the unrelenting Bangkok heat. It was my first time in the city and I wasn’t expecting it to be oven hot! The one-minute walk from the hotel’s River Barge Restaurant, where the dock was, to the hotel lobby had my shirt drenched with icky sweat. Thank goodness for air conditioning.

LOVIN’ THE CURVES AND COLORS OF THEIR LOBBY’S LOUNGE AREA

Even with our huge dirty backpacks and dusty trek pants, Chatrium’s friendly hotel staff immediately attended to us like we were in coat and ties and flowing dresses. And after a quick and painless check-in, we were scooted to our suite on one of the higher floors of the hotel.

THE GRAND SUITE RIVER VIEW, WOW

Our jaws dropped at the same time as our backpacks did. Our room was huge! Like really, really huge!

Chatrium’s Grand Suite River View has two bedrooms, a spacious living area with a big-ass flat screen TV, a working kitchen, a dining area, and three verandas overlooking Bangkok City. Oh man, this is definitely what I had in mind after roughing it out in Nepal.

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MASTER’S BEDROOM, WITH IT’S OWN VERANDA

CLEAN AND MODERN TOILET AND BATH

Since two rooms were too much for us, our friends from the Philippines were still en route to Bangkok, we settled in at the master’s bedroom (with en suite toilet and bath and a private veranda, yeah) where a plush king-sized bed awaited our tired bodies. We took off our shoes and savored the feel of soft carpet upon our bare soles as we checked out the floor to ceiling window that opens to the bustling metropolis below.

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THE SUITE’S DINING AND KITCHEN AREA

Our last decent meal was hours and hours past, a couple of burgers from Kathmandu that we sneaked in inside the plane; we were definitely starving. There were numerous hawkers right outside the hotel which was perfect since we really wanted to try out the local street fares in Bangkok.

We bought a couple of dishes based on looks and hurriedly went back to the hotel for fear of dehydration. Utilizing our suite’s kitchen, we reheated the unknown and untitled food we brought and put some beers on the freezer. We were so ready for a very late lunch.

GOING OUT FOR AN AFTERNOON SWIM

Feeling full and woozy, our body already protesting from too much traveling, we finally relented and snoozed the afternoon away. It was almost sunset when I woke up, disoriented as I processed for a few seconds where I was. I went out of the veranda and saw the day was almost done. I reckoned a swim at Chatrium’s infinity pool would be nice way to catch the sunset.

BANGKOK’S CHAO PHRAYA RIVER

And so we went, in swimsuits and board shorts, lugging our cameras along with us.

The hotel’s infinity pool looks out over Bangkok’s Chao Phraya River, and on the far distance, a sparse skyline of skyscrapers stood tall against the clear sky. We lazed, swimming and looking out into the river as boats rev and plow across its choppy waters.

FIERY BANGKOK SUNSET

We were back in our suite when the sky finally exploded with colors. The sky burned with embers and the whole metropolis was bathed in warm golden light. Our balcony was the perfect place to capture everything and we snapped away until our fingers bled.

CHILLING OUT AT OUR SUITE’S VERANDA

Soon, the blood red glow of the heavens cooled down to magentas and it eventually made way for the electric hues of the blue hour. With our Chang bottles empty, we resorted to coffee, which thankfully the hotel has an unlimited supply of.

We were like children, mesmerized by the city as dusk transformed to evening and the modern landscape below started to light up like Christmas trees.

HOT AND SULTRY BANGKOK NIGHTS

The air was still as hot and muggy as when we first stood outside Thailand’s Don Mueang Airport, but we really didn’t mind now that we’re some hundred feet above Bangkok’s sprawling metropolis. This view literally took our breath away, drenched t-shirts notwithstanding.

Chatrium Hotel Riverside Bangkok ►RATES
Address: 26 Charoenkrung Soi 70, Bangkholame,
Bangkok, Thailand
Contact Number: (+66) 2307-8888
Email: info.chrb@chatrium.com | Facebook
GPS Coordinates Map: 13.711061, 100.509273