Bangkok is the gateway to Thailand. It’s usually where first time Thailand visitors fly in, and it’s where most travelers touch down to leapfrog across the country’s diverse destinations. This megalopolis of a city is host to some of the most iconic tourist spots in the country, glitzy shopping malls, sprawling outdoor weekend bazaars, and delectable food places—both right on the streets and expensive restaurants—but  besides these, Bangkok is also known for its multitude of luxury hotels dotting its skyline.

But without character, luxury is nothing but just that. What makes a stay in Bangkok really exceptional, besides lavishness, is the uniqueness an accommodation can offer—be it on its one of a kind architecture, a specific theme, or even its history. During my previous visits to Bangkok, I have stayed on more than a such hotels where uniqueness comes first, and luxury, a close second. These are the places you’d rather actually stay in all day than go out and visit the city sights; they are that enticing. Below is a list of some the most unique luxury hotels in Bangkok.

One of the reasons why people visit Bangkok, besides its graceful temples, is its numerous shopping districts. During our previous trips to the city, we’ve visited a few of these. And as always, during these shopping outbursts, we go home with fewer bahts in our pockets but with numerous shopping bags in our hands.

PERSONALIZED ITEMS AT ONE OF BANGKOK’S NIGHT MARKETS

The things being sold on these outdoor markets range from household things, to fashion accessories, shirts, elephant pants, dresses, bags, toys—legit and bootleg ones, souvenir stuff, figurines, antiques, collectible what-nots and basically everything you can think of. Me, I go here for the shirts—Bangkok has the coolest selection of printed tees that I can’t seem to find elsewhere!

“It looks like a village of sorts,” I kid C, as we walked along the corridors of Windsor Suites Hotel Bangkok on our way to our room. The hallway, punctured with cute framed curtained windows for each room, indeed looks like a campy village. We stopped on our designated room—with its own window too—scanned our keycards, opened the door, and were unbelievably surprised. The room is beautifully designed; modern, but with hints of Windsor’s history.

THE WINDSOR SUITES IN BANGKOK

We were on the last part of our Thailand tour, four more days before we fly to Vietnam, and after staycationing at Hilton Sukhumvit, doing the Kanchanaburi Death Railway Tour, and shopping around in Bangkok, it was time for another staycation, this time at Windsor Suites Sukhumvit.

The hotel is indeed one of the older of its kind in Bangkok. Having more than fifty years of service history, I bet they’ve now perfected the art of hospitality.

Tired and grimy, we slumped on the soft outdoor benches of Hilton’s executive lounge with cold bottles of Chang and plates of sushi on our table. In dusty trek pants and shoes, in total opposite to the impeccably dressed guests at the lounge, we sipped our beer like we were wearing fancy tuxedos and dresses.

We’re finally in Bangkok and we’re here only for one thing. Staycation.

CHECKING IN AT HILTON SUKHUMVIT IN BANGKOK

We departed for Bangkok early that same day, taking an hour to find a songthaew in front of Boonya Resort in Koh Chang and another thirty minutes for it to bring us to the port. The ferry crossing and the ride to the bus depot took an hour-and-a-half, and then the long bus ride to Bangkok. It was almost five in the afternoon when we arrived at Hilton Sukhumvit—just in time for their free cocktail hour!

I've been to Thailand several times but have never been to Lumphini Park. The sprawling 142-acre park right in the heart of Bangkok is a lush oasis built by King Rama VI during the 1920’s. Being the city’s first park, it is probably the equivalent of Manila's Rizal Park. It is one if Bangkok's go-to places, and yes, I've never set foot on it. Until now.

VIEW OF BANGKOK FROM MY ROOM AT CROWNE PLAZA

CROWNE PLAZA’S UPPER FLOOR LOBBY

From the province of Nakhon Pathom, from the peace and quiet of Sampram Riverside Resort, we headed to the bustling metropolis that is Bangkok. We went straight to Crowne Plaza Hotel, checked in to our posh King Bed Superior Rooms overlooking the modern skyline of the city, and surrendered our weary selves to the soft comfort of our beds.

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My mouth was saying let’s go while my mind was thinking, can I not go? I gingerly walked towards the edge of the mildly swaying platform on one of the piers of the Chao Phraya River, handed over my camera bag to the boatman inside the long-tail boat—which was wildly bobbing up and down, by the way—and begged a prayer not to let my clumsiness take over and get dunked on the churning brown waters of the river below.

Please don’t fall down. Please don’t fall down. Please. Don’t. Fall. Down.

TRADITIONAL THAI LONG-TAIL BOAT USED FOR FERRYING PASSENGERS ALONG CHAO PHRAYA

I don’t really hate boat rides. What I don’t like is the actual act of getting into one and, equally, getting out of one. I can ride a bike but I really don’t balance well. Inching on a foot-wide plank from the safety of the still grounds to an even gently bobbing boat makes me ill. What more to a slim wooden boat, frantically swaying with no particular rhythm in mind.

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From the roof top bar of the hotel I’m staying in, I gazed into the glittering megalopolis that is Bangkok. My eyes swept the skyline from left to right, taking in the sultry view of this moonlit city, wondering what the coming days held for me. I was exhilarated. Bangkok has always been an exciting city and I knew I had barely scratched its surface during the few times I’ve visited.

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After Spain, Canada, Ireland, and Mexico, the much anticipated event for travel bloggers around the globe has finally arrived in Asia. Thailand was slated to be the gracious host for the event, quite fitting since most globetrotters generally fly in to Thailand to start off their Asian adventures.

TBEX ASIA 2015 AT THE QUEEN SIRIKIT CONVENTION CENTER IN BANGKOK

THANK YOU TOURISM AUTHORITY OF THAILAND FOR INVITING ME!

TBEX has been around since 2012. This is not your usual boring event though, it doesn’t start and end with talks and conferences, in fact, if you attend one, the admission price is also inclusive of travel tours before and after the TBEX event itself.

MASSIVE WOOD SCULPTURE AT THE QUEEN SIRIKIT CENTER

Loads of Pre-BEX and Post-BEX tours are available for participants; one simply has to log in at Blogger Bridge, sign up for tours, and you’re good to go. They have everything from walking, food, cultural, adventure, and even bar tours! And it’s not just in Bangkok too, but all over Thailand! I personally picked the Pad Thai Route tour which drove us all the way to the quiet and relatively undiscovered area of Rayong and Chanthaburi Provinces.

 

I will write an extensive article about those two provinces, they certainly deserve it.

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LOCALS SHOWING OFF THEIR HANDICRAFTS DURING TBEX ASIA

TBEX DELEGATES CAN EVEN JOIN IN THE FUN!

The main TBEX event was held at the Queen Sirikit National Convention Center and was set on three plenary halls and four meeting rooms. Along the lobby, works by local artisans were on display, showcasing Thailand’s diverse culture. It was attended by more than six hundred travel bloggers around the world and has more than thirty conferences and workshops spread over three days. Every talk looks interesting but you only get to choose a few since six of them happens simultaneously.

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TBEX ASIA PRESS CONFERENCE

SPEED NETWORKING, WHERE BLOGGERS CONNECT WITH BRANDS

DON GEORGE’S INSPIRING TALK

While there are a lot of programs about monetizing our blogs, the talks that impressed me the most were not about money, but about the soul of what we really are doing. The ones by renowned Lonely Planet travel editor Don George (The Art & Heart of Storytelling) and Legal Nomads’ Jodi Ettenberg (Storytellers) were really, really, really inspiring.

TBEX ASIA 2015 OPENING PARTY

THAI FOOD BEING SERVED AT THE OPENING PARTY

WALKING AT BENJAKITI PARK DURING TBEX BREAKS

And after all the talks, there is course a party. Besides being on the road, nothing gets a traveler excited that having glasses of beer with fellow jetsetters. The opening party was at the outdoor café of the Queen Sirikit National Convention Center where overflowing beer complete with local Thai food was set. There were also cultural performances and we even got to float our own Loi Krathong at the nearby Benjakiti Park’s lagoon.

ASIATIQUE THE RIVERFRONT IN BANGKOK

The farewell party was held at Asiatique the Riverfront where we witnessed a stunning show by Muay Thai Live and soon after, local bands and fireworks by the Chao Phraya River; a very memorable way to end TBEX’s first time in Asia.

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ENDING TBEX ASIA WITH A BANG!

I learned so much, met so many friends and new contacts at TBEX that I wouldn’t hesitate attending the next one which is gonna be held in the Philippines, no less! The Travel Blog Exchange is indeed the future of travel media.

Now, let’s explore Thailand!

 

~ THIS TRIP IS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE TOURISM AUTHORITY OF THAILAND

 

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