Overview: The Oriental Bangkok, considered by many to be one of the top hotels in the world, truly lives up to its reputation. The hotel has an amazing heritage- it's been in existence for 120 years and has held such luminaries as Joseph Conrad. In fact, there is an "author's suite", but occasionally houses famous authors for months at the times while they write (and drop insane amounts of cash to do it). Other authors who have spent time there: John Le Carre, James Michener, Noel Coward, Graham Greene and Somerset Maugham.
Its history
goes back to the 1860s when the original hotel which is no longer
standing was established by two Danish sea captains soon after King
Mongkut (Rama IV) reopened Thailand (then Siam) to world trade. The
hotel has withstood occupation by Japanese and American troops and
played host to a long roster of Thai and international dignitaries
and celebrities. Jim Thompson, of Thai silk trade fame, even served
briefly as the hotel's proprietor. New buildings have been
added--the first in 1876, the larger and more modern pair in 1958
and 1976. Today it's more modern than colonial, though it retains
considerable charm.
Check-in: On arrival guests exited the car
to the most gracious of doormen and stepped into the magnificent
lobby of this hotel. One is greeted at the door with wrist leis and
escorted to the registration area where the service is impeccable.
Guests will be introducing to the "personal butler" who will escort
them to their room. Guests do not "register" at the reception desk,
but instead are escorted to the room where they are "entered into"
the guest book whiles enjoying the comfort of their room. Guests are
then introduced to your floor butler who will be attending to every
need during their stay. Each floor has a personal butler who sits at
a desk right by the elevator bank. There is someone there 24 hours a
day to take care of any needs that guest may have.
 
The Room: The suite room in the tower is
overlooking the river. It was a very interesting room. They fit a
lot of utility into a relatively small space. There were two levels.
The entrance level has a couch, table, television, mini bar and
around the corner a table with two chairs. The bathroom is also very
nice size with giant towels and wonderful cotton robes. There is a
selection of fresh fruits on the table, along with a beautiful
keepsake card describing the fruit and how to eat it. This fruit
will be replaced with something new each day of your stay.
 
Dining/Entertainment: We highly recommend
the Normandie, afternoon tea in the Author's Lounge (daily 3:30 to
6pm), the Bamboo Bar, the healthy breakfast buffet on the Veranda,
and the Terrace's evening barbecue. The China House is a wonderful
building with a fantastically expensive (by no means universally
admired) Cantonese menu. Equally regarded for its high prices and
less than perfect food is Lord Jim's, the Oriental's seafood outlet.
 
Amenities: 24-hour room service, concierge, complimentary welcome fruit basket, limousine service, baby-sitting, house doctor, laundry service, No-smoking floors, two swimming pools, health club, tennis and squash courts, beauty and fitness spa, business center, cooking school, beauty salon and barbershop, shopping arcade, tour boat for daily excursions to Ayutthaya and the Summer Palace
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