Kimpton MAA-LAI BANGKOK by IHG

An absolutely perfect experience! The hotel's design is top-notch, the breakfast was fantastic, and the bathroom experience was excellent – they provide a full set of toiletries with a subtle herbal scent. The only downsides were the construction view outside the window and the slightly inconvenient public transportation access.

The room was okay and the view was beautiful, but I wasn't a big fan of the room's scent and it felt a bit damp. What really bothered me, though, was the service! The staff at this hotel have some serious discriminatory behavior! At check-in, the staff member said check-out time was 11 AM. I didn't think much of it at the time, just found it odd since all the other hotels I've stayed at have a 12 PM check-out. I was too tired and just wanted to get to the room, so I didn't argue. But later, when I got back to the room, I checked my booking and it said 12 PM! When I went downstairs, I asked the front desk again what the actual check-out time was. A different staff member told me it was always 12 PM. I then asked why their colleague at check-in told me it was 11 AM. That staff member couldn't really respond, only emphasizing that it was 12 PM! Another thing happened at breakfast the next day. I entered the restaurant, which was very large. The hostess led me to a very empty section far from the food stations. I couldn't help but ask if there were no other tables available. She then radioed someone to check, and after a moment, her supervisor came over and told her which table was free. She then led me to that empty table. When she asked what I wanted to drink, I asked for tea, but it never came even when I was almost finished eating. I finally asked another server, and it arrived quickly.

This Kimpton in Bangkok is definitely a flagship hotel for the IHG group. It's located in the heart of Bangkok, near Ploenchit BTS station, accessible by foot or motorcycle from the station. It shares an owner (with royal connections 🤫) with the neighboring Kempinski, and you can tell no expense was spared in its design and construction. Although it was initially planned as a residential complex, its conversion into a hotel turned out incredibly well, especially the garden design which truly feels like an urban oasis! I stayed here for a business trip, and as a Gold member, I was upgraded to a Premium King room. The room was huge, over 60 square meters, with very spacious living and bathroom areas! You can tell from the layout that its original design likely wasn't for a hotel. My room faced the inner garden, and the overall ambiance was great. Turndown service was provided in the evening, complete with a complimentary goodnight candy 🍬. I had breakfast included this time but was too busy to take photos. The selection was quite rich, and the staff were mostly Burmese with Thai supervisors. The coffee was a bit disappointing, but the taste was still good! The Craft cafe on the first floor is pet-friendly and serves good coffee, though the food was mediocre. The Bar Yard on the rooftop is adorable, offers beautiful views, and has a fantastic atmosphere!

What a pleasant surprise! I was so happy with the hotel's attention to detail and excellent service. My toiletries were neatly arranged and placed on a lovely piece of tissue paper – a big thank you to the housekeeping staff! 🙏 The hotel breakfast was also amazing, and the rooftop bar was a great way to relax. Thanks to the hotel, I'll definitely be recommending it to my friends, haha! 🙏

Let's stick to the facts. 1. I found a clump of a previous guest's hair on the bed. The initial response was to clean it immediately, not to offer a room change. 2. The hairdryer was indeed old. 3. The turndown service, however, was very well done.

I've been to Bangkok many times and stayed in quite a few hotels, and this one has to be the best value for money in the mid-to-high range. It's about a ten-minute walk from Erawan Shrine, but it's not right on the main road or next to the BTS, so it's not noisy – a real urban oasis. Plus, there's a small mall right next to the hotel with about a dozen restaurants that offer good service. The hotel's decor is quite modern and youthful, unlike many Southeast Asian-style hotels that can feel a bit dated. The coffee shop in the lobby has a great atmosphere, and the desserts are delicious and plentiful. It's also a pet-friendly hotel, so you can bring your pets along. Overall, I'd give it a 4.8 out of 5 and highly recommend staying here!

The room I was assigned was incredibly small! Probably the smallest room type they have! You could walk from one end to the other in two steps! Breakfast was always crowded, almost every day we had to queue. The hotel pool isn't big, but there weren't many people swimming. The lobby on the first floor was always packed! It felt like they were hosting conferences daily! The good thing is that it shares a garden with the Kempinski! That's probably its only advantage! Next time, I'd rather pay a few hundred more to stay at the Kempinski! I absolutely do not recommend this hotel! The rooftop bar was also mediocre, with no great view to speak of! Overall, for this price and what you get, I wouldn't choose it again.