THE SIAM
We all know hotels change with times. There are now numerous TV shows on iconic hotels around the world, the service they provide, the attention to details, how staff are trained to focus on guest needs. The architecture changes also, from giant towers to low level urban, the name of the game is always to “re-invent” and be “on the edge”. I have been lucky to have fallen in a job that allowed me to stay and experience most of the best hotels and resorts around Asia and the Pacific for the last 30 years. And that’s not only once but many times at the same hotels. I experienced in depth and witnessed the changes. And yes, I have a list, maybe 10-15 hotels and resorts spread all over the continent that remain, to this day, my favorites. And believe me, I am picky.
The Siam is one of them. Located on the shores of the Chao Phraya river in Bangkok in the royal enclave of Dusit , this hotel was designed by Bill Bensley, one of my favorite hotel creatives, with a mix of black and white décor, large size rooms, a superb private house within the hotel and a fantastic atrium. Nothing beats having a coffee facing the river boat traffic in peace, without the crowds of the Mandarin Oriental’s café terrace…. Basically, the “boutique feel” of the whole place makes for a very comfortable stay, either before one of our adventures, like in Bhutan or Laos or after a 2-week journey in Vietnam…a perfect start or finish. In my mind what “makes” this place is the wide collection of antiques that fill the wide hallways and rooms. It’s like walking in a museum and I always make the point of exploring all 3 floors to see what has been changed or added. And the media room is an ideal spot to spend a rainy afternoon with its wide collection of Thai art books and it’s private cinema.
The 28 suites are very big and comfortable (I really like the large desk behind the bed) and the antiques everywhere make the rooms less sterile along with very high ceilings and super-sized king beds, there are also 11 pool suites with better views over the river. Food is another strong point and the main restaurant on the riverside terrace is a great spot for breakfasts and at least one dinner while you stay at the resort. And although I am not a “spa guy”, our travelers vouch for the one at The Siam, called Opium, not only for it’s wide ranging treatment menu, but it even offers famous Sak Yanttraditional tattoos and even a Thai kick-boxing “Muay Thai” training program.
There is no perfection in this world and if I was to critique and deliver some negative marks I would probably say that the rooms may require a little bit of TLC upgrade and the much publicized “private butler” needs to be looked into (sometimes they are there when you check in and then that’s it…). The hotel location is not central BUT the resort has a boat shuttle that is very convenient allowing you to connect with the sky train (and really it’s hard to say what is “central” in Bangkok…..) Some of the rooms also do not offer great views on the river so you have to know which room to request. And that’s where I step in. Knowledge is power.
The Siam is still, by far, one of my two favorite hotels in Bangkok and one I would always recommend.
LITTLE KNOWN FACT:
On the hotel grounds there is a quartet of traditional Thai teak homes that are more than a century old, previously owned by Connie Mangskau, a prominent Thai socialite who held many parties in their original Bangkok location. In order to transport the villas to the Siam, the hotel dismantled them and sailed them down the Chao Phraya River before reassembling them. Three have been used for restaurants at the hotel; the fourth is Connie’s Cottage, a bi-level villa that today features a private pool and spacious living room on the first floor while the master bedroom, outfitted with a four-poster bed and balcony, is found on the second story. Steeped in history and furnished accordingly, it’s the kind of space that’s difficult to leave—something Jacqueline Kennedy and actor William Holden probably felt as well, when they visited Mangskau for one of her legendary parties back in the day.
BEST MONTH TO VISIT:
From November to March when the heat and humidity are at their lowest. Still, Thailand's tropical climate could easily bring temperatures up to 90 degrees on any given day, regardless of the month of year.
Longitude 80 offers many departures across South East Asia that use Bangkok as a start or finish due to the airline connections. We also have a Thailand In Style itinerary that offers the best of Thailand. Contact us if you want to start planning your Thailand adventure for 2022 or 2023.
