Thailand is a country where it's completely possible to get a five-star hotel for less than $100 USD, so every once in a while we feel justified in treating ourselves to a luxury hotel stay. Um, who doesn't like gut-busting Sunday brunches, specialty spa treatments, and skillfully crafted cocktails? That's exactly what we got at The Sukosol, an elegant four-star hotel that's perfect for your first time in Bangkok. It's a quick ride from the Suvarnabhumi International Airport via Airport Rail Link and just steps from the BTS Skytrain, two of the most convenient ways to get around Bangkok's massive urban sprawl.
If you hadn't already guessed, The Sukosol is far more than a just place to sleep after a long day of exploring the city. In fact, four nights at the The Sukosol was practically a vacation in itself because everything we needed was either a phone call or a push of an elevator button away.
Whether we were kicking back in our spacious room, lounging outside in the patio garden area, or enjoying their signature Afternoon Tea in their stunningly sophisticated speakeasy-styled Sapphire Bar, The Sukosol made it easy (maybe a little too easy) to kick back and fully relax during our time there.
Ayuthaya Deluxe Room
After a quick check-in and refreshing welcome drinks of butterfly pea blossom lemonade, we were whisked up to our room on the 18th floor with, undoubtedly, views of the city skyline. Our room was larger than what we have come to expect in Bangkok, seeing as though space is such a prime commodity in this buzzing city. But there it was, a huge sprawling king size bed with our names on it, a chaise for lounging, a large desk area (two in fact), and plenty of space for our luggage.
Our bathroom had a fully enclosed glass stand-up rain shower (yes!) with awesome pressure and temperature control. Much to our delight there was a bathtub (double yes!), which we later enjoyed a long soak in after an afternoon of exploring the city heavily on foot.
Dining at The Sukosol
What blew us away most at The Sukosol was the quality and variety of dining options available at their Sapphire Bar and their Patummat and Lin-Fa restaurants. We were able to try both restaurants during our stay and really appreciated the elegant atmosphere and attentive service.
The Sapphire Bar was absolutely stunning. The drinks we ordered were treats all on their own, and included a finely crafted Lychee Mojito and a Manhattan. Thank you very much, Mr. Bartender.
Looking back on it, it's hard to pick a favorite meal! If we had to choose only one though, it would be the Patummat's International Dinner Buffet. There was an incredible choice of food including chilled shellfish, made-to-order Italian pasta dishes, and sushi and meat-carving stations.
There were also generous selections of hot Thai, Japanese, and Chinese dishes as well as chilled dishes and salads. And believe us when we say we had our fill of freshly baked bread, pungent cheeses, tangy olives, and smoked meats, too! And just to throw it out there, you don't have to be a guest of the hotel's to indulge in this feast.
The dinner buffet runs from 6pm to 10:30pm daily and costs 1,300 baht person. However, The Sukosol is running a 25% discount promotion, so it's 975 baht per person as we speak.
Dessert lovers, these tasty treats were practically too pretty to eat!
If you have a sweet tooth, without a doubt try The Sukosol's signature "La Vie en Rose" Afternoon Tea served from 2pm to 5pm every day. We were completely satiated after our afternoon snack of canapés, mini sandwiches, and delectable desserts. Not only were the portions beyond generous, but the price for the entire set is 750 baht (easily serves two, if not three adults) and is by far the best deal we've seen for this type of luxury finger food. Seriously, we've seen high tea advertised several times for twice the price - and that was in Chiang Mai!
Every morning there were freshly made pastries (cookies, breads, and the ever-popular delicate macarons) that were served alongside fresh espresso drinks at The Deli Shop.
There is also the very upscale Lin-Fa Chinese restaurant that serves huge portions and is perfect for a romantic dinner. The Patummat restaurant has an à la carte menu but their daily breakfast (5:30am to 10am) and lunch (11:30am to 2:30pm) buffets are very popular. There is also a huge Sunday Brunch buffet from 11am to 4pm every Sunday for 1,600 baht per person.
Additional Amenities
The Sukosol provides conveniences such as an onsite spa, a gorgeous outdoor pool, and one of the most well-equipped gyms we've ever seen in a hotel in Thailand, and we've stayed in many!
If you want to learn how to give a traditional Thai massage, the spa's manager, Ms. Chollada, will teach you. We've had our fair share of Thai massages and were curious to learn the techniques.
The Thai massage class ended up being one of the highlights of our stay. She had us laughing throughout the hour-long course and it turned out to be a fun challenge trying to memorize the order to apply the stretching techniques. We now have an even greater appreciation for Thai masseuses! The class costs 500 baht per person. Extra amenities included:
- Baan Siam souvenir shop (there were some really nice items!)
- Tour booking services
- Reliable Wifi; four device per room allowance
- Fully stocked mini bar
- Rain shower with herbal soaps; soaking tub
Convenient Location for Your First Time in Bangkok
One of the first things about The Sukosol that caught our attention was how close it was to the Phaya Thai BTS Skytrain and Airport Rail Link stations. A short walk in either direction gave us access to affordable, reliable mass transit options that allowed us to explore the city without having to rely on taxis. We really liked having those options.
If you're coming from Suvarnabhumi International Airport (BKK), it only takes about 17 minutes to get to the hotel by the Suvarnabhumi Airport (SA) Express Line and costs 150 baht for a round-trip or 90 baht for a one-way ticket. If you take the SA City line, which makes six stops along the way, it takes about 30 minutes and costs 45 baht.
As for the Phaya Thai BTS Station, being so close provided us with easy access to many other points of interest in the city. In fact, we used the BTS every day while we were in Bangkok and within a few stops we had access to:
- Shopping at Central World, MBK, Siam Discovery, Siam Paragon
- Culture at Dusit Zoo, Jim Thompson's House (Thai silk entrepreneur), Phaya Thai Palace, Suan Pakkard Palace, and the Vimanmek Mansion
- Major transportation hub and local Thai hangout zone at Victory Monument
Alternatively, if you take a 15 minute stroll east you will arrive at Thailand's tallest building, Baiyoke Tower. After taking in the 360 degree views from the 77th floor you can then visit its notable neighbor, the Pratunam Market. There are also plenty of dining options in the immediate vicinity of the Sukosol Hotel, further proving it to be a great place to stay during your first time in Bangkok.
Contact Information of The Sukosol
Phone: (022) 470-123
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.TheSukosol.com
Address: 477 Si Ayuthaya Road, Phaya Thai, Bangkok 10400
Chris and Angela sold everything, paid off their debt, and ultimately figured a way out of the nine to five grind in the United States. Today they are living full time in Chiang Mai, Thailand, guiding and inspiring future expats towards amazing lives abroad! For more updates follow them on , , and . To see a full list of posts check out the .
