Introduction: Flying to Japan to Ride the Shinkansen
Review: Japan Airlines (787-900) Premium Economy Class – Dallas to Tokyo
Review: NAA Dayroom – Narita International Airport
Review: Japan Airlines – (787-800) Economy Class – Tokyo to Bangkok
Review: Aloft Hotel – Bangkok
Review: Singapore Airlines (A330) Business Class – Bangkok to Singapore
Review: Singapore Airlines (777-300) Business Class – Singapore to Tokyo
Review: Nozomi Shinkansen – Tokyo to Fukuoka
Review: Hilton Seahawk – Fukuoka
Day Trip to Uminonakamichi Island
Review: Gyozaya Ninoni – Fukuoka
Review: All Nippon Airways Lounge – Fukuoka
Review: All Nippon Airways (767-300) Business Class – Fukuoka to Naha
Review: All Nippon Airways (737-800) Economy Class – Naha to Nagoya
Review: All Nippon Airways (Bombardier Dash 8) Economy Class – Nagoya to Tokyo
Review: 9 Hours Capsule Hotel – Narita International Airport
Review: IASS Executive Lounge – Narita International Airport
Review: TEI Lounge – Narita International Airport
Review: Japan Airlines (787-900) Economy Class – Tokyo to Dallas
After landing at Suvarnabhumi International Airport, I made my way through customs. The entire process took less than 20 minutes. Before long, I was curbside where I tried and tried to order an Uber. I finally asked someone if there was Uber in Bangkok and they looked perplexed. Apparently, Uber was not a thing in Thailand, they had a ride sharing service called Grab. I could not get the Grab app to download to my Verizon device so I ended up taking a taxi. I do not have an issue with taking a taxi but the problem here was the cabby asking me to pay for all of the tolls, while he kept the meter going.
Booking
As I have said in other posts, the Aloft Hotel brand has grown into my favorite brand within Marriott Hotels. I booked a Breezy King room at the hotel for $120 per night at the regular rate. As a Bonvoy Platinum Member, I earned 4,046 total points (2,364 base, 1,182 elite bonus, and 500 welcome points). I used my Marriott Bonvoy Premier credit card which earned me 5X points per $1 spent at Marriott properties
Arrival
Traffic was bad near the hotel. The driver’s navi showed the hotel only a quarter of a mile away, but the trip would take 25 minutes. I decided to get out of the car and walk the rest of the way. The hotel was dark, compared to the rest of the shops around it, but the neon lights on the property stood out. There was club, Levels, just outside of the hotel. It appeared to jumping. Apparently, it was the “best club in Bangkok”.
Check-in
As I entered the property my carry-on bag was whisked away by a concierge and I was pointed to the front desk on the right. The two agents welcomed me to Bangkok and to the Aloft Hotel. I was asked to provide my passport and a form of payment, which I promptly did. One of the agents offered me 500 welcome points or complimentary breakfast for my stay. I mistakenly chose the breakfast because I would not eat it during the stay. I ended up requesting and receiving the welcome points during checkout.
As I made my way to the elevator, I checked out the lobby. There were a couple of spacious seating areas and a concierge desk.
Room
The room was located on the thirty second floor. As I entered the elevator, I took a pic of floor legend so I knew where everything was located. Upon exiting the elevators, I made a right and the room was down on the left.
The room was colorful, as with all Aloft Hotels.
The bathroom was to the left. There was the standard sink and a wide array of toiletries. I was happy to see toothpaste, floss, and other necessities stocked in the room. This is available in International Hotel Group properties, but rare in Marriott’s. The complimentary coffee and closet were opposite the sink.
The toilet and shower shared a room. I do not care for this setup, but it was not a show stopper.
The King bed was to the left as I walked into the main part of the room. It appeared to be bigger than a standard king bed. I was able to catch up on some much needed rest in this comfortable bed.
There was a couch near the far wall, next to the window. I sat there to get views of the city.
A television and small desk were next to the couch.
A mini bar, stocked with chips and drinks, rounded out the room. The prices for the snacks and drinks were cheap compared to stateside prices.
Dining
There were three options to grab a bite to eat in the hotel: 1) ReFuel, 2) WXYZ bar, and 3) Crave restaurant.
Refuel
Refuel had a grab and go option or the made to order breakfast. The grab and go options consisted of cold sandwiches, snacks, soda, water, and an assortment of beer. There were a few hot dishes offered for breakfast. As I mentioned earlier, I did not eat breakfast at the property.
Refuel had a lot of seating for guests. There was the signature Aloft Hotel pool table not to far away.
One thing that kept me busy for some time in Refuel was the old school Pac-Man arcade game. I lost track of how long I played it, but it could not have been less than two hours.
WXYZ Bar
WXYZ Bar was located one level up from the lobby and Refuel. It was more of a lounge than anything. The other Aloft Hotels I have visited had Refuel and WXYZ on the ground floor. This was definitely cool. I did not eat in the bar, but I did grab a glass of champagne there. It was busier than the club so I could not get pictures.
Crave
I did not visit Crave during my stay.
Levels
This was supposedly the best bar in Bangkok that I mentioned earlier. It technically did not belong to the Aloft property, even though it was located on the property. The bar offered a huge dance floor and a cover band. Guess where the cover band was from??? The United States. The irony was not lost on me. Anyway, I could not take pictures inside due to policy. My lasting memory of the bar is that it was the place where my credit card was skimmed. Fun times!
Fitness
The fitness area, with the pool and gym, was located on the tenth level. Since it was summer, the thick air could be felt as soon as I exited the elevator. The humidity constantly fogged up my camera, which made it difficult to get decent shots.
Fitness Center
The fitness center was on the right. It was a small room consisting of some cardio equipment and a few free weights. I did not use the room, but it felt like it could double as a sauna.
Pool
The pool was located just after the fitness center. It included a bar area and a small pool. There were quite a few people out on the muggy day, which made it even harder to get pictures. The area offered okay views of the city below.
Final Word
The Aloft Hotel Bangkok was in the perfect location. There were tons of shops and eateries within walking distance. Given the chance, I would visit the property again. I would remember to bring cash if I planned to visits Levels nightclub though.
