7 reasons to check into the St. Regis Bangkok
Decanter, St. Regis's well-stocked wine bar, offers private dining as well. The long-awaited St. Regis Bangkok hotel has finally opened its doors.
One might argue that Bangkok needs another luxury hotel like it needs another shopping mall. And one would be right.
But we’re willing to give a pass to the St. Regis Bangkok, on posh Rajadamri Road, simply because of the experience it offers. (Though points deducted for not offering guests free Wi-Fi. Do luxury hotels really need to charge for this stuff these days?)
From the Asian-inspired BBMG interiors -- if purple's not your color, stay away -- to the Bill Bensley landscaping, this property has all the de rigueur luxury basics covered.
But it’s not the decor, the architecture or even the 22 high-tech rooms, including 51 grand suites, that make this place stand out. Here are seven unique reasons to check it out.
1. Butlers at your service, 24-7
St. Regis Bangkok guests have access to the hotel's famed butler service 24 hours a day. There’s one per floor, and he/she will be guests' main point of contact during their stay.
Butlers press your clothes, shine your shoes, bring you coffee and even check you in and out. Need transportation? Ask the butler to deal with the concierge for you.
2. Professional packers
The St. Regis Bangkok butlers are trained in the art of luggage packing and thus provide packing and unpacking services for all guests.
Your butler will even teach you how to pull off St. Regis's special "clothes sandwich” on your own if you’d like.
Incorporating Japanese T-shirt folding elements, this bizarre but amazingly effective technique involves layering the clothes and filling in the gaps with underwear and socks to ensure a wrinkle-free journey.
And don’t worry, ladies. If you’re not comfortable with a man handling your intimate apparel, there are female butlers who can step in to do the job.
3. Saber the moment
The St. Regis brand is big on rituals. Just like in every St. Regis hotel in the world, every day at 7 p.m. the head butler goes to the St. Regis Bar, stands on a platform and slices the top off a bottle of Moët & Chandon with a deadly looking saber.
4. Bloody Siam Mary
Still on the subject of drinks -- and tradition -- there's the matter of the Bloody Mary. Every St. Regis property in the world has its own take on the flaming red cocktail, which according to legend was invented nearly a century ago at the first St. Regis in New York City.
In the Bangkok St. Regis, they've concocted the aptly named "Siam Mary," served up in a fancy 14-ounce sterling silver tankard and made with Thai chili, lemon, coriander and tomato juice. Warning -- it's spicy.
As for St. Regis's dining options, Viu is the only one of the three planned restaurants now open (the Argentinean filet mignon topped with béarnaise is incredible). Italian restaurant JoJo and London import Zuma are set to open in the coming months.
For lighter meals there's Decanter, The Drawing Room, the Pool Bar and the St. Regis Bar.
5. A spa that assesses the damage
St. Regis Bangkok features Southeast Asia's first Elemis Spa, a brand famous around the world for its effective skin-care products and treatments.
The Bangkok version is filled with funky gadgets and treatments, including a frightening photographic skin analysis machine that tells you just how badly you've been treating your face before administering treatment advice accordingly.
The spa's "experience showers" allow for a personalized selection of water pressure, lighting and music; you can even hook up your own iPod to the sound system. "Sensory Journey Suites" feature therapeutic lighting and sound therapy.
Treatment rooms include Roman Rasul chambers, single and double Thai massage rooms and couple’s suites with glass showers and soaking baths.
6. Watch the races from above
Nowhere in the city will you get a better view of the grounds of the Royal Bangkok Sports Club -- and that includes the horse races, on every second Sunday.
Whether you're in your room or dining at 12th floor international restaurant Viu, the St. Regis offers a nice vantage point to check out the city skyline, particularly at night.
7. Cruise in and out on the Eastern and Oriental Express
Back in 2007, St. Regis launched its "Aficionados" packages, allowing guests insider access to certain events and attractions. At the St. Regis in Rome, for example, guests can take a private tour of the Sistine Chapel.
To celebrate the Bangkok launch, the brand teamed up with Orient Express to offer a special four-night journey up the Malaysian Peninsula that includes stays at the St. Regis Singapore and Bangkok properties at the beginning and end of the journey.
“Caroline Astor’s Expedition on the E&O” -- named after the St. Regis founder -- from Singapore to Thailand runs from June 4-7; prices start at about 125,000 baht per person.
There is also another trip from October 22-26 from Thailand to Singapore.
St. Regis Bangkok: 159 Rajadamri Road, +66 (0)2 207 7777
