Baiyoke Sky Hotel Review

What’s it like?

The soaring Baiyoke Tower II it’s housed in, which reminds me slightly of New York’s Art-Deco Chrysler building, was built in 1997 by Thai tycoon Panlert Baiyoke. It includes (deep breath): 660 rooms in myriad shapes and sizes, an observation tower, function rooms, many cafes and restaurants, a swimming pool, a spa, even a golf driving range. It is, in essence, a vertical short-stay village - a very friendly one at that.

Where is it?

Located dead centre in the Pratunam wholesale shopping district with hawkers, snarling roads and busy people stretching in every direction, Baiyoke Sky Hotel is perfect if you’re after wholesale clothes, bags, shoes and apparel. Retail icons like the Platinum Fashion Mall and Panthip IT Mall are within walking distance. But unfortunately the traffic and stress-busting Skytrain is not, a short taxi or tuk-tuk ride necessary (10-15 minutes depending on traffic).

Entrance is via a quite easy-to-miss entrance just off Ratchaprarop Road and the lobby on the 17th floor. Three sets of lifts are employed to reach the higher floors, and they do a good job of moving people up and down. One never has to wait long for one.

What are the rooms like?

The 660 rooms come in myriad shapes and sizes. They are spread across three different vertical zones – Standard Zone (22-45th floor), Sky Zone (46-68th floor) and Space Zone (70-74th floor). The higher and more impressive the views, the higher prices too. However, even in the Standard Zone you will not be disappointed with the panoramas.

The style is pretty much uniform throughout, with your box-shaped room or suite done out sparsely with soft spot lighting, wooden fittings and basic plush furnishings. The list of in-room facilities is also homogeneous: electronic safety box, telephone, refrigerator, hair-dryer, bathrobe, toiletries. Wireless Internet costs 600 baht for 24 hours.

Restaurants and Bars?

The Sky Coffee Shop is a casual all-day restaurant on the lobby floor. But the culinary epicentre of Baiyoke Sky Hotel is between the 76 and 83rd floors – where you can enjoy cloud-level views while you eat.

Stella Palace, an ersatz Chinese restaurant, serves a sumptuous evening buffet between 18:00 and 23:00 every night. And for all-day beverages and snacks, and pop-tastic live music from 20:30 onwards, head to The Rooftop Bar (83rd floor).

Breakfast is either at the jaunty Sky Restaurant (76 and 78th floor) or the slightly glitzier Crystal Grill (82 floor). Served between 05:30 and 10:00, it’s a town banquet-sized affair that reflects the diversity of the clientele. I had fried breakfast, rice congee and a big bowl of tropical fruits and still only scratched the surface.

Facilities

Baiyoke Sky Hotel has this verging on annoying knack – they think of everything.

Mother can go get a deep facial in the spa, Dad totter off to hone his swing at the driving range, son take snaps of the cityscape from the revolving rooftop, while daughter tops up her tan on a sun-lounger. Truly there is ‘something for everyone’.

The Observation Deck (77th floor) with its maps, computerized kiosks, historic pictures, and coin-activated telescopes is a fun, if slightly kitsch experience. And the Health Fitness Centre a realm of fragrant well-being that includes a gym, beauty salon and massage spa.

The Verdict

A big, brash behemoth, the Baiyoke Sky Hotel is not a subtle hotel. However, for families, groups, those wanting to be in the middle of the Pratunam wholesale district, fancy a big room, or who just plain love panoramic city views, you’re onto a winner. Oh, and you also get the privilege of saying you stayed in Thailand’s tallest building.