The Dusit Thani Hotel Bangkok Review

The kind of rooms that make checking out hard to do

The Dusit Club Rooms (30 square metres), Dusit Club Corner Rooms (40 square metres) and Dusit Grand Rooms (60 square metres) come with separate lounge areas to provide more than just a conventional hotel room for business executives and discerning leisure travellers.

From free high-speed Internet access, an oversized desk and wall-mounted LCD TV, to complimentary local calls and a pillow menu with no less than ten choices - within the confines of spaces exquisitely decorated in sumptuous Thai elegance - these rooms present a new level of distinction, sophistication and exceptional personal comfort.

Guests staying here also enjoy Dusit Club Lounge complimentary privileges from 07:00 until 23:00 with coffee, tea, juices and soft drinks served throughout the day, happy hour with cocktails and canap-s from 17:30 until 19:30, a variety of international newspapers and magazines, a one-hour use of a meeting room, in-room Internet and local land line calls, faster-than-lightning (private) check in and check out (at the Club Lounge on the third floor), as well as a sumptuous breakfast buffet at il cielo. Optional features include a '711' butler service and express overnight laundry service.

Other room options: Something for everyone

In realising that the needs of all guests are not the same, there are also 42 Deluxe Rooms (30 square metres), 232 Superior Rooms in the East Wing (35 square metres), 23 one- and two-bedroom Thai Heritage Suites (80 - 110 square metres), two Rattanakosin Suites (110 square metres), a Princess Suite (140 square metres), and a Majesty Suite (239 square metres) - bringing the total guest room and suite tally to 517.

Worth elaboration are the exquisitely decorated and appointed Thai Heritage Suites, perfect for special occasions like a honeymoon or anniversary.

Facilites

Also in line with the introduction of the new rooms, the hotel has launched executive meeting rooms at the Dusit Meeting Centre, which offers three boardrooms (capacity of 12-16 persons) and three meeting rooms (capacity 18-28 persons), complete with state-of-the-art facilities, amenities and a full secretarial service. 'DFiT' (launched in early 2007) is a modern, unrivalled glass-fronted gymnasium overlooking the hexagon-shaped pool and lush garden.

Professional fitness instructors are at hand to explain the workings of space-age equipment, and there's a health bar, holistic fitness classes, steam and sauna facilities, a squash court, and even a golf driving range. The pool might not be ideal for swimming laps, but it makes up for what it lacks in size with a tropical setting and a waterfall cascading down to the lower lobby level.

Dining

Its restaurants - the likes of Benjarong (Royal Thai cuisine), il cielo (Italian), D'Sens (modern French) and Mayflower (Chinese), amongst others - are as famous and highly praised as the hotel itself. It's after all the flagship of the Dusit chain that now reaches beyond Thailand's borders to Myanmar, the Philippines, and the United Arab Emirates.

And yet, there's much more to the Dusit experience... The hotel's banqueting facilities are renowned. The elegant Lobby Lounge has also recently seen a make-over, with the ChampagneS lounge overlooking it, and the hip MyBar to its furthest end; its illuminated blue bar counter like a magnet. More dining experiences await at Hamilton's Steak House, The Pavillion (Asian and international buffet or a la carte), Thien Duong (Vietnamese) and Shogun (Japanese).

There's an extensive collection of books at Library 1918 for the reading enjoyment of guests, and several boutique shops in the small in-house shopping arcade, including Dusit Boutique, the Flower Shop and other exclusive outlets selling from silk to jewellery. A barber and beauty salon can be found here too - and don't forget to pop in at the Dusit Gourmet Shop for some of Bangkok's finest pastries, hand-made chocolates and other delicatessen. Naturally, wireless Internet is available in all public areas.

Location to boot and getting around made simple

Surrounded by all this luxury, it's hard to believe that Patpong and Silom's other day-and-night attractions are minutes away on foot - yet, it's a reassuring convenience factor that the hotel's prime location and easy access to the MRT and BTS makes exploring the whole city such a pleasure.

The verdict: The Dusit Thani Bangkok is one of those luxury hospitality experiences - as rich in history as it is to well-deserved praise - that has to be enjoyed at least once in a lifetime.