Last month I had a chance to stay at the Centara Grand at CentralWorld Hotel in Bangkok.
Attending a conference at the Bangkok Convention Centre, no hotel would have given one easier access than the Centara Grand at CentralWorld. The skyscraper connected to the convention center and the CentralWorld Shopping Center in the heart of Bangkok, Thailand.
The outdoor swimming pool on the 26th floor, together with an award-winning SPA Cenvaree, along with a fitness center and tennis courts with modern but not necessarily the ultimate equipment, is a welcoming break when attending a conference or convention.
I booked a “Premium World” room for more money. I received a corner room on the 29th floor and was a little disappointed not to be on one of the top floors. The hotel had 58 floors. However, the view over the “City of Angels” was still nice from my room. I did not have access to the club-room, something I got accustomed to at many hotels.
My Premium World room was spacious, but the furnishings were a little old and tired-looking. The flat screen TV could easily be seen from my bed, but it was not possible to work at the desk and watch TV at the same time. I usually love to watch the news while working on my computer. I understand the layout may be different in other rooms.
There was easy access to a fast Internet. Electric outlets were readily available, and the beds were comfortable, however, not top of the line.
I would have loved to find out if the lounge had a better espresso machine compared to what was being served during breakfast. Ideally, a good espresso machine in the room would have helped. The shopping center opens at 10:00 am, so my mandatory coffee had to wait until after breakfast when I could find a Starbucks or Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf.
Regardless, the hotel is ideal for shopping and dining available in the modern and giant adjacent shopping mall.
The one restaurant in the hotel offered an ala carte menu or buffet dining. The breakfast was good, but not quite as great as what I had seen in some other 5-star Bangkok hotels. Members of a large group of noisy Chinese tourists were fighting rudely to get to the buffet first.
Siam Square, the center of Bangkok shopping, and where the next SKYTRAIN station is, was a 15-minute walk from the hotel. The hotel sits back from the main road behind the convention center, which is both good and bad. It means a little more walking, but it also means it’s a little quieter while you are still in the middle of everything.
The hotel staff, like anywhere in Bangkok, was nice, and they were always looking for ways to help guests showing their famous “Thai Smiles.”
When I checked out, I was surprised to learn that the hotel was not linked to any airline reward system so that guests could earn points for their stays.
Would I stay at the Centara Grand Bangkok again? If I had a short conference at the convention center, I would, otherwise, I’ll go back to my regular habits and look at staying at the Grand Hyatt, Dusit Thani, or Banyan Tree.
The hotel slogan is very appropriate: Centara Grand at CentralWorld – Discover the delights of exciting Bangkok with family accommodation in the very heart of the city and free stay for children.
I would give the hotel 4 stars and a thumbs up!
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