If you live in Asia, you're likely to travel to Bangkok. The same can be said for those who have made transits or stopovers in this region. It's no secret that the Land of Smiles is a shopping, food and spa (amongst other things) haven for many. It helps that the country caters to all sorts of demographics - there's something for everyone, whether you're a simpleton or a luxe traveller.
I am a bit of both. I love the comfort, elegance and convenience that luxe accommodations offer. But my needs are simple - I'm happy with a clean (a must), no-frills abode and one close to a BTS (Bangkok Mass Transit System) station for a solo weekend getaway. Hotel Indigo Bangkok (an IHG Hotel) ticked the right boxes.
Mid-price: checked
8 mins walk to Ploen Chit BTS: checked
Quiet luxe boutique hotel with a quaint interior: checked
Hotel Reception Area (credit: Hotel Indigo Bangkok)
Other good-to-have amenities that came with the hotel included an infinity pool, a decent-sized fitness centre and a relatively popular rooftop bar that overlooked the Bangkok city skyline. Brownie points to the hotel for offering access to those who are bounded by wheelchairs and/or visually or hearing impaired.
I decided to forgo the cab and went with the Skytrain from the airport to the hotel.
Big mistake.
The walk from Ploen Chit BTS to the hotel was not exceptionally far but the uneven, gravelly walkway was not friendly to my roller luggage. What was supposed to be an 8-min walk turned out to be slightly longer. The timing was not great either - I was walking against the grain of the after-office hour crowd.
But all was well when I reached Hotel Indigo Bangkok. Just like its Bali counterpart, the service was top-notch. My luggage and carry-on tote were received graciously by the hotel staff. Check-in was smooth and a welcome drink ensued. I chose the standard room as my stay was a short one but the room was still impressive. To me, at least.
The view was amazing!
Room Overview
If there's one thing that I love about the Indigo chain of hotels - it is their attention to the 'little things'. They've managed to encapsulate the essence of urban Bangkok hospitality through the hotel's decor, service and F&B offerings. Not many hotel chains are this attentive. I was able to experience the 'local vibes' during my stay there.
As I had arrived close to dinnertime, I debated between settling for room service or dining at the CHAR restaurant on level 25. I'm glad that I chose the latter even though fine dining alone was not the best idea. Having company is always better. :)
Decor in the hallway
As this is not a restaurant review per se, I'm not going into the details of my dining experience at CHAR. Having said that, I highly recommend the Surprise Menu. You can choose either a 3-course or 5-course with wine pairings, at the discretion of the chef. Let him surprise you! Having said that, do highlight if you have any dietary requirements and he would be glad to accede. I have always preferred a light, pescatarian diet when I'm travelling so the chef gave me exactly that.
The view from the restaurant was not too shabby either. Suffice to say, I went to bed fulfilled and happy - ready to take on the (shopping) adventures ahead.
But first, let's go for an early morning swim, shall we?
Infinity Pool
Most of the stayers in the hotel were professionals or corporate travellers hence I was not expecting a pool with many children in them. The view was breathtaking if you're into urban jungles.
I didn't stay long at the infinity pool as it was a chilly morning but getting around the city was really easy. The hotel's central location along Wireless Road was accessible by all kinds of transportation but I highly recommend taking the Skytrain if you're not a fan of heavy traffic. The sheltered walkway along the BTS stations connected the popular malls such as Siam Paragon (Siam station), Central World (Chidlom station), Gaysorn and the famous Erawan temple (Ploenchit station). Hence, you can either walk (great cardio) or hop on the train to get from one place to another.
My stay at Indigo Bangkok was short and sweet. As I've reiterated, the accommodation met with my fuss-free requirements and I think it was especially pragmatic for business travellers.