Although the room itself was spectacular, I felt that the bathroom was the feature that stole the limelight. The entrance to the bathroom was grandeur by its own and the interior furnishings further boosted the Banyan Tree’s name as a luxurious resort styled hotel.
Stepping into the “grand entrace” of the bathroom, you will be greeted by dual “his and hers” sinks – perfect for families or even couples. The self-standing sinks were somewhat reminiscent of what you would find in a Balinese resort and the black marbled sinks gave the overall look a touch of class. Viewing the scene from the entrance, you might notice the symmetry of the bathroom and it sure makes for a nice photograph. I am pretty sure photography enthusiasts will enjoy this scene.
To the right of the sinks is an individual toilet with frosted glass surrounding it for privacy. To the left is the shower, with the same frosted glass covering. This makes for a very nice, modern but yet practical design. Many hotels nowadays seem to enjoy employing clear tempered glass in their bathrooms. Their toilets and shower are all surrounded by clear glass which gives the bathroom a clean contemporary look and make it seem more spacious. However, the heavy usage of glass bids a sacrifice of privacy and the bathroom becomes only available for use one guest at a time. Thankfully, this is not the case for Banyan Tree Hotel in Bangkok. Being a more family oriented hotel, I thought that the use of frosted glass was very practical and with the inclusion of dual sinks, the bathroom is transformed into a common area, where small families can all make use of at the same time. Conservative couples also do not have to wait to use the toilet while the other party is showering and the same goes for families.
Also, there was a beautiful bathtub of a good size beside the shower and I was indeed pleasantly surprised to know of its existence. This is because very few hotels have both a bathtub and a shower in the same bathroom with the exception of wallet burning suites. The tap attached to the bathtub is also classy looking and dispensed clear water with the effect similar to a gentle waterfall and I found that nice, instead of a strong gush of water used to fill the bathtubs of many other bathtubs more commonly seen. The presence of a shower attached to the bathtub also gives it practicality, allowing guests to rinse themselves off after a good soak without having to transit to the shower at the expense of wetting the floor and creating a potential safety hazard. The addition of a bathtub was certainly a game changer as it added just so much more luxury and demonstrates how spacious the entire room was. Even with the added bathtub, there was still plenty of space for guests to utilise in the bathroom and this sure is rare.
The bathroom was also rather well appointed, with all the basic amenities provided. Guests can find soap, shampoo and shower gel placed neatly around the sink area. Even the face towels were rolled nicely and placed beside the sinks, instead of just being folded together with the bath towels and this showed the attention to detail exercised by the hotel’s management. The only complaint some guests might have regarding the toiletries would be that the soap, shower gel and shampoo were not placed in those reusable plastic bottles commonly used in most other hotels. As such, guests will be unable to keep the bottles or bring them back for future use.
Guests are spoilt for choice when it comes to dining options at the Banyan Tree Hotel Bangkok. From Japanese to international cuisine to fine dining, there is surely something for every guest. Not to mention the endowment of not one, but two alfresco  bars and lounges, guests can truly add to their experience at the hotel in numerous ways. In my short stay there, I was sadly unable to try all the dining options but fortunately, I did not leave without eating at some of their more popular restaurants.
One of the options I had was a Chinese Dim Sum meal at Bai Yun restaurant. The name of the restaurant restaurant translates to white clouds and just pay a visit to the restaurant and you’ll now why. Situated on the 59th floor, Bai Yun offers a contemporary and luxurious setting with amazing views of the city.The food served was delicious and tasted very authentic. It wasn’t hard for me to understand why Bai Yun restaurant is one of the popular restaurants around the area.
I also had a hearty breakfast at the lobby lounge, where I was seated in a very relaxed environment with a pretty decent view of the greenery surrounding the hotel. The food was affordable and tasted decent, although foodies would indubitably prefer food from some of the better restaurants the hotel has to offer. Nonetheless, a meal at the lobby lounge is certainly more than enough for a family looking to kick back and relax or for couples or friends who just wish to chat in a quiet and comfortable environment. What I also liked was the opening hours of the lobby lounge – 6am to 11pm. The long hours makes it a breeze for busy tourists who wish to catch an early breakfast or for guests who wish to have some supper before retiring to their rooms. Also, a live band makes full use of the piano at the lounge, playing some pleasant tunes for diners and guests.
With a choice of 2 bars with spectacular views, it is not hard to see why Banyan Tree Bangkok is a hit not just with tourists but also with locals. During my stay, I ventured to the Vertigo and Moon Bar situated on the 61st floor of the hotel. It was certainly an amazing experience as the bar offered unrivalled panoramic views of the city and guests who desire to have some snacks can take in the breathtaking views in the comfort of numerous seats. Do take note, however, that the bar tends to be pretty crowded during weekends and public holidays as many non-guests go there to relax and enjoy the view as well. My advice would be to head to the bar on weekdays and thoroughly enjoy yourself without the crowd and noise.
Banyan Tree Hotel Bangkok offers facilities commonly found in other hotels of similar standards. Meeting rooms with technological advanced equipment and a business centre offering services such as printing and wifi access caters to the needs of businessmen while other guests can enjoy the use of the health club and the swimming pool.
I did have the opportunity to take a swim in the pool located high on the 21st floor of the hotel. One thing that came to my attention was the presence of flora and fauna surrounding the pool, giving it a very “natural” feel, somewhat like a luxury resort. The pool was also of a very decent length, unlike the minuscule pools of  many other hotels. There is also a small bar by the pool area, offering swimmers a refreshing break from their exercise, or just some tropical cocktails to sip on while relaxing on the surprisingly comfortable sunbeds. Though I felt that this was surely one of the better pools in a hotel I have seen, I thought that the pool could have been open for a longer timing to offer tourists a chance of having a swim later on at night.
Banyan Tree Hotel Bangkok offered me a unique lodging experience hardly seen in the hotel industry. I particularly enjoyed how the hotel was able to combine the concept of luxury and that of a resort so seamlessly together, resulting in an unconventional but yet luxurious experience. With its good location and wide variety of dining options, guests are pampered throughout their stay at the Banyan Tree Hotel. Families will also find the spacious rooms pleasant as they offer more than enough space for kids to have all the fun they would want in a hotel room. Although the prices are not the cheapest you can find, it is definitely worth it to experience living at the Banyan Tree Hotel. One ending advice for potential guests – if you are looking for comfort, relief and shelter whilst in Bangkok, Banyan Tree Bangkok is the place to head to!
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