Thailand

There is a shift with new concepts evolving within the Serviced Apartments segment – beneficial for both long stays and short trip travellers. Case in point is the brand new Staybridge Suites Bangkok Thonglor, which also constitutes the arrival of this brand from InterContinental Hotel Group to the Asia Pacific. Yes, located along the road known for being at the heart of Bangkok’s nightlife entertainment scene, this Staybridge property is the first one ever in the region! So it’s with curious eyes and senses on high alert that Happy Hour Asia experiences this latest serviced residences hotel and what joy it can bring to visitors.

While there is usually a lot of traffic jams in this area, a shuttle can be arranged from the hotel to pick you up at the nearby BTS Thonglor Skytrain station, which is less than 1 kilometre away. And get to that station it is possible to take the airport link (or coming via the train and skytrain from the north Bangkok airport) and change to the subway, followed by the sky train at Asoke, only two stations away.

Once arriving, the high-rise hotel (housing 303 room suites) has its own drive-up and ground floor lobby, in which its appealing interior design is well represented. Blond wood and hues of blue and mustard yellow dominate, along with modern takes on vintage design, in the form of commissioned floor and table lamps for instance.

High floor lamps are made of brass and white opaque globe lamps mounted on the top, placed by besides beautiful designer armchairs in light blue-grey upholstering. The backdrop is a wooden wall with an abstract painting in white and blue.

In an opposite corner there are two apple computers for guests to use for internet browsing and other tasks, again flanked by vintage lamps and with vintage style light blue chairs. The backdrop is partly a cobalt blue wooden wall (which is used also in the accommodation).

The lobby also offers guests a kiosk service (24-hour pantry), including snacks and treats, including ete ice cream etc.

Upon this review visit the lobby desk team is seen busy serving a large number of guests – who are clearly attracted by the offer of more than just a hotel room, such as The Social Night and having one’s own balcony, kitchenette and washing machine etc.

So, new to consumers in Asia, Staybridge Suites is an upscale extended-stay brand since 1997, recognised for offering “a unique, residential-style experience that breaks from the conventional travel norm.” It is suitable for extended stays that can stretch over weeks or even months.

One need for modern travellers is the need for multiple spaces and that include a lounge where to conduct work in quiet surrounds as a must. On the mezzanine floor, above the restaurant, a co-working space available to all guests caters to this. It includes ice water coffee, tea and biscuits as self-service refreshments throughout the day, and is furnished with grey or blue upholstered armchairs; mustard padded chairs; low, orange and padded, round stools; one beige sofa; one round bright marble table with a round foot and more.

Moving up to the accommodation floors, the corridors come with stylish hotel room signage and interior design including wooden wall panel sections with the cobalt blue.

Entering the suite, another blue wall section marks the transition between the kitchenette and the living room zone, which has grey, textile wallpaper with golden lines. It is furnished a grey and orange-patterned carpet on which stands two round brass-framed marble tables, by a two-seater sofa. Sitting down one faces the wall-mounted flat screen TV. Opposite it, above the sofa, one finds a triple-split painting has a blue landscape.

The fully equipped, white-tiled kitchenette also comes with blonde wood in the form of lots of built-in wall cabinets, and a washing machine/dryer. Other equipment included is a cooking hob, a water kettle, toaster, a microwave, and a fridge with freezer, so cooking one’s own meal here is very much possible. There is also a round marble table with two mustard-hued chairs. Globe lamps hang from the ceiling. The flooring consists in blond wooden planks.

A door separates the bedroom which has blonde wooden door frames, a slide door, and a work desk/make-up table with wall mirror. The super comfy bed – facing a second wall TV – has the hotel’s signature cobalt blue for its headboard padding (hung from a brass rail!) combined with wood, four mega large pillows and a mustard yellow décor pillow. Above is a spot-lit sandy-hued wall and the window has a grey blackout curtain. All lamps in the suite are vintage-inspired with brass metal.

And guess what, the beige- and chocolate brown tiled bathroom even reveals a bathtub!

For fitness needs there is first of all the fitness room (equipped with various machines and weight lifting), while the rooftop pool (light blue with dark blue stripes) is more for rest and recreation than lap pool swimming – due to its configuration. A large green plant sits in the corner by the pool, flanked by two pool chairs. There is also an under-roof section, giving somewhat cover from the hot sun daytime, with dark-grey sofas and orange-hued wood.

And in the later afternoon there is a second – lower – rooftop, which has a garden with day beads and lush garden plantations, free from direct sunlight but full of comfort.

Thonglor is traditionally also a popular residential area for the Japanese community. Hence there are all kinds of services catering to this target group and which means that the hotel is equipped with a black-tiled Japanese Onsen, which is a hot bath with mineral-laden water.

Then there is the other attraction bonus attraction by Staybridge Suites, which is an own adaption of the evening cocktails that are ubiquitous with club lounge facilities: The Social Night – well visited – concept, which takes every Monday, Wednesday and Friday between 05:30 – 06:30 pm. All guests can then enjoy complimentary drinks and appetizers at the ground floor the Den restaurant (where the included breakfast is also served daily). Cocktails, beer and Birchgrove Bird’s Block Cuvee white and red wine are served, along with cucumber pickles, black olives, cheese, biscuits and various canapés.

The restaurant is cosy towards the evening, with an illuminated wooden ceiling, blond faux-wood floor tiles, creamy grey-veined marble tables, bright rattan chairs with blue cushions, and bar stools in black metal and mint green upholstering. Dark green wall panels frame the surrounding windows and a few cabinets, while the bar counter front and the bar’s wall mirrors are decorated with antique blue wooden frames.

After the Social Night, venturing outside to explore Thonglor can be a joyful continuation of the evening and a discovery that can keep anyone busy for many days/nights as there is an abundance of community malls, boutiques, massage stores, restaurants, bars, cafés and glamorous clubs and nightspots.

The day after the night before Staybridge Suites Bangkok Thonglor sets your day off to a good start with its breakfast buffet, including, salad items such as cherry tomatoes common hot Asian dishes such as stir-fried pork with ginger sauce, combined with western breakfast items. Miso soup is always a winner and so is the muesli-yoghurt combo.

Overall, the arrival of Staybridge to Bangkok, and Asia, must also be declared a winner that makes us pretty happy.