Shangri-La Bangkok — Hotel in Bang Rak Subdistrict

Luxury infrastructure but not a luxury experience.

I travel frequently to Bangkok and have stayed at many different hotels across different price points. Additionally, I've stayed at many different Shangri-La locations. I can say that based on that experience, this location falls short of what I expect from Bangkok hospitality and what I expect from Shangri-La hotels. When I was choosing where to stay on this visit, I remembered spending Chinese New Year/lunar New Year holidays at other Shangri-La hotels in Asia and enjoying all the nice touches for the holidays. I booked a club-level room looking forward to all the special details that make a Shangri-La stay so memorable. Usually Club Level is about more than just the lounge; the rooms are expected to be nicer and include better amenities. This was a total disappointment: this room had the feel of a much lower hotel class. There was no personalized welcome letter; instead I was handed an overview of the lounge when I checked in. There was no welcome gift- in the past Shangri-La stays for New Year I've gotten mandarin oranges or a fun red envelope. At other hotels anywhere I've stayed in SE Asia the default is usually a few pieces of fruit on a plate with a nice fruit knife to use. There was NOTHING like that at all. No turndown service, no treats or surprises, except for the surprising lack: the bathroom had exactly two of each kind of towel (two bath towels, two hand towels, two was cloths), no generous stack of towels. No extra blanket in the closet like I would expect. No coffee maker! I can't remember the last time I stayed at a hotel with no way to make coffee in the morning - no Nespresso pods, nothing. (There was a hot water kettle and tea bags.). There was no plastic laundry bag, no full-size stationery...

One of oddest things was the mini bar. At check in they made a point to mention that the mini bar is complimentary for the first time through, but the items in the minibar were disastrous. It was a sad set of coke/diet coke/sprite (one each!) and a can of pringles and a bag of M&M's. No locally made chips or nuts, no soda water, nothing Bangkok-specific. I would have preferred NOT having the free items and instead having a minibar stocked like it's in a club level room at a four-star hotel. There was a QR-code to scan to request additional items like a third towel or an extra blanket for a nap, and I tried it out to see how easy it was an it asked for a login to my frequent stay account. That adds a hurdle to the first hurdle of even having to ask for these things.

One issue that also seems to be a result of misplaced penny-pinching is the hotel shuttle to the mall across the river. The hotel guide points out that there are limited spaces and describes the situation as "first come, first served" but they don't mention you need to sign up and get a ticket. I only knew to do so because I saw someone else do it; the staff member standing at the podium said nothing to anyone by way of instructions or greeting. While I was waiting to board I overheard the folks who'd been behind me in line for 15 minutes realize they were supposed to sign in and get tickets and then they found out there was no room on the shuttle, which runs only once per hour, which is doing the very least. There is a note that the shuttle is run by an outside company, which just feels like outsourcing to save money.

This is very detailed over what seems I am sure to be minor details, but I wanted to be clear about what type of hotel this feels like. It does not feel at all like a Shangri-La stay or like other 4/5 star hotels in Bangkok. It feels like they've committed to being a conference hotel first and foremost or it feels like they are getting ready to be sold and want their books to look as good as possible. If you are imagining what I usually think of when I think about a Shangri-La stay, hopefully this information can help you with your...

I was thoroughly satisfied with my stay at the Shangri-La during this Bangkok trip.

Prompt Responses and Attentive Service Prior to my stay, I had sent an inquiry via email, and I received a respectful response within half a day, which addressed my requests and asked me to confirm upon check-in. Later, I learned that my requests were not standard at most hotels and often came at an additional charge, so I appreciated the accommodation all the more. During my stay, I encountered a minor inconvenience early in the morning, so I sent a message via the app’s chat feature. Within two hours, I received a response, followed by a letter and a call from the manager by mid-morning. Their response exceeded my expectations and allowed me to enjoy the rest of my stay in optimal comfort.

Convenient Service Access I downloaded the Shangri-La Circle app, which made accessing services incredibly convenient. Through the app, I could easily request amenities, turn-down service, and room dining pickup. It also provided helpful information on hotel facilities and details about my room, ensuring I had all the information I needed at my fingertips.

Cleanliness and Well-Maintained Facilities While I was initially concerned about the carpeted floors, the room's cleanliness and maintenance were exceptional, and despite having allergies, I found the environment very comfortable. Staff were considerate, even removing their shoes upon entering to assist with luggage or cleaning. The bed linens were fresh, the water pressure was perfect, and the Samsung smart TV allowed access to YouTube and Spotify. Despite initial concerns about insects in Bangkok, I was relieved to find not a single one during my stay. However, the mini fridge took a while to cool items thoroughly.

Surrounding Amenities and Access The hotel is conveniently located near traditional markets, popular eateries, affordable yet skilled massage shops, pharmacies, convenience stores, cafes, bakeries, a supermarket, McDonald's, and even a department store. I often stopped by these places on my way back to the hotel. Nearby, I’d recommend Andre, a French restaurant just five minutes away, along with Roti Cha Cha Cha and a local stewed pork restaurant. The complimentary hotel boat service runs hourly, but as I often ventured out early in the morning, I frequently used the Sathorn Pier for ferries or the BTS. Exiting through the connected Krungthep Wing made it a breeze to reach the station quickly. For trips to Robinson Department Store, exiting through Chao Phraya Tower (also connected to Krungthep Wing) was particularly convenient, especially on rainy days.

On-Site Facilities and Ambiance If you’re looking to embrace traditional Thai aesthetics and take in the beauty of the Chao Phraya River, I’d argue there’s no better place than Shangri-La. The nighttime view, in particular, was breathtaking, offering me an experience I would have missed if I hadn’t stayed here. During this trip, I also stayed at a modern hotel in the Lang Suan area, which was luxurious and comfortable but had a more urban feel. While I thoroughly enjoyed it, I missed a sense of Thai ambiance that I was able to fully experience at the Shangri-La.

The traditional decor, timeless, classic touches, and beautifully manicured gardens all contributed to the atmosphere. Meanwhile, the services were modern and seamlessly provided, creating an effortless and relaxing experience. Each staff member I encountered was highly professional, greeting me with warm smiles and making me feel truly welcome.

Overall, my stay left a lasting impression of genuine hospitality. Shangri-La felt less like a place that evaluates guests and more like a welcoming retreat—a truly...

Addition to Earlier Review: I had to stay an additional two-weeks in Bangkok. I extended my stay at the Shangri-La. I stayed in room 1317. I used the opportunity to do a deep dive in to the Shangri-La Bangkok. Truly, a tale of two hotels. A great hotel, perhaps the best in Bangkok, when considering value and location. As long as the guests obey the no smoking policy, it is hard to beat the value and excellence of Shangri-La Bangkok.

During my two week extended stay, I experienced none of the issues with cigarette smoke constantly entering my room as I did during the first week of my stay. I stayed in room 1317, which is a balcony room. The view of the river is outstanding and not to be missed.

The staff and management of the Shangri-La are very experienced and professional. I have stayed at the Shangri-LA Bangkok perhaps twenty times with about sixty room nights, all told. The entire staff at SLB is quite excellent. Some employees have been there for many years and it shows.

Happily, there was nothing to complain about and, not surprisingly, my interactions with the management and staff were far more relaxed than the first week of my stay. Again, from the front desk to security to housekeeping, truly professional and among the best this traveler has encountered.

The Shang Palace Chinese restaurant is truly outstanding. I had Peking Duck. I eat Peking Duck frequently and I think this was among the best I have ever had. Best was at Shangri-La Ulan Bator, the subject of a future review. The Shang Palace restaurant is onsite and that is a huge bonus.

The lobby bar is excellent. People are friendly and the beer is cold. The bar snacks are excellent. The coffee shop, too, deserves special mention. Always cheerful and happy to make change for me.

Room service is really good. Nice people and the food is quite good and reasonably priced. The coffee is also excellent, which is important to engineers and data rats. I think it is actually brewed coffee and not the "Americano" water diluted espresso!

The laundry service is excellent. For those of you that care about such things, it is reasonably priced and world class. I have some expensive custom clothes (see tailor review). Shangri-La laundry service is just fantastic! I got some stains on some prized clothing and Shang laundry completely removed the stain. I was and remain grateful!

The housekeeping staff treated my like a member of the family. What a nice group!! Thank you! I got to practice my Thai, too.

The Shangri-La Bangkok is a truly great hotel. My earlier review, below, explains the issues that some guests have experienced. However, the earlier issues with the cigarette smoke do not fully reflect my extensive experience with this excellent property.

The experiences described, herein, are my own and offered to the public so that consumers can make more informed decisions about where to spend precious resources.

Meanwhile, my room is literally filled with nasty cigarette smoke. My clothes reek of stale smoke. I awoke from a nap with clogged sinuses and a room full of nasty cigarette smoke. The manager and security do not care and it takes a lot of yelling to get them to do something.

Despite the above, the staff is experienced and helpful. Room service was, as always, excellent! The balcony rooms offer among the best views in Bangkok. Sadly, the balcony rooms also attract the smokers. The hotel won't enforce the rules so if second-hand cigarette smoke bothers you, find a room without a window or go to a hotel that...