The Ecotel Bangkok Hotel — Hotel in Makkasan Subdistrict

This is by far, bar none, the worst hotel experience I have endured. For context I am a Sri Lankan, also a tropical Island famed for it's hospitality. This hotel was booked by a travel agent; my first mistake, due to a really hectic schedule, we decided to allow a travel agent to make the bookings, this hotel was offered to me as a "3 Star Hotel" option, which in my home country, means a really good hotel with lovely service. My second mistake was not looking at the google reviews, I did visit their website and found them on booking.com but somehow the bad reviews just didnt register properly as I was working right up until we left. The website showed a quaint, old style hotel which we thought looked lovely as we wanted an authentic bangkok experience. The reality was so far from this that it soured our entire trip. ||The pictures are entirely misleading, this is not so much a hotel as it is a HOLE. Down an awful area that can only be described as a little India but in the worst way. We were shocked to find that while we hoped for a bangkok experience, we had landed in a dirty back alley teeming with budget travel indians who were noisy, dirty, rude and were surrounded by indian food places. The hotel has no view or anything close to "ambience" its views are filthy back lanes with horrible garbage dumps and dirty laundry. We could not open our window as it opened onto a dirty street and dirtier apartments. The area the hotel is in, is locke din by a gate that charges anyone 40Baht simply to drop you off at your hotel doorstep, it's riduculous. ||Service is non existent. I read that Bangkok is known as the land of smiles...we did not see ONE. The hotel staff, especially the "manager" were unbelievably rude, disinterested and absolutely uncaring of their guests. The hotel has signs everywhere telling you how many things you'll be charged for if they deem it "excessively dirty" you can be charged for towels, bathmats, umbrellas the whole thing. We were changed out 4 bottles of water for 5 days. If you do happen to run out of water in a day they will tell you to go buy your own water. they do not help you with your bags, when leaving they told us to carry our own stuff out. No one smiles, no one greets you or is even remotely pleasant to you. ||The food was atrocious! We were booked for Bed & Breakfast, after our first day we never ate there again. It was just disgusting and the eating area was filthy. There is not kettle or tea/coffee supplies in the room as is normal or even a spoon should you want to make your own. There is a flask and you have to traipse to the elevator and fill it up with hot water and bring it back to the room. Luckily we had brought our sri lankan tea bags with us and had to buy sugar. ||There is no iron, theres a communal iron that you have to put 10 Baht into to use. Our bathroom toilet was leaking and the bed was hard and uncomfortable with old pen ink stains on the sheets. We basically stayed out all day and returned to the hotel only to sleep because it was so depressing and morbid, expecially when you keep returning to such sour faces who look at you like you are a nuisance. ||We were shocked and surprised to be charged a 2000 Baht deposit which was to be held as a security in case we "excessively dirtied" the room, I later saw many reviews showing that the hotel often claims some nonsense and deducts the deposit. It's like they are offended at having to housekeep their own hotel or provide good food or smile at paying guests. We originally believed we could get some good tips and helpful directions during our stay, we quickly realised the staff couldnt care less and were not interested in speaking. ||I cannot stress enough what an awful dump this place was and hope this review diverts other unfortunate tourists who maybe considering this place. The caliber of people staying here were the very cheap/crass/smelly/dirty kind which perhaps is why the hotel has evolved to be this way, but it certainly does not help the experience. ||The staff and surrounding area gave the worst of Bangkok and is definitely not the experience you want to have if you are looking forward to hospitality, smiles and great memories. We were so annoyed by the time we left. ||Dont...

This is by far, bar none, the worst hotel experience I have endured. For context I am a Sri Lankan, also a tropical Island famed for it's hospitality. This hotel was booked by a travel agent; my first mistake, due to a really hectic schedule, this hotel was offered to me as a "3 Star Hotel" option, which in my home country, means a really good hotel with lovely service. The website showed a quaint, old style hotel which we thought looked lovely as we wanted an authentic bangkok experience. The reality was so far from this that it soured our entire trip. The pictures are entirely misleading, this is not so much a hotel as it is a HOLE. Down an awful area that can only be described as a little India but in the worst way. We were shocked to find that while we hoped for a bangkok experience, we had landed in a dirty back alley teeming with budget travel indians who were noisy, dirty, rude and were surrounded by indian food places. The hotel has no view or anything close to "ambience" its views are filthy back lanes with horrible garbage dumps and dirty laundry. We could not open our window as it opened onto a dirty street and dirtier apartments. The area the hotel is in, is locked in by a gate that charges anyone 40Baht simply to drop you off at your hotel doorstep, it's riduculous. Service is non existent. I read that Bangkok is known as the land of smiles...we did not see ONE. The hotel staff, especially the "manager" were unbelievably rude, disinterested and absolutely uncaring of their guests. The hotel has signs everywhere telling you how many things you'll be charged for if they deem it "excessively dirty" you can be charged for towels, bathmats, umbrellas the whole thing. We were changed out 4 bottles of water for 5 days. If you do happen to run out of water in a day they will tell you to go buy your own water. they do not help you with your bags, when leaving they told us to carry our own stuff out. No one smiles, no one greets you or is even remotely pleasant to you.

The food was atrocious! We were booked for Bed & Breakfast, after our first day we never ate there again. It was just disgusting and the eating area was filthy. There is no kettle, or tea/coffee supplies in the room as is normal, or even a spoon should you want to make your own. There is a flask and you have to traipse to the elevator and fill it up with hot water and bring it back to the room. Luckily we had brought our sri lankan tea bags with us and had to buy sugar.

There is no iron, theres a communal iron that you have to put 10 Baht into to use. Our bathroom toilet was leaking and the bed was hard and uncomfortable with old pen ink stains on the sheets. We basically stayed out all day and returned to the hotel only to sleep because it was so depressing and morbid, expecially when you keep returning to such sour faces who look at you like you are a nuisance.

We were shocked and surprised to be charged a 2000 Baht deposit which was to be held as a security in case we "excessively dirtied" the room, I later saw many reviews showing that the hotel often claims some nonsense and deducts the deposit. It's like they are offended at having to housekeep their own hotel or provide good food or smile at paying guests. We originally believed we could get some good tips and helpful directions during our stay, we quickly realised the staff couldnt care less and were not interested in speaking. I cannot stress enough what an awful dump this place was and hope this review diverts other unfortunate tourists who maybe considering this place. The caliber of people staying here were the very cheap/crass/smelly/dirty kind which perhaps is why the hotel has evolved to be this way, but it certainly does not help the experience. The staff and surrounding area gave the worst of Bangkok and is definitely not the experience you want to have if you are looking forward to hospitality, smiles and great memories. We were so annoyed by the time we left.

Dont...

One of the worst hotels in Bangkok, Thailand. It's situated at an awesome location inside the city from where the market and other places can be accessed easily. You will find many great comments for this hotel but in reality the management and the top level staff were utterly disgusting people. Behaviour with tourists was not acceptable at all.

After staying for 9 days at Phuket, Krabi, Pattaya, at some great hotels, this one is the worst one.

Our Tour operator was also shocked by hearing the scenario. She said that they were defaming their reputation.

Rooms are too small. Washrooms are standard. No complimentary water and other tea bags, coffee, sugar, etc. provided for the 2nd day.

You cannot boil water inside the room. You have to walk all the way to the corridor to get the hot water from the dispenser present there.

No balcony in a single room. The smoking area is downstairs at the back side.

On the last day while checking out, the manager refused to refund us back the security amount of 2000 Bhat. Why? Because we had dumped cigarette butts in the dustbin. We didn't smoke as there were fire alarm all over the place and strict instructions were written too.

The cigarette butts were kept in an unused cigarette packet as the same cannot be thrown outside here and there at any roads or streets in Bangkok. So we kept the same and duly dumped in our dustbins provided by them at the hotel and washrooms.

We quarreled a lot and asked whether there was any fire alarm raised, or any smell coming or anything awkward found. First you cannot argue as they least know the English language. Communicating with their staff was the next level of irritation.

They only stick to that you cannot throw cigarette butts in the dustbin. Why? Are you insane. Bloody money making policy.

The same happened with the other person from another country who stayed at their hotel, security refund not given. Reason? His wife accidentally dumped the used Period Pads at the dustbin and not at the proper place as they stated. Though the used pads were properly packed in a plastic bag and dumped in the right place. Why she hadn't used their plastic bag was the Hotel's concern.

Is this how you treat tourists?

Cleanliness and hygiene are properly maintained. Ground level staff's behaviour is good. The breakfast buffet is good. 4 star only for location. Overall 0 stars.

Unprofessional management. 2000 Bhat is not a matter of joke.

They continued the quarrel with us and finally didn't refund us our money. They knew we had a return flight, so they lingered the quarrel so that we could leave in a rush as we had to catch the flight. Great plan.

Never recommend. Please stay in other hotels and avoid this one.

Please rate this as a 1 star hotel, the same doesn't deserve the tag as 3 Star.

Dear @Ecotel Bangkok Hotel, this is for your reply reference, you guys still do not have any proof that a person smoked. Only the used butts didn't give a clarification of smoking. No one smoked inside your room or hotel. You guys are just doing business by falsely making your rules as statements and earning extra security deposit moneys. Many of our friends, relatives and known persons had already marked your hotel as cheaters. Please Grow up now and use some common sense and believe in the facts and not on...