Recommended Hotels

Luxury hotels in Bangkok are among the world’s least expensive and most travellers take advantage of the many promotional rates offered at the city’s world-class establishments. It is imperative to make advance reservations for the high season, from December to March, especially for the resort destinations of Phuket and Ko Samui. During the low season, from April to October, there are almost always rooms to be had. The Tourist Authority of Thailand (TAT) has airport and city-centre offices in all major destinations; many are open seven days a week. All hotels are air-conditioned. A seven percent Value Added Tax (VAT) and 10 percent service charge is added to hotel bills. Unless noted below, all hotels accept major credit cards. Published, or ‘rack’ rates, may be high at the hotels listed below, but always ask for promotional rates which offer up to 60 percent savings. Reservations made through tour operators or through the TAT will also normally ensure a lower price than the hotel’s rack rates. Always check the hotel’s website (where available) as many hotels offer ‘internet-only’ rates, allowing you to make substantial savings.

The following price categories are for accommodation for two people per night, including tax.

$$$$ over US$280

$$$ US$140–280

$$ US$70–140

$ less than US$70

Bangkok

Arun Residence $$$ 38 Soi Pratoo Nok Yoong, Thanon Maharat, Rattanakosin, tel: 0 2221 9158-9, www.arunresidence.com. A small riverbank hotel with views of Wat Arun; it is located just a short walk away from Wat Pho and 100 year-old Chinese shophouses. Rooms have Wi-Fi access and iPod docks. There is a French-Thai restaurant, The Deck, and a rooftop bar that makes an atmospheric spot for cocktails. Six rooms.

Intercontinental Bangkok $$$ 973 Ploenchit Road, tel: 0 2656 0444, www.ihg.com. In the heart of the shopping district, steps from Chit Lom Skytrain station, this hotel is an excellent choice. The deluxe rooms are spacious with large sound-proofed windows overlooking the bustling city. There are five restaurants, a pool, health club, spa and a beauty salon. There is a very cute Italian restaurant and wine bar, called Theo Mio, on site. 381 rooms.

The Mandarin Oriental $$$$ 48 Oriental Avenue, tel: 0 2659 9000, www.mandarinoriental.com/bangkok. More than 140 years old, the world-renowned Oriental Hotel is Bangkok’s longest-established luxury hotel. All the rooms are plush, with special touches such as hardwood floors in the bathrooms. As well as the Oriental Spa, there is a Thai cooking school, seven of the city’s best restaurants, two swimming pools and a health club. Afternoon tea is served in the Authors’ Lounge, named in honour of the many famous writers who have stayed at the hotel. 395 rooms.

Marvel Hotel $ 30 Sukhumvit Soi 22, Bangkok 10110, tel: 0 2262 0000. The shopping district of Sukhumvit, including the Emporium shopping complex, is just a few minutes’ walk from this well-priced, full-service hotel. Located near Phrom Phong Skytrain station, the rooms come with telephones, satellite television and bathrooms with hairdryers. There is an outdoor swimming pool, a gym, a 24-hour bar and an Italian restaurant. 221 rooms.

Le Méridien $$$$ 40/5 Surawong Road, tel: 0 2232 8888. This sleek, modernist hotel, just 50 metres from Patpong district, is a fully wired techno vision of brushed concrete, glass and funky nightclub lighting effects. Rooms have full-wall windows, flat screen TVs and ‘rainforest’ showers. The signature restaurant, Bamboo Chic, fuses Thai, Japanese and Chinese cuisines to a techno soundtrack, and has sake and shouchu lists alongside the wine. 282 rooms.

The Peninsula $$$$ 333 Charoen Nakhon Road, Khlong San, tel: 0 2861 2888, www.peninsula.com. This 39-storey luxury hotel has great river views and decor that is international and contemporary but with neat Asian undertones. The marble bathrooms have steam-free TVs, there is an outdoor pool, a health club, and six excellent bars and restaurants, including Mei Jiang, one of the best Chinese in the city. Free shuttle boats to Tha Sathorn pier. 370 rooms.

Shanghai Mansion $$ 479–481 Yaowarat Road, tel: 0 2221 2121, www.shanghaimansion.com. A classy boutique hotel in a part of town that is often written off as lacking in decent lodgings. The artful decor results in accommodation with lovely over-the-top chinoiserie, four-poster beds and vibrant saturated hues, many reflecting those you see in the nearby market alleyways. It also has free internet access, a spa, and free a tuk-tuk shuttle to major attractions. 76 rooms.

Le Siam $$ 3 Convent Road, Silom, Bangkok 10500, tel: 0 2233 5345, www.swisslodge.com. Formerly known as The Swiss Lodge, this is a small boutique hotel located near the nightlife and shopping districts, and the Saladaeng Skytrain station. It is Swiss-managed with friendly, knowledgeable staff and elegant rooms with teak furniture and marble bathrooms. There is 24-hour room service, a small pool with sundeck and a Swiss café. 55 rooms.

The Siam Hotel $$$$ Khao Road, Khwaeng Wachira Phayaban, tel: 0 2206 6999, www.thesiamhotel.com. The art deco marvel that is The Siam takes its lead from the Jazz Age, with megaphones and vintage posters setting the tone amid a serene inner-city oasis of leafy interiors and lofty ceilings. This is decadence on the Chao Phraya. There is a Muay Thai ring, pool and spa and even a cooking school here. 39 rooms.

Take a Nap $ 920–926 Rama 4 Road, Suriyawongse, tel: 0 2637 0015, www.takeanaphotel.com. Basic but cutely attired rooms, each with an artistic theme, such as Japanese waves, Pop Art, and the child-like Happy Forest, painted on the wall. They also have air-conditioning and a few TV stations, but no fridge or wardrobe. Close to the Patpong night market and a five-minute walk to the Skytrain and subway stations. 30 rooms.

Chiang Mai

Chiang Mai Plaza Hotel $ 92 Sridonchai Road, Chang Khlan, tel: 0 5382 0920. Within walking distance of the Night Bazaar and the Ping River, this large tourist hotel offers great value. Its spacious public areas are tastefully decorated with Thai art and maintain a relaxed ambience. In the evenings a small Northern Thai music ensemble performs in the main lobby. Facilities include a fitness centre, large outdoor pool and two restaurants serving Thai and international cuisine. Free Wi-Fi internet access available. 467 rooms and eight suites.

Dhara Dhevi $$$$ 51/4 Chiang Mai-San Kamphaeng Road, tel: 0 5388 8888, www.dharadhevi.com. A stunning complex in extensive grounds with villas modelled on local Lanna architecture. In communal areas there are replicas of famous buildings such as the ancient Palace of Mandalay in Burma. Top class restaurants include the French Farang Ses and the Chinese Fujian. 123 suites and villas.

The Four Seasons Resort Chiang Mai $$$$ 502 Moo 1, Mae Rim-Samoeng Old Road, tel: 0 5329 8181, www.fourseasons.com/chiangmai. Thirty minutes from the airport, this world-renowned, lushly landscaped resort hotel overlooks tranquil rice paddies. Accommodation is in two-storey teak pavilions, luxuriously furnished with every amenity, including internet access and huge bathrooms with deep tubs. These also come with private sala (a traditional-style covered verandah) with an oversized day bed and colourful Thai pillows. There is an infinity pool, tennis courts, a spa, a fitness centre and several outstanding restaurants and bars. A shuttle service to the Night Bazaar is provided daily. 98 lodgings, including pavilions, villas and private residencies.

Karinthip Village $$$ 50/2 Chang Moi Kao Road, Changmoi Tb. Muang Ap., tel: 0 5323 54 14-8, www.karinthipvillage.com. Located just outside the old city, Karinthip Village occupies a quiet landscaped corner opposite Wat Chomphu. The three guest wings contain rooms decorated in different themes: Chinese, Thai or colonial. Facilities include a Thai-Western restaurant, large pool and a spa. 67 rooms.

Chiang Rai

Dusit Island Resort $$$ 1129 Kraisorasit Road, Vieng District, tel: 0 5360 7999, www.dusit.com. A great hotel located on an island in the Kok river, across from the city centre. Rooms have large picture windows overlooking the city and mountains. There is a large outdoor pool, tennis courts, fitness centre, a steak house, a Chinese restaurant and a Thai café. 271 rooms.

Chiang Saen/The Golden Triangle

Anantara Resort and Spa Golden Triangle $$$$ 229 Moo 1, Chiang Saen tel: 0 5378 4084, http://goldentriangle.anantara.com. A most unusual low-rise hotel (two-storey buildings) set amid 81 hectares (200 acres) of manicured gardens. The spacious and comfortable rooms, with sunken bathrooms, all come with a large terrace overlooking the Mekong River, Myanmar and Laos. An elephant camp offers local elephant treks and elephant training lessons. One free activity for every night of stay. 77 rooms and suites.

Mae Hong Son

The Dai Resort $ 158 Toongkongmoo Village, tel: 0 5361 3964. Owned by a Shan family, The Dai is a lovely property with several Shan-style houses spread across landscaped grounds. The spacious rooms have air conditioning and are warmly decorated with bamboo-thatched walls and wood trim. There is also space in the grounds for camping. 11 rooms.

Phuket

Amanpuri $$$$ Pansea Beach, tel: 0 7632 4333, www.amanpuri.com. The premier property of the exclusive Aman resorts chain has a private beach where every imaginable water sport is available. Pavilions with wood floors and ocean views are scattered on the hillside amid coconut and palm trees. There is a beautiful pool and the hotel has its own fleet of yachts for anything from day trips to overnight cruises. It has 40 pavilions as well as 30 private villas.

Banyan Tree $$$$ 33 Moo 4 Srisoonthorn Road, Amphoe Talang, 83110, tel: 0 7632 4374, www.banyantree.com. The epitome of luxury in the midst of a manicured development at Bang Tao Bay. All the villas have wood floors, plush furniture and private outdoor Jacuzzis; some come with private pools, although few overlook the sea. There are free-form and lap pools, tennis courts, water sports, a spa and fitness centre, a golf school and course, cooking classes, and several outstanding restaurants. 108 villas.

Cape Sienna Hotel & Villas $$$$ 18/40 Moo 6, Nakalay Road, Kamala, Kathu, tel: 0 7633 7300, www.capesienna.com. Modern accommodation with good views over Kamala Beach. All rooms have sea views, private balconies, flat screen TVs and wireless broadband. There are good sea views, too, from its restaurants, bars and spa. This is an adult-friendly resort so only allows children under 12 in family villas, all of which overlook the sea. 146 rooms and nine villas.

Marina Phuket Resort $$$$ 47 Karon Road, Karon Beach, tel: 0 7633 0625, www.marinaphuket.com. Small, simply furnished bungalows are scattered on a hillside a few minutes’ walk from the sandy beach at Karon. The jungle-like foliage means some rooms remain quite dark throughout the day; the sea view units offer breathtaking scenery to look at. There are two restaurants and a small pool. 104 rooms.

The Nai Harn $$$$ 23/3 Vises Road, Nai Harn Beach, tel: 0 7638 0200, www.thenaiharn.com. A lovely hideaway on a cliff above a white-sand beach. The Nai Harn offers understated luxury in well-equipped rooms that feature oversized terraces with magnificent ocean views. The spa has outdoor treatment rooms overlooking the Andaman Sea and there is a pool, two restaurants and a spa. 110 rooms.

Thavorn Beach Village and Spa $$$ 6/2 Moo 6, Nakalay Bay, Patong, tel: 0 7629 0334, www.thavornbeachvillage.com. Close to the bustle of Patong, yet tranquil enough with its own private beach. A cable car transports guests from the open-air main lobby to the comfortable rooms built high on a hill. The grounds are lush and service is of a high standard. There is a large lagoon swimming pool, a spa and an excellent Thai restaurant. 194 rooms.

Ko Samui

Ampha Place Hotel $ 67/59 Moo 1, Thanbol Maenam, tel: 0 7733 2129, www.samui-ampha-hotel.com. This simple, but well-run place has smart ensuite rooms, each with international TV channels, a balcony and free Wi-Fi access. There is a small café and bar beside the outdoor pool. The location is secluded and quiet, about 150 metres (165 yards) to the beach and a ten minute walk into the village of Maenam.

Bo Phut Resort & Spa $$$$ 12/12 Tambol Bo Phut, Surat Thani, tel: 0 7724 5777, www.bophutresort.com. This 9-hectare (23-acre) luxury resort prides itself on its quiet, restful atmosphere. There is a lovely stretch of private sandy beach with every water sport imaginable. Accommodation is in villas scattered across the grounds, all meticulously decorated with an authentic flair. There is a spa, a glorious pool and three restaurants. 32 Thai-style villas and 29 suites.

Centara Grand Beach Resort $$$$ 38/2 Moo 3, Borpud, Chaweng Beach, tel: 0 7723 0500, www.centralhotelsresorts.com. This is a large resort hotel in the midst of bustling Chaweng Beach. Rooms are comfortable with their own little private balconies, all with ocean views. There is a fitness centre, spa and three excellent restaurants. 208 rooms.

The Imperial Boat House Beach Resort $$ 83 Moo 5, Choeng Mon Beach, tel: 0 7742 5041, www.melia.com. This splendid property features comfortable hotel rooms, including 34 rice barge suites with wood floors, luxury bathrooms and amenities. Public areas feature a pool, a beachside restaurant and a bar. 210 rooms.

Poppies Samui $$$ Chaweng Beach, tel: 0 7742 2419, www.poppiessamui.com. Excellent location at the quieter end of Chaweng Beach, this is a small property with understated luxury in each of its private cottages which are decorated with fine Thai silk and gleaming teak floors and furniture. The bathrooms feature a sunken bath opening onto a private garden. There is a pool surrounded with natural rock, an outstanding restaurant on the beach and a spa. 24 cottages.

The Tongsai Bay $$$$ 84 Moo 5, Bo Phut, Tongsai Bay, tel: 0 7724 5480, www.tongsaibay.co.th. On a quiet bay with a private beach, this hideaway is one of the most luxuriously unpretentious retreats in Thailand. The cottages, scattered on a hillside, all have teak floors, open-air terraces and secluded outdoor tubs. The villas have indoor and outdoor bedrooms (mosquito nets are provided), which is an unusual feature for a tropical vacation. It has a mix of 44 cottages, 24 beachfront suites and 15 villas.

Hua Hin

Evason Hua Hin Resort and Spa $$$ 9 Moo 5 Parknampran Beach, Pranburi, Prachuab Khiri Khan, tel: 0 3263 2111, www.sixsenses.com. Modern elegance situated along an isolated beach with the option of villas that come with their own private pools. The Six Senses Spa offers a range of treatments, including Thai and Himalayan Singing Bowl massage. 240 rooms and suites as well as 40 pool villas.

Ko Phi Phi

Holiday Inn Resort Phi Phi Island $$ Laemtong Beach, Phi Phi Island, Krabi, tel: 0 7562 7300, www.phiphi.holidayinn.com. These bungalows in a smart resort at the remote northerly end of the island have garden or sea views. The resort also has a spa and holds Thai cooking classes in one of its restaurants. Its isolation means tranquillity, though sightseeing is best accomplished by boat. 77 bungalows, split between beachfront and garden locations.