The bed is comfortable, everything works, access and parking are good, rooms are very clean and well serviced by efficient, helpful and friendly staff. BUT . . . .Funky (though irrelevant) decor can never overcome basic problems with any establishment. There is no possible way this place deserves the high rating received. I was unfortunately forced to extend my stay so can write with some experience. First, the noise: the building has a U-shape design facing the street so it cleverly collects all the street noise and directs it into the front rooms, and what street noise. All night bikes and cars, even loud conversations exacerbated by a further design feature, the balconies, which require opening doors and therefore exclude the possibility of well-sealed windows. Then there is the white tiled floors which carry internal sounds nicely ensuring various knocks, loud TV and cleaning activity are clearly audible. Those same white tiles throughout also ensure plenty of reflected glare from sun and downlights as well. It all probably looked good in the plans! More importantly there is the kitchen, or rather lack of one. How a large modern hotel believes it can operate conveniently for guests without any kitchen or even dining area is a mystery. Again, worsened by the lack of reasonable equipment and utensils in the rooms - no sink, few cutlery/crockery pieces, no microwave which you would think a hotel without a kitchen would provide. Enquiring of desk staff what to do the answer was mostly of a shrugging nature. They didn't say eg that across the road was the hotel Le Cassia with a very pleasant dining area and breakfast for 150 baht. A walk around found some recompense in street food and a couple of fancy restaurants but they were a fair walk and not much good for breakfast. So location, also nah! To go anywhere you need a lengthy walk or a vehicle, and there isn't the ready availability of tuk-tuks or cabs as there is elsewhere. All-in-all this adds up to a pretty poor experience, despite any good points the hotel has, and it does have some as described. Value is just as available in other hotels without the drawbacks. The desk staff could be a little less sullen and more forthcoming also, and have some English - it is the hospitality industry after all. Most of this of course cannot be changed by management but more effort to overcome the problems would go a long way to improvement.
