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Thai he River of Kings

Resorts & Great Hotels
/ Source: Resorts & Great Hotels

The Peninsula Bangkok stands 39 stories beside the ancient River of Kings, the Chao Phraya. Whether arriving on the rooftop helipad, in the serenity of The Peninsula’s private ferry, or by chauffeur-driven limousine, guests enjoy the prefect blend of gracious Thai hospitality and unsurpassed luxury that makes the hotel an award-winning experience—voted the best hotel in Asia by readers of Travel & Leisure for the third consecutive year and by readers of Condé Nast Traveler for the second consecutive year.

The riverbank site inspired the building’s unique wave shape, which affords breathtaking river views from each of the 370 guest rooms and suites. Decorated in colonial-influenced Thai style, the spacious accommodations provide separate living rooms and bedrooms along with oversize desks for those on business.

Innovative Peninsula technology equips every room with a two-line data port, high-speed Internet connection, voice mail, silent fax with private number, cable TV, video, CD player, and a bedside control panel for lighting, temperature, phones, and audiovisuals. Every bathroom provides a virtual spa furnished with twin vanities, hands-free phone, TV, bathtub, shower, and separate toilet.

Thanks to 24-hour room service, some guests find it hard to leave their private views over the river and city. Yet most find the temptations of five restaurants and a myriad of leisure diversions impossible to resist.

One level below the cool, marble-finished lobby level, Mei Jiang specializes in fine Cantonese cuisine served in a serene, stylish setting. Nearby, Thiptara serves home-style Thai specialties in teak pavilions beside the river. In contrast, Jesters delivers lively Pacific Rim cuisine in twenty-first-century new-wave style.

Guests enjoy à la carte dining on international favorites or indulging in The Peninsula’s famous Afternoon Tea at The Lobby. The Bar provides a casual spot for meeting over light meals and cocktails, while The Pool offers refreshing drinks and snacks around a magnificent 180-foot swimming pool.

The three-tiered pool stretches all the way to river’s edge. Its terraces brim with waterfalls and bridges, frangipani, palms, and carved wooden salas.

The poolside pavilions come with electric fans and lounge chairs. Workout enthusiasts find the Fitness Center has it all, too—from a pair of floodlit tennis courts to a full gym with river views. After exercising, guests can reward themselves with a sauna, steam, massage, or other sybaritic treatment.

The hotel caters to the needs of working guests with a fully staffed business center, boardroom, and wide range of other meeting and prefunction rooms. The spacious—and pillarless—ballroom accommodates up to 400 sitting down or as many as 1,000 standing up for cocktail receptions.

Many guests enjoy shopping at The Peninsula’s exclusive boutiques. Some want to see the sights of Bangkok—and shop for antiques and artifacts at River City just up the river—while cruising on the hotel’s private boat. But eventually they return, and inevitably succumb, to The Peninsula’s tranquil charms on the River of Kings.

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Resorts & Great Hotels - The Connoisseur’s Guide to the World’s Best. Published annually, it’s the ultimate upscale travel resource for luxury accommodations worldwide. The 2005 Edition  of Resorts & Great Hotels showcases over 270 feature articles in nearly 500 glossy pages of stunning photography and detailed profiles.