I’ve been traveling since I was born (literally – my father used to throw the whole family in his 4-seat private plane and fly us down to the Bahamas when I was just a baby), then to Europe every summer to visit family. During high school I was traveling around Europe with my best buddy (oh, what a trip that was!), and, my opus, from 1999 to 2000 I traveled all around the world for the entire year with a good buddy.
After telling you all this, you must think that I’m pretty damn adventurous and like “roughing it.”
I don’t. In fact, I LOVE my creature comforts, especially since it’s not a given that I’ll get them on a daily basis living in Third World countries. Sure, I spend plenty of time on the beach with sand and mosquitos, in the heat of airports, buses, and in long lines at the visa office, and in run-down guest houses and budget hotels. But I still adore big, comfy beds, plenty of pillows, and wide-screen TVs (even though I never turn them on). I’m a sucker for steaming hot showers, oversized fluffy towels, and room service, so I never have to leave. (At least until checkout time.)
For me, a life well lived means balancing the two extremes, so I live simply, travel adventurously, and when I go luxury, I really do it right. At least, right for a baller on a budget.
It’s probably only once a month that I book a hotel that costs more than $50 a night, once every six months that I book a hotel that costs $100 a night and up, and only twice in the last five years have I really splurged for a hotel like…the Marriot.
In fact, I’ve been staying at Marriot’s as my go-to luxury hotel that helps me recharge the batteries and get ready for more travel, since the 1990s. But I’m reminded of this recently as I’ve traveled through Bangkok and saw the Marriot pop up on my hotel searches, one of the preeminent and most reliable and consistent luxury hotels (I still consider it luxury!) in the world.
There are actually quite a few in Bangkok, and I’ll give you my opinion on which is the best for your stay:
If you don’t mind being out of central Bangkok a little, try:
Bangkok Marriott Marquis Queen’s Park
Bangkok Marriott Hotel The Surawongse
Renaissance Bangkok Ratchaprasong Hotel
If you have a longer stay, a bigger family you want in one space, or are there on business and want to be comfortable, try:
Marriott Executive Apartments Bangkok,
Or Mayfair, Bangkok – Marriott Executive Apartments near the airport
For the same Marriott experience but a cheaper stay, try:
Courtyard by Marriott Bangkok
Sathorn Vista, Bangkok – Marriott Executive Apartments.
For the Marriott hotels closer to the temples and some of the tourist attractions:
Bangkok Marriott Hotel The Surawongse
Marriott’s Bangkok Empire Place
To be right in the center of the action, try:
Bangkok Marriott Hotel Sukhumvit
Sukhumvit Park, Bangkok
JW Marriott Hotel Bangkok
In fact, that last one – the JW Marriott – is my favorite of all time in Bangkok. I even have a hilarious (and extremely embarrassing) story for you when I was staying there one time, which I’ll share in my review of that hotel very soon!
About Norm Schriever
Norm Schriever is a blogger, Amazon best-sellling author, cultural mad scientist, and enemy of the comfort zone. His work appears in the Huffington Post, Business.com, Good Morning America, The Anderson Cooper Show on CNN, NBC, MSN, Yahoo, Hotels.com, and media all around the world.
Norm grew up in Connecticut and graduated from the University of Connecticut, where he was never accused of overstudying. After expatriating to Costa Rica in 2011, he started traveling the world and documenting what he saw. He now lives in Southeast Asia, writing his heart out and working with local charities.
