Aloft Bangkok – Sukhumvit 11

The Bangkok incarnation of Starwood's Aloft chain is appropriately located on one of the city's most bustling recreational streets, Sukhumvit Soi 11, and no matter what time guests arrive, the surrounding area will be thronged with revelers, taxis, and tuk-tuks. This lively mood continues in the airy hotel lobby, with its floor-to-ceiling windows and bright splashes of color on the furniture and accent walls. Despite the party vibe, there's a diverse clientele: plenty of young professionals and backpackers looking to splurge, but also older businesspeople (perhaps attracted by the Starwood brand), medical tourists attending the nearby Bumrungrad Hospital, and families. Aloft Bangkok offers Camp Aloft for the under-12 set, which includes kid-size bedding and air mattresses, a goodie bag of treats, a kid-friendly food menu, a splash pool, and in-touch entertainment options.

Aloft Bangkok is right in the heart of Sukhumvit, which is the city's busiest entertainment hub, and it's the place for guests who like buzzy bars and late-night clubs. The reliable Nana BTS Skytrain – which connects Sukhumvit to the nearby shopping malls at Siam and to attractions farther afield – is an easy five-minute walk from the hotel, and the Sukhumvit MRT subway station is about a 10-minute walk. Sukhumvit is well served by taxis and tuk-tuks, and the hotel offers free tuk-tuk "shuttle" rides to nearby locations, including both the Skytrain and subway stations. The airport is about a 30-minute drive from the hotel in good traffic, or guests can try Bangkok's newest rail system, Makkasan Airport Rail Link, which connects the airport with downtown (it's about 15 minutes in a taxi from the downtown station to the hotel).

The rooms at Aloft Bangkok come in three classes: Chic, Urban, and Breezy. All rooms are roughly the same size and feature the same amenities, but Chic rooms are located on the lower floors, Urban rooms occupy the middle floors, and the more expensive Breezy rooms occupy the top floors. The floor does make a significant difference: The street noise on lower levels is considerable, making the higher price worth it for for light sleepers.

All rooms come with either one king bed or two queens, and have minimal decoration (apart from the multi-colored carpets). Nine-foot ceilings and large windows make the rooms seem larger than they are. Bathrooms are modest but up-to-date, with walk-in showers (no tubs) and Aloft toiletries.

There is free Wi-Fi in all the rooms, as well as what the hotel calls a "one-stop connectivity station": a large flat-screen TV and a range of chargers and cables for cellphones and media players. For an extra fee, an all-in-one remote control can be included to operate the various features in the rooms.

Two very large suites are also available.

Neither the swimming pool nor the fitness center at the Aloft Bangkok is particularly large, but both are in pristine condition. The rooftop pool has cabanas, although it does not receive a great deal of sunlight. By contrast, the fitness center is bathed in natural light – and it's often practically empty.

There are two food options: Crave and Re:fuel by Aloft. The former is a funky Western-style restaurant and bar the serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and attracts many non-guests. The latter is a grab-and-go food station offering sandwiches, salads, coffee, and cold drinks.

The hotel's W XYZ Bar is a popular spot at night, with DJs midweek through Saturday, and an extensive cocktail list.