BelAire Bangkok Sukhumvit

This quiet, contemporary property offers a good value, and mostly attracts guests from the Middle East. It’s set in a tall, harsh-looking building, though things are better in the large, airy lobby, even if some of the attempts at stylish decor come off as dated. There are floor-to-ceiling windows, white marble flooring, and a long, high front desk with turquoise paneled frontage alongside scattered, elegantly mismatched furniture and a grand piano. The Liquid Lounge bar, on an elevated dark-wood-panel platform, is slightly more chic, as are sleek hallways that feature gray carpets, modern canvases, and vaulted ceiling panels with red backlighting. By comparison, the restaurant feels a tad basic, with tables packed tightly together, and the pool deck lined with topiaries is nice enough but a bit old-fashioned. However, the pool bar looks a bit ramshackle for an upscale property.

BelAire Bangkok is located on a gritty block a fair way inside a side street that runs off Bangkok’s frenetic Sukhumvit Road. It's just a short walk from the nearest Skytrain station. It’s also within easy reach of numerous shopping malls, and there are restaurants, street food vendors, and convenience stores all in the vicinity. One thing that might put off some travelers from staying here is the proximity to one of the city’s seedy red-light districts in the nearby Nana area.

• Five-minute walk to Nana Skytrain station
• 13 minutes to Terminal 21 shopping mall by public transportation (five-minute drive)
• 14 minutes to Emporium and EmQuartier shopping malls by public transportation (eight-minute drive)
• 16 minutes to the Thonglor neighborhood by public transportation (10-minute drive)
• 17 minutes to Siam shopping malls by public transportation (16-minute drive)
• 18 minutes to the British Embassy by public transportation (16-minute drive)
• 22-minute drive to Chinatown (53 minutes by public transportation)
• 26-minute drive to the Grand Palace and Khaosan Road
• 28-minute drive to Don Muang International Airport
• 29-minute drive to Suvarnabhumi International Airport (45 minutes by public transportation)
• 30 minutes to Chatuchak weekend market by public transportation (20-minute drive)

The hotel’s 152 comfortable, air-conditioned rooms sport modern, clean-lined decor throughout. The 344-square-foot (32-square-meter) entry-level Superior Double and Twin Rooms have simple gray walls, and beds rest against pale-wood headboards, with dark bedside tables on striped carpets, plus large desks and decent views. Club Tribecca Rooms are the same size, but add DVD players and chic red daybeds and are set on higher floors; guests of these rooms also get executive lounge access. The 388-square-foot (36-square-meter) Deluxe Rooms sleep up to four, and can be configured with a king-size bed, two queens, or three singles, but are otherwise also much the same as Superior Rooms. Finally, the 484-square-foot (45-square-meter) BelAire Suites have separate living spaces, but they feel bare and only have sofas and coffee tables. Standard amenities include flat-screen cable TVs, phones, mini-fridges or minibars (in higher-category rooms), safes, and coffee- and tea-making facilities. Bathrooms are bright and contemporary, and most have shower/tub combos, hairdryers, and toiletries. Club Tribecca Rooms have modern countertop sinks on gray-marble vanities plus large walk-in showers; some also have separate bathtubs. Connecting and smoking rooms are available.

This upscale property has a decent selection of facilities, including the Tiffin restaurant, which serves an international breakfast spread with halal options for a fee. Thai, Indian and Western meals are available throughout the day. There’s also 24-hour room service, a lobby bar -- Liquid Lounge -- open until late evening, and a pool bar that closes in the early evening. The pool is pleasant enough, though there are only a few lounge chairs. The hotel's small gym is open 24/7 and has a full range of free weights plus cardio and weightlifting equipment. An independently operated spa offers in-room massages but gets mixed reviews. 

The Club Tribecca executive lounge has computers for guests to use, and books and DVDs to borrow; guests of Club Tribecca Rooms also get free breakfast, cocktails and snacks, all-day tea and coffee, daily newspapers, use of the modern boardroom, and late checkout. There's also a dated function room for rent that can accommodate up to 100 guests, and the front desk can make tour arrangements and bookings for in-house cookery classes. Free Wi-Fi is available throughout the hotel, though the internet terminals in the lobby cost extra to use.