Grande Centre Point Hotel Ploenchit

The hotel has a bustling vibe starting with its high-ceilinged lobby, a grand space that retains the faint hum of traffic just outside. Black marble flooring, classy chandeliers, and floor-to-ceiling windows set the tone. There’s an attractive mix of contemporary sofas and armchairs in shades of white, gray, and bolder purple on green-brown floral carpet. A striking checkered, backlit accent wall complements the chic wood-paneled front desk, while impressive interior balconies have views over the lobby from higher floors. This ground floor surrounds a courtyard with attractive water features. This contemporary look continues into the busy Piu restaurant with its ceiling-height tinted windows fringed by decorative latticework. The restaurant offers alfresco seating on a chic deck. Edgy modern art pieces add a welcome contrast to hallways, and the stylish pool area has plenty of foliage and pebbled borders. But when we visited in July 2016, this was compromised by noise and blocked views caused by neighboring condominium construction projects.

In the affluent retail and residential district of Phloen Chit, the Grande Centre Point Hotel is just a short walk from the elevated BTS Skytrain. That’s helpful for beating Bangkok’s notorious traffic jams, although getting to the station involves stepping up and over a footbridge that some might find a challenge. There are plenty of restaurants, coffee shops and other hotels nearby, and the British and U.S. Embassies are both within walking distance.

• Three-minute walk to Phloen Chit Skytrain station
• Three-minute walk to Central Embassy shopping mall
• Four-minute walk to the British Embassy
• Six-minute walk to Central Chidlom shopping mall and department store
• Nine-minute walk to the U.S. Embassy
• 12-minute walk to the Erawan Shrine
• 13-minute walk to Lumpini Park
• Five-minute drive to Pratunam market
• 11 minutes to Siam shopping malls by public transportation (four-minute drive)
• 19-minute drive to the Grand Palace
• 20-minute drive to Don Muang International Airport
• 23-minute drive to Suvarnabhumi International Airport

The hotel's 277 air-conditioned rooms are bright and spacious, though their all-white decor can make them look sterile. Comfortable beds rest under framed sepia photos, offering one of the few decorative touches. There’s white floor tiling, white paneled walls, and tan-wood plantation shutters instead of curtains, though these aren’t to everyone’s taste. Other decor features include white tables, built-in sofas, and stylish office chairs. Amenities include high-tech flat-screen smart TVs, free Wi-Fi, phones, and safes, plus irons and ironing boards, bathrobes, slippers, hairdryers, and umbrellas -- but no minibars. 

Entry-level Deluxe Rooms come with microwaves and mini-fridges, but they lack desks, while One Bedroom Suites add living rooms with sofas, simple dining tables, and fridges. One Bedroom Executive Suites have larger living rooms, while Two Bedroom Suites feature kitchenettes with stovetops and washer/dryers. The Three Bedroom Suites have full separate kitchens and larger living rooms with separate desks, but note that one of the bedrooms only has a single bed.

Bathrooms are large but dated and have brown wall tiling, large wall-to-wall mirrors above black marble-topped vanities, and black tiled flooring. Bathrooms also include high-tech toilets, shower/tub combos with power showerheads, and separate walk-in cubicles with fixed showerheads (additional bathrooms in suites have just shower/tub combos). 

All rooms have terra-cotta-tiled balconies (not common for downtown Bangkok) with pleasant city views (some look out on the U.S. Embassy gardens), though those in cheaper rooms feel bare. Some guests report fees for extra towels and blankets, and housekeeping and maintenance can be patchy. In addition, when we visited in July 2016, extensive condominium construction work nearby meant noise was a problem in rooms throughout the hotel.

Grande Centre Point has the facilities to match its upscale pearl status, although construction mars some of the offerings. The hotel’s pleasant outdoor pool area incorporates a large hot tub, as well as a nice shaded children’s pool. It’s all surrounded by attractive foliage and pebbled borders, with a limited number of lounge chairs and contemporary blacked-framed seats. However, at the time of our visit in July 2016, neighboring condominium construction was causing blocked views and meant that noise was a problem. Other features include a pleasant all-white gym with a good selection of cardio machines, weightlifting equipment, and free weights, plus lockers and a first-aid room. However, it’s a little on the small side overall. The large spa on the 30th and 31st floors gets good reviews and each of the 20 treatment rooms has pleasant city views. 

An excellent breakfast buffet is served in Piu restaurant, though it gets busy and isn’t included in standard rates. Piu also serves an international buffet lunch and a la carte evening meals and room service is available 24/7, including for breakfast. Business features include reliable and free Wi-Fi throughout, a dedicated business center, and five contemporary meeting spaces that can accommodate up to 233 guests. There are also computers available in the lobby, where guests also get free all-day hot and cold drinks, as well as an on-site ATM. The executive lounge is actually used as an overflow breakfast venue (seemingly for all guests) during periods of high occupancy, and it was closed during our visit.