Holiday Inn Bangkok Sukhumvit

This Holiday Inn’s 29-story tower is striking, and the decor inside -- though nothing exceptional -- is modern and stylish. The ground-floor lobby is simple and contemporary, with pale wood-paneled walls, gray marble flooring, and a handsome, modern stone front desk -- but it’s also rather bare, and feels like something of an afterthought. Elsewhere, floor-to-ceiling windows are a hallmark, and the chic, airy executive lounge has simple black leather sofas on patterned gray carpet runners, dark wood-panel flooring, and homey shelves stacked with books and ornaments. The similarly bright, functional Zeta Cafe has both indoor seating options and lovely alfresco sofas spruced up with colorful cushions. These sit in sunken pits beside the gorgeous pool, which is also bordered by partially submerged lounge chairs, wicker and built-in stone daybeds, and palm trees. Maya Indian restaurant has stunning 29th-floor views to complement elaborate, warm decor that’s heavy on gold, brown and black, and an impressive open kitchen. The hotel attracts business travelers and tourists alike owing both to its location and solid suite of features.

The Holiday Inn is located in the heart of Bangkok’s downtown Sukhumvit area on the corner of a busy street, with a coffee shop and fast-food restaurants on the building’s ground floor. The area can be a traffic nightmare, so it’s a good thing that the hotel is walking distance from two Skytrain stations and the subway. There are also plenty of shopping malls, bars, and restaurants close by.

• Four-minute walk to Benjasiri Park
• Five-minute walk to Phrom Phong Skytrain station
• Nine-minute walk to Sukhumvit subway and Asok Skytrain stations
• Eight-minute walk to Emporium and EmQuartier shopping malls
• 12-minute walk to Terminal 21 shopping mall
• 12 minutes to the Thonglor neighborhood by public transportation (three-minute drive)
• 17-minute drive to Chinatown (46 minutes by public transportation)
• 21-minute drive to the Grand Palace
• 22 minutes to Siam shopping malls by public transportation (11-minute drive)
• 23-minute drive to Don Muang International Airport
• 25-minute drive to Suvarnabhumi International Airport (46 minutes by public transportation)
• 31 minutes to Chatuchak weekend market by public transportation (14-minute drive)

Guest rooms sport neutral, modern decor that's functional yet stylish. Entry-level Deluxe Rooms and Premiere Rooms have comfy beds and simple dark-wood bedside tables with wall-mounted lamps. Fabric headboards rest against gray accent wall paneling, and there’s gray striped carpet, white walls with chic dark-wood shelves, and well-sized desks with sleek office chairs on casters. Floor-to-ceiling windows are paired with heavy neutral curtains, and chunky off-white armchairs, statement floor lamps and modern art canvases add warmth and color to the spaces. The Executive Rooms and Junior Suites add chic sofas along with extra square footage. The hotel’s single Executive Suite features a separate living room with sofa and desk, though the extra dark-wood paneling can make the room feel dark and doesn't lend a luxe vibe.

Chic two-tone bathrooms have walls and vanities in black marble tiling -- with large submerged sinks and wall-to-wall mirrors stretching around the rooms. Walk-in cubicles have rainfall and power showerheads, while larger bathrooms in Executive Rooms are brighter thanks to windows. Junior Suites swap walk-in cubicles for shower/tub combos with power showerheads, while the Executive Suite has both, plus double sinks and an additional toilet vestibule off the living room.

Rooms have plenty of universal power points, and guests also appreciate thoughtful touches including at-a-glance labeling of “soft” and “firm” pillows. Other standard amenities include flat-screen TVs (two in suites), iPod docks, safes, and coffee- and tea-making facilities. Minibars have beers, soft drinks and snacks (but no wine or spirits), and there are bathrobes, slippers, hairdryers, free miniature toiletries, and irons and ironing boards. Rooms on higher floors have especially impressive views of neighboring skyscrapers, but do note that those facing the main Sukhumvit Road and the Skytrain line can be noisy.

The Holiday Inn has a good range of features for its price point, though there’s no spa. The decently sized gym has a full range of cardio machines, weight-lifting equipment, and free weights -- and it’s open 24/7, which is a bonus. The eighth-floor lap pool has a small number of partly submerged lounge chairs, and there’s more seating on the gorgeous sundeck, which is connected to Zeta Cafe.

The cafe, open from morning until late evening, serves a decent breakfast buffet (for a fee), plus a good lunch buffet, a daily themed dinner buffet, and a la carte evening meals. Kids eat free when accompanied by adults, and there are regular happy hours, though service can be slow here. On the 29th-floor, Maya serves excellent North Indian cuisine, and is open for cocktails until the wee hours; room service is also available 24/7.

The Lounge Nine executive lounge is open from morning until late evening and provides dedicated check-in and checkout for guests staying in higher-category rooms, as well as an upgraded breakfast. The lounge also has a few Mac computers and a small boardroom, and there are evening snacks and cocktails. Other business facilities include two flexible function rooms, plus a ballroom that can accommodate up to 500 people. Concierge services are available around the clock, and there's free Wi-Fi throughout the property.