Maitria Hotel Sukhumvit 18 Bangkok – A Chatrium Collection

At first glance, the Maitria Hotel Sukhumvit appears to be a cool boutique hotel, with bold checkerboard tiling and colorful striped carpets, pendant lighting, and quirky armchairs with crushed velvet foot stools. Its boutique vibe comes from the small features, but there are more rooms here than you might think -- it’s just that they are apartment-style, with many guests spending their time at the hotel in their rooms, making the most of the in-room facilities. Rooms are at the opposite end of the style spectrum from the quirky lobby and cafe; light and minimalistic with a good sense of space. The property draws couples, families, and groups of friends looking for a good-value base that’s close to transport and a great choice of restaurants, without being right in the thick of it.

The Maitria Hotel Sukhumvit is in the lively Sukhumvit area, amid some of Bangkok's best street food stalls, restaurants, and clubs, and close to the Terminal 21 shopping mall. The hotel sits down a quieter side street (Soi 18), away from the 24/7 action, meaning that it's well-poised for experiencing the best of both words. West of the mall, though, the streets can take on a slightly seedy atmosphere as it's one of the city's red light districts, particularly around Soi Nana. There’s easy access to public transport, with the Asok Skytrain station a 10-minute walk away. Expect a 20-minute skytrain trip to the buzzing Silom area, and 40 minutes by train to the Chatuchak Weekend Market. It takes around 30 to 40 minutes to reach The Grand Palace and Wat Pho by taxi, though traffic in this city is a nightmare almost all day long. Suvarnabhumi and Don Mueang International Airports can both be reached by taxi -- budget at least an hour.

Rooms at the Maitria Hotel Sukhumvit are light and airy, with floor-to-ceiling windows and minimalist neutral decor. Splashes of color are injected through bright sofas or abstract artwork on the walls, but the overall feel is modern and functional. All rooms have desks and neat kitchens with microwaves, kettles, cooktops, and full-size fridges. Amenities include mod-cons like air-conditioning, TVs with sound bars and USB ports, and free Wi-Fi, plus home comforts such as coffee- and tea-making facilities, free bottled water, and bathrobes. Bathrooms vary between room categories, but all are modern and have brown and gray mosaic tiling that forms a subtle tree design. Hairdryers and toiletries are provided. Rooms are divided into a range of studios and suites. Studios have cream tiled floors and dark wood, while the suites have a similar minimalist feel but pale wood floors and furniture. The entry-level rooms are Standard Studios, which are 365 square feet (34 square meters) and set on lower floors, while Superior Studios are on higher floors. One-Bedroom Suites are 580 square feet (54 square meters) and Two-Bedroom Suites are 720 square feet (67 square meters). As well as a kitchen, the suites have a seating and dining area, plus a bathroom with an unusual layout -- the bathtub is reached through a separate walk-in shower. Interconnecting rooms are available.

It’s clear that the Maitria Hotel Sukhumvit puts its efforts into its apartment-style rooms, which offer guests the flexibility of self-catering and lounging around in their own space. However there are a few features of interest: the ground-floor Coffee Club (formerly Metta restaurant) serves breakfast (for a fee) and has a street-side terrace. There's also a glass-walled fitness center has a handful of cardio machines and free weights, plus a rooftop plunge pool with surrounding deck (and a random small putting green). The pool is small -- more like that of a private villa – and the rooftop terrace is better used as a quiet spot to relax in the early morning with a coffee. To complete the self-catering approach, a coin-operated laundry room is available in the basement. There’s also free Wi-Fi throughout the hotel and free underground parking.