Shama Sukhumvit Bangkok

Situated in a clean, white, modern high-rise in downtown Bangkok, the hotel has a softer look than some of the more corporate-type tower hotels around the city. Still, the lobby area feels distinctly more like that of an apartment lounge than a hotel, with walls of windows casting sunlight on the airy space. Built around slick marble floors and walls, the lobby is furnished with uniform rows of clean-lined armchairs and couches in cool, earthy colors. Wood tables and brown rugs lend some warmth, and a surrounding outdoor walkway has a lovely garden full of tropical foliage. The simple breakfast area, with buffet-style tables and a chef preparing eggs to order, is on one end of the floor. The area can get crowded in the mornings with guests, who include families with kids, groups of friends, and business travelers. The outdoor pool on the fourth-floor rooftop is beautiful, if not a little scary due to its infinity edge extending to the edge of the building. A few stylish black loungers with metal frames line the beige stone deck, though the pool tends not to be crowded. 

The hotel sits on a relatively quiet street connected to the busy Sukhumvit Road in downtown Bangkok. Once down Soi 2, it’s possible to escape the chaos of Sukhumvit as well as the surrounding area, one of Bangkok's largest red light night districts. Many bars and discos are just one street over, and the hotel’s street is occupied by other hotels, offices, and nice residential buildings. There are many restaurants and bars within a 10-minute walk, and for children, Nana Plaza Candy Land is a five-minute walk down the road. The Nana BTS Skytrain station is a five- to 10-minute walk away with access to all of Bangkok. Bumrungrad International Hospital is a 10-minute walk away. Suvarnabhumi Airport is about 90 minutes away via public transportation or less than 30 minutes by car (without traffic). 

The one-, two-, and three-bedroom apartments are some of the largest available in Bangkok and perhaps all of Thailand. With clean, new wood floors and simple, IKEA-like furniture, the apartments resemble something out of a modern Scandinavian showroom. They all have huge windows, furnished balconies, living rooms with coffee tables, dining rooms, and full kitchens with sleek Electrolux appliances -- refrigerator, stove/oven, microwave, dishwasher, coffee/tea facilities, and (an oddly placed) washing machine, plus all of the necessary tools for meal preparation and dining. Beds are large with fresh, comfy mattresses. Decor is minimal -- just a few classy gold leaf emblems on a wall or two, colorful abstract paintings, or silk-embossed throw pillows. The rooms on the east side of the building overlook the Soi 4 Nana Plaza red light district. Bathrooms are also huge with separate tubs and glass showers. All rooms come with free (though spotty) Wi-Fi access, safes, flat-screen TVs with DVD players, iPhone docks, Sony stereos, slippers, and bathrobes.

The Shama is designed to function as a temporary home-away-from-home with fully equipped, self-contained apartments. The property has a beautiful rooftop pool with an infinity edge and scenic city views. The fitness area is huge -- nearly the size of a commercial gym -- and has a yoga studio and meditation space. There is a game room with bookshelves, foosball, and billiards tables, plus a nursery room with plastic blocks and tables for infants and small children. A buffet breakfast is served daily with several hot and cold items, including a made-to-order egg station. The hotel offers free (but spotty in places) Wi-Fi in rooms and throughout the hotel, as well as a DVD library. Free self-parking is available.