Shangri-La Hotel Bangkok

Excellent location to BTS and Piers, literally steps away from both (via the 2nd wing of the hotel). Couldn't beat the location for everything including the food court at Ma Bang Rak, tourist attractions, night markets and I could even walk to China Town (35 minutes). Breakfast was incredible. Real french croissants & brioche danishes made with real butter, plus real handmade ice cream/sherbets. Probably one of the most extensive and diverse breakfast buffets I have experienced. It was really a "brunch" buffet because they also offered sushi and tandori options. I could easily recommend and return. Nice to have a direct boat to IconSiem from the restaurant pier. The "second" wing is a little older, but the rooms are huge and closest to the BTS, the Pier and the food court. Very short walk to the primary building where the restaurant is, and the main pool, but the secondary pool is nice too and quieter.

We chose the Shangri La for our family stay in Bangkok. Our flight landed at crack of dawn so we booked one room the night before. The hotel was kind enough to give us an early check in for both rooms. It was a lovely touch and most appreciated. The room and bathroom was well appointed as is expected by a hotel of this caliber. They gave each room a small complimentary mini bar. Also a nice touch. The breakfast buffet was enormous with offerings from around the globe. It makes sense to buy breakfast as part of the room package rather than individually. House keeping was inconsistent with the evening turn down service but when we called them they responded immediately. The ferry service from outside the hotel was lovely and it connected us to the hotel we needed to go to for the wedding we were attending. The only frustration was getting a taxi. If you don’t book it ahead or on an app, they take forever coming to the hotel. One evening we waited half an hour for a taxi to show up. Unlike many other places they are not lined up outside hotels here in Bangkok. Overall a lovely stay with wonderful Asian hospitality.

We recently stayed at the Shangri-La Bangkok for two weeks. The entire hotel was beautiful and we loved the charm of the Krungthep wing where we chose to stay. The service was excellent from the concierge to the room attendants and the pool staff. Our only disappointment was that this wing of the hotel seems to have been forgotten. Although there were numerous places to sit and lounge in the lobby area, there were no places to get food or drinks without going to the other side of the hotel. It is a 5 star hotel, but there was only instant coffee provided in the room unlike other 5 star hotels that have a K-cup coffee machine or a Nespresso. They also need more staff. There were times that we left the room very early in the morning and our room had still not been cleaned by four o'clock in the afternoon when we returned hoping to clean up for dinner. Overall the hotel was very good with a great location near the BTS and Sathorn Pier.

We stayed 2 nights at this hotel prior to our Asia cruise with Oceania. Our pre-booked room was a deluxe river view/balcony in the Krungthep Wing. A very comfortable check-in with engaging staff who were aware that we had lost 1 night stay due to Etihad transfer/late arrival in Abu Dhabi.bridge traffic. the room was well decorated with very large comfortable bed and as requested away from any noise from the bridge traffic. Our only complaint was that there were no brekfast facilities in this wing which resulted in a short walk thro the gardens or along the minor road to the main hotel. Again drinks were only served around the pool at main hotel building. We have stayed here a few times and would certainly revisit again. It was so convenient to take either the hotel's free shuttle boat to IconSiam or walk 5 mins to the boat station near MRT station.

I finally understand why many hotels use the motto “to make guests feel at home when they are far away.” Unfortunately, my experience at Shangri-La Bangkok was the opposite. I felt disappointed, uncomfortable, and not welcomed at all. I previously worked on hotel projects, so I understand basic hospitality standards—how to treat guests with respect, how to communicate policies clearly, and how to make guests feel heard instead of intimidated. Policies are important, but there is always a polite and humble way to explain them. At Shangri-La, the way the team handled the situation felt rigid, one-sided, and almost like “take it or leave it.” Check-in Experience I arrived with my husband, who was on a business trip. The room booking was for one person, and we had no issue paying the appropriate charge for myself and my 13-year-old child. However, I was shocked when the front desk informed us that: The second guest must pay an additional fee . The third guest would be charged an even higher rate And we must take an extra bed, even though I clearly explained we did not need one—only additional breakfast for me and my son The manager (Ming) insisted that this was not possible. For a hotel of this level, the way this was communicated was disappointing. Room Rate Issue Before arriving, the sales had already agreed on the room rate and the extension. But at check-in, the front desk informed us—with a very cold tone—that the extension rate had increased. This was unexpected and unprofessional for a five-star property. Hospitality is the heart of a hotel’s longevity. Treating each guest with care, flexibility, and respect should be the foundation of service. Instead, it felt like they were trying to take advantage of the situation. The difference was only around THB 500 (about 250,000 IDR, USD 7, SGD 10, EUR 7), so the amount was not the issue—the attitude and approach were. Shockingly, we spent almost one hour in intense negotiation just for this. Very rigid. Charges were calculated strictly “per head” with no flexibility. Extension rate: originally agreed at THB 5,500 but suddenly increased to THB 6,000 upon arrival Snobbish communication style, giving the feeling of “If you don’t like it, take it or leave it” Revenue-driven approach, like OTA (Agoda/Booking) per-person charging, with no concern for guest comfort Only after the Assistant Director (Karnrawee) came did they finally remove the additional THB 500—after long discussion Most staff, from junior to senior levels, seemed afraid to make decisions and showed no flexibility Old and Outdated Room Design; the property clearly needs refurbishment considering the high room rate Damaged bedsheet (a hole), which made us wonder if they were trying to blame guests Poor window insulation—noise from the river boat party was very loud even from the 14th floor With such a reputation, I expected Shangri-La to deliver warm hospitality, flexibility, and a PROFESSIONAL guest-handling APPROACH. Instead, the experience felt rigid, unfriendly, and far below five-star standards. Out of all the many hotels we have stayed in, we never had a problem paying extra, even when there were strict policies. Most hotels offer added value or alternative benefits so guests can choose without feeling pressured or intimidated—for example, a room upgrade with extra privileges, or a little flexibility in the charges. But instead of offering options, Shangri-La pushed us into long negotiations over additional fees, which felt very uncomfortable. For a hotel known worldwide, this stay was truly a letdown. Shangri-La Bangkok can—and should—do much better. We still had several nights ahead of us in Room 1424, but sadly with a constant feeling of discomfort and not being welcomed. This is something we never expected from a hotel of this level.