An excellent place to stay (D' MA Pavilion Hotel Bangkok)

Member Name: doctordarke2389

Product:	D' MA Pavilion Hotel Bangkok
Date:	23/07/09 (8 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Relatively cheap

Disadvantages: Small bar, some distance from the entertainment centres

Firstly, it should be noted that the D'MA is now owned by the Ramada group, and is situated adjacent to the Bangkok Palace. There, any similarity ends. I attended a conference there in early July 2009, but reconnoitered the place for the conference organisers in April, during the annual Songcran festival.

The D'MA is not a five-star appointment, nor should it be; it is, however, a good, relatively inexpensive hotel to base yourself in, even though it is about 10 minutes away from the nightlife of Sukhumvit Road by taxi. Don't let that spoil your stay, though. This hotel is very good at what it does, and the staff provide a warm welcome to those who enter its portals.

The rooms are comfortable without being ostentatious, and offer the amenities that one may expect of a hotel of this standard. The TVs are not your flat-screen HD-ready appliances that you may find in the JW Marriott, but they are remotely controlled, and offer a broad range of channels including English language sports and news. The beds don't have bugs and crawly things colonising the sheets, and are comfortable. The air conditioning works, too, and should you encounter any problems a simple phone call to reception should get them resolved fairly quickly.

I discovered the entrance to the dining room tucked away in a corner off to the right on the ground floor, and also found it to be spacious, airy, and well appointed. the food is of a good standard, and the staff helpful. You will find a comprehensive and tasty range of Thai, Oriental and Western dishes available, and of course eat as much as you wish.

A drawback, I think, is the miniscule bar. alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages are available, but it's not what one may call a large function room. However, if you want to simply relax and enjoy a drink watching the comings and goings on the street outside, then it's the place for you.

There are lots of taxis available, but I would recommend going onto the main street to the right of the entrance and getting one there. If you're going down to Sukhumvit, don't pay more than THB 100, or request the meter rate. Same for going to the excellent Siam Paragon shopping mall, which is about THB 53 on the meter.

All told, the D'MA is good value for money, clean, and the staff are great.

Summary: Well worth a visit