Thank You, Chezepops!

Warm greetings Cheryl,

Just had the opportunity to read your first four installments, and they are wonderful! In particular, reading about the Sheraton Grande brings back so many fine memories. (One of my first BKK business travel hotels.) Have the sense the SGS was not all you thought it might be; look forward to reading more about the hotel, as I have not stayed there for a few months. (Most of my trips this year have entailed evenings at our two honeymoon hotels, the Oriental and the Peninsula, and those two fine ';late arrival'; hotels, the Four Seasons (in-room massage treatments until 2 am), and the Shangri-La (in-room treatments until 3 am --- and beyond.)

After all your fine writing, would be pleased to offer hotel suggestions for any future visit you might be contemplating. I am quite certain the better half will suggest the Oriental, and I, the Peninsula. (No special reason, other than the fact I enjoy playfully disagreeing with the all-powerful mrs. macintosh.)

Thanks again and best wishes,

macintosh (robert)

... ';Experience the Seven Pillars of Well-Being'; ...

(The Grande Spa, Sheraton Grande Sukhumvit)

Thank You, Chezepops!

Greetings Macintosh yet again

I hope this finds you both well and not too tired from your travels. Well we have all but settled back into our routines at home but my mind still keeps wandering (as it does) to our Holiday.

Now don’t get me wrong, I thought that the Sheraton Grand Sukhumvit Hotel was and still is a beautiful Hotel, but I don’t believe that it should come with the status of being referred to as “Luxury Collection”. Having said that I have not had the privilege of staying in a “Luxury Collection Hotel” before, but I do know 5 star Hotels and this was, one of them.

As we are all aware that Hotels in Asia (5 star) even 4 star are quite exemplarily by Australian standards ( I cannot comment on American standards) and you can always be assured of a lovely surrounding.

I even went and enjoyed the Oriental and Peninsula Hotel because you referred to them many times in your posts, this was on my little list of things to do. I am very grateful for your insight. My preference is the same as Mrs. R. Macintosh the Oriental, why, I think because it just had that look about it, it’s a female thing. Yet the Peninsula was still very beautiful inside.

I loved all the marble at the SGS , the staircases, the new walkway is impressive as Im sure you will agree and this makes it very convenient too. You may not have seen a Grand Deluxe Rooms but they are very spacious the bathroom more than an adequate room for two in both bath and shower (very important on a holiday) the hallways and lifts also aesthetically important I could not fault the The Grande Spa and Fitness Club these I believe were first class, the facilities were beautiful.

The Sala Pool area is possibly the most delightfully designed pool in this type of environment that I have ever had the pleasure of viewing and using. Just so serene with its meandering little swimming hideaways and its foliage, little jets of bubbles and waterfalls are truly just beautiful. This is why they call it an oasis in Bangkok.

Most importantly the staff were just brilliant in every sense of the word I cannot fault any of them whatsoever, they tried their very best to make us feel even more special.

It would be beneficial though if they could be made more aware of possibly some of the key Australian works, having said that the same could be said about us………..o boy. Quit, while I’m ahead What is your insight on that, or do you speak Thai Robert, I think Mrs. M. would? Our VIP return driver could not speak a word of English this was quite a worry because we couldn’t really confirm anything.

My impression of the Lobby/Reception SGS:-

Very small and long

What appeared to be a type of lattice work

It just did not do it for me in regards to a ‘Luxury Collection” opulence was strongly missing

Buffet Breakfasts really the selection was in my opinion (and Im sorry ) 4 star standard

The Sheraton Mirage on the Gold Coast now that is worth killing for and also Port Douglas up North. All these meals were included at SGS and if not I have a 50% card so this has nothing to do with the price of things it just what they had on offer……once again this is the opinion of just me.

We did have dinner a Seafood Buffet there on the Sunday and it was just fantastic. Bugs prawns etc etc etc and deserts, if you were not a dessert eater you would have become one after this night. I could not fault the Seafood Buffet dinner that they had. Terrific sums it up.

I did like the Sheraton but I truly don’t believe that it should be in the category of ‘Luxury Collection” too many things went wrong and its furniture and some of its fillings to me were just mot up to “LC” standard or what I believe it should be. And that Foyer, heaven help me.

You need one like Peninsula or Oriental even one like the JW Marriott something big and deep that seems to go forever

What would have happened if on the night that we had our Club Privileges ie; Cocktails and Canapés if we were someone really important and all that we got in the space of one hour (were not talking drinks here because they were all fine) one slice of salami on a toothpick and a cube of cheese with a half of a cherry tomato either side…that was our Canapés. Lets face it even someone you didn’t like what have presented a better selection.

Anyway I’m sounding like less and less of a nice person, but I was so excited with our little trip spent so much time on line in the last year and was bitterly disappointed.

So there you have it in a nut shell. Would I go back yes, would I enjoy it yes,

would I think of it as luxury collection no.

Your opinion would be greatly appreciated, if you want

Kind regards Cheryl

Thank You, Chezepops!

Chezepops,

I am trying to rack my brain thinking what your prawns and %26#39;bugs%26#39; may be. Pls can you help me out?

Shirley

Seq69

These were what we call raw morton bay bugs back home in Australia and raw deep sea prawns that the SGS barbequed fpr me.

Just 2 of the types of seafood that they had available on the evening.

Hi Cheryl,

Thanks for your fine reply.

I am glad you enjoyed your visits at the Oriental and the Peninsula; it appears you and mrs. m have similar tastes. (And, yes, she knows a bit of Thai --- and other languages, should I displease her.)

Concerning your SGS stay ... there are ';silver linings:'; you could have attempted the same ';5*'; experience in Singapore, or, heaven forbid, certain properties in Hong Kong and Tokyo.

My permanently positive impressions of the Sheraton Grande Sukhumvit are primarily of a ';pre-mrs. macintosh,'; business travel perspective. Following the Four Seasons Bangkok, the SGS was my second main BKK business hotel --- and I loved everything about the property. I was forever hooked the first evening, having drinks in The Living Room, with a couple of colleagues. Our waitress was the sublime Chinese actress, Zhang Ziyi, ';incarnate'; ... the only analogy I can make is the first time I encountered a ';Singapore Girl'; flight attendant. You are so right, in that the canapes are not exactly forthcoming, but it%26#39;s never mattered to me. I%26#39;m always so satisfied, simply by the way the waittresses move across the room, the way I%26#39;m always moved by the Singapore Girls, working a cabin at 36,000 feet. (Immediate apologies --- and please don%26#39;t tell my wife.)

';Back in the day,'; it was always a fine evening at the SGS: drinks after work/meetings; a light dinner at basil or Rossini%26#39;s; followed, perhaps, by nightlife. (Primarily past tense; as noted earlier, the Oriental and Peninsula (and to a lesser extent, the Four Seasons and the Shangri-La) have become my/our primary business/leisure hotels --- sentimentality is powerful.)

So hope you come back soon to Bangkok. Currently, it%26#39;s a monthly venture for us, and one that appears to be moving forward: (mrs. m loves real estate --- more bills.) ...

Finally, Cheryl, one of your many fine lines from Part 3 of your Bangkok trip brought back memories of a long-forgotten film. Many thanks, and look forward to more ...

macintosh (robert)

... ';do you know what happens to people who don%26#39;t pay their exorcist bill?'; ...

(they get repossessed)

Macintosh

Thanks Robert ........ ';I%26#39;ll be back'; another.........not so fine line from a movie.

Regards Cheryl