Located in the city center of Bangkok, the Aetas Lumpini offers luxury and convenience in a city of 8.5 million people. The hotel is a short walk (a couple minutes) from the Lumpini MRT subway station, giving guests easy access to the rest of the city via subway or connecting to the Sky Train. If you’re attending an event at Queen Sirikit Convention Centre, it’s a two stop subway ride, about 5 minutes, from the hotel to the convention center.
The hotel has 203 room decorated in earth tones for a tranquil blend of creative contemporary. Guest rooms have high ceilings, full wall windows, ample work space, and the expected luxury touches. The room has a fluffy robe and slippers, refrigerator, an electric pot and assortment of teas, and upscale products in the bathroom. The bathroom has a deep soaking tub as well as a shower. The shower has blinds that, when opened, provide a view of the television while in the shower.
Nightly turn down service is a nice treat at the end of a long day, and even more appreciated, there is free wifi throughout the property. My room was on the 6th floor, so I didn’t have much of a view, but the higher floors offer views of the city and the park.
A cautionary note: The rooms, lobby, and restaurants areas are all air conditioned. The hallways on the guestroom floors are not. Given the heat and humidity of Bangkok, plan to be chilly in your room and melt on the walk to the elevator. I was never able to get my room temperature exactly right.
I was never able to get my room temperature exactly right, and the stifling heat of the hallways – which are not air conditioned – was oppressive. Plan to be chilly in your room and melt on the walk to the elevator.
Breakfast, which is included in many room rates, is served as a buffet in the Hourglass Restaurant. The offerings included an international assortment of hot dishes, an assortment of fruit and pastries, cold cereals, and cooked to order eggs and specialty dishes. There is a good balance of sweet and savory, the coffee was strong, and it was easy to eat and run. The restaurant is open for lunch and dinner throughout the rest of the day, but I didn’t visit for either of those meals.
The GMT Lounge offers a spot to relax with a drink at the end of the day, and offers impressive views of the city. Sunset is particularly impressive time to visit, although the sparkling lights of the city are compelling even at night. The lounge makes a mean martini and also has a surprisingly diverse list of wines available by the glass.
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On the 9th floor is the Splash Pool, an outdoor salt-chlorinated swimming pool. The pool temperature was perfect for me – not cold, just a refreshing alternative from the heat and humidity. I picked up some street food and a couple of cold beers and ate around the pool one night. It was just the three of us, enjoying the view and some alone time at the end of a crazy busy day. Give it a try.
If you’re traveling for medical tourism, Aetas Lumpini has relationships with the nearby hospitals and clinics and is well versed in what’s needed for a pre or post stay. They can assist with transportation and other special needs.
A couple of personal recommendations for your stay at Aetas Lumpini. There are a number of places in the area to get a Thai massage for a reasonable price. Ask at the front desk for recommendations. Prices are 200 baht (about $5.50) for a one-hour massage, with a cup of tea to follow. Thai massages are clothed, so wear loose clothing for a more comfortable massage.
The street in front of the hotel, as well as many of the side streets, are full of street food vendors with amazing food, offered up cheaply. A freshly made plate of noodles, something similar to pad thai, was 60 baht (about $1.70) and a bag of mango sticky rice was slightly less. Locals often sit on the curb to eat, but that’s not my comfort zone, so I took it back to the hotel. There are plenty of great restaurants in Bangkok, but don’t pass up the street food.
The Aetas Lumpini is located at 1030/4 Rama 4 Road, Thungmahamek, Satorn in Bangkok, Thailand. Rates starts at about $80/night, with many promotions available, making this Thai luxury an affordable option.
Photo credit: Bedroom photo courtesy of the author, the others courtesy of Aetas Lumpini.
