The Novotel

Oh, and where did I stay while I was in Bangkok last week? The Novotel Bangkok Platinum Hotel - an excellent hotel for a couple of reasons:

1. Location. It is just above Zone 3 of the Platinum Fashion Mall and just across the street from the very extensive Pratunam Market. If you are there for the first time, it will save you a lot of travelling time, which you can otherwise spend shopping. Zone 3 is next to Zone 2, which is next to Zone 1 (obviously) which, in turn, is one building away from Pantip Plaza. It is also next to the river where water taxis ply. Whether you choose to take the water taxis or not, its there beside where you stay. You can enter and exit Zone 3 directly through the 6th floor of the hotel. The convenience can't be beat.
2. It is relatively new. Opened only last November (i.e. 2011), its furnishings are still fresh, and if you stayed at their Executive rooms, it is relatively private as they are all located in the highest floors. 
3. Facilities are decent. There is the lounge where live music is played every night, a decent-sized restaurant that serves breakfast, lunch and dinner. Swimming pools, etc, are nothing to shout about though,, but they are available. The bedroom amenities are comprehensive., from the beds to the washrooms. The hotel provides each guest an access card, with a third inserted in the room's power slot. So effectively you have three cards for a double room. In the hotels that I have stayed in, I have always had to approach the hotel to provide me a third card. There is free and unlimited wifi for getting on the internet in the rooms as well as in the Premium Lounge.
4. If you choose to pay a bit more for its Executive rooms (I believe it is S$30 more per person per day), you have exclusive access to its Premier Lounge, located at the 24th floor.The lounge has an almost wall-to-wall glass window (panel) that looks out to parts of Bangkok. You can order any drink any time of the day (coffee, tea, juices, etc.) on the house. 2 friendly and helpful staff are around all the time to attend to your needs. You check-in and check-out of the hotel from here, so you don't need to join in a queue. When you are tired from your shopping, just pop up here for a breather and a drink, in relative privacy, instead of going into a McDonalds or Starbucks downstairs and squeeze with the rest of Bangkok with your shopping bags. Tea and snacks are served from 5 to 7pm (buffet style), all on the house. The chairs are very comfortable. When you are rested, just continue with your shopping downstairs. Its worth every additional baht. Pamper yourself, I say.

1. The staff are all very friendly and attentive. You get the feeling that they care about your comfort and needs but are sensitive enough to leave you alone when you don't want to be disturbed.

The only downside is the hotel is not near any BTS station. It is certainly more than a stone's throw away. But there are plentiful Tuk-tuks and Taxis around. So if you are not too concerned about the traffic jams, you can still get around relatively cheap.

Overall, I'd recommend this hotel. I will certainly return to this hotel when I next visit Bangkok.