{"id":2862,"date":"2013-08-11T17:14:28","date_gmt":"2013-08-11T17:14:28","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/travelrestauranthotel.com\/blog\/?p=2862"},"modified":"2020-05-16T21:37:14","modified_gmt":"2020-05-16T13:37:14","slug":"the-okura-prestige-bangkok","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/travelrestauranthotel.com\/blog\/the-okura-prestige-bangkok\/","title":{"rendered":"The Okura Prestige, Bangkok"},"content":{"rendered":"

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The Okura Prestige is a bit of an abnormality in today\u2019s hospitality industry.\u00a0 <\/span>Where the norm today is to offer very small rooms, the rooms at The Okura Prestige are roomy and spacious, even the lowest category deluxe rooms.\u00a0 <\/span><\/p>\n

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Connected to Ploen Chit BTS Station via a covered walkway, The Okura Prestige is a very new hotel (around only 1 year old).\u00a0 <\/span>The Okura Prestige shares the same building as Park Ventures Ecoplex and is located along a well-known road in Bangkok, Witthayu Road.\u00a0 <\/span>If you tell your cab driver \u201cWitthayu Road\u201d, he\/ she will definitely know this road.\u00a0 <\/span>Hence, there should be very little problem getting around.\u00a0 <\/span>The driver may not, however, know The Okura Prestige as it is such a new hotel.\u00a0 <\/span>In other words, once you get to Witthayu Road, you may have to direct your driver.<\/p>\n

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The Okura Prestige is not a big hotel.\u00a0 <\/span>There are only 240 rooms, which is the way I like it. The rooms are arranged around a rectangular air well, which is another abnormality— most hotels make use of every inch to carve out as many rooms as possible so as to maximise profits.<\/p>\n

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The rooms have a semi-open layout— the bathroom is separated from the sleeping area with sliding doors.\u00a0 <\/span>The bathroom has a gigantic shower stall which is big enough for 8 people to squeeze into (I am not kidding).\u00a0 <\/span>The water pressure is very strong which is great.\u00a0 <\/span>You can barely watch TV from the bathtub.\u00a0 <\/span>I really liked the Qi Pure toiletries which are creamy and luxurious.\u00a0 <\/span>The toilet is separated in another tiny room away from the bathroom which makes great sense.\u00a0 <\/span>In case someone needs to use the toilet while another person is taking a shower, there won\u2019t be a problem at all.\u00a0 <\/span>The toilet is a Japanese-style bidet which should be hugely welcomed by Japanese guests.<\/p>\n

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There is an expresso machine in the room, as well as a Japanese tea set.\u00a0 <\/span>I love that there are green tea leaves (not tea bags).\u00a0 <\/span>It just feels so much posher.\u00a0 <\/span>There is an in-built luggage rack (not the foldable kind), which is again a rarity in new hotels.\u00a0 <\/span>The bed has the right degree of firmess\/ softness and for me, second only to Sofitel.\u00a0 <\/span>Beside the bed is a clear, easy-to-use touch screen light control, unlike the one at Capella Singapore which is confusing and does not do what it says.<\/p>\n

The hotel\u2019s greatest asset is its height.\u00a0 <\/span>The lobby is on the 24th<\/sup> Floor and the rooms start from 26th<\/sup> floor onwards.\u00a0 <\/span>The hotel is the highest building around.\u00a0 <\/span>In other words, sitting in your room or in Up and Above Restaurant having your breakfast, you are able to enjoy unblocked views of Bangkok.\u00a0 <\/span>In the evening, you are able to enjoy cocktails in the open-air balcony with the city beneath you.\u00a0 <\/span>Also, because the rooms are so high up (and with the triple-glazed windows which cut out heat and noise), you don\u2019t hear the traffic at all.\u00a0 <\/span>There is the sense that one is cocooned in quality and quiet elegance, sheltered from the rowdiness of Bangkok. I loved standing by my window when night falls and looking down at the twinkling lights of cars.\u00a0 <\/span>The cars looked so small and quiet.\u00a0 <\/span>The buildings in the distance seemed so harmless.\u00a0 <\/span>Bangkok, for one moment from the window of The Okura Prestige, seemed innocent.\u00a0 <\/span><\/p>\n

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Guests are able to choose between the usual breakfast buffet or a Japanese set breakfast.\u00a0 <\/span>The breakfast buffet has a decent variety and quality of the food is good.\u00a0 <\/span>The Japanese set breakfast is very very agreeable in taste and aesthetics.\u00a0 <\/span>Here is the menu of my Japanese set breakfast:<\/p>\n

Appetizer<\/p>\n

Chef\u2019s choice of cooked egg<\/p>\n

Grilled fish with salt<\/p>\n

Simmered vegetables<\/p>\n

Steamed rice or rice porridge<\/p>\n

Miso soup<\/p>\n

Pickles<\/p>\n

Soup<\/p>\n

If you check out before 6am, there is a grab-and-go breakfast available right beside the reception consisting of pastries and coffee and tea.<\/p>\n

The hotel provides an excellent turn-down service.\u00a0 <\/span>Housekeeping did a great job cleaning up my used coffee cups and my room felt brand new after that.\u00a0 <\/span>What impressed me most was Housekeeping\u2019s initiative and attention to detail —they laid out a small towel and put my contact lens solution and contact lens case on it.\u00a0 <\/span>I have never encountered such attention to detail, not even in the service-renowned Shangri-la.\u00a0 <\/span>This is one hotel that truly understands that service is in the details.<\/p>\n

On the other hand, service during breakfast at Up and Above Restaurant is a little wonky. \u00a0\u00a0<\/span>When I first arrived at Up and Above, a waitress asked me for my room number.\u00a0 <\/span>Later, when I was seated, the same waitress came and asked me again.\u00a0 <\/span>I asked for coffee to be served later, at the end of breakfast, yet when I came back from a round at the buffet, there was a pot on my table.\u00a0 <\/span>It\u2019s as if the staff doesn\u2019t care for the wishes of guests.\u00a0 <\/span>Then, they mixed up my egg order: they delivered my egg to the Japanese sitting behind me and his eggs to me.\u00a0 <\/span>The waiters expect you to serve them\u2014instead of them clearing the plate, they expect you to remove your knife and fork and hand the plate to them.<\/p>\n

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In the same building as The Okura Prestige is a 7-eleven as well as a Dean & Deluca.\u00a0 <\/span>This is infinitely convenient— in case you don\u2019t feel like dining at the hotel or just want a small bite, you can easily get a sandwich from these shops.<\/p>\n

The rooms\u2019 design whispers a muted elegance.\u00a0 <\/span>The lobby and Up and Above Bar are more opulent and luxurious.\u00a0 <\/span>Up and Above Restaurant and Elements feature a contemporary chic design. Yamazato showcases traditional Japanese elegance.\u00a0 <\/span>All in all, The Okura Prestige is a real joy to walk around and stay in.\u00a0 <\/span>The interior design of this hotel provides veritable pleasure on its own.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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I strongly recommend this hotel— the housekeeping service, the elegant d\u00e9cor, the quality breakfast, the infinity pool, the great location and transport convenience.\u00a0 <\/span>If I am back in Bangkok again, I will definitely stay in this hotel again.<\/p>\n\n\r\n \r\n Booking.com<\/a>\r\n<\/ins>