Marriott Marquis: The Largest And Most Luxurious Hotel In Bangkok, Thailand
From the start of our adventure, luxury travel has not been at the top of our list. Having begun just out of college, our budget was strict. We were relying on our savings accounts filled with money from previous part time jobs. Kyle and I have practically been staying at the cheapest Airbnb's we could find for the majority of our travels. So, as you can imagine, staying at the Marriott Marquis was a pretty big change of pace for us.
The Marriott Marquis is no typical Marriott. Just look at the Photos.
From the moment you step into the lobby you are immediately transported into a luxurious grand lobby with authentic Thai designs sprinkled throughout. You will be greeted by beautifully dressed hosts who will guide you to the check in tables. Thai people have this astounding ability of making you feel welcomed. It is no surprise that from the moment you step into the Marriott you feel just that.
Facilities
With the very high percentage of humidity outside, there is no way you will find yourself successfully getting in a morning run at the park. This is when their large and well equipped gym comes into play. This is one of the nicest and not to mention largest hotel gyms we've come across. You can always count on hotel gyms having the bare necessities to get in a good workout, but those fitness centers pale in comparison. This Marriott gym consists of the essentials...and then some!
Here they are: a room full of cardio machines, a large weight room containing free weights, a yoga and stretching room, and they even have a squash court!
Now, if you find working out is the last thing you want to do after a long day in the heat, take a dip in the pool on the 9th floor. This is the perfect way to relax and cool off in between all of your tourism activities you have planned throughout your trip. If you are traveling as a family, they also have a shallow children's pool right next to the main pool area.
Marriott Restaurants/Bars
The Goji Kitchen + Bar
Dumplings, bagel bar, waffles, oh my. Don't even get me started with the buffet breakfast. The Goji Kitchen + Bar was the most lavish buffet I had ever seen that had just about any breakfast food you could imagine. You can get anything from street food staples to authentic Chinese cuisine. Not to mention the most extravagant assortment of local fruits imaginable. This Marriott offers a wide variety of food from all over the world. This mouthwatering breakfast is open everyday from 6am-10:30am and is located just behind reception. If you are staying at the Marriott Marquis, this restaurant is an absolute must. I swear our group still talks about it to this day.
Siam Tea Room
This small but stylish restaurant located on the lobby floor is where we chose to have our first dinner when we arrived. The jet lag from the flight had hit the group pretty hard. So, it's safe to say we were looking for something close and convenient. This restaurant was such a nice surprise and the food was fantastic. This is a great place to go if you want to try specialty Thai food and you don't want to have to go far.
ABar Rooftop
If you are looking to watch the sunset with a cocktail in hand, ABar Rooftop is where you want to be. Here you can enjoy one of the most stunning views of the city on a stylish high rise patio. Not to mention, they have a wide variety of drinks to choose from and frequently have DJ's perform. The ambiance at this bar is hard to find. We definitely recommend getting a drink there during your wonderful stay at the Marriott.
Price
Now I can't say this is the place to stay if you are a budget traveler. But, if you are looking for an amazing place to stay and you have the opportunity to spend a bit more, the Marriott Marquis is the place to do it. The rooms range anywhere from $114 to $300 depending on the type of space you want. This is quite reasonable for a hotel of this stature.
Location
Just a 10 minute walk from the Asoke/Sukhumvit stations, the Marriott Marquis sits on a small side street with a lot of character. There is definitely nothing boring about this hotel's surrounding area. Just to give you an idea, on this street you will find about everything you could ask for.
...ten Thai massage shops.
...incredible restaurants and bars.
...a gluten free bakery.
...several 7 Eleven's.
...fresh fruit market stands.
...street food pop-ups.
...and a Dinosaur World theme Park.
Safe to say, the street has it all. But, don't be alarmed by the busy-ness of this area. From the moment you step into the hotel, you won't need to worry about any street noise. You won't hear a single thing.
The Marriott is located right in the hustle and bustle of Bangkok where you will find everything you want right at your finger tips. You are just four stops away from the famous shopping malls at Siam...and just a five minute Tuk Tuk ride from Thailand's first destination restaurant, The Long Table. With all types of transportation readily available for you, you will find Bangkok to be extremely accessible to you.
Airport Transportation
There are a few options for getting to the hotel from the airport. If you are looking for the quickest and easiest option, I definitely recommend taking a taxi. The ride from BKK airport is about 45 minutes depending on traffic. Side note: It will take you about an hour in Bangkok to realize the traffic is worse than Los Angeles, and that's hard to do. So...avoid being in the car as much as possible...especially if it's raining.
Now with that being said, be aware that taxi drivers will try to set a fixed and more expensive price for your ride. If you don't know better you will probably think this is your only price option, but I'm here to let you know you can stick your ground and get the ride for a more realistic price. So, firmly tell them you want to use the meter and I promise you, you will get your ride for a fair and honest price. You can always graciously throw in a tip to the driver at the end if you wish. Thai people are very kind, extremely hardworking, and would be beyond appreciative of any tips.
You next option is by taking public transportation. Click Here: Airport Rail Link Map + MRT Map
Whether you are trying to save cash or just want the experience, I promise you the Thai metro system is very easy to navigate. From BKK airport you will take the Airport Rail Link to Makkasan station. From there you will transfer to the underground MRT line called Phetchaburi and take it one stop to Sukhumvit station. This is your final stop! As I mentioned above the hotel is just a quick 10 minute walk from the station so if you want you can walk or grab a Tuk Tuk. I personally recommend grabbing a Tuk Tuk. This is a staple of Thailand and it's a wild ride you are definitely going to want to experience.
Do the Marriott employees speak English?
The staff members working at this Marriott are kind, extremely knowledgable, and best of all...speak great English! As you will find during your time in Thailand, it can be hard to find people that speak english well. The majority of Thai people know very little, so it is good to be prepared. That being said, try to learn some simple Thai words before your trip. What we found very helpful about the Marriott was that they were able to communicate and answer any questions we had. More importantly, the employees will help set up taxi rides for you and communicate to the driver's exactly where you want to go. Most taxi driver's don't speak english so this was extremely helpful.
We loved our stay at the Marriott Marquis in Bangkok and look forward to future stays with the Marriott. Please feel free to comment below to share your experiences with Marriott.
Want to read more of our posts?! Here you go: The Foodie Guide To Bangkok, Top Things To Do In Bangkok, Thai Food and Culture, and Packing For Backpacking Southeast Asia!
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- Morgan
