MANILA, Philippines – Some friends were surprised to find out I was leaving for Bangkok. I couldn’t really blame them. After all, Bangkok a few months back was constantly in the news because of the failed coup attempts. But in spite of this I was still bent on going.
Bangkok has always been a favorite destination for me. In fact, Bangkok is also a favorite for my husband and kids. This was the place where my parents celebrated their wedding anniversary more than two decades ago, and this was the place where our whole clan my parents, siblings and grandchildren spent one of our most memorable Christmas holidays, which happened to be our last trip with my late brother-in-law Dave Puyat. In short, no news or well-meaning friends could stop me from going back to my favorite City of Angels.
Upon the suggestion of Thai Airways, together with Philippine Tatler publisher Irene Francisco and editor at large Mia Borromeo, we all agreed to try out the latest hotel in Bangkok Siam Kempinski Hotel.
After a smooth as silk flight to Bangkok via Thai Airways, we arrived in this historical city late in the afternoon. Everything looked normal and the city looked even more beautiful as ever. No sight of any rallies. It wasn’t as bad as we expected, instead we had a magnificent ride from the airport going to our hotel enjoying the cultural landmarks and beautiful Thai attractions everywhere I looked. It was a perfect ride and in less than an hour we were at the latest and grandest lifestyle mall, the Siam Paragon, and hidden right behind it was a lovely, sprawling garden that drove through the grand entrance of Siam Kempinski Hotel, which opened its doors just three months ago.
The hotel’s main entrance has an elegant and warm modern European ambience. We were welcomed by courteous hotel staff and we were pleasantly surprised to see a very familiar face – Philippe Caretti, who was formerly based in Manila and now Kempinksi Hotels’s interim general manager in Asia, very busy preparing for the hotels grand opening.
Kempinski Hotel is the oldest luxury brand hotel in Europe. Founded in Germany in 1897 it now has 63 hotels all over the world. With the Crown Property Bureau (a corporation owned by the Royal family) now owning majority of Kempinski Hotel, it was inevitable that they would open their 64th iconic property in the heart of the Kingdom of Thailand Bangkok City.
This latest addition is said to be one of the grandest, sitting on a property owned by royal family and situated right beside the Princess’s private residence. It has 303 rooms and 42 suites. Being in this beautiful hotel felt like I was in an elegant resort within the city.
“The Siam Kempinski Hotel Bangkok is proud to stand for individualistic luxury in Thailand, refinement and efficiency,” said Philippe Caretti. “We believe business travelers, holidaymakers, companies holding meetings, couples on honeymoon, Thai residents and expats committed to the finer things in life will all be delighted by what we have created here.”
Modern Thai aesthetics dominate the dramatic 14-meter-tall marble lobby, which features two spiral staircases and a multi-tiered fountain. The Siam Kempinski is unique due to the hundreds of Thai art works commissioned and visible throughout the property. All rooms look out onto large tropical landscaped gardens with extensive water features and three saltwater swimming pools.
The hotel’s European heritage is evident as well in the signature Brasserie Europa fine dining restaurant, the T Lounge, and the “1897” whisky bar and cigar court. We had an unforgettable degustation dining experience at the Sra Bua modern Thai dining restaurant, which is run by Michelin-star chefs Henrik Yde-Andersen and Lertchai Treetawatchaiwong from Kiin Kiin restaurant in Copenhagen, Denmark.
A must-try is The Kempinski Spa, which boasts expert masseurs using only organic herbal oils and naturopathic products imported from Europe.
Just across the hotel is the Siam Paragon mall connected on the second floor via a walkway. Stepping into the hotel makes you forget you’re in the city. I can really say that for me Siam Kempinski Hotel is one of the best if not the best hotel now in Asia! I fell so much in love with it that I went back a few weeks after and fell in love with it the second time around!
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Thai Airways operates 12x a week between Manila and Bangkok with connections to more than 70 destinations across five continents.