Oriental, The . Hotel and facilities

[bibblies]

I had my proudest moment there!

 

 

 

I was briefly passing through (escorting someone) when the whim took me - "I wonder what their toilets'll be like..Gotta try, gotta try.." - and I found them.

 

 

 

Sitting down in that luxurious and fragrant chamber, I was so excited that I managed to produce an absolute beauty of a turd. It was ENORMOUS. And, what's more, it was all in one piece! I was fairly jumping up and down when I saw it, I tell you! I nearly went outside to show my companion.

 

 

 

I was tempted to leave it, or at least take a photo (to do that, of course, I'd have had to have gone outside and borrowed a camera from a startled member of staff - which I'm sure they'd have done, by the way!) but, eventually, out of respect to the institution, I sadly flushed it and made good.

 

 

 

 

 

As an aside, I had to wait for my escort in the lobby for quite a time and, with the Oriental's reputation as the best hotel in the world*, I was a bit nervous that I might not fit in. I needn't have worried. That lobby was full of the shabbiest bunch of slobbiest-dressed people I'd seen outside Khao San!

 

 

 

*That tag must get them a lot of extra custom. I've been tempted to bear the cost of staying there for one night, just to say I stayed in the best hotel in the world.

 

 

[shygye]

How does it compare to the Shangri-La? I remember Tiger Woods stayed there instead of the Oriental.

[Fiery Jack]

Buffalo Bill wrote:

 

 

 

"The most peaceful hongnam in all of Asia, a heaven of tranquility , a stylish retreat for the Far East Traveller is the one which belongs to the Author's Lounge. It is so discreetly positioned that nobody finds it except the experts. Highly recommended here. 10 out of 10 on the hongnam scale."

 

 

 

Think1stbkk replied:

 

 

 

"Agree fully with you, bill!

 

 

 

Married there last february..."

 

 

 

What? You got married in a shithouse? Nice one. Cuts out the middle man: it took a couple of years for my marriage to go down the pan.

 

 

 

j

 

 

[Old Hippie]

I remember going there to buy cigars at the Havana room (decent selection, avg. prices) and being greeted by a nervous looking guy who wanted to know what I wanted there (I was in full backpack attire!) So I told him, and he graciously escorted me to the shop, got me a complementry glass of cuban rum, and then waited to escort me out. It was funny then, and funny now, I guess he was nervous "My type" lurking around and bring the place down, can't blame him:)

 

 

[buffalo_bill]

Shygye,

 

 

 

started my Bangkok hotel career in the Shangri-La 1996. Advantage is the large garden round the pool and lower prices. A hotel with a very much different atmosphere, more touristic. Still highly recommendable but nowhere near the Oriental.

 

 

 

bb

[Guest]

If one stays at the Oriental and bemoans the walk of shame and fears the conscientous security guard; a simple and wonderful solution.

 

 

 

Also book a room at the Nana Hotel for the duration of your stay and use it as the recreation room.

 

 

 

A tip for those who do: Make sure they know you might not sleep there all the time. Missed two nights (snagged a Japanese girl at the O) of being there and although I'd paid for 7 nights, they'd moved my small bag and rented the room to another. Thankfully, they had another room.

 

 

 

 

[JJsushi]

I stayed at the Oriental about 5yrs ago. The only thing that impressed me was the prices! The rooms were not that great. The overall property was beautiful, the service was impeccable and the food was decent. I think they even had a "high tea time" in one of the cafes. The guests were a mix of businessmen, international couples and first time tourists who would never stay at a Best Western.

 

I didn't have a problem with bringing back a Patpong girl one time. She actually wore a pantsuit which was very smart looking.

 

I actually enjoy the serviced apartments more. You get great rooms, good service for a very affordable price. Even the overpriced Emporium suites is kick-ass IMO, relative to the price you pay at the Oriental.

 

 

[Guest]

The Oriental is one of those hotels that only require a name.. It's in a class with the likes of The Raffels (Singapore) Waldorf (NYC) and the Ritz (Paris)....

 

 

 

The Oriental is not designed for sanuk. Rather it is (IMHO) to experience what some (not all) believe is the best in hotel accomodation on a worldwide basis.

 

 

 

I've stayed there only a handful of times. I frequent the Sala Rimm Naam and Lord Jim's for Sunday Buffet... Sometimes I take TG's (BG's and NBG's) but we are always dressed and behave appropriately for the setting and situation.

 

 

 

My most fond and vivid memory is eating all the pears from the fruit bowl one morning. I left my room for no more than 10 minutes (no kidding, 10 minutes) to go to the front desk to sign for a late package [DHL late delivery lol].

 

 

 

By the time I got back into my room, the fruit bowl had been replenished, the bed made, bathroom restocked, robes replaced and soft music on the stereo... All this in 10 minutes.

 

 

 

This was always the case. Each night my shoes were taken from my room, very quitely. The next morning they re-appeared and were polished and even repaired (new laces).

 

 

 

The Oriental is about service.... In every aspect. Service.

 

 

 

--UPSer