In a city of iconic hotels, The Grand Hyatt Erawan Bangkok remains a firm favourite with business travellers to the Thai capital. We take a closer look at why this Grand Dame remains so endearing. 

Background

Opened in 1991, the Grand Hyatt Erawan Bangkok is one of the city’s most esteemed houses of slumber. Built on the site of the government-owned Erawan Hotel, the property is best known for its towering square columns, which are influenced by traditional temple architecture. The hotel has enjoyed several renovations over the years, many at the hands of New York’s Tony Chi. The hotel’s location, in one of Bangkok’s key commercial and diplomatic precincts, is also brilliant; steps from the iconic Erawan Shrine, the hotel is adjacent to major shopping malls and even has its own connection to the Skytrain network.

First Impressions

Initial impressions of the hotel are impressive. Guests enter a muted forecourt into a cavernous lobby filled with trees, gardens and water features. I was quickly guided by a cheerful front desk staff member up to the fifth-floor pool deck where I was escorted around the hotel’s extensive swimming pool to a series of standalone villas, unique additions to the hotel’s 380 guest rooms and 44 suites.

The Room

My Garden Villa King is not your average hotel room. Instead, it’s more like a villa that you’d find at a resort – in fact, they’ve also doubled as private spa suites in the past. Guests follow manicured garden paths to a clutch of single-level villas, each of which features separate, spacious living rooms, dedicated spa suites, master bedrooms that open onto a private courtyard garden with a table and chairs, and a few handy amenities, including a rain shower with steam function and a stand-alone bathtub. There are Balmain products in the bathroom, as well as a pair of 55-inch smart televisions, a coffee machine, a Bluetooth-enabled JBL sound system, ample storage, twin vanities, a Hyatt Grand bed with pillow menu, and access to the hotel’s executive lounge, which offers business travellers complimentary meeting room access and evening cocktails.

The Garden Villa is a sublimely peaceful space that’s perfect for business travellers who like to nip out to the pool between Zoom calls. The living room has a comfortable, residential feel to it and the dining table doubles as a workspace. In the evenings, the garden at the rear of the villa is an elegant space perfect for intimate catch-ups or in-villa breakfasts while the bathroom will appeal to those travellers who like a little pampering.