Rarely old yet elegant, Bangkok's Lovers' Bay Grand Hyatt
Moved from Bangkok Park Hyatt to Grand Hyatt, only a few hundred meters apart, yet offering a completely different visual experience. After all, the towering glass atrium of the Grand Hyatt is filled with artificial trees, a rarity worldwide.
Received an advance greeting letter from the hotel with clear instructions, just asking for quiet. Although earplugs were prepared by the bedside, after being shocked by the light rail's roaring noise, small earplugs really can't calm my ears. At the lounge check-in, I met a young lady transferred from Shenzhen Park Hyatt, who arranged an inward-facing executive suite. In my view, this is almost the best room in this Grand Hyatt.
Of course, the noise issue on Sukhumvit Road has long existed; from another perspective, it depends on whether you are willing to sleep in the heart of the city. It mainly depends on personal choice, as downstairs is the Erawan Shrine, with interconnected corridors leading to major malls, making the temptation hard to resist.
The suite's design aesthetics could definitely be textbook material. It even inspired me to want to renovate my own home. This Grand Hyatt, as an early masterpiece of Master Ji, has a far-reaching influence, with asymmetrical headboards, carved tiles, and clever use of mirrors resonating in subsequent works. Of course, the owner is very capable, especially suitable for other old hotels with tight budgets urgently needing renovation to provide transformation ideas—if you can't afford a full renovation, do an interior decoration upgrade. The gap between antique charm and old decay is actually just a flash of genius design.
The executive lounge still exudes a strong classical atmosphere, with afternoon tea offering only small snacks and freshly squeezed juice. During happy hour, waiters circulate with champagne on silk scarves, serving mostly Western-style items. Although the green papaya salad is a highlight, it’s not filling, so just enjoy the atmosphere as the city lights come on.
The sixth-floor public area is highly functional, with the gym on the left brightly lit 24 hours, almost perfect except for the low temperature. You can also hire a fitness coach at a relatively low price. The petal-shaped pool is on the terrace, with an outdoor hot spring-like heated pool. Plumeria trees provide shade umbrellas, creating a strong vacation vibe. Once seated, waiters bring ice water, iced tea, and fruit.
Breakfast can be chosen at the first-floor restaurant or lounge, both featuring a mix of Thai, Indian, and Western styles. Chinese tastes might suffer a bit here, as apart from soup noodles, everything seems questionable. The star product is the orange-flavored iced Americano, almost everyone has a cup. Yogurt ice cream adds extra points. Members have special meals.
Overall, in the past month, I have checked in at the three most representative Grand Hyatts in the Far East: Hong Kong, Singapore, and Bangkok. It allowed me to revisit the complex aesthetics of the economic boom in the 1980s and 1990s. It also offered a Western perspective to glimpse their then understanding of Eastern charm. Unfortunately, today, Southeast Asians dominate the clientele, and the instinct to favor the new over the old is natural. It’s best to quickly learn from Singapore Grand Hyatt and raise funds for a new renovation.
Room details:
Room number: 1805
Official name: Executive King Suite
Area: 80 square meters
Mattress: Sealy
Living room and bedroom TVs: Samsung
Sound system: Geneva
Bluetooth speaker: Bose
Shower and metal fittings: Lefory Brooks
Master bathroom toilet: Electric TOTO
Guest bathroom toilet: Manual TOTO
Hairdryer: Panasonic
Scale: Soehnle
Amenities: Large Balmain bottles
Electric kettle: JVD
Coffee machine: Nespresso
Coffee capsules: Nespresso 4 pieces
Instant coffee: Nestlé
Tea bags: TWG
Bottled water: Glass bottle Singha
Minibar: Chargeable