The Oriental Bangkok is renowned for the sheer extravagance of its rooms and suites - and one of the world's most beautiful spas. Each of The Oriental's 358 elegant rooms and suites is furnished in teak and traditional Thai silks and is served by a personal butler. There are six different categories of suites including personality suites reflecting the character of famous past guests from the literary world.

Dining options are many and include Le Normandie for fine French dining, Sala Rim Naan serving traditional Thai, Lord Jim's for seafood, Ciao for Italian favourites and China House. The Author's Lounge serves snacks and afternoon teas in an historic setting and the Bamboo Bar is the place for cocktails and live jazz.

The Oriental Bangkok Spa was the first of its kind in Asia and it still remains a temple of well-being for the many guests who indulge in its luxuries. Treatments include the ever popular Oriental Massage, the Jet-Lag Recovery Treatment and the Oriental Herbal Pack.

A sister property, the Mandarin Oriental Dhara Dhevi, is spread over 60 acres of picturesque countryside in the northern city of Chiang Mai.

Facilities:

• The Oriental Spa
• Sports center
• Two swimming pools

Dining:
There are a whopping eight different restaurants at the Oriental Bangkok, to ensure that your cravings for seafood, Thai, Chinese and Italian cuisine is take care of. We like the Sala Rim Naam the best. You have to take a boat ride across the river but the Thai food there is among the best in the country.
Certainly, La Normandie Restaurant serves the finest French food in Bangkok, and is a personal favorite of the Queen herself.

Room Type:

There are 358 rooms and suites here, but the Executive Suites are the best. They have great views of the river and are a good size, large enough to be roomy but not so large as to feel empty.

The Oriental Bangkok is located at the Chao Phraya River, in the heart of Bangkok.

The Oriental Bangkokhotel address: 48 Oriental Avenue, Bangkok 10500, Thailand.

Who should go?
The Oriental regularly wins the best Hotel in the World award and if you are looking for the best hotel in Bangkok it is the obvious choice.
However don't be fooled. The Oriental wins the awards on the back of having the best service in the world not the most beautiful hotel. The lobby can be disappointing and the rooms, although very nice, are probably not the best in town and are certainly not the biggest. However, The Oriental has something its many imitators can't quite match - character. This hotel oozes charm, exudes charisma, lives and breathes its history and the service is simply outstanding. The Oriental is a hotel for hotel connoisseurs.

When to go?
Bangkok is a year round city with plenty to do whether it rains or shines. It can get very hot in April and the worst rains usually come in September. The best time to stay at the Oriental is during the Loy Kratong when thousands of candles are floated on the river and a firework display lights up the city right in front of the hotel.

Where is it?
The Oriental is on the Chaophraya River in the old part of town. It is more than a walk away from the skytrain but the hotel supplies shuttle boats to Sathorn pier as well as the shops at River city. It is well located for sightseeing and discovering old Bangkok but not the most convenient for the shopping centers and nightlife of new Bangkok.

What's not to be missed?
The Oriental Spa located across the river is one of the best in Asia. High tea in the writer's rooms in the original part of the hotel is also a treat that should be indulged.  

What's cooking?
Dinner at Sala Rim Nam is a must for anyone whether staying at the Oriental or not. The cooking school is also reputed to be the best in Thailand.