Have you heard about the famous MBK Bangkok Hotel that shoppers fall in love with? The Pathumwan Princess Hotel is a luxury 4 star hotel in the heart of Bangkok’s Siam shopping area and attached to one of the best bargain lovers’ shopping malls in Bangkok.

Today I wanted to share my personal experience of staying at the Pathumwan Princess, including a review of our most recent visit. Read on to find out why we have stayed here five times over the last decade and why it makes a fantastic base for a shopping holiday or short stopover in Bangkok.

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Why we have stayed at the Pathumwan Princess 5 times!

In a word, convenience! The Princess is also the only Bangkok hotel we have returned to multiple times.

I think the hotel is the perfect choice for business travellers and first-time visitors to Bangkok. Read on to find out why.

Location, Location, Location

We first choose this hotel right inside the MBK shopping mall, purely for its location. If you want a central hotel well connected to Bangkok’s public transport and right in the middle of the city’s most popular shopping district, it’s hard to beat.

There’s no need to worry about taxis or tuk tuks or getting lost in the city streets – simply step out of the hotel and find yourself in the heart of Siam, one of Bangkok’s most popular shopping destinations.

The hotel’s location inside the MBK Mall also means you can escape to the giant air-conditioned oasis whenever the heat overwhelms and its position steps from the BTS means no long walks in the midday sun to get to around the city.

Convenience – everything your doorstep

Being able to jump in the lift and be in a large shopping mall in a matter of minutes is something you quickly come to appreciate in Bangkok. Particularly after a day of sightseeing. This eight-story mall has over 2,000 shops and stalls selling everything from clothing and accessories to electronics and souvenirs. You can get a massage, a manicure or a haircut without leaving the building.

There is also almost an entire floor of bars and restaurants, a great food court, and a large supermarket to pick up essentials. It’s open from 10am-10pm and has direct access to the BTS dark green sky train line and an overhead walkway to the rest of Siam’s malls.

Facilities

The Pathumwan Princess Hotel’s pool is another fantastic reason to return. It is one of the largest in Bangkok! This stunning outdoor oasis is located on the hotel’s 8th floor and offers 8 lanes that are 25 metres in length. It never feels crowded.

Not only is it perfect for swimming laps, but it also boasts views of the city skyline. Whether you want to soak up the sun poolside or take a refreshing dip, the hotel pool is the perfect place to recharge after a morning exploring Bangkok before heading out again in the evening when things cool down!

But it’s not only the pool that will impress you, hotel guests have access to the Olympic Club fitness centre, also on level 8 next to the pool. At over 9000 square metres, this is Bangkok’s biggest fitness centre. It even has an outdoor running track, Muay Thai ring and two full size squash courts! There is no excuse for not working off all the delicious food you will eat in Bangkok.

Our recent stay

This stay was a long one – 9 days – so we decided on a suite to have a little more room. We booked one of the older style ones, the ExecuPlus Suite, which at 72sq.m is bigger than most one-bedroom apartments in Bangkok.

While it is the only room type that has not yet been updated, we loved it. It was one of the most comfortable rooms we have stayed in for a while and we would book it again in a heartbeat.

Checking into “the Princess”

My first visit to Pathumwam Princess was back in 2010 and I remember then when I entered, the spacious lobby and its relaxed atmosphere impressed me. Nothing has changed in that respect. The simple modern design combined with the traditional Thai elements still creates a harmonious balance that immediately made you feel you have made the right choice booking this property.

The large ground floor lobby features a coffee shop and direct access to the mall. To check in make your way to the first floor via the escalator. If you have a lot of luggage, the staff will tag it and take it up for you.

Check in times are a little later in Asia, starting from 2pm, but we have found they do their very best to get you checked in as early as possible. We usually have access by noon, although this is not guaranteed.

For all our stays, we have arrived by 10.30am and the staff has gone out of their way to get us into our room at noon. The check-in experience is seamless, as always, which set the tone for the rest of our visit.

Throughout our stay, the hotel front desk staff were always there to assist with any queries, and after staying over a week, we felt like family by the time we left!

Our suite

This trip was part work, part pleasure, so I wanted a room design with a separate area to work without disturbing my sleeping partner.

On entering at the suite, the ample space blew me away. The business-oriented layout of the room made it easy to be productive while still enjoying the luxurious amenities.

This was a very comfortable suite. The lounge room, complete with a large TV, work desk and ergonomic chair, was perfect for unwinding or getting some work done. The free Wi-Fi was excellent too.

There was a full-size refrigerator that was stocked with plenty of water and our two free beers and two free soft drinks that were replenished daily. Also, a capsule coffee machine and kettle, ready for your first cuppa of the day. We grabbed fresh fruit and some snacks from the supermarket at MBK.

The king-size bed and large sofa in the bedroom allowed space for my partner to escape while I worked.

The bathroom amenities were just as impressive, with an enormous bathtub and shower stall with a rain head shower that provided an almost spa-like experience.

However, my favourite feature was the large walk in dressing room. With room for all your luggage and lots of hanging space, it made it easy to keep the suite tidy and organised.

If you book your suite early or stay for four days or more or visiting in low season, you can often get these suites at a good price.you can grab them for a very good price.

The hotel features several other accommodation choices, including two types of rooms (33-36sqm) and a variety of suites from Executive Suites to the 155sq.m Terrace Suite and Family suites. All rooms at Pathumwan Princess are non-smoking rooms. These rooms are the last remaining older style rooms with the rest of the hotel refreshed in lighter coloured furnishings.

Is Club Lounge access worth it?

We went with club lounge access on our last two visits for a couple of reasons. Wine is expensive in Thailand and the idea of a couple of free glasses of wine at the end of the day was appealing. We are also not really into a big breakfast buffet, so we also appreciated the choice of a smaller offering with fewer people.

If you book Club Access with your room, you will find two beers and two soft drinks per day placed in your refrigerator.

You can access the lounge all day from 6.30am-10.30pm with light refreshments and snacks throughout the day. In the late afternoon, you can enjoy the complimentary “Happy Hour” bar from 5.30pm-7.30pm with your choice of spirits, wine or beer, and hot snacks. You could easily have a light dinner at night.

The only thing we didn’t like about the club was that it’s tucked away in the corner of the ground floor and we kept forgetting to stop by until we had got back to our room. It would be great if it was somewhere more central.

If you like a drink or want a quieter option for breakfast, then Club Lounge access is worthwhile.

Restaurants, Meals and Room Service at Pathumwan Princess

There are four restaurants in the hotel, two Thai and one Korean, along with Citi Bistro, which is their large buffet breakfast room, also opened for a buffet dinner on weekends.

There is a decent room service menu. We ordered a club sandwich which is our hotel guilty pleasure and it was a very good version, delivered quickly and nice and hot!

We didn’t eat at any of the onsite restaurants because we are very much street food people, but they seemed popular. The easy access to the BTS station meant we were happy to head out most nights to find local restaurants.

If you are looking for Halal food, then at the MBK shopping mall is a great place to dine.

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things to do near Pathumwan Princess?

There are several sites near MBK Bangkok Hotel that make it a fantastic location for sightseeing. One of the most interesting is the Jim Thompson House, which is a 15-minute walk away.

Jim Thompson House

The Jim Thompson House is a museum in Bangkok, housing the art collection of American entrepreneur and architect Jim Thompson. Thompson is credited with reviving the Thai silk industry in the 1950s and 1960s. He disappeared while visiting the Cameron Highlands, Malaysia, in 1967.

This beautifully preserved complex of six traditional Thai teakwood houses, set amid a lush garden, is one of Bangkok’s most popular tourist destinations. There is an onsite restaurant looking out over the gardens. There is also a large shop for anyone looking for a uniquely Thai silk gift.

Right outside the Jim Thompson House is the Saen Saeb Khlong, where you can ride one of the Canal boats along the 18 kilometre route to the Golden Mount Temple or CentralWorld and the famous Platinum Shopping Mall

Bangkok Art and Culture Center

Another cultural attraction is the Bangkok Art and Culture Center, which is about a 5-minute walk from the hotel. At first glance, you might think this is another mall, but venture inside this contemporary art museum to find has several floors of galleries showcasing local and international artists. s.

If your focus is shopping, then there are several malls that are quite different to MBK Shopping centre within a short walk are Siam Discovery and Siam Center mall, which many shops you won’t find in other malls. Siam Paragon, where you will find all the luxury brands, is less than 10 minutes walk through these malls giving you four malls you can visit without going outdoors!

Overall, my experience at the Pathumwan Princess Hotel was exceptional. It may be a four-star rated hotel, but its features are better than a five-star hotel.

I would recommend this hotel to anyone looking for an elegant and sophisticated experience that provides both luxury and comfort at the best price. Whether it’s for business or leisure, the Pathumwan Princess Hotel is a great location for your visit to Bangkok.

If you’re planning a trip to Bangkok soon, and looking at Bangkok’s best hotels in a good location, don’t hesitate to choose the Pathumwan Princess as your accommodation. Whether you’re looking to shop till you drop or soak up some local history and art, there’s plenty to see and do within walking distance of the hotel.

I hope my review has provided some insight and helped make your decision a little easier.

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If you are looking for a hotel in bangkok in a high end mall, consider the Siam Kempinski Hotel Bangkok