Hotel Review: Grand Hyatt Erawan Bangkok (Grand Executive Suite King)
When I checked out the Grand Hyatt Erawan Bangkok last year, I was really impressed by (first) the lobby. Anyone who knows me well enough knows that I am a massive Hyatt fan - I love them for having one of the best loyalty programs in the market, the brand consistencies but more importantly, the level of emphasis they put on the food. While I do not claim to have extensively travelled around the world to see that this is generally true across all the properties, the ones that I have been to have been nothing short of perfect - the Grand Hyatt Singapore, Grand Hyatt Kuala Lumpur, Grand Hyatt Taipei as well as the Hyatt Regency Phuket Resort.
Click HERE to read my previous review of the Grand Hyatt Erawan Bangkok!
I caught SQ978 out of Singapore into Bangkok and have arranged for a limousine to pick me up from the airport. If you are looking for one, Oriental Escape is one that I have utilised many times - they will pick you up from the airport from THB 1,000 which I think is very decent considering how long the ride is and if you are like me and you hate haggling, just get a limousine to start your trip on a right note. The website design itself is quite terrible but once you get past that you will be alright.
Upon arriving at the Grand Hyatt Erawan Bangkok, I was quickly ushered away into my suite for a private check-in. Since I stayed in Club View Room during my last visit, my reservation was for a Grand Executive Suite King this time. The beautiful Grand Executive Suite King at the Grand Hyatt Erawan Bangkok comes with 80 sqm of beautiful space - in fact the design is fairly similar to the Club View Room that I stayed in but with double the space. Since I arrived pretty late into the hotel, I took most of my photos the following morning instead.
Located at the end of the hallway, the Grand Executive Suite King comes with one and a half bathroom - there is a powder room which is located near the living room and a bigger on that is connected to a walk-in wardrobe and the master bedroom inside. You will definitely notice the iconic octagon-shaped glass table at the end of the living which is suitable for working and dining (I used it mainly for dining though!). There is also a plush sofa here in the living room that I enjoy sinking into at the end of every day and a massive LCD TV here in the living room for your personal entertainment.
As mentioned earlier on, the Grand Executive Suite King comes with a smaller half bathroom which is located near the entrance of the suite - this is always a good idea if you are sharing the room with someone or could potentially have friends over. You will also definitely notice the unique tattoo travertine tiles here in both bathrooms.
As part of my welcome amenities, I also received a beautiful plate of luk chup (mung bean dessert) and a selection of macarons and chocolate pralines. The Grand Hyatt Erawan Bangkok Grand Club staff even drew me a handwritten note to welcome me back - always a nice touch and an obligatory souvenir to take home. I also love that fresh orchids are placed in the suite - in the living room and the bathroom.
One of the nicest touches in the suite has to be the illy coffee machine which is located in the living room - you will find six illy coffee pods here and they are replenished on a regular basis. Personally, I think that illy coffee is the best instant coffee you can get in a hotel room or suite. Nespresso is probably the market leader since it is generally cheaper and more marketed in this part of the world but nothing comes close to a deliciously-extracted illy espresso.
I also received a fresh fruit platter and some cake slice (which was delicious!) on my second morning here at the Grand Hyatt Erawan Bangkok. I do understand from some of my friends who have stayed here that the fruits served may sometimes be unrecognisable - the rambutan for example is not a fruit that you will see on a regular basis if you do not live in this part of the world. During my previous stay here, I remember receiving little snacks and treats on a daily basis - I thought this was a great gesture from the hotel's end!
The bedroom of the Grand Executive Suite King definitely reminded me of my Club View Room from my last visit - the bathroom is significantly larger though and I really do love the way the doors are flushed with the walls to really utilise the space within this suite. There is also an attached walk-in wardrobe here so you do not actually have to get out of the bathroom to get dressed - I find the design of this suite really intelligent and this is definitely something that I will try to implement in my own place next time!
The other different thing that you will notice in the Grand Executive Suite King is the existence of more windows - I got to enjoy almost 270 degrees worth of view from the comfort of my own suite when I stayed here. There is a also a proper dressing table here in the bedroom for you to look good before heading out because hey, this is the Grand Hyatt Erawan Bangkok after all!
The bathroom which is attached to the master bedroom of the Grand Executive Suite King comes with double sinks, a deep-soaking bathtub and a separate rain shower. Bath amenities are provided by the June Jacobs Spa Collection with citrus-scented products. Even though this is essentially a suite, you do not get the massive 120ml bottles here though - I do miss those ones that I have gotten in the Grand Hyatt Kuala Lumpur's Grand Suite.
Since I lost my Hyatt Gold Passport Diamond status in 2016 (I am only a lowly Platinum now!), getting guaranteed club access was no longer a given. Thankfully, you do get club privileges and access to the Grand Club here at the Grand Hyatt Erawan Bangkok when you book the Grand Executive Suite King. The property runs a number of promotions each year and it is sometimes possible to get the rooms (and suites!) at a really good rate. If you are not interested in chasing loyalty status and you only want the best deals on hotels, you may check out Saleduck Singapore for promo codes to help you save more and enjoy exclusive discounts on your stays - cash is king after all!
Most Singaporeans love the Thai Iced Milk Tea and you will find a really delicious version here at the Grand Club - I only found out because someone left a comment on one of my Instagram posts (thanks Sam!). Apart from the personalised concierge service that you get here, you will also get to enjoy complimentary breakfast here at the lounge (or choose to enjoy the full buffet experience at The Dining Room) and more importantly, the evening cocktails! Surprisingly (even to myself!), I did not make full use of the evening cocktail benefit during this stay as I was busy rushing from places to places.
Like most luxury hotels, the buffet breakfast at the main restaurant will definitely feature a wider spread but since it is central spot for all hotel guests to have breakfast, be prepared to deal with crowd. Here at the Grand Hyatt Erawan Bangkok, the breakfast crowd is actually not all that bad so it's definitely worthwhile to have breakfast here instead. There is a decent selection of international and continental dishes that you can choose from - I particularly like the fruits section but that's just me.
If you do choose to have your breakfast at the Grand Club (I checked out both since I was there for three days!), be prepared to select from a much smaller menu - I do not believe there is an a la carte menu to choose from and the spread isn't all that fantastic but you will definitely notice (and appreciate!) the peacefulness here in the lounge.
I proceeded back to the suite after breakfast to rest before heading out to my usual spots in Bangkok (yes Chatuchak is a must even though I really don't buy anything except food there). As I might have mentioned in my previous review, the Grand Hyatt Erawan Bangkok is located next to the BTS Station and therefore getting around is fairly easy. While I do like to use Uber because taxi drivers seem to enjoy ripping me off, hopping on the BTS is wise during certain periods of the day just because the traffic on the road is terrible. The hotel also has a really nice swimming pool (and some luxurious Spa Cottages on the same level) that you would enjoy lazing your afternoon away with a drink in hand.
The Sofitel Kuala Lumpur Damansara offers an excellent Club Millésime experience with comfortable rooms and well-maintained facilities, catering to both business and leisure travelers. The newly-opened Pavilion Damansara Heights Mall adds a variety of dining and entertainment options nearby, perfect for those who prefer not to venture too far from the hotel.