A Residence To Rely On

If you are looking for a downtown hotel that offers long-term stays in spacious suites, is pet-friendly, has a smoking floor and does not cost the earth, then there is no better place than the Grand Mercure Bangkok Asoke Residence. Located on a quiet residential street just a stone’s throw from Asoke and Sukhumvit roads and the Skytrain and subway, the Accor-branded property ticks all the right boxes.

 

As the coronavirus pandemic continues to ravage the global travel industry both for business and tourism, guests at Grand Mercure Bangkok Asoke Residence can rest assured that their safety is of the utmost importance. A temperature check is required at the entrance to the hotel, high-touch guest areas are regularly sanitised, all staff wear face coverings (as should all guests) and the hotel adheres to the ALLSAFE Accor certification procedures.

 

 

The bright, large lobby is a welcoming space for guests who have travelled from near and far and the sit-down check-in service makes arrival a breeze. Once guests have completed the necessary paperwork, they are escorted to the lifts and whisked to their designated floor. Here again, the lifts, buttons, handles and doors are thoroughly cleaned on a regular basis.

 

Guests can choose between three types of accommodation that include Superior, Deluxe and Executive suites. All three suite options provide ample living space, a full kitchen, large bedroom, bathroom with toilet, shower and bath tub. The Superior Suite Executive Suite comes with a separate guest toilet and shower. Clean, crisp wooden and tiled floors in the living areas are matched with comfortable sofas, armchairs, coffee tables and smart TVs. The fully-fitted kitchens include cooking hobs, microwaves, fridge-freezers and washing machines.

 

In fact, the entire hotel underwent a complete refurbishment only a few years ago and the modern décor, furniture and fittings are comfortable on the eye. The large bedroom has sufficient wardrobe and storage space, a workstation, bedside tables and reading lights. As someone who is a light sleeper, I found the king-size bed to be very comfortable and enjoyed several enjoyable nights. If I had one grumble to make it would be in the bathroom where the old-fashioned shower head is fixed on the wall; there’s no rain shower, but that can be forgiven.

 

 

We opted for a long-weekend at Grand Mercure Bangkok Asoke Residence and were pleasantly surprised by the level of service we received from both management and staff. With the coronavirus sweeping the capital, we felt completely safe in our choice and although the hotel wasn’t running at capacity, there were many other guests taking advantage of the exceptional long-stay packages on offer, including one sweet old lady who had her beloved pet poodle with her.

 

Opening the door to our Executive Suite, we were taken aback by how much floor space we had at our disposal; our living area was larger than most guest rooms. A small balcony with table and chairs – complete with artificial grass – gave us the option of having a drink outside. Our kitchenette was perfect for our stay as we planned to do a bit of shopping at the nearby shopping centres of Robinson, Terminal 21, Central Rama IX, Emporium and EmQuartier.

 

 

Both Robinson and Terminal 21 are within walking distance, while Central Rama IX is a short journey on the subway (Bt19 only) and Emporium and EmQuartier are only one stop on the BTS Skytrain (Bt16). Usually, the Asoke intersection is a hive of activity which draws tourists from all over the world with many heading for the dining highlights of Korea Town and the neon lights of Soi Cowboy and its plethora of bars.

 

However, if like us you want to keep things quiet, then a walk along the residential street (Soi 19) outside the hotel can fulfil all your needs. The tree-lined street is home to several good restaurants, an English-style pub in the Black Swan, two very good spas and a well-stocked convenience store. During the day, Soi 19 can be a little busy as office workers make their way to work, but after 5pm, the whole area quietens down.

 

After window shopping at Emporium and EmQuartier, we made our way back to Grand Mercure Bangkok Asoke Residence via Terminal 21 stopping at the Gourmet Market to pick up some ingredients to cook for dinner and a couple of bottles of red wine. It is only a short walk from the two high-end stores at Phrom Pong to the Asoke junction and with very little traffic on the roads and very few people around it was a welcome bit of exercise.

 

 

Being in the middle of the city, guests are spoilt for choice when it comes to ordering food and the staff at Grand Mercure Bangkok Asoke Residence are very happy to help with deliveries. However, we decided to put our kitchen through its paces. Having opened and poured a tasty glass of Merlot each, we set about preparing a pesto pasta sauce with prawns, cherry tomatoes and fresh basil, green salad and garlic bread.

 

As the light faded outside and the chirping birds fell silent, we enjoyed a home-cooked meal, then settled on the sofa to enjoy a movie on the television. It really felt like we were at home and I guess that is why so many guests choose to stay with Grand Mercure Bangkok Asoke Residence. I almost felt compelled to clean the dishes, then I remembered that the hotel also has a daily cleaning service.

 

 

Unfortunately, during our stay the rooftop restaurant was closed due to the pandemic, but we were still able to order a full breakfast. We spent a lazy morning catching up with emails, zoom calls and gaming – the hotel provides free high-speed internet – then in the late afternoon we headed up to the rooftop for a swim and to catch some afternoon sunshine. I guess one of the upsides to the pandemic is that we had the entire pool to ourselves.

 

If you are looking for a reasonably priced long-stay hotel in Bangkok that’s not only centrally-located but also quiet enough to allow you to work, then Grand Mercure Bangkok Asoke Residence should be high on your list.

 

 

Source: Punch Media Digital.