Lachlan Burnet

Review of Grand Sukhumvit Hotel Bangkok

I am an Accor Platinum Member and have stayed at t...

I am an Accor Platinum Member and have stayed at the Grand Sukhumwit a few times now, but I think this time will be my last.
The front desk staff were lovely, it was nice to be upgraded to a newer-style room as part of my Platinum membership, and the hotel itself is fine for me. Comfortable rooms, nice amenities etc, but the multiple Chinese tour groups are ruining this hotel. Don't expect a peaceful stay.
The lobby, particularly in early morning and late afternoon/early evening are over-run by these tour groups. They are loud, obnoxious, rude and block all pathways so walking through them is a chore. They will shout at their companions from one end of the lobby to the other. They make the breakfast buffet a nightmare and food can't be replenished quickly enough, there's not enough seats and their table manners leave a lot to be desired. (I realise there are large cultural differences, but when there are over 100 people or more in the same area behaving in their way it really is grating and frustrating). At one point, one lady from this tour group was holding the lift for over a minute waiting for her companion when I needed to get back to my room and retrieve something in a hurry. No consideration.
So, I will "vote with my feet" and take my business to another hotel next time I am in Bangkok. Unfortunately, this is all I can do, but I know the hotel itself won't care in any way at losing my business as it's obvious that they now focus on the large tour groups bringing in large amounts of room nights rather than the individual loyal Platinum member who is only paying for one room. Unfortunately, many hotels in Bangkok have "sold out" to mass tourism, and this is just another one. I will find a hotel that has a more peaceful environment, and one where I am feel valued again and can have a more relaxing stay.