The Continent Hotel Bangkok is just a few steps from the busy Asoke intersection. It’s an area I pass through four or five times a week, so I’ve seen the building under construction for a year or more. For much of that time, there was a big Ramada banner on the side of the structure, but apparently the owner had a change of heart at the last minute and decided against the affiliation. That’s probably just as well, since the quality of the place is a bit above what the Ramada brand conjures up.
I was always quite curious about the hotel while it was under construction, since the plot of land is so small. The hotel is tall – 39 floors – and narrow. There are just seven rooms per floor, for a total of 153 in all.
The rooms are rather small, at that, but not cramped. They’re efficiently laid out with large flat-screen televisions that lie flush against the wall and bathroom doors that slide rather than swing. The shower stalls feature the popular ‘see-through’ feature, but of course there are electronically controlled blinds you can close if this bothers you. Similar to a few other new hotels, floors are themed, with ‘ocean’, ‘forest’, ‘desert’ and ‘space’ color schemes available. All of the rooms have excellent views of the area, which can be quite colorful at night with the buildings lit up. The rooms have all the mod-cons, including free wi-fi. They mentioned they might got to a two-tier Internet offering, with free slow wi-fi for those who just needed to check email, or paid high speed service for those that needed it.
Aside from the lobby bar, most of the hotel’s other facilities are at the top. Spreading across the two top-most floors is “Axis & Spin”, the clubby night-time entertainment venue. Large windows angled steeply outward allow you to take in the view. Below that, on the 37th floor, is the tiny pool with its own bar. Although too small for any serious swimming, the pool does go all the way to the edge of the building. The floor below the pool houses the gym, and below that is the primary dining venue, Medini. The restaurant offers a blend of Italian and Asian cuisines for all-day dining.
Although the Asoke intersection is notorious for its traffic jams, with the subway and Skytrain just steps away from the hotel, you’ll still be able to get around easily if you stay here.
The hotel is offering some great rates for their opening, with as much as 50% off. You can find more information on The Continent Hotel web site or you can also check for special rates at Agoda. The special deals are probably good at least until the formal grand opening, which is on 12 December (yes, 12/12/12).