Words: Byron Tully
Photo credit: Writer's Own
After a couple of years of almost constant work and limited travel, my wife and I planned an extended vacation to southeast Asia, a part of the world we’d never visited and knew little about.
The 3-week itinerary included Bangkok, Vietnam, and Hong Kong. Our very vague plan was to explore the temples, experience the various cultures, catch up on non-work-related reading, eat some great food, and enjoy some luxury accommodations.
The Hotel
One of the highlights of the trip was our 7-night stay at the Ritz Carlton Hotel in Bangkok. The property is new, opening in December of 2024. It joins a veritable who’s who of luxury hotels in the city–the Peninsula, the Four Seasons, the Mandarin Oriental, the Siam, and the St. Regis. Their locations, so often near or on the scenic Chao Phraya River, offer easy access to the Icon Siam luxury shopping and entertainment complex.
After a little research and a lot of thought, we chose not to stay in that area and opted for The Ritz Carlton. I’m glad we did. The hotel is nestled in a more tranquil area of Bangkok, among foreign embassies and discreet luxury high-rises and directly across the street from the wooded and welcoming Lumphini Park. While all of Bangkok is busy and bustling, the area around the hotel is not overwhelmed by the super retail/consumer/concert/tour group chaos that permeates much of the river district.
The property sits adjacent to the One Bangkok center which includes office, retail, residential, and restaurant spaces, as well as a metro stop. Bangkok’s public transit system is world class, by the way, making access to temples and attractions easy and inexpensive. And Temple Street, with its food vendors and market stalls, was a short walk away.
So as hotel guests, we had access to everything we might need, without the hoards of tourists who crowd the other end of town.
L: With General Manager Tina Liu and Chef Glen Cooper.
R: Aprons and hats, personalized for our cooking class.
The Experience
At this point, I must say this: from check-in to departure, I could not have imagined a more enjoyable stay.
The staff was consistently cheerful and responsive, personable and professional. From afternoon tea to the breakfast buffet to dinner and drinks, they struck that lovely balance of being just attentive enough, and then knowing when to retreat and allow my wife and I to savor the moment.
Their level of service amounted to more than simply fulfilling routine requests: they anticipated needs and desires. I attribute this superb performance to a few things: first, the Ritz Carlton is the new kid on the block. The hotel has to prove itself to a demanding and affluent clientele who, as I mentioned, have plenty of choices when it comes to luxury accommodations in Bangkok.
Another contributing factor: the management team, lead by General Manager Tina Liu. The top-shelf, on-the-money service we experienced doesn’t happen by accident. It’s the result of meticulous planning, extensive training, and relentless attention to detail.
Additionally, Chef Glen Cooper and his team (‘Pop’ and An, among others) rolled out the Breakfast Buffet To End All Buffets on a daily basis, offering everything from Western favorites like omelettes, hash browns, and Eggs Benedict to more exotic dishes (exotic to me, anyway) catering to Japanese, Korean, and Chinese guests.
Glen and Pop also prepared special Thai breakfast dishes for me every morning and took the time to explain the ingredients and origins of each dish, part of a lovely birthday gift from my wife. We also enjoyed a private cooking class with them, and An, the incredible pastry chef.
With each passing day and meal, I discovered that authentic Thai cuisine is far more complex and delicious than most people realize, with each region having its own way of cooking a dish (I think I had five different versions of mango sticky rice, all incredible, all distinctive), with each region boasting its unique specialities and spices.
We enjoyed the Ritz Carlton’s private blend of tea, as well, which was smooth and flavorful. (I brought a box of the tea home, but I think my wife hid it from me, knowing I’d brew it up and drink it all immediately.)
Our tastefully decorated and spacious room was kept in pristine condition by our lovely attendant Bao, who kept us stocked up on bottled water, as well as fresh towels, luxurious robes, and comfy slippers. Her and her team’s attention to detail was remarkable.
Case in point: my wife had started reading a novel one afternoon and spontaneously decided to use one of our plastic room keys as a bookmark. When we returned to our room that evening, the room key had been set on top of the book. A Ritz Carlton branded bookmark had been inserted in its place.
My wife was touched by the gesture. I thought it as lovely, too, but I already adored Bao because she brought us chocolates every night.
L: Paradise.
M: With Jay at breakfast.
R: With Bank, who seemed to know what we needed before we even asked.
Special Treats
On my birthday, enjoyed a rigorous Thai massage (of course!) at the Spa, followed by a cigar and an espresso in the hotel’s private, guests-only cigar lounge. File under the category of Best Day Ever.
New Year’s Eve was delightful as well, with a live band playing familiar favorites, a fireworks show lighting up the sky at midnight, and a cordial camaraderie filling the lounge area with laughter and celebration, and plenty of champagne all around.
Having been at the hotel since Christmas Day and interacting with the staff for almost a week, this evening was also a chance to share a relaxed moment with a few of them we’d come to know, express our gratitude, and wish everyone a Happy New Year.
With ‘Mademoiselle’ and ‘Teddy Bear’ (inside joke.)
In Summary
Yes, the Ritz Carlton is a new hotel. Yes, it has a great management team. Yes, the chefs are incredibly talented. Yes, the staff is well-trained. But I think it’s the warm and welcoming nature of the Thai people that really topped off our experience there.
Make no mistake: these people work hard. Bangkok is buzzing with energy and ambition, and we were lucky enough to experience just a little of it in a place that literally defines ‘hospitality.’
But they’re never too busy to smile. Never too busy to be kind.
And that’s a joy to be a small part of.
Thank you, Tina. Thank you, team.
The Ritz-Carlton, Bangkok
Address: 189 Witthayu Rd, Lumphini, Pathum Wan, Bangkok 10330, Thailand
Phone: +66 2 180 7777
Website: www.ritzcarlton.com/en/hotels/bkkrb-the-ritz-carlton-bangkok/overview/
