If You Had This Choice Of Where To Live...

[mastrmateo]

Hello all. This is my first post, but I have been reading around for a while...Great forum with a wealth of information. I will be moving to Bangkok in August, and I am planning on living there for at least a year. My job is transferring me and I have the choice of two places to live: 1) Marriott Mayfair on LangSuan, and 2) Emporium Suites on Suk 24. My question is which one of these places would you prefer, and why...what are the pros and cons of living at each location. It seems like they are both close to BTS and greenery, but from what I have read, the areas are pretty different. I am still young, so nightlife will be important, but I don't like going really crazy. Any help in my decision would be great.

Thanks for any input!

Michael

[bangkapiboy]

young, like nightlife? definitely Suk 24. But anyway, each location has its plusses. Go with the nicest digs then.

[mikethevigoman]

young, like nightlife? definitely Suk 24. But anyway, each location has its plusses. Go with the nicest digs then.

Next door, the grass is greener

[blizzard]

dont know where lan swan is.

id take emporium anyday. anything connect to transportation system cant be all bad.

[jackmuu]

The Marriot Mayfai has better transportation options because you can choose skytrain or underground, both are close and also marriot is close to Silom area which has nightlife and the night bazaar.

Emporium suites has nice rooms but I have never been in the rooms at the Marriot.

[mastrmateo]

Thanks for the replies everyone. So, if you are on the skytrain, can you connect into the subway system, or are they totally disconnected?

Blizzard, you mentioned that Emporium is connected to the transportation system...does that mean you can get to the skytrain all the way inside? That would be cool (literally)

Any other thoughts?

[CarlBkk]

The transport thing shouldn't be an issue with either of them. From Mayfair you just walk behind the building for 2 mins or less and you have Rajadamri BTS station.

I've stayed in the Mayfair but not in Emporium Suites. My room at the Mayfair (1 bed 1 living) was absolutely amazing in comparison to other serviced apartments - I loved it. The staff are very friendly and know their guests well and often socialise with them after work. The restaurant downstairs wasn't great, but the bar and food on the top floor is superb. One downer (for me) was the fact that the swimming pool on the roof got no sun (there's a canopy over it).

Langsuan is great. Never clogged up with traffic, loads of food choices (some budget ones there too), Admakers pub, The Tunnel after hours bar, the best Starbucks in Bangkok and an easy taxi ride from Sukhumvit.

[coops]

Thanks for the replies everyone. So, if you are on the skytrain, can you connect into the subway system, or are they totally disconnected?

Blizzard, you mentioned that Emporium is connected to the transportation system...does that mean you can get to the skytrain all the way inside? That would be cool (literally)

Any other thoughts?

Yes - the BTS connects directly to the Emporium thru the mall (there's access from the suites to the mall). There's also a nice little park right next door to Emporium, if you're the type who goes jogging

I'm biased - Emporium is my favourite mall. Not too big and not too small - and usually drive there then BTS to any other mall etc.

You'll have all the shops and plenty of restaurants in the mall on your doorstep - and a large supermarket too (although not BigC prices, naturally). Oh, bonus time - there's a wine and alcohol shop next to supermarket that seems to completely ignore any ridiculous govt restrictions on alcohol purchasing times (but keep that quiet ... errr, oops)

Coops

[mastrmateo]

Apreciate the input, and I think I am leaning towards Marriott Mayfair due to few things. First, there is less traffic right outside the building; second, I guess Suk is a pretty nightlife oriented street, and although I will definitely visit it, I don't know how it would be to live on it long term. Third, Emporium is connected to a mall, and I think it would get old being around all those shops and people everyday when getting home or leaving. Other than that, they seem pretty even (transportation, quality or rooms, close to green)

Thanks CarlBkk for replying since you have stayed there. Anything else you can think of?

[jdinasia]

Apreciate the input, and I think I am leaning towards Marriott Mayfair due to few things. First, there is less traffic right outside the building; second, I guess Suk is a pretty nightlife oriented street, and although I will definitely visit it, I don't know how it would be to live on it long term. Third, Emporium is connected to a mall, and I think it would get old being around all those shops and people everyday when getting home or leaving. Other than that, they seem pretty even (transportation, quality or rooms, close to green)

Thanks CarlBkk for replying since you have stayed there. Anything else you can think of?

I'd go with Emporium .... better building and a better location ... The mall won't be an issue until you want it to be ... and then you will find having one of the better grocers in the city right there will be nice! (and Villa right across the street!)

The location <besides being better because of the markets etc!> is also better suited to both the good and the *cough* bad available here.

The skytrain and the subways meet just one station away from either location (Asoke for Emporium) and SalaDaeng for the other ... Unless you will be going across the river all the time you wil find being on the Suk line of the skytrain more useful.

There is good nightlife in LangSuan but ..... well ......

[torito]

I am still young, so nightlife will be important, but I don't like going really crazy.

Micheal, it would be interesting if you tell us after a couple of month in here whether you still "don't like going really crazy"

Whichever choice you take it will not be so wrong! Both places are quite good.

[JCCR6]

Lang Suan has some great restaurants on it, and its one of the few roads with some greenery along the side of it in Central BKK.

I've not stayed at the Marriott, but I've got a friend who stays at the Emporium suites (very nice), I live right next door to it. The location is very good, easy to get to the BTS, and only one stop from the MRT.

If you're going to get the BTS to work, then Emporium Suites, no questions. If you're working any distance from a BTS station, then go with Lang Suan, getting a taxi along upper Sukhumvit in the mornings is not much fun.

[tlpeng]

Hi, we chose Mayfair Mariott over Emporium. Stayed there for a month only though in 2004.... thoroughly enjoyed it. Staff was excellent. Room was good. Breakfast was yummy. Emporium is not bad too... have friends who was there... but we just don't like the feel - a bit too busy. Langsuan road is so much nicer.

In the evening, you can walk up or down the street to try out Italian/japanese/chinese/etc etc. Yummy... yummy. Villa is just round the corner too.

Anyway, all the best!