World’s best hotel: Bangkok’s Mandarin Oriental steals the show

[webfact]

Bangkok’s iconic Mandarin Oriental Hotel has officially snagged the prestigious title of the Best Hotel in Asia and the World, according to The Telegraph’s Hotel Awards.

 

The British media giant, known for its high standards, placed the luxurious Thai retreat at the top of its 2024 list, beating fierce global competition. This award comes after The Telegraph’s hotel and destination experts combed through a staggering 10,000 hotel reviews to determine the crème de la crème.

 

In a glowing review, Lee Cobaj, the head Asia judge, couldn’t contain her admiration.

 

“There is simply nowhere else like it. The Mandarin Oriental, Bangkok, is the most wonderful hotel in the world, and to paraphrase Noël Coward, I am fonder of it than ever.”

The lavish property wasn’t the only one making waves in the rankings. Hot on its heels were Europe’s top contender, Ballyfin in Ireland, followed by Ellerman House in South Africa, Hong Kong’s Peninsula Hotel, and Les Prés d’Eugénie in France—all securing coveted spots in the top five.

Thailand also enjoyed another moment of glory with Six Senses Yao Noi, a serene hideaway, landing an impressive 21st place in the highly competitive awards, reported Pattaya Mail.

 

In related news, the popular travel booking platform, Agoda, included Thailand among the world’s destinations that tourists cannot get enough of. Other countries at the top of the ranking were Japan and South Korea. Agoda had just released the Return Visitor Ranking on September 5 after surveying travellers who had recently booked their next trip on the platform. The survey suggested that more than half of the respondents visited their favourite places repeatedly.

 

 

In other news, Maya Bay, located on the idyllic Phi Phi Islands in Krabi province, has been named the 5th-best beach in the world for 2024 by Beach Atlas, a website based in the United Kingdom. This prestigious recognition places Maya Bay at the top of the list not only in Thailand but also as the number one beach across the ASEAN region.

 

by Puntid Tantivangphaisal
Photo courtesy of MICHELIN Guide

 

Source: The Thaiger 

-- 2024-09-13

 

 

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[bkk6060]

Just checked the cheapest romm is about 20,000 b a night.  Stuck up pretentious people review these places.

Same as food reviews giving these places Michelin stars for a spoon full of mouse with gold flakes on top.

Very stupid.

[Tropicalevo]

8 minutes ago, bkk6060 said:

Just checked the cheapest romm is about 20,000 b a night.  Stuck up pretentious people review these places.

Same as food reviews giving these places Michelin stars for a spoon full of mouse with gold flakes on top.

Very stupid.

They sell mouse?

[Kinnock]

It's a very good hotel, but not even the best in Bangkok, never mind 'the world'.

 

Rooms are small and outdated, and while the international food is excellent, the Thai food is so Westernized it's almost tasteless.  It's also over-priced, so I only visit when a business guest really wants to go there.

 

Anantara Riverside is better in my view, and the Shangri-la is it's equal.  

 

Looking wider, there are some hotels in Dubai and Oman I've visited on business (wouldn't pay to stay there if not on expenses 🙂) that are better, and even within the Mandarin Oriental's own group the one in KL is better.

 

But I guess it's all subjective anyway?

[Gottfrid]

32 minutes ago, bkk6060 said:

Just checked the cheapest romm is about 20,000 b a night.  Stuck up pretentious people review these places.

Same as food reviews giving these places Michelin stars for a spoon full of mouse with gold flakes on top.

Very stupid.

Is the pure envy I read? 😂

[mikeymike100]

2 hours ago, Kinnock said:

It's a very good hotel, but not even the best in Bangkok, never mind 'the world'.

 

Rooms are small and outdated, and while the international food is excellent, the Thai food is so Westernized it's almost tasteless.  It's also over-priced, so I only visit when a business guest really wants to go there.

 

Anantara Riverside is better in my view, and the Shangri-la is it's equal.  

 

Looking wider, there are some hotels in Dubai and Oman I've visited on business (wouldn't pay to stay there if not on expenses 🙂) that are better, and even within the Mandarin Oriental's own group the one in KL is better.

 

But I guess it's all subjective anyway?

Certainly agree about the rooms being rather small and also the Thai food being westernized. I believe one of the best attributes the hotel has is the service, which is absolutely excellent.

When I had lunch there, with some coworkers,  outside, they had these large umbrellas to shade you from the Sun. Of course the Sun is moving across the sky, so every 5 minutes or so, staff would come and move the umbrellas. to keep the shade in the right place.So I inquired how many staff the hotel has, after we had finished the meal i was escorted to the front desk and met the Manager, who told me they have 2.5 members of staff to every guest!

[Foxx]

3 hours ago, webfact said:

The [Telegraph] known for its high standards

 

Haa, haa, haa, haa, haa.  Draws breath.  Haa, haa, haa, haa, haa.

 

The Telegraph is known for its weird owners (the Barclays), for its right wing policies, and for printing pictures of fruity girls for the entertainment of its crusty old colonel viewers.  It's also known for its parent company being bankrupt.  The one thing it's definitely not known for is its high standard.

[hotchilli]

3 hours ago, webfact said:

“There is simply nowhere else like it. The Mandarin Oriental, Bangkok, is the most wonderful hotel in the world, and to paraphrase Noël Coward, I am fonder of it than ever.”

Such a shame that when you leave the opulence of it you witness the real Thailand surrounding you.

[Dr B]

3 hours ago, Tropicalevo said:

They sell mouse?

It's actullay a small rat. They couldn't get any mice!

[OneMoreFarang]

Is there something like "the best"?

 

Let's look at bars in Bangkok, just as an example.

That one has the best music, that one the best sound system, that one the best lightning, and then there is the one with the most girls and the one with the prettiest girls (on that specific day), etc.

 

And what counts at the end? I met Nit, this cute girl. The best sex I ever had, and she is such a nice girl.

Where did I see her? I don't really remember, it was one of those bars...

 

 

 

[richard_smith237]

4 hours ago, Tropicalevo said:

4 hours ago, bkk6060 said:

Just checked the cheapest romm is about 20,000 b a night.  Stuck up pretentious people review these places.

Same as food reviews giving these places Michelin stars for a spoon full of mouse with gold flakes on top.

Very stupid.

They sell mouse?

 

He has no idea...   His only intent was to display his reverse snobbery and couldn't even spell room or mousse...

 

The Authors Lounge there is rather a nice place for lunch.

 

Lord Jim's is a great place for a buffet. 

 

Been to a few wedding parties there - events were excellent.

[spidermike007]

I often times find myself laughing at these absolutely silly and ridiculous surveys. I can understand if they said best hotel in Bangkok, maybe. I might argue if they said best hotel in Thailand, but best hotel in the world?

 

Are you kidding me, it's probably not even in the top 50 hotels in the world. 

[bkk6060]

1 hour ago, richard_smith237 said:

 

He has no idea...   His only intent was to display his reverse snobbery and couldn't even spell room or mousse...

 

The Authors Lounge there is rather a nice place for lunch.

 

Lord Jim's is a great place for a buffet. 

 

Been to a few wedding parties there - events were excellent.

So you have only eaten the mouse there?

You must have never stayed in a really nice hotel the Oriental is not even close to number one time for you to get out more.

 

Edited Friday at 08:30 AM by bkk6060

[bkk6060]

Delete

Edited Friday at 08:31 AM by bkk6060

[Celsius]

I disagree. 

 

I think Honey Inn and Hop inn are better. 

[richard_smith237]

16 minutes ago, bkk6060 said:

2 hours ago, richard_smith237 said:

 

He has no idea...   His only intent was to display his reverse snobbery and couldn't even spell room or mousse...

 

The Authors Lounge there is rather a nice place for lunch.

 

Lord Jim's is a great place for a buffet. 

 

Been to a few wedding parties there - events were excellent.

Expand  

So you have only eaten the mouse there?

You must have never stayed in a really nice hotel the Oriental is not even close to number one time for you to get out more.

 

Au contraire...  

 

I've stayed there and it was fantastic - I've eaten there at both the Authors lounge and Lord Jims, both excellent. 

I've been to weddings there, the events and catering were excellent and right up there with the other top hotels in Thailand (such as Kempinski & St Regis)

 

I've stayed a lots of excellent hotels:  the Oriental is in the top three that I've stayed at. 

I've also stayed at the Ritz Carlton, which was outstanding. 

Best hotel I've stayed at is the Dharmawangsa in Jarkarta (upgraded and had two private butlers !!)

 

 

If you don't know about hotels and just wanted to blabber on some some reverse snobbery because you don't like the price, then you've already done that......  

 

 

[retarius]

I think the LK Mansion in Pattaya is much better....and it's only 1000 baht.

[Cameroni]

15 minutes ago, richard_smith237 said:

 

Au contraire...  

 

I've stayed there and it was fantastic - I've eaten there at both the Authors lounge and Lord Jims, both excellent. 

I've been to weddings there, the events and catering were excellent and right up there with the other top hotels in Thailand (such as Kempinski & St Regis)

 

I've stayed a lots of excellent hotels:  the Oriental is in the top three that I've stayed at. 

I've also stayed at the Ritz Carlton, which was outstanding. 

Best hotel I've stayed at is the Dharmawangsa in Jarkarta (upgraded and had two private butlers !!)

 

 

If you don't know about hotels and just wanted to blabber on some some reverse snobbery because you don't like the price, then you've already done that......  

 

 

 

I second this, I've stayed at Kempinski, Ritz Carlton and Mandarin Oriental. Mandarin Oriental is very special and is very much near the very top. I stayed at the one in Miami so I can't opine on Bangkok, but from what I saw Mandarin Oriental is next level.

[richard_smith237]

Just now, Cameroni said:

I second this, I've stayed at Kempinski, Ritz Carlton and Mandarin Oriental. Mandarin Oriental is very special and is very much near the very top. I stayed at the one in Miami so I can't opine on Bangkok, but from what I saw Mandarin Oriental is next level.

 

Agreed...   even down to the training of the staff... 

 

Though its an extremely bold claim - "best in the world"... 

... But the 'best anything in the world' is an extreme claim when it comes down to subjectiveness... 

 

That said, the opinions of some so far indicate they have never stayed there don't have a frame of reference and are just poo-pooing something they know little about. 

 

 

[marin]

1 minute ago, Cameroni said:

I stayed at the one in Miami so I can't opine on Bangkok, but from what I saw Mandarin Oriental is next level.

So you are commenting on a hotel you have never stayed in? You have stayed in another hotel of the same chain in a different country and feel the need to comment? 

[Cameroni]

3 minutes ago, richard_smith237 said:

 

Agreed...   even down to the training of the staff... 

 

Though its an extremely bold claim - "best in the world"... 

... But the 'best anything in the world' is an extreme claim when it comes down to subjectiveness... 

 

That said, the opinions of some so far indicate they have never stayed there don't have a frame of reference and are just poo-pooing something they know little about. 

 

 

 

Absolutely, it's very subjective. Personally, my favourite hotel experience was at the Laguna Resort in Bali, which is 5 star but not from one of the top chains.

[Cameroni]

5 minutes ago, marin said:

So you are commenting on a hotel you have never stayed in? You have stayed in another hotel of the same chain in a different country and feel the need to comment? 

 

I'm commenting on the hotel chain Mandarin Oriental, because I've experienced it. I certainly agree it was very obviously among the absolute best of the best from my experience.

[Watawattana]

7 hours ago, Tropicalevo said:

They sell mouse?

Imported from Springfield, Ohio.

[Foxx]

41 minutes ago, Cameroni said:

Laguna Resort in Bali, which is 5 star but not from one of the top chains.

 

It's Marriott hotel.  Is Marriott not one of the top chains?

[impulse]

52 minutes ago, richard_smith237 said:

Though its an extremely bold claim - "best in the world"... 

... But the 'best anything in the world' is an extreme claim when it comes down to subjectiveness... 

 

 I suspect that ad spend is the deciding factor.

 

[richard_smith237]

8 minutes ago, Foxx said:

 

It's Marriott hotel.  Is Marriott not one of the top chains?

No…it’s one of the bigger chains & it’s consistent…

 

Marriott is kind of like the Audi of hotels, whereas the Mandarin Oriental is more of a Rolls Royce…

 

 

[Liverpool Lou]

      

8 hours ago, bkk6060 said:

Just checked the cheapest romm is about 20,000 b a night.

No, it is not, they have lower room rates than that.

[Liverpool Lou]

1 hour ago, bkk6060 said:

So you have only eaten the mouse there?

No one has eaten mouse in that hotel, they do not offer it on any of their menus, not even adorned with gold.

Edited Friday at 10:26 AM by Liverpool Lou

[Globalres]

I absolutely love this hotel.  Have stayed tons of times over 25 yrs.  some of the staff are still there, incredible.  The service is impeccable, the treatment and care to details is outstanding.  It feels like a home more than a hotel.

 

[Kinnock]

5 hours ago, mikeymike100 said:

Certainly agree about the rooms being rather small and also the Thai food being westernized. I believe one of the best attributes the hotel has is the service, which is absolutely excellent.

When I had lunch there, with some coworkers,  outside, they had these large umbrellas to shade you from the Sun. Of course the Sun is moving across the sky, so every 5 minutes or so, staff would come and move the umbrellas. to keep the shade in the right place.So I inquired how many staff the hotel has, after we had finished the meal i was escorted to the front desk and met the Manager, who told me they have 2.5 members of staff to every guest!

Yes, agree about the Oriental having excellent staff ..... although the other major hotels in Thailand also have good people.