I have stayed at the Pathumwan Princess a couple of times, and am heading back in January 09. I think it is a fantastic hotel - although those people who are not pleased are usually looking for a 5star-plus establishment.

The Pathumwan Princess is a 4-star hotel and if it were to be transported to anywhere in Australia it would be a 5-star hotel in an instant.

The foyer and entrance is obviously very swanky - though I am surprised that people have had issues with the rooms. I have always had fantastic rooms - very large with a scrumptuous bathroom - always above the 20th floor - and I only ever go for the Superior (their 'basic') room option.

Yes, there are some issues:

1) check-in is like a Thai version of Faulty Towers. After weeks in Thailand and saying "Sawasdee de Krap" (though I don't promounce the 'R' - how rude!) to all I meet - the staff at the Pathumwan think this the funniest thing ever and insist on conversing in English. I only do this to show a polite respect for their culture - and considering their English is as good as my Swahili - this does bother me - but I am a big boy and get over that.

2) EVERYTIME I have checked in, and considering everytime I have paid for breakfast included (their breakfast is divine) and everytime my itinerary states BREAKFAST INCLUDED - they insist their system doesn't show I have breakfast and make a fuss of photocopying my itinerary and calling Australia to confirm. Now I just bring a photo-copy for them with the agent's number highlighted - drink down their welcome drink and grab my room key and get into the lift in one smooth action - an accomplished traveller indeed!

3) The hotel does have somewhat of a pretencious feel about it. They insist you wear long-trousers in common areas of the hotel, e.g. lobby. I am sorry but if it is 40 degree plus (celcius) and I am paying a couple hundred dollars a night - I will walk in my birthday suit if I like (I don't like for the record). Their security guards let you pass without issue - but they stop anyone that looks somewhat local - which embarrasses me no end (especially when entering the hotel with a local guide-rep or friend) - but is accepted with grace by the inspected person.

Apart from this - the access to MBK is it's most amazing feature - the proximity to Bangkok's shopping dreams also works well. A short stroll to the wonderful skytrain means that you can be at the weekend markets in minutes and of course - all Bangkok tour agents come to the Pathumwan Princess for pickup. (Be prepared to receive dirty looks from those passengers who had to get to your hotel to get onto the bus!).

When you visit the spa - or the wonderful olympic-sized swimming pool (okay I dont know if it is actually olympic sized - but it would take me 10 minutes to cross it so that still counts), tennis and squash courts, gyms and other facilities (which of course I never use) it is in a class of it's own - and the quite reasonable price starts to look like a bargain.

Best of all - the Pathumwan Princess has lots of business travellers from nearby countries whose wives like to wear mink stoles in the height of summer - and I find no end of pleasure in asking them during the short lift ride "oooh, did your poodle die from heat stroke or do you always carry it like that?"

Hope you like the hotel - see you there in Jan 09!

We stayed in Pathumwan Princess for the first 3 nights in Bangkok before flying down to islands. The staff at this hotel were probably the best I have ever come across. After returning from the islands I got sick and had to stay in Bangkok for an extra week. The staff went out of their way to provide support and regularly called up to check on my progress.

The hotel itself is brilliant value, although it's a four star it has the best bits of a 5 star without being too formal. The location was also good and we found we could get to most places for quite cheap either by cab or the sky train.

We stayed in a suite which meant we had access to the VIP lounge and this was definitely worth it - breakfast is quite basic but nice enough.

Overall it was a really good stay and I would definitely recommend it.

Planned to stay here for a few nights before we headed on to Phuket. I thought the location would be good since there were things around for everyone to do. Although being connected to MBK was nice, it wasn't worth the ridiculously inept service.
Check-in was an atrocity.
I understand that you get what you pay for and that this hotel is a far cry from the Peninsula (where I usually stay in Bangkok), but I am truly amazed how one hotel can make checking in an almost enjoyable experience and the Pathumwan Princess makes it like a visit to the dentist... after you haven't been to the dentist for 20 years.
The rooms are incredibly dated yet spacious. The public areas of the hotel certainly do not match the interiors of the rooms.
We had 2 suites that each had kitchenettes.
I wouldn't even consider the guest rooms average; I'd have to say, slightly below average - at best.
So far check-in has got us in a bad mood. We move on to dinner in one of the restaurants. The selection seems great and the food is tasty but again with the poor service. You can't even chalk up the ineptitude to the language barrier... it's just genuine bad service.
The straw that broke our back was the doorman getting us a taxi. We tell the doorman where we want to go and he tells the taxi driver. The taxi driver then proceeds to take us to where HE wants to take us... probably some place that gives him a nice kickback. Well, after arguing with the driver, he takes us BACK to the hotel! He didn't want to take us where we wanted to go.
We went into the hotel and complained, and they took us right back out to the SAME taxi driver... THEN they suggested that we take the sky train instead. I'm not opposed to taking the sky train, but we wanted to take a taxi.
After that, we checked out the following morning and checked into the Lebua State Tower.
On the way back through Bangkok from Phuket, we stayed at the Peninsula. If you're in Bangkok, stay at the Peninsula.
You shouldn't have to deal with egregious ineptitude just for the benefit of being connected to MBK... stay someplace where customer service isn't a foreign concept.

Have been to Bangkok for the past ten years, and had wanted to stay at the Pathumwan Princess because of the location and word of mouth last year, but it was booked out.

Of course, the location is perfect, especially if you have time to shop, as it is attached to MBK. Excellent service, warm welcome and great rooms. The cafe in the lobby is excellent, and very reasonably priced.

Held a function upstairs and the catering, service, facilities and price were very pleasing,