Greetings, dingo999,

The Rama Gardens Hotel receives consistently good reviews, and for airport proximity, fairly reasonable rates. Should you stay past noon, the hotel has a five-hour day rate of US$ 35. You may wish to contact the hotel to extend your check-out to 2:30 PM without charge, or at least get a discount on the day rate.

The one BKK airport hotel I have stayed at (and Loved, for reasons to be explained below) on my business trips to Bangkok is the Amari. It is normally more expensive than the Rama. Not certain if the Amari is "4star'ish" (well, the "room service" is truly "5ish" (kindly see below)). :) Room rates (particularly on the "Executive Floor"), compared to other BKK airport hotels, are certainly 5*! And, should you desire to stay past noon, the hotel's day rate from 12-6 PM clocks in at a horrific US$ 72 (again, best to call and negotiate). Or, better yet: can you pass it all off as a business expense! :-0 My highly rated review ;) of the Amari was posted on 11 May 2005. Check it out ;-) ...

... the Amari Airport Hotel will always hold a very fond place in this single, male, business traveller's heart. If you enjoy, "massages," it is possible to go to the "After Flight Centre" on the fifth (Executive) floor and choose the, "masseuse," you would like to have go back to your room with you ... :) ... have done this routine a few times, and it has always been ... special ... ; ) ...

... am all but certain you could pay less at the Rama, but the Amari does possess the ability to send you off on your flight (and to sleep) with a ... smile on your face ... :) ...

... safe travels, and enjoy your, "layover," ... ;-) ...

macintosh (Robert)

... "ask for me; I am number 12" ...

Hi Rob, thanks for detailed reply and the special "info", I may have to plan to have some extra cash available at end of the 3 weeks to make sure I get a "restful" and good last night. regretfully trip is pleasure and not business, so cant claim for "entainment expenses"

Most Hotels in the Lower Sukhumvit numbers and Silom/Siam are only 40ish minutes from the Airport. If a Saturday or Sunday even less. Other suggestion would be to check out at 12 and go have a 2 hour massage somewhere. most places do dot mind your luggage.

PS

You do not say where you are comming from or when (date) as lots of hotels in the next 6 - 10 weeks will be fairly full.

Suggestions could be if you want a "restful" night, Nana, Dynasty, Majestic suits, Zenith, 3*ish but right in the "heart" of Sukhumvit 3/4 area. Novotel Soi 33.

Check availability with one of the tour shops where you are staying they should be able to get you a booking.

No need to stay "Near" the Airport.

Thanks Breconion, coming in from Chiang Mai and arrive Bkk round 6pm, so maybe as you say the travel to and from Sukhimvit maybe ok.I am staying the 1st 2 days of trip at President Solitaire on Soi 11. Date will be 7th March and fly home 8thI will look at the other suggested hotels as well.

Thanks again

The same hotel would be ok for you on your return. I used to stay just across from PS and never took longer than 45 minutes from there to Ariport.

Even if you have to checkout at 12 I am sure you could find somewhere to spend 1 1/2 hours on let us say Soi 7/1 or even on Soi 11 for 2 hours, Never stayed there but I think PS has the same facilities.

I was very impressed with the high-class Rama Gardens. But you pay for it!!

Tried the Comfort Inn last year. It was rather dark and dungy, but not very expensive. It seemed closer to BKK than Rama Gardens was.

If you do go to Sukhumvit, make sure you either avoid rush hour traffic (about 20 minutes); otherwise plan on much more.

Also, a hawker suckered me into a crappy cab on Sukhumvit. We never went over 50mph when others were flying by us on the toll road. Lesson learned: inspect the taxi first.