My husband and I stayed at Anantara Riverside for 4 nights and loved every minute of it. First of all, we arrived at 6am and we were allowed to check-in and get into a room straight away. We definitely needed the nap before our first tour. The room was beautiful and had a view of the river. We watched the sunrise before crashing after a long flight from the US. My favorite parts of the room were: beautiful wood floors, free wifi (free for GHA members), great smelling toiletries including lotion from a pump instead of a little bottle like at most hotels, and strong air conditioning.

The breakfast was of massive variety and utmost high quality. The food items span all cultures and were fresh and delicious. Just a suggestion to go early if you can, as the restaurant can be hectic when full and the staff very busy and may not be as attentive as when the restaurant first open at 6am. The pool was charming as well. There were plenty of chairs and umbrella shades. No need to bring a towel as they are provided once you arrive at the pool. Only thing is that if you sit on the side with the outdoor kitchen, the smell of food cooking may be overpowering, which is not suitable for an afternoon sunbathing. Not a big deal since you can just move to another side. At 6pm everyday, there is a ceremony where the lights around the pool are lit and there is traditional Thai dancing and drums beating. Very festive!

The location of the resort was ideal ly located. It is farther out than other high0end hotels, but it did not really matter because of their complimentary boat shuttle every half hour to the train station, which we used often to get around. Also, at night, the boat shuttle goes to Asiatique which has boutiques, restaurants, and nice outdoor space to walk around. It is not a typical night market. It definitely caters to tourists or the well-to-do's but is worth a visit. We were there just before Christmas and the place was lit and decorated nicely.

The staff was very courteous. There was a full gym which had free weights and machines. I did use the business center for an emergency and was quite costly. I can't remember the prices in baht but it was something like $1 USD per page printed, $5 USD per 15 minutes on the internet, and $8 USD for each minute fax to the United States. I had to use the internet for a few minutes, print 10 pages, and send a fax that took over 3 minutes to transmit, but they were kind enough not to charge me for everything. I paid just $22 USD, which is still a lot but it could have been worse. All the prices were posted so not a surprise but still was expensive.

Overall, I would totally go back to this hotel if we were to visit Bangkok again. The grounds were so lovely and there were actually several weddings and engagement events there. I would HIGHLY recommend the hotel away from the bustling city.

I usually don't stay by the river because I've always assumed that it would be harder to get to my favorite eating and shopping places, but I was wrong. The Anantara makes it so easy to take their boat from their private pier to the Saphan Taksin skytrain station, that you can get anywhere you want to go quickly and easily. It was so much more pleasant to start with a short, cool, breezy boat ride rather than a hot walk through the hectic streets to a nearby station. Now, in regards to the hotel, let me say that the Anantara Riverside is fantastic. Whether you are a honeymooning couple, a vacationing family, or doing business in Bangkok, this quiet hotel is perfect. The hotel is contained within extensive tropical gardens and provides a comfortable refuge from the city. The hotel has great water features inside and outside, and blends modern decor and sculptures with traditional Thai design. The room was great with a large marble bathroom with rain shower and wi-fi that always worked. The breakfast buffet is one of the best I've ever seen with everything from Indonesian nasi goreng to German breads and pretzels even. Of course, it is stocked with all the normal custom cooking stations, fruits, fresh juices, and everything you would expect from a five star hotel. There are plenty of restaurants on the premises, or you can take to the boat to Asiatique, the upscale shopping and eating area across the river. The staff were great, always greeting me with traditional and genuine Thai hospitality. You get the feeling that they really care and aren't just being friendly because its their job. I like that, and have stayed at dozens of hotels in SE Asia where they could learn from the Anantara. The Anantara also has an on premise "street guru" (and a klong guru who knows the canals) who is an expert on all the local culture, food, and sights and can take you on an "off-the-beaten-path" tour to show you the Bangkok that only locals know. I enjoyed every minute of my time there and rate it better than the highest rated hotels in Sukhumvit. Plus, the spa treatment room was huge and was really peaceful. Get a signature treatment if you stay here.

We have stayed in Bangkok many times, the Anatara is the best hotel i have used, its a beautiful oasis, with wonderful staff, outstanding surroundings and fabulous location on the river.

Our first fabulous visit was 20 years ago and i can honestly say the service has only improved if anything.

Fabulous

In every respect an amazing hotel. From the charmingly uniiformed staff to the Frangipani blossoms wafting onto our poolside chaise i have never enjoyed a resort that much. Located away from the bustle of street life, my river view room was far enough away to be shielded from the hellish racket of the long- tail boats, whereas the hotel shuttle whisks one in about 10 minutes to the sky train station and pier, where tour and hotel boats all come together.
Breakfast on the terrace in the cool of the day was an international adventure with buffets for every taste , including delicious fresh pressed juices.
Prices at the restaurants are very high, of course, but in the adjacent shopping center there are more modest places to eat as well as $10 massages, beautiful Thai silk goods and even a dentist . Don't miss the cashmere shawls and silk duvet covers in the Kashmiri shop on the 2nd floor.
My only complaint was with the tours I booked through the hotel, which were Ok, except for the guides speaking either very poor English, or having very bad pronunciation and being unintelligible
I would come back to Thailand just stay at another Anantara hotel.