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29.07.2023 - 08:45 / forbes.com / Art
When Tyler Branco thinks of luxury hotels in Bangkok, The Siam comes to mind. It's a 38-room boutique resort on the banks of the Chao Phraya River — and it's a place where nothing is left to chance.
On a recent visit, Branco experienced the hotel's obsession with detail when he checked into his room and a butler greeted him by name and then helped him unpack his belongings.
"That gave us the precious gift of time — and immediate access to the splendid offerings of Bangkok," says Branco, a travel advisor from New York.
In Bangkok, several distinct visions of luxury have recently emerged along what's called the River of Kings, starting with The Siam, which opened a decade ago. Farther down the Chao Phraya, there's the Anantara Riverside and its sister property, the Avani+ Riverside. And there are Bangkok's two newest luxury resorts, the Four Seasons Hotel Bangkok and the boutique Capella Bangkok. All present a different vision of luxury in the Thai capital, which is fast developing a reputation for upscale travel.
"There's a high level of competitiveness," says Jens Johansson, who runs an airport information website and is a frequent visitor to Bangkok. "Many of the top chains have established properties in the city. The demand is driven by visitors from around the globe, particularly Asia, Europe, and increasingly, North America."
Not so long ago, if you wanted an upscale experience in Bangkok, you had to stay in the Pathum Wan district, where you could find luxury properties like the Anantara Siam Bangkok, the Grand Hyatt and the Kimpton Maa-Lai, among others. But some of the action shifted to the river about a decade ago. The trend accelerated just before the pandemic started.
"The whole riverside area has really started to develop in the last five years," explains Michael Robinson, general manager of the Anantara Riverside. "A lot of people are now choosing to stay in this part of town."
It's easy to see why.
The Anantara Riverside is all about first impressions. From traditional art to authentic sculptures and welcome drinks made from fragrant pandan leaves, this property welcomes guests as only a Thai property could. Like its sister property in Bangkok, the Anantara Siam, the Riverside property also has a distinctly Thai-influenced vision of luxury. The rooms are generous but not pretentious. They feature a contemporary Thai design with makha wood flooring, silk cushions and local artwork.
True to its name, the Riverside property takes its cues from the River of Kings. Guests can take a sunset cruise up the river to view temples and enjoy traditional Thai cuisine on an antique barge. They can also charter a private water taxi to tour Bangkok's network of canals, where they can view historical
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