At a glance
- 610 low-rise rooms and suites at Bangkok’s main airport
- Generous accommodation policy lets you check out a full 24 hours after you checked in
- Accessible from the airport via an underground walkway or free hotel shuttle
- Tropical landscaped pool, spa, and large gym
- Wide choice of dining, from international to Japanese and Chinese
An airport hotel, though. Aren’t they functional places for quick layovers?
They usually are, but you’re not going to be in a hurry to leave this one. A gorgeous pool deck, very large gym, spacious rooms, soaring atrium, lush greenery (look for the “Thai Garden” if you’re after an early morning qigong spot) and good restaurants will have you secretly hoping for a delayed flight.
You’re making it sound more like a resort than an airport hotel
“Resort” is stretching it, but there are enough amenities here to make you feel like you’re extending your holiday at either end. If your flight leaves in the early morning, for example, and you don’t want to risk being held up in rush hour traffic on the way to Suvarnabhumi, book yourself in here the day before and unwind.
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Similarly, if you’re landing in the Thai capital during evening rush hour, and can’t face the horrible gridlock all the way into town, grab dinner and get your head down here first, then transfer to your downtown accommodation the next day.
Sounds good in theory, but how can I enjoy it properly if I have to check out by 11 am or noon?
Ah, you don’t. You pay for a full, 24-hour period. Stumbling into the lobby off the red-eye at 2 am? The hotel is yours until 2 am the next day. It’s incredibly civil.
I see. Interesting. But how easily can I get there from the airport?
You can stroll, under cover, pushing your baggage trolley the whole way from the arrivals hall. Heading back to the airport can be done via the same underground walkway, but the property also runs a free and more or less continuous shuttle service – meaning there are hotel vans lined up on the driveway, ready to take you on the three-minute ride to the departure terminal, at whatever time you want.
Nice. Are the rooms any good?
They’re showing their age (no sockets at the bedsides, tut tut) but they are spotless and a decent size. The basic king room is a spacious 34 square metres, with large and well-appointed bathrooms. But then it’s a big property generally. There are 610 rooms on site – along with corridors that feel as though they’re going on forever. Think of those endless passages as a way to burn off some calories, because you’ll be eating well here.
Ah yes, speaking of which … how is the food?
The main restaurant is called Market Café (epic buffets and international à la carte), and there’s an adjoining space called Sala Thai (local delicacies) but in practice they operate as the same venue.
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The Thai dishes are bland and touristic compared to what you can find in downtown Bangkok, but then you already guessed that. The globalized buffets – breakfast, lunch and dinner – are hard to fault, however. (Breakfast starts at an impressive 3 am, so you can get properly fuelled no matter how early your departure.) Market Café gets bonus points for having plenty of vegetarian options.
You’ll also find Chinese and Japanese restaurants at the hotel, along with an atrium café for good coffee and pastries, plus a lounge bar and a sports bar.
Tell us about the facilities, then
The pool deck is sun-dappled and ringed with vegetation. Half-close your eyes as you recline on a lounger, and you would have no idea that you are mere steps from a major international aviation hub. The pool itself is just about long enough for a proper swim, so you can get your laps in – and there’s a swim-up bar for when you’re done.
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On the same level, you’ll find an enormous gym, with all the machines and equipment you could want – plus a great big stretch cage, which is heavenly for smoothing out the kinks when you’ve been in an economy class seat for 11 hours. If you fancy some yoga, there’s a studio that you’ll likely have all to yourself.
Hm, you’re starting to restore my faith in airport hotels
Right? Airport hotels are supposed to be faceless, big-brand dormitoria that wheel you in and bus you out with the minimum of fuss. They’re not supposed to be inviting sanctuaries, where the waitress remembers you from your last visit six months previous and you can exist in a kind of agreeable limbo, deferring your return to reality for as long as you’re able. However improbably, the Hyatt Regency at Suvarnabhumi is that sort of place. Order another lime soda and just go with it.
Hyatt Regency Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport, 999 Suvarnabhumi Airport Hotel Building, Moo 1, Nong Prue, Bang Phli District, Bangkok, Bangkok Metropolitan 10540, Thailand, +66 2 131 1234
