Dusit Thani, Bangkok

After a trip to the United States in 1946 where she discovered the sheer delight of luxury hotels, Thanpuying Chanut Piyaoui was determined to build her own hotel to promote the charm of Thai hospitality. Today at age 92, she proudly celebrates 60 years as an hotelier and the 40th anniversary of her flagship property, Dusit Thani Bangkok; a luxury hotel ideal for a romantic getaway.

Ideally located in the heart of the ‘City of Angels’, the deluxe, luxury five-star Dusit Thani is a welcoming retreat from the hubbub of downtown Bangkok. From the moment you walk through its doors, both the aroma of lemongrass and the warm smiling faces that greet you serve to relax often weary travellers with a reassurance that from here on in, all will be well taken care of. And it is. Staff could not be more helpful or more accommodating. Amenities are first class.

The romantic Dusit Thani sits as a landmark, opposite historic Lumpini Park with its broad boulevards and majestic lakes. The hotel, which offers guests world-class service with gracious Thai hospitality, represents unrivalled value for both leisure, romance and business guests, with its combination of well-designed facilities in a convenient central location. Both the Skytrain and the MRT are right at its doorstep with the city’s business, shopping and entertainment districts all just moments away.

The Rooms

Dusit Thani’s 517 rooms and suites are all sumptuously appointed, incredibly spacious and designed with distinctive Thai inspiration with well-designed facilities. The ‘Dusit Room’ is a great choice for a romantic getaway, offering 60 sqm with a separate bedroom, living area and a large, well appointed bathroom whilst the ‘Thai Heritage’ rooms which feature silk and teakwood, are each inspired by the characters and touches of ancient Thai cities. The Bangkok Suites feature a direct hotline to a personal Butler Service, private check-in/check out and concierge services, luxury high thread count linen and daily in-room fresh fruit.

Dusit Thani also boasts several suites offering the ultimate in luxury; ‘The Majesty Suite’, 240 sqm decorated with tasteful hints of Thai heritage and panoramic views of the city, ‘The Princess’ and ‘Ambassador’ Suites at 140 sqm that feature private en-suite facilities in each of their two bedrooms and the ‘Ratanakosin’ Suite which are luxurious one-bedroom suites with separate living and dining rooms just perfect for romantic dining and in-room entertaining. There’s 24 hour room service and fast speed internet available throughout the hotel too.

Dining

With the choice of six signature dining experiences, ranging from the delicious, American style Hamilton’s Steak House to Japanese, Chinese, Vietnamese and International options, Dusit Thani has you covered no matter what. There really is something for everyone. Our experience at the recently repositioned Benjarong Royal Thai cuisine restaurant was simply delectable. Under the auspices of award winning Danish Chef, Morten Boejstrup Nielsen, (who even sports a large tattoo on his arm declaring his love for the country) both food and service was impeccable.

Morten, who was head hunted for the role, not only oversees his kitchen but also specializes in developing future Dusit Thai culinary talent for all hotels, globally. What he brings to The Benjarong restaurant is a stunning combination of modern techniques with traditional flavours to produce contemporary dishes that are distinctly Thai at heart. 

We sampled the Benjarong Signature Tasting Journey which included dishes such as deep fried cuttlefish with fresh turmeric, hot and sour tom yum soup with prawn and galangal, a salad of grilled wagu beef and dehydrated tomato, sweet melon and yam pudding as well as a sous vide cooked duck breast with aubergine, chinese chives and crispy wonton with oyster sauce. Each dish was paired with a selection of wines from either France or New Zealand whilst our desert, an extraordinarily delicious combination of basil ice-cream with fresh pineapple and salty meringue was paired with a delicately sweet locally produced Muscat.'

Other facilities

The Dusit Thani boasts so many facilities it’s hard to know where to start.

At lower lobby level several small pop up stores in a shopping arcade sell gourmet pastries and cakes, deli goods, souvenirs and Japanese products that tempt many a passer by. There’s also a cosy bar that attracts huge weekend crowds. On lobby level the expansive lobby lounge and terrace bar provides wonderfully relaxing settings for that quick drink or two with snacks. As expected at a hotel of this calibre, there is a business centre and all rooms and suites have high-speed internet access.For the active there’s a state of the art fitness centre which features group fitness classes (including yoga) in the aerobics studio, an outdoor golf driving range, a squash court, steam room, sauna and an outdoor heated swimming pool with sun deck.

If you’re after a bit of pampering following that hard workout, or as part of your romantic getaway, there’s no place better than Dusit Thani’s Deverana Spa. Devoted to premium treatments focused on wind-down and wellness, Devarana Spa or “the garden in heaven” is a place where age-old Thai therapies meet modern knowledge. Elegant décor featuring contemporary Thai design framed by tropical lotus blossom, orchids and gently flowing water create an oasis of calm whilst the soothing tones of Thai classical music and atmospheric lighting signal guests’ entry into an environment where luxury and elegance blend with the Thai heritage of natural healing. Treatments range from rejuvenating facials, body wraps and scrubs to exotic water and beauty treatments that can be packaged up into sessions lasting up to three hours. Similarly, massage therapies span Anti-Stress Massage to a Traveller’s Recovery Pack and anything in between that you can think of.

Devarana’s masseurs are all trained in the ancient disciplines stretching back 2,500 years from Thai to Shiatsu. They are the masters and mistresses of these ancient practices and in combination with a range of natural products that feature textures as diverse as oatmeal and honey, they will soon have you (as they did us) floating in this magical garden heaven.

The Verdict

If you appreciate the warmth behind a genuine smile and want to surround yourself in luxury nestled in one of the prime positions in Bangkok for your romantic getaway, The Dusit Thani is a great choice. Simple, elegant, spacious and welcoming, it’s no wonder that this great institution has been a favourite for many show business legends and members of royalty throughout the years.