DiscoverASR Thailand: Ascott Thonglor Bangkok Studio Executive Review

The next stop of my adventures in Bangkok brings me to Thonglor, a lovely area in Bangkok that I have not explored much before. It is slightly out of the core Sukhumvit neighbourhood and easily accessed via the BTS. I will be checking out one of the newest and hottest ASR properties in Bangkok, Ascott Thonglor. It is located in a towering residential building right in the heart of the city. The surrounding areas have plenty of good eateries. I am really looking forward to checking these places off my list. The aparthotel offers a very refreshing take on accommodations in the city. This will be very suitable for families and larger groups with the additional spaces and facilities like a kitchenette. They are great for both long-term and short-term stays. It has an advantage over traditional hotels with the facilities but yet also the comfort and convenience of a hotel. It is a fairly young property and only open its doors back in July last year. 

Booking Process & Pre Arrival 

The Ascott Thonglor is steps from the BTS station. It is right in the heart of Thong Lor and comes with tons of restaurants, bars and shops in the vicinity. The location is very convenient with the BTS station right outside. That allows you to zip around the city and escape the traffic. You are minutes away from Siam. Seeing The World In Steps stayed as a guest of Ascott Thonglor. I was booked into their Studio Executive. Do check out their rates directly as they are currently running some promotions with up to 30% off. They go for around 152 SGD a night. The Ascott Thonglor features 451 fully furnished apartments from rooms up to three bedrooms apartments that will be suitable for bigger groups and families. All of the rooms besides the Deluxe category come with a fully-equipped kitchenette. You can find the breakdown below. 

Rooms	Bathtub	Room Size	No.of Rooms
Deluxe	Yes	35 Sqm	143
Deluxe Room Twin	Yes	35 Sqm	82
Studio Executive	Yes	45 Sqm	113
One Bedroom Premier	Yes	60 Sqm	85
Two Bedroom Executive	Yes	95 Sqm	57
Two Bedroom Premier	Yes	100 Sqm	25
Three Bedroom Executive	Yes	135 Sqm	25
Three Bedroom Premier	Yes	140 Sqm	3

Checking In

I arrived at the hotel rather early and got to the property at around 9.30am in the morning. I made the trek from Nana and it was a short walk away from Thonglor BTS Station. You can take the walkways to the Marriott and you will find Ascott Thonglor slightly ahead. The hotel is right on the main road and very easy to spot. Given the traffic in the city, I find myself more than often taking the trains despite the stairs as it just makes things so stress-free and easy. How gorgeous is the lobby? It feels so cosy and luxurious! It felt like a fancy apartment rather than a hotel. I felt right at home. There are plenty of sittings by the lobby area.

Upon arrival, I was invited to take a seat as they help me thru the arrival process. I was served a welcome drink and a refreshing towel. The Pomegranate Juice is lovely. 

My room is not ready at this hour which is understandable given how early this is. I was told that the room will be ready before noon. They will drop me an email when it is ready. Late check-out was extended till 1pm on the day of check-out. My room ended up being ready at about 11.30am and I collected the keys after my lunch. 

The hotel runs a shuttle service on an hourly basis around the area. It operates from 8am to 4pm and goes to a couple of spots around the vicinity. You can find the route here. 

It is only on a drop-off basis. How cute is the shuttle? It is like a posh fancy tuk-tuk. So lovely to scoot around the city in this. 

Studio Executive

I was assigned a Studio Executive on the 35th floor on one of the higher floors in the hotel. They have a total of 41 floors. The Studio Executive is the lead in the room categories that comes with a fully-equipped kitchen and laundry facilities. This will be perfect for long-term stays. My room is a short walk away from the elevators. I love the decor of the place. It felt chic and luxurious at the same time without being over the top. The Studio Executive measure a comfortable 45 Sqm and is good for 3 pax. The open configuration makes it super spacious. 

Upon entering, you will step foot in the kitchen area with the bathroom to the right of the entryway. The configuration makes you feel like you are right in your cosy home. The bathroom is spacious and comes with all sorts of amenities. Products are from APPELLES, an Australian brand with a focus on botanicals in large pump-size bottles. The bathroom comes with a large spacious bathtub as well as a separate standing shower with both a rainforest shower head and a handheld one. 

Water pressure is a little on the weak side and can be improved. Temperature controls are decent. The showering area doesn’t come with a full glass screen or door and as such water tends to get all over the place after a shower. I do love the huge windows in the bathroom that gives you a lovely view outside. Blinds are available for those who require additional privacy. There aren’t any power outlets in the bathroom for the hairdryer. Usually, this will be fine if there are other spots around the room with a power plug and a mirror but I couldn’t find one besides the kitchen.

Right next to the bathroom are the washer and dryer as well as some countertop space. This will come in handy if you need to get some laundry done. It is perfect for long stays. 

Let me come back to the kitchenette. You have a bar top or so with two high chairs that provide some additional seating area. It also makes a nice dining area that is great for intimate dinners. All other amenities can be found here from a kettle, bread toaster, coffee machine and an electric hob. The kitchen is fully equipped with all sorts of cutleries, tableware, glassware and cooking utensils. All you need to cook up a storm! 

Left in the kitchen was a generous welcome amenity consisting of some coconuts and snacks. 

The Studio Executive feels like a little junior suite. I will separate it into the living area and the bedroom area. Right next to the kitchen, you have a luggage storage area that is pretty spacious and could fit a medium size suitcase nicely. I am sure that additional portable stands will be provided upon request for larger suitcases. 

You have two spacious wardrobes that will fit any length of your stay. Inside them, you can find the hairdryers, umbrella, laundry basket, plenty of hangers, bathrobes and bath slippers.

In the corner of the room is where the working desk can be found. It is pretty spacious and makes for a good setup. Outlets are within reach and the wifi is easy to connect. The connection is good here.

Separating the wardrobe areas from the bedroom is a panel right in the middle. The setup was pretty lovely and neat. It comes with a high-quality television of a good size. The TV has plenty of local and international channels which makes for a cosy movie night in the evening.

Look at how gorgeous the bedroom is. It feels fancy and luxurious in a classy way. The king bed takes up the centrepiece and nightstands flank both sides of the bed. The mattress is extremely comfortable and has a nice balance. Power sockets can be found on both sides of the bed. The pillows offer great neck support as well. Beddings are high quality and smooth. I had a great rest. I just wish that they had electronic controls for the blinds and sheers. I feel like it could use having an ottoman in front of the bed. That will be a nice touch. 

Now! My favourite part of my room. Check out those floor-to-ceiling full-size window panels! I love it! It makes the entire place much more spacious and welcoming with all the natural light. You have a lovely view of the surrounding area. It is pretty during the day and at the night. I slept with the curtain open and got a spectacular sunrise greeting me in the morning. By the window, you have a little table and armchair. Great spot to relaxing on, read a book or having a cup of coffee. 

Housekeeping needs to be polished. I had the housekeeping sign on when I went for breakfast at 8 am. By the time, I was back at around 10.30am the room is not yet tidied. Even when I got back in the late afternoon at 4pm the room is still not being made up. That is not acceptable.

Residents’ Lounge 

This serene space is available to our residents to relax and unwind. I appreciate that they have a space for guests to relax in other than the room. This is open to all guests. It is located on the 11th floor, just next to the pool. The residents’ lounge is open from 6am to 10pm. It provides an additional indoor, air-conditioned space for guests to relax or wait in if their room is not ready. This is a nice place to get some work done if you would like a change of scenery. Here are some pictures of the lounge. 

You can come here to get some coffee and tea all day long. The lounge is staffed from 2pm onwards. I am surprised that they offer 3 daily drinks for all ASR members. You can sign up anytime. All you need is to give your room number and your ASR membership. This is very generous and a classy touch from the property. You can enjoy the drinks both at the lounge or by the pool. It might not be much but I appreciate it. So many properties frequently nitpick over little stuff. I am glad to see that isn’t the case here. Grabbing some beers to enjoy by the pool is lovely. I also came for a nightcap at times. You can find the menu here. 

I was not told about this at check-in but saw the signs advertising it by the pool and lounge. The wines are lovely. Great to have some drinks while you wind down in the evening or finish up some work. If you order some takeaways, you can also enjoy your food at the resident lounge. I love the concept. 

Children Playroom

There is a little playroom for the little ones just by the pool on the 11th floor. It is a nice space for the kids to burn off some additional energy and to keep them occupied if you need some me time. 

Fitness Centre 

The fitness centre is located on the same floor as the pool. It is open from 6am to 10pm. I had a quick look at the gym which is very modern and welcoming. I love the high ceilings and the huge windows that bring in plenty of natural light and the views surrounding the area. This makes it very welcoming. It comes with all sorts of the usual equipment. Towels and drinking water are provided. 

Pool

The pool is one of the most gorgeous areas of the hotel. It is located on the 11th floor and is open from 6am to 10pm. I had a good time here and came to use it a couple of my times during my stay. It comes with a nice view of the surrounding area. Besides the main pool, you also have a smaller wading pool. It is nice to take a refreshing soak when the weather is so hot in Bangkok. The pool sorts of wraps around the building. It comes with a couple of daybeds and cabanas by the side. 

Due to the design of the place, the area doesn’t get much sun. This is something to take note of if you want a tan. The pool area can get chilly at times. It will be very nice if the pool is heated. That will be very comfortable. As mentioned above, you can get 3 drinks per day from the lounge and enjoy by the pool as well. Having some beers while lazing here is an enjoyable thing to do. 

Inside the changing room, you have the sauna as well. 

Breakfast at Kinki Restaurant

Breakfast is served at the signature Kinki Restaurant on the ground floor. The Japanese restaurant offers a buffet breakfast and Japanese food for lunch and dinner. Breakfast starts from 5.30am to 10am on weekdays and 6am to 10.30 am on weekends. If not included in your rate, breakfast costs 550 THB for adults and 380 THB for kids below 6. I appreciate the long hours. This will suit guests that are rushing for work. The restaurant is pretty with warm lighting. I especially love the open kitchen concept in the middle. It is very cosy and comfortable. Here are some pictures of the place. 

I was shown to a seat and drinks orders were taken. Hot drinks are served by the staff. The buffet line has a good selection of items. I love that they had some Japanese offerings such as soba and yaki soba. I will let the pictures do the rest of the speaking. Some of the standout items are the yaki soba, fresh juices and freshly made eggs. The crispy bacon is very good and I probably had too much of them. There are some slight changes every day to the breakfast offering. 

Conclusion

I love this property and had an amazing stay. It seems to be one of the most vibrant and upcoming accommodations in Bangkok. I love the fancy residential feel as well as the location. There are plenty of eateries nearby and great public transport links. Furthermore, they even have a shuttle that makes it very convenient. The prices are attractive here especially if you are in bigger groups. Ascott Thonglor has a solid hard product. Those floor-to-ceiling window panels bring in so much natural light. It is also worth mentioning how generous they are with the drinks at the lounge. Breakfast and housekeeping can be polished. 

This was a hosted media stay, all views expressed are my own.