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Thailand's capital city hotels are superb value for money and are
geared to the needs of juniors as well as business travellers. Most
have swimming pools, excellent restaurants and cafes with children's
menus and babysitting services. Bangkok has so much to see and do
that Kids clubs are few. Full marks go to the Westin Banyan Tree
which gives an infants kit complete with electrical socket covers
and offers extra amenities like free jogging strollers. International
chains like the Sheraton, Novotel and Holiday Inn offer the standards
you'd expect plus excellent Thai service and hospitality.
Westin Banyan Tree
(Silom)
Extends far beyond the usual baby-sitting services and children's
menu. Every child receives a Westin Kids Club sports bottle or
tippy cup which is filled with complimentary beverages at mealtime.
Westin's younger guests also receive other amenities including
colouring books and bath toys. For infants, the Westin Kids Club
is the only hotel children's programme which offers special services
and amenities also for infants. Parents receive safety kits complete
with adhesive bandages, electrical outlet covers, ID bracelets,
and a list of local emergency phone numbers. Additional items,
including jogging strollers, are available free on request . Whenever
possible, Westin guest rooms are set up in advance with high chairs,
cribs and other appropriate items.
Dining with children at Westin is hassle-free. Families can request
preferred reservations at Westin restaurants and order their meals
ahead of time so the food will be ready when they arrive. Special
children's menus are available both at hotel restaurants and through
room service. The restaurants are very classy, upmarket and stylish,
so if you'd prefer something more informal there's the European
style cafe, deli and bakery offering a wide variety of home made
bakery items, pastry, chocolates, meats, cheeses and light snacks,
to eat-in or takeaway.
Novotel Lotus
(Sukhumvit)
Great location in popular Sukhumvit Road, in the heart of the
city and within easy walking distance of Thailand’s most
luxurious shopping mall, The Emporium. Also close by is a convenient
Skytrain station - Bangkok's new overhead rail system which is
airconditioned, gives views over the city is brilliant for travelling
to all the major tourist spots including the famous Chatuchak
Weekend Market (not recommended for small kids – too hot,
too crowded and definitely no room for pushchairs. Rooms are a
good size and have a sofa which can easily sleep 1 person.
Amari Watergate Hotel (Pratunam)
A really central location just minutes from the World Trade Centre,
between between Siam Square (great shopping, cinemas and entertainment)
and Sukhumvit Road, (shopping, restaurants, etc., )
Spacious accommodation and good facilities, including a selection
of fine restaurants, and a business and fitness centre.
Last year the hotel launched a highly successful "Kids Can
Cook" programme for children aged 5 to 12 years old, learning
kitchen skills from executive chef Peter Kaserer and pastry chef
Thomas Reidlinger, along with their Thai and Japanese assistants.
The courses, held every Saturday from 3-5 pm, included a teddy
bear, cookbook, framed picture and certificate plus a surprise,
while their parents were able to use the hotel's Clark Hatch Fitness
Centre facilities free of charge. The hotel plans to run the courses
again next year.
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