Dusit Thani Bangkok

Bangkok, Thailand

............................................................................................................................................

946 Rama IV Road
Bangkok 10500
Thailand.

Tel: +66 (0) 2200 9999.
Website: www.dusit.com.

Where is it?

In central Bangkok, opposite the boulevards and lakes of Lumpini Park. The luxury hotel is adjacent to both the sky train and subway systems, and close to major business, shopping and entertainment centres. It’s a short walk from here to the Patpong night markets.

The Hotel

The Dusit Thani Bangkok is a city landmark, with a huge reputation built over more than 40 years. Ask any Thai in the street and they’ll tell you it’s one of the very best hotels in Bangkok. 

Its 517 rooms and executive suites are sumptuously appointed with distinctive Thai inspirations, silk fabrics and teak furnishings. Spacious Dusit Grand Rooms are very comfortable and come with a separate bedroom, two flat-screen televisions, a living area with free broadband access, and a good-size marble bathroom. Thai Heritage Suites are inspired by the characters and touches of ancient Thai cities.

Breakfast here is a treat, with a huge range of goodies on offer, including Asian options. There are eight restaurants in all. Eat French food at D’Sens; Japanese at Shogun; imaginative Italian at il cielo; traditional Vietnamese at Thien Duong; meat, fish and lobster at Hamilton’s Steak House; innovative Cantonese cuisine at The Mayflower; buffet food at the Pavilion; and exceptional Thai cuisine at the Benjarong Thai Restaurant.

Whatever you do, don’t miss the stunning, panoramic city views from the rooftop D’Sens Bar, which is well-worth visiting even if you aren’t staying here.

The Spa

The Devarana Spa at Dusit Thani Bangkok is truly an oasis of tranquillity at the centre of the city hubbub. All treatment rooms are luxuriously appointed in a contemporary Thai style. Double rooms are available for those who wish to share their spa experience.

Enjoy a luxurious Devarana Spa signature bath, filled with delicate lotus petals and the soft, soothing aroma of exquisite essential oils distilled from rare Thai flowers. Or a body scrub with either lavender, mangosteen peel, tropical flowers, or mushrooms.

You could have a straight forward Swedish, Thai, or aromatic massage – but why not go for the signature Devarana Massage?  This unique massage combines Thai, Ayurveda and Shiatsu techniques with Swedish and Aromatherapy influences. It’s the ultimate soothing and pampering experience.

 

The Verdict

A well positioned, five star hotel with lovely rooms, a pleasant feel, a fair-sized swimming pool, excellent food, a stunning roof-top bar, and one of the best spas in Bangkok.

Story by: Marc Llewellyn.

 

Review: A touch of heaven at Devarana - by Deborah Dickson-Smith

The Dusit Thani is Bangkok’s flagship hotel, designed with a traditional Thai influence with intricate carvings adorning the doors and turrets glittering here and there. A doorman in royal Thai costume (including pointed headgear) greets me as I enter the grand foyer and escorts me in.

Recently celebrating its 40th birthday, Dusit Thani has seen its fair share of royalty, celebrity and action. Some of that action very recent in fact when, only three weeks prior to my visit, the hotel was shot at by Red Shirt protestors. A sniper is rumoured to have taken aim from the rooftop restaurant here on the 21st floor. There are still some impressive bullet holes in the windows, from which you could have viewed all the action during the campaign.

21 floors down as I make my way to Devarana Spa, I enter another world completely. A grand marble staircase leads to a secret palace. Devarana means “Garden in Heaven” and the spa takes its inspiration from this theme.

The name dates back to ancient Thai literature, called “Tribhumpharung”, also known as “Trai bhumikatha”, written by Praya Lithan. Fittingly, the spa was designed by a reknown Thai writer, Ploy Charyaves.

Devarana Spa promises its very own healing garden of heaven with an emphasis on pampering and wellness using world class spa products as well as traditional herbal preparations using fresh, natural ingredients. It’s East meets West health and beauty practises are sourced from age old therapies and modern knowledge.

I’m sampling the Devarana massage, a combination of five massage types. As I lie down on the massage table my senses are greeted with a steaming bowl of kaffir lime and coriander. A fragrant herbal compress in pressed gently over my body from my feet working up to the back of my neck.

Soothing Thai music featuring harp and flute lull me almost to sleep as the massage starts. A combination of the strong pressures of Thai, ayurveda and shiatsu techniques, balanced beautifully with Swedish and aromatherapy influences resulting in an incredibly soothing massage.

My 90 minutes in Heaven’s garden finishes with a relaxing head massage before I emerge refreshed and completely stress-free.

www.devaranaspa.com