THAILAND IS THE FAVOURED HOLIDAY DESTINATION FOR SINGAPORE-BASED EXPATS, AND IT IS EASY TO SEE WHY: NUMEROUS DAILY FLIGHTS MAKE THE MAIN THAI CENTRES EASILY ACCESSIBLE AND THERE IS SUCH A RANGE OF ACTIVITIES AND SIGHTS AVAILABLE THAT IT NEVER GETS STALE, SAYS JAMES HAWLEY

Bangkok is known as “Krungthep” in Thai, which translates as the City of Angels. As with Los Angeles this can be a little difficult to fathom when you first arrive – pollution, traffic, and sleaze will do that, but unlike LA, Bangkok redeems itself in so many ways. As I sit in a snarl of stationary vehicles I find myself thankful – at least the potholes aren’t shaking my fillings out when the car’s not moving. In some ways it is better to get out and walk. What this means is suffering from the heat and humidity – even in the cooler months about five minutes of walking is enough to start the sweat flowing, but to take taxis or the excellent SkyTrain everywhere is to deprive yourself of what it is that makes Bangkok unique.

every room a reasonable choice, though the recently refurbished spa suites are the pick. Another recently renovated part of the hotel is the spa, which is very impressive. Almost as much as the views from the rooftop Vertigo Grill & Moon Bar.

Yet another different hotel experience awaits next door at the Metropolitan Bangkok (www.metropolitan.como.bz). Where the two neighboring hotels opt for traditional Thai décor (with varying degrees of success) the Met does it with style and panache and without resorting to clichéd Thai resort architecture. That’s not to say it isn’t comfortable – the clean lines may be pleasing to the eye, but they avoid being stark with the use of natural materials and original artwork. This is another establishment where it is worth upgrading rooms – the Studio Rooms offer much more space than the City Rooms, and for only a small premium.

Not far away, along Wireless road, is one of Bangkok’s better contemporary options, in the form of the Conrad (www.conradhotels.com). It is hard not to like this place – if only because the Diplomat Bar on the lobby level is one of the best bars in town. Good service, excellent cocktails, a surprisingly decent range of wines by the glass (dear, oh dear, does Thailand need to fix its tariffs on wine – the choice can be abysmal, even in some of the better hotels), and a comfortable ambience with a jazz band playing at levels that don’t drown the conversation. The crowd, when there is one, is a good mix of locals, expats and tourists, and the occasional working girl (or working ex-boy) doesn’t bring the tone down too much. Winner. The rooms here are winners too. There is the expected Thai silks, but not in an overbearing way, plus fantastic glass-walled bathrooms.

fantastic glass-walled bathrooms. Sister to the Conrad is of course the Millennium Hilton Bangkok hotel (www.hilton.com). The rooms here are contemporary in design and all have river views – worth the asking price alone. The hotel may appear to be on the wrong side of the river, but the hotel provides a free shuttle boat to Saphan Taksin Pier, which connects you to the excellent SkyTrain. And be sure to head up to the Three Sixty Lounge on the 32nd floor, where you can sip your cocktails with a view (and not worry about the weather as you might at the other high-rise bars in town.

Not far away, and on the same side of the river, The Peninsula Bangkok (www.peninsula.com) continues to impress in its own quiet way. Rooms here all have river views too – though the design is more old school, with wood panelling and muted colours. As with the Hilton, the Peninsula runs its own shuttle boats to Saphan Taksin, so crossing the river is an adventure, rather than a chore, and quite spectacular after dark. Further downstream the large Bangkok Marriott Resort & Spa (www.marriott.com) focuses more on the resort image, with sprawling grounds, a landscaped pool area, no less than nine food outlets, and plenty of riverfront so you can catch the action there. If that’s too much there’s always the Mandara Spa to soothe away the aches you’ll get deciding where to eat. As with the previously mentioned riverfront hotels the Marriott operates a boat service to the SkyTrain at Saphan Taksin.

And right next to Saphan Taksin there’s the enormous Shangri-La (www.shangri-la.com). The 799 rooms here are spread over two wings – choose the Krungthep wing if you fancy a balcony – and are decked-out in teak and silk and other traditional Thai touches. As you would expect of a hotel this size there is a range of dining options, plus the stunning, and rather poetically-named, Chi The Spa at Shangri-La.