Hospitality
Most 5 star hotels promise a “fully equipped fitness room”, but how many actually deliver the goods?
The Landmark Bangkok plays host to a Fitness First outlet. That means not only more equipment, but also a full schedule of classes!
The Landmark Bangkok is a 399 room 5-star hotel located in the heart of one of the Thai capital’s most popular tourist districts. In addition to numerous food and beverage outlets, it offers full access to a fully equipped gym – right on the premises.
The Landmark Bangkok has 399 rooms and suites, ranging in size from 34 square metres for a superior room to 85 square metres for one of the 55 suites.
I was hosted by The Landmark Bangkok in a Premium Floor Room measuring 34 square metres. I could see the swimming pool from my window, which was good as I could tell whether the pool was in the sunshine or the shade and also how crowded it was.
Thankfully, the pool never was crowded during my stay!
My room had a specious desk with a lamp, something many interior designers forget to include. They are so focused on Wow Factor that they sometimes forget about lighting. Some of us actually have to work while staying at hotels.
Rooms have flat screen TVs, stocked mini bars, same day laundry and dry cleaning, and in-room Wi-Fi and Broadband access.
Food + Beverage
The Landmark Bangkok has 9 food and beverage outlets, including a 24-hour bistro, an English pub, a bakery and café, a lobby lounge, and a poolside snack bar. The Garden Court serves simple fare such as soup, sandwiches, and salads.
The Atrium, which serves a sumptuous international buffet, is where many hotel guests have breakfast. Since I had access to the Executive Lounge, I breakfasted at the lounge on my first 2 mornings and at the Atrium on my 3rd morning.
Unfortunately, I discovered at the last minute that there was a class I wanted to take at the fitness centre so I had to rush my breakfast and didn’t get to give the buffet the attention it deserved.
The Landmark Bangkok also has a fine dining steak house with sweeping city views and a Chinese restaurant serving Cantonese cuisine. I had dinner at the steak house and lunch at the Chinese restaurant. Click on the following links more information on the 2 eateries:
Facilities
I did laps in the hotel’s outdoor swimming pool, worked out at the gym, had a haircut in a traditional men’s barber shop in the basement, and bought several books at a bookstore in the shopping arcade.
I didn’t make use of the hotel’s full service spa, and I didn’t have any clothes made at the tailor shop in the arcade, but it was nice to know that they were there if I had wanted to.
Executive Lounge
I spent a fair amount of time in the Executive Lounge. That’s where I had breakfast on 2 of my 3 mornings, and I spent much of my time there reading the newspaper and working on my laptop.
My visit coincided with 2 very serious technical glitches on my computer, and the helpful staff in the Executive Lounge deployed technical staff to my room to sort things out.
I also enjoyed the evening cocktail hour with so many yummy snacks, salads, and hot dishes that I never bothered having dinner.
While I did dine at The Landmark Bangkok
one evening, that was after I checked out!
Unique Selling Proposition
The Landmark Bangkok has a lot to recommend it – a great location, an amazing array of food and beverage outlets, and an excellent bookstore right in the basement.
But if I had to name just one thing that sets the hotel apart from the pack, it would have to be having access to a fully equipped gym right on the premises included in the basic room rate.
I was even allowed to use the facilities after checking out on the day of my departure.
Many hotels have fitness rooms, but the photos in their promotional materials and websites invariably use trick photography to make them look bigger than they really are.
Unless you’re happy spending an hour on the treadmill, it really is nearly impossible to do a proper workout at most hotel gyms.
Fitness First has a 2,500 square foot facility situated on the 4th floor of The Landmark Bangkok, and hotel guests have complimentary access to it. That includes a full schedule of aerobics and yoga classes 7 days a week.
In many of the best 5 star hotels, you’re lucky if there is one yoga class 3 times a week, and rarely do the classes you want to take fit in with your schedule.
Because Fitness First is a full service gym with local members, it can offer a full schedule of classes throughout the day.
During my visit, the gym was looking a bit worse for wear – the changing rooms were in serious need of renovation. Several of the showers didn’t work.
When I returned to the hotel several weeks later, however, I was glad to see that the gym was halfway through a total facelift.
Where
The Landmark Bangkok, 10th Floor, 138 Sukhimvit Road, Bangkok, Thailand. Telephone: +66 (0) 2254-0404. For More information: The Landmark Bangkok
The hotel is within a short walk of the Nana BTS or Skytrain station.