So Sofitel Bangkok

This marked our first couple trip ever since we became parents. A trip to commemorate 20 years of togetherness. I was searching high and low for the perfect getaway accommodation in Bangkok. I looked into the rugged, off the beaten tracks, unique and adventurous type of hotel/airbnb but I know those aren't the kind my other half would like to spend his next four days in. I was just trying my luck thinking it would be a good idea to look into some other type of accommodations we wouldn't have stayed if we travelled with the kids.

He had other plans.

Meyer popped up the idea of SO Sofitel Bangkok early March this year [Read: Bangkok for Kids] for our family trip. For some reasons, we did not get to book in. This time, he put it on the proposal list for my consideration again. I thought about all those times he gave in to me and decided that this should be his call. Especially when he added, "I want us to be pampered. In a hotel that has full service including a club floor, swimming pool, gym, spa and good food!" Sounds like something I cannot deny us of.

I cannot agree more that SO Sofitel Bangkok has it all. Plus a famous rooftop bar called HI-SO overlooking the Lumpini Park!

The hotel doesn't categorise itself by Superior, Deluxe, Suite, etc. It calls its different categories SO Cozy, SO Comfy, SO Club, SO Studio, SO Suite and you get the drift. It's a hotel for SO-sters!

In each category, there are four distinguished themes: Earth, Wood, Metal and Water. For example in SO Cozy [lead in category], the rooms size is the same at 38sqm but the difference is that you get to choose the elemental theme of your choice!

While we have been together for 20 years now, our preferences are very different. He likes Metal but I was attracted to Earth. So there! I gave in to his choice of hotel, he gave me the autonomy to choose the Earth room for our stay in Bangkok.

SO STUDIO, EARTH

Upon check in at their Club Signature floor, we were warmly greeted by Zonya who made sure we were alright with a corner room. He was sharing how some travellers do not like corners because of Feng Shui [Chinese geomancy] but I assured him we would love it because corner meant lots and lots of windows and natural daylight!

Walking into our room on the 24th floor, I cannot emphasise anymore how spacious [74sqm] and beautiful corner rooms can be. I could stay in there all day enjoying the view from our bed, from our tub, from our toilet and from our sofa! Well, I think I wished for it too hard. I really stayed in bed the whole of Day Three as I suffered from the wretched fever and stomach cramps. At that moment, I thanked the husband even more for deciding on SO Sofitel Bangkok.

Earth themed rooms aren't brown like soil. Instead, it was blue like how Earth should be when you look down from space. It has parietal art [cave paintings] found on the wall and curtains of our bedroom. It implies the prehistoric origins of life and I appreciate the hand stencils that went around. Many would have mistaken the Blue for Water but no...

I especially loved the bathroom. Black and white checkered tiles that make for the perfect Instagram picture, views into busy bustling Bangkok which make you feel so fortunate you are looking out from the comfort of your tub and the delicate yet bold design of the space which compels you to take your time to freshen up.

ROOM AMENITIES

The room is designed especially to celebrate His and Hers. We had our His and Hers wash basins. We had a His and Hers toiletry box. We had a His and Hers bathrobes and even a His and Hers bedroom slippers!

To top that all up, indulgent baths can be arranged with compliments by the hotel:
1. Soothing Bath - from therapeutic bath salts and essential oils
2. Charcoal Bubble Bath - for a flirty and fun evening of pampering

Then something else caught my eye - KID INDULGENT BATH. Oh we have to come back again with Ewan and Faye!

The Sleep Amenities are quite regular now in many five-star hotels so when I saw it, I wasn't that impressed until I noticed they included Thai Triangle Pillows for that cultural indulgent traveller and Vetiver Pillow Mist to calm tension and soothes the nerves.

FOUR THEMED ROOMS

There are four different themes in SO Sofitel Bangkok:

1) Water. Sophistication and Calm
2) Earth. Wonder and Enrichment
3) Wood. Elegance and Tranquillity
4) Metal. Purity and Modernity

It can be confusing at the website on which room is tagged to which theme. So here, I help break it down for easy consumption as you decide your favourite room for your next trip to Bangkok. Information below are extracted from SO Sofitel Bangkok's Design Statement.

WATER

WOOD

METAL

UNIFORMS BY MONSIEUR CHRISTIAN LACROIX

I have always associated SO Sofitel Bangkok to Christian Lacroix; Christian Lacroix to SO Sofitel Bangkok. He is a world-celebrated fashion designer, couturier and curator, bringing his personal touch of theatrical flair, fantasy and folklore to the fore. His magnum opus is the creation of SO Sofitel Bangkok's Tree of Life, a perfect harmony of The Five Elements.

The uniforms are a fusion of traditional Thai and French haute couture at its most splendid and extravagant. Bold. Sartorial. Brave. Refreshing. I admire every piece each staff change into every day. In fact, not only was Monsieur Christian Lacroix the designer of every SO Staff's uniform in Bangkok, he was also the hotel stylist!

I asked one front office staff, "How many different styles of uniform do each of you own?" and she replied, "Depending on our rank, I have four styles and she has three." Oh gosh. It's a fashion show every day.

source: SO Sofitel Bangkok Design Statement

SWIMMING POOL, SPA AND GYM

The infinity pool extends over 32m on the 10th floor above the bustling city streets. Tunes are piped in directly for a watery soundtrack, while at night, underwater LED lights create ever-changing shades of vibrant colour.

SoSPA overlooks the lap pool from a level up and the view is very calming. Inspired by the Asian folklore of the mythical Himmapan forest, SoSPA is an urban spa retreat where worldwide ancient traditions meet the latest in French cosmetology. It is a multi-award-winning hotel spa in Bangkok!

SoFIT was Meyer's main objective for this trip. He made sure we were booked into a hotel with a gym for him to work out in after all the hearty meals we were going to partake in Bangkok.

PARK LOBBY AND CONCIERGE

The main reception [park lobby] is on the ninth floor and concierge, ground. I appreciate every art piece, cushion, styling and all that it has to give. It exudes the modern chic ambience and come nightfall, a DJ takes over the evening as we sip champagne over the bar.

It is So Fashionable to just be one of the guests sitting there enjoying the ambience!

During our stay, the hotel showcased 17 artworks of Parisian Jetsetter Artist, Louis-Nicolas Darbon at the Park Lobby. For the two-month exhibition, Darbon made the area pop bringing the worlds of art and fashion together.

At the concierge, you will enjoy an array of services provided for the adventurous traveller. There are electric scooter rentals, bicycle rentals and even stroller rentals for families with young children! SO FAMILY FRIENDLY!

What other mode of transportations are available with compliments from the hotel? Tuk Tuk!

When in Bangkok, ride in a Tuk Tuk. Only difference this time is, our ride is complimentary at with their TUK TUK ME TO SO shuttle service to various location in the vicinity. It is a shuttle service that runs every 30 minutes and all you have to do to get a ride is to call in to book!

 

CLUB SIGNATURE

So Studio where we were booked into comes with Club access and that is exactly where we spent all of our time at other than our room. We didn't go to the main restaurant for breakfast [sorry I was too ill to head down for photoshoots] nor did we check in/out at the main reception on level nine. As soon as our car arrived at the porch of SO Sofitel Bangkok, we were whisked up to Level 25 where we stayed a little longer than usual to partake the afternoon tea and savour our welcome drinks.

The service was exceptional. I wasn't there as an influencer. We paid money off our pockets for this stay and they didn't know if I was worthy to be impressed. Still, they dazzled me with their hospitality. From Zonya, from Noom, from Shi.

From a long time ago, we know that Thais are affectionate hosts. It has slowly changed through the decades as we move into the fast-paced digital world. But there at Club Signature, I saw them slowing down to listen, to socialise and to care.

I fell extremely ill one of the days but still dragged my feet out of the room for breakfasts. I could only handle plain porridge and was curling up my seat feeling cold. Zonya came by to check on me and empathically offered to send me to a doctor. Noom arranged for in-room dining to have me a hot bowl of plain porridge that night for dinner after hearing from Meyer that I was still ill.

The next morning, I woke up fever-free [although I still had stomach cramps] but was chirpy enough to do a little happy dance! The first thing that Noom asked when he saw me was, "How are you Ms May?" I told him I was so happy I'm feeling a lot better and as I sat on my seat, he knelt beside me to my level and had my whole breakfast all planned, "Let me get you a bowl of miso soup and would you like porridge again? Or you could have a bowl of hot noodle soup instead. A hot drink to go along?"

Yes Noom. Everything you say. I felt so taken care of.

From all my extensive travels, I haven't quite left behind my heart for any particular staff but as our car pulled off away from the driveway to the airport, I was already missing these guys.

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