Gate43 Airport Hotel BKK - Deluxe Twin Lake View
Gate43 Airport Hotel BKK - Deluxe Twin Lake View
A surprisingly nice stay at an affordable rate, which included a free shuttle to and from the airport. A cost effective option for an overnight stay!
Gate43 Airport Hotel - Deluxe Twin Lake View
Thai Airways Royal Orchid Lounge BKK
BKK-SIN Thai Airways Business Class
Damage: SGD71 for a Deluxe Twin Lake View (their 2nd level base room) without breakfast - booked on Agoda. Pretty worth it!
Upon arrival at BKK in the evening, I proceeded to find my hotel shuttle bus, which did took quite some time to locate due to the absence of clearly marked waiting points. (I was expecting a representative holding a sign with my name, but none were in sight). Fortunately, airport personnel were on hand to assist travellers with their transportation needs, and a gracious staff member helped me contact the number provided in my booking.
She instructed to wait outside the gate in the pickup area for approximately 10 minutes, and I was beginning to contemplate booking a Grab ride when I finally spotted the driver. What a relief!
Given the hotel's distance from the airport, the shuttle bus proved a lifesaver, and it took about 15 minutes to reach the hotel, around the outskirts of the airport area.
Check-In
Honestly, I had mentally prepared myself for the condition of the hotel when I saw the relatively low price for this booking. However, upon entering the lobby, it became evident that the hotel was quite new! My immediate thought was: perhaps it wouldn't be as bad as I had anticipated!
The check-in process was smooth, with my Agoda booking promptly recognized. Additionally, I arranged for the shuttle bus to the airport for the following day. Although I had seen positive reviews about the breakfast (reasonable pricing as per recollection) on Agoda, I opted not to include it in my booking as I planned to have breakfast at the lounge.
Room
The Deluxe Twin Lake View room really exceeded my expectations! It actually boasted a cozy atmosphere reminiscent of Lyft Funan, with its wooden accents and compact layout. The room was well-maintained, and the beds were impressively clean.
From the window, I can vaguely imagine how the lake view would have looked like but it was too dark outside to fully appreciate it. I also observed the swimming pool located directly below on Level 1.
My pleasant surprise continued with the well-stocked mini-bar, offering items at reasonable prices. The complimentary water provided was also more than sufficient for my needs.
While the slippers provided were of modest quality, they served their purpose adequately.
Exploring the TV controls, I was again impressed by the variety of functions available! In addition to live TV (which contained mostly Thai channels), there were entertainment options such as iQIYI (a Chinese entertainment app that I tested and found functional), YouTube, and Netflix. A helpful signage even provided instructions on how to access white noise for improved sleep (although it was from YouTube).
It also happened that the World Cup was showing on a Thai channel, and I managed to catch England vs Iran during my stay! Pretty nice 😆
Although there was a work desk, its functionality was somewhat affected by its proximity to the TV, making it less comfortable to use. However, it did feature in-room dining menus and information regarding airport transfers (if not included in the room rate). Feeling hungry after the ordeal of locating the shuttle bus, I promptly ordered the Thai Green Curry from the in-room dining menu (since the price was pretty reasonable), which while not exceptionally flavorful, satisfactorily satiated my hunger.
Also, there was a menu for Thai Massage was available for those interested.
Overall, the hotel provided ample amenities to keep guests occupied during their visit!
Bathroom
The bathroom was as expected, very basic but decent enough, featuring a standing shower with reliable water temperature and pressure. Notably absent were electronic bidets and bathtubs, which wasn't surprising (what do you expect at that price point?)
The bathroom amenities consisted of standard household brands. While toothbrushes and toothpaste were provided, they weren't particularly comfortable to use. Nevertheless, considering the price, they sufficed for my needs.
Other Facilities
As previously noted, there was a swimming pool situated on Level 1, suitable for lap swimming. Additionally, I noticed floats available for families to use, which would be convenient for entertaining children on longer stays.
Conclusion
Although a relatively short stay, I felt that Gate43 Airport Hotel was a good option for not just overnight stays, but perhaps slightly longer stays too, thanks to its reasonably priced accommodations, complimentary airport shuttle service, pleasant rooms, and excellent selection of entertainment and dining options. A surprising finding!
At the unearthly timing of 5am, it was time to conclude this journey with a short flight back home, aboard yet another airline I have yet to experience!
