Loads of room

Sofa so good

A good point about serviced apartments that have been turned into hotels is the room layout - the rooms seem more spacious than they actually are. And, unlike most hotels, with either a square or rectangular room, the ones at the Grand Sukhumvit Sofitel are unique in their arrangement.

The more you pay, the more interesting the room layout, but even the smallest room - the 36squaremetre Silver standard - has a walk-in closet, whether you need it or not.

The layout of my 48sqm Gold standard room is perfect. It's divided in two by a sliding door. On one side is the living and working area, with an Internet port and LCD screen. On the other are another LCD screen, a comfy king-size bed, two closets and a toilet with bathtub.

Even better, the 62sqm Diamond room is rectangular, but with a kitchen, living and dining area and a bedroom, it's more like an apartment than a hotel.

The 190sqm Royal Suite, with its spacious living room and dining area well separated - again like in an apartment - is great for families, even large ones. There's a washing machine, a hot-ring stove and microwave and a Jacuzzi in the master bedroom.

The Royal Suite's various chambers are aligned in such a way that there's never a straight walk among them. You zigzag from one to the other, making it easier not to notice that up to 10 people might be sharing the premises.

The larger accommodations are popular with families from the Middle East. They're being renovated so they interconnect, ideal for someone renting an entire floor.

The city-centre hotel has a pool with a bar. The pool area isn't very large, but it's good enough for a tan and a splash.

The Grand Sukhumvit is just a few hundred metres from the Nana Skytrain station, though its one-way street can be a disadvantage if you drive, especially during rush hours and after dark, when Soi Nana gets busy.

No surprise that the current menu is virtually pork-free and big on kebabs and falafel. There are a lot of guests from the Middle East staying here ahead of Ramadan in September.

Here's a food tip: The dinner buffet at Cafe de Nimes is a great deal at Bt790++, with its nonstop foie gras.

The hotel also has Bulakorn Spa and Massage, where they use both local herbal products from Abhaiphubet and foreign items.

Until September 30, the best room deal is the Bt3,999 Silver Package for single guests only, which includes breakfast and free Internet access.

HOTEL AT A GLANCE

High points: The Skytrain is right there; the unique and spacious rooms.

Low point: Oneway traffic in the adjoining soi gets jammed when Sukhumvit Road is busy.

Find it: 99 Sukhumvit Road, Soi 6, Klong Toei, Bangkok

Pay for it: Rack rates start at Bt7,990 for a Silver standard room and rise to Bt28,560 for a Royal Suite. Internet and agent rates are usually a lot cheaper.

Phone it: (+66 02) 207 9999

Browse it: www.Sofitel.com/asia