Mandarin Oriental, Bangkok

What it is

The hotel on the Chao Phraya has a long record. Wikipedia says the original structure was the first hotel built in Thailand, opening as The Oriental in 1876, and elsewhere gives an opening on 19 May 1887 with 40 rooms. The page does not reconcile the two dates, so we state both. An earlier Oriental Hotel burned down in 1865.

The page calls it the first luxury hotel in Siam. King Chulalongkorn inspected it in December 1890, and the entourage of Crown Prince Nicholas of Russia, later Tsar Nicholas II, was among its first royal guests in April 1891. In September 2008 it changed its name from The Oriental to Mandarin Oriental.

The river and the old wing

The hotel is on the Chao Phraya River. Our itinerary describes it as having its own boats to the temples, which is a reason to choose a riverside address over one in the business district.

Wikipedia refers to an Authors' Wing but gives no detail about it. If a historic wing is what you want, ask whether it is available for your dates and what the rooms in it are like.

Size and services

The infobox lists 393 rooms, 35 suites and 8 restaurants, which makes it a large hotel. The Oriental Spa opened in 1993. Our Thailand family itinerary names the hotel as one of three options for its two Bangkok nights; at this size, the question for a family is whether you can book connecting rooms or a larger suite.

Rooms and the rate

Published rates give a wide range. A comparison site puts the average at about US$490 a night, with some deals as low as US$367. Rates change by date and room type. Our itinerary total uses The Peninsula Bangkok for these nights, not this hotel, so this page does not feed that figure.

Who it suits

It suits travelers who want a grand riverside hotel with history for two or three nights in Bangkok, particularly at the start or end of a trip. It works for families if you plan for connecting rooms.

It is a poor fit for anyone who wants a small, quiet hotel or a base in the city's entertainment districts. It is a large hotel on the river, so ask how guests reach the rest of the city.