Radisson has impressed me once again. Yes, it helps that they upgraded me to the biggest room on the property but regardless, it is a quality operation.
Although Radissons are generally more than $100 less than the 5 star hotels in the area, they still give the 5 star treatment and have a hotel that looks and feels like a 5 star hotel. Even though rooms start at $100, the Radisson Suites Sukhumvit Bangkok is much nicer than the competitors in the price range. If that is your budget, there is no comparison.
When I check in, the staff tells me how nice it is that I’m a Gold member and they escort me to my room and show me around. I love it. When I checked in at The Park Plaza Sukhumvit they barely noticed me. Hotels should treat their customers like the Radisson did. The funny thing is, they very casually told me that I had the biggest room in the hotel when I asked about it. Were they going to tell?
The room was huge and modern. We had a guest, so having an extra bathroom was appreciated. In the living room there was a wireless keyboard on the coffee table and the flat screen tv turned into a computer with the press of a button. The majority of the room was the living area: dining room, living room, “kitchenette” and an office. However, the bedroom and master bath alone was bigger than the room at The Park Plaza Sukhumvit. So much open space just in our bed room. I expect this at a suite at the Hyatt, not the Radisson. Impressed.
One other plus from a points junkie: they let me use my points for their suite at no extra cost. At most hotels you can either redeem your points for a nicer room at a steep cost or there is no option for anything but a standard room with your points. But with Club Carlson points they just charged a flat 38,000 points for any room in this hotel and there happened to be a suite available. No-brainer, right?
A lot of hotels now do not upgrade elite members from standard rooms to suites. Same with Club Carlson. However, if there is room, you can redeem your points for a suite and then you’ll receive the nicest available suite. If I had booked a standard room I would have received the nicest non-suite room.
38,000 points is a lot considering how cheap the hotel is normally but the suite option sold me and obviously it ended up being worth it.
Earlier this year I did a status match from Hyatt to Club Carlson (who owns Radisson) and they gave me Gold. Gold is earned after 35 nights and is one rung below concierge. When I emailed them I told them that I wasn’t interested in Silver, I specifically said that I wanted a status match to Gold status.
Currently Club Carlson is running a triple points promo. You already earn 20 points per dollar, so with this promo it’s 60 points per dollar! If you status match to Gold, Gold members get a 50% bonus (now 70 points per dollar I believe) and 2,000 points for booking online. A $100 stay would earn 9,000 points, enough for one night at a category 1 hotel. Suddenly the suite is a little more justifiable, right?
I think the Radisson Suites Bangkok Sukhumvit is an extremely fair price, and using 38,000 points is worth it if the suites are available for redemption. Make sure you status match something in advance (I’ve shared how to get free Hilton Gold and Accor Platinum). It’s a great hotel and I wish I could have stayed longer.
