Bangkok is flush with hotels, making it hard to decide where to spend your cash and valuable points and miles. The Grand Hyatt Erawan is one of the older Hyatt properties in Bangkok. I’ve stayed there twice now with each stay being a few years apart. My Grand Hyatt Erawan Bangkok review presents a full picture so you’ll know whether or not this Hyatt property should be your choice.
The Erawan joins a growing fleet of Hyatts in the city. During the past few years Hyatt has opened a Park Hyatt, a Hyatt Place, and a Hyatt Regency as well. While the hotel location can’t be beat, and the staff is top-notch — one of my favorite of any Hyatt property — the rooms still seem in need of updates.
The Grand Hyatt Erawan opened 32 years ago. It’s owned by a Thai company and Hyatt managed. The hotel has 380 rooms and 40 suites. Occupancy runs between 80-90% and the typical guest stays an average of 2-3 nights.
Pro Tip: Do you Pruvo all your hotels stays? If not, do what I do and let Pruvo monitor your reservations for price drops. It’s free and it’s the easiest way to save money on all your hotel rooms.
Before the pandemic the Grand Hyatt was more of a business hotel, but now hosts more leisure travelers. It’s a popular choice for weddings and conferences, as well as a meeting space for smaller groups. In other words, it’s a busy property!
I booked a standard room using cash rather than points or cash/points. This was the best value for me. The cash rate was approximately $130-135 a day. If I’m paying cash for a hotel stay, I always use Pruvo to monitor for price drops! Due to my Globalist status I was upgraded to a Grand Executive Suite King, so that was a “suite” benefit.
Grand Hyatt Erawan Executive Suite King | Image by World of Hyatt
Using My Hotel Room Scorecard I broke down the individual elements of my executive suite at the Grand Hyatt Erawan Bangkok, which scored a 32 of 50 points. Almost in spite of the hotel’s dated and interior, the staff made my stay great. I’ll also share with you my impressions of the spa and Club Lounge. They are both highlights!
Location (5/5)
Bangkok’s BTS Skytrain runs just outside the Grand Hyatt Erawan.
The location of the Grand Hyatt Erawan can’t be beat. Whether you want to walk everywhere you go, or need to access public transportation for sites and restaurants that are not within walking distance, you’ll be well positioned to make a convenient choice.
Easy access to the Skytrain makes the location appealing for tourists looking to cheaply and quickly visit many of the city’s major attractions.
Two of the biggest malls, Central and Paragon, are within easy walking distance from the Grand Hyatt. So is Lumpini Park. Lumpini Park is a fun place to visit and see the local walking/running scene. Lots of benches in the shade too, so you can sit by the lake and people and nature watch.
Lighting (2/5)
The natural lighting in this Grand Hyatt Erawan Bangkok suite was okay, mostly due to being on the top floor. I asked for an extra lamp, which was supplied right away.
How to explain the quirky set-up for lighting in these rooms? It’s overly complicated and terribly outdated. And there was no reading light or the ability to dim or brighten any of the lights in the bedroom.
The bedroom, for instance, allows either lights on or lights off. The lights don’t have switches on them and they are mounted on the walls. No reading lights at all. For sure the bedroom could use a standing lamp.
The living room is just as quirky. I was able to move a table lamp from the entrance to the table beside the TV. That added to the living room light.
One of the living room lights highlights the artwork. Nice touch, but I’d rather have the couch area highlighted.
Window Access (2/5)
Here’s the room with the maximum amount of natural lighting.
There are no windows that you could open for some fresh air. My view was of the urban buildings. Because I faced east I did catch some beautiful sun rises.
Local golf course and Skytrain view from some of the rooms | Image by Shelli Stein
Some guests report that their rooms pick up a lot of street noise. That’s was not an issue for me. I was told that the other side of the hotel is the noisier side but it’s also the preferred side of the hotel for the view. This makes sense given the possible views from the hotel.
Bed Comfort (1/5)
The bed is one of hardest beds I’ve tried in a long time. There must be some reason hotels use such hard beds and I wish someone would offer me an explanation!
Bathroom (5/5)
The were two bathrooms in the suite. One was near the bedroom and the other bathroom near the entry. Both bathrooms were a good size, with plenty of hooks for towels. The master bathroom has two big sinks.
Bathroom supplies were plentiful. I particularly liked the toothbrushes the hotel offers and the shower cap was one of the few I’ve used that doesn’t rip after the first use.
The toilet is a Toto Washlet, with bidet function, heated seats, temperature control and oscillating nozzles so you get a good clean both back and front.
Without going into too much detail, I’ll just say I’m a Toto Washlet fan.
Interior Appointments (3/5)
The curtains were fabric and open manually using a long rod. I actually prefer this 1980’s style even though it may seem outdated because too many hotels when they modernize make opening and closing the curtains and electronic nightmare.
The hotel was last refurbished in 2015. At this time there are no specific plans for another refurbish
I’m not an architect nor an interior designer, but as a frequent hotel guest who has seen many hotels post renovation, it didn’t seem to me like they made much effort to truly modernize the appearance of the rooms back in 2015.
The carpet throughout the suite seems to be holding up well and I liked the tile in the bathroom and entryway.
I hope when they do the next renovation they put wood floors in the rooms! I also find the MANY mirrors excessive. Perhaps a few less when the rooms are renovated 🙂
Electronics (3/5)
Plugs and outlets were adequate and well-placed throughout the suite. Again, I think the modernization and refurbishment of the rooms would make a big difference here.
Furnishing (4/5)
The couch seemed new and was comfortable. The workspace was exceptionally large, with a glass table that could serves as a desk for two. The chairs weren’t suitable for working so as I mentioned, I requested two desk chairs and they were quickly delivered. The desk is next to the window so it gets as much natural light as possible.
Snack and Minibar (4/5)
The snack area in the suite was great. There was a large counter and plenty of room for the extra water bottles I requested. There was a Nespresso maker, and snacks of sweets, nuts, and dried fruit.
Won’t have to ask for more water for a few days! Image by Shelli Stein
Nespresso machine always looks better in red! I mage by Shelli Stein
Flooring (3/5)
The flooring throughout the suite was mostly carpet, and perhaps due to the relatively recent refurbishment in 2015, it was in good shape.
Fitness and Spa Facilities At The Grand Hyatt Erawan Bangkok
For me this was a wonderfully surprising benefit. It added tremendously to how much I enjoyed my stay. For some odd reason I didn’t remember this from my previous stay. Maybe I didn’t use the spa but for sure made up for that miss on this stay!
Grand Hyatt Bangkok pool
The gym is well equipped, the outdoor pool is about 25 meters, the poolside jacuzzi is large, and the women’s locker room (I assume the same for the men’s side) has a hot and cold plunge, a steam room, and a sauna. The pool was never busy and neither were the steam/sauna. Is it fair to wish for these kinds of amenities at more hotels? If you’re someone who will use the spa, pool, and gym, you will NOT be disappointed!
Grand Hyatt Bangkok Club Lounge
If you’ve been traveling the past few years you for sure have noticed that so many Hyatt Club Lounges have closed. They have not reopened and I doubt they ever will. This is the case across hotel brands, not just Hyatt hotels. And this is true both in the states and around the world.
For the Grand Hyatt, there was no question as to whether the club lounge would reopen. They had to!!
Because of my Globalist status with Hyatt I had access to the lounge. If you’re paying for the Club Lounge it costs about $60 per person per day.
The Club was excellent! I took breakfast there every day and there was nothing missing. The chef was available at the egg station, which for me is always a nice touch. There were Thai food offerings at breakfast, which means there was something for everyone. Plenty of fruit as well. Fun to enjoy fruits I don’t get to eat often enough!
Grand Hyatt Bangkok Club Lounge
As is the case with clubs, it was open all day for drinks and snacks. The club was actually open until 10 pm, which is later than clubs are usually open. This was great for me because I worked while at the hotel so I enjoyed using the club as my office 🙂
In the evening, the club served a full dinner menu. Hot dishes, cold salads, and a wonderful assortment of Asian foods. The dinners were different every night and there was table service as well. The food was excellent!
Grand Hyatt Bangkok Club Lounge
During my stay the club was well used but was never too busy. It was a TREAT to have such a wonderful club experience and was one of the highlights of my stay at the Grand Hyatt.
Great to see lots of staff onboard at the Club. The service team throughout the day was excellent. They were attentive and super helpful with whatever you needed.
Concierge Service at The Club Lounge
Inside the club is a concierge desk that was staffed most of the day and into the early evening. The concierge team was tops! Very helpful, very fun to talk with, and never a request I made was too much for them to handle. It was great to be able to secure assistance from them rather than having to go downstairs to the front desk if I needed something.
Other Breakfast Options
There are many large common space areas at the hotel. The lobby provides ample seating areas. There is a large restaurant off the lobby that serves both breakfast and dinner. They are well used by hotel guests and locals.
This buffet breakfast costs $30 per person. That’s a fantastic price for all that it offers. Just think of everything you’d want at a breakfast buffet, plus foods you didn’t even know you wanted, and you have the Grand Hyatt buffet 🙂
What Guests At The Grand Hyatt Erawan Bangkok Complain About?
When I review a hotel I always wonder what complaints hotel guests have, so I ask the hotel team.
The chief complaint is the room size and some people don’t like the room decorations. It’s not a new modern hotel, so that could be part of the impression it makes on guests.
Guests are not attached to particular rooms because floor plans are all the same with only the view being different from the standard rooms.
Final Thoughts on the Grand Hyatt Erawan Bangkok
While the room was on the dark side and the interior appointments felt dated, the hotel has a big beautiful lobby and one of the best Hyatt hotel lounges I’ve visited. The food and service in the lounge was spot on, the space itself worked well with both tables and booths, and it is one of the old school Hyatt Club Lounges with a private check-in and concierge.
Let me give a shout-out to the staff at the Grand Hyatt Erawan.
Welcome letter from the Guest Services team! Image by Shelli Stein
The Guest Services team is young, energetic, and fantastic, with a singular focus of making you feel at home. From check-in to walking me to my room making sure everything was in place, to the daily questions I asked them, they are a delight.
My reputation as a coffee snob follows me everywhere! Image by Shelli Stein
They never minded questions, were always available with great suggestions about where to go and what to see, and I enjoyed our conversations and getting to know them better.
I had a fun stay and enjoyed putting together this Grand Hyatt Erawan Bangkok review. The location, amenities, and exceptionally attentive staff puts this hotel on my absolutely would stay here again list.
There are now multiple Hyatt properties in Bangkok, so it can be a toss-up as to which property to choose. What it offers and the service were both what you’d expect from a Grand Hyatt property. For sure having the Club Lounge open made a huge difference.
The location can’t be beat. That I agree with. If being in the busy Erawan area suits you, you’ll enjoy the property. If having a great Club Lounge open is of benefit to you, you’ll enjoy this hotel. Every Hyatt hotel is different, every staff is different, and every guest is different, right? Some properties are bound to work better than others for what you’re looking for.
I think of the Grand Hyatt Bangkok as a hotel for people who enjoy mixing their hotel stay with a great urban central-city location. If you enjoy spending time in a more local area of Bangkok rather than in a super touristy area, this property is not for you. When I’m in the mood for an urban hotel stay, properties like the Grand Hyatt are perfect. By all means gather up your travel gear and give this hotel a try and see what you think for yourself.
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10 comments
Asians traditionally prefer hard beds! I’m sure whoever sourced beds for this hotel had those guests in mind.
Could be so, jakkny. I’ve been traveling throughout Asia for years and always found the beds hard. However, I also find that to be the case in many parts of the world. I wonder if hotels figure beds will only soften over time so they start out as hard as possible.
one thing drives me nuts about all these hotel reviews.
why wouldn’t they provide cost info? I would think that is a very relevant info?
How much cash? How many points? What season? Peak or low?
That would be one of the more important factor… If it cost $800 forget it, if it was ~150-200 then it’s something I may be interested in…
Or was it a good redemption?
Thanks for your feedback! We include the number of miles / points redeemed in our redemption trip reports. This was a cash booking, but it’s a valid point and we’ll be including pricing going forward.
Ummm fresh air in Bangkok………? I think you saved yourself a few years by not being able to open the window!
Very true, Jay. Even in the worst air quality places I do like to open the window for some air……though as you pointed out, “fresh” it may not be.
My wife and I loved the location when there were street vendors nearby. Since the government evicted them, the area has become colorless. The hotel itself is quite nice, although avoid the Italian restaurant after 10.
Thanks for your thoughts on the Erawan and its location. And for the tip on the Italian restaurant. I didn’t try it.
For me it has been a toss up over the years between this one and the Hyatt Regency. I started preferring this one earlier but now it’s the Regency.
I’ve stayed at all of them including the Park Hyatt and House, but I like the location better at the Regency. The properties themselves (Grand and Regency) are a virtual toss up to me, so it just comes down to location. The Regency is touristy as well, but seems to have a more local flavor.
Definitely agree on the more local flavor of the Regency. I have a review of the property coming soon. It’s great to have so many more Bangkok options now. Thanks for reading and taking the time to comment, Fathiss.