Stepping into the heavily air-conditioned lobby of Amari Watergate Bangkok, I felt instant relief from the thick 100-degree heat. My hurried pace slowed and I began to breathe just a little bit easier.
As I made my way to the concierge desk, I couldn’t help but crane my neck a bit as I took in the sight of the gorgeous entrance. 
I was led to the Executive Lounge for my actual check in, as I’d be staying in one of the hotel’s Executive Club Rooms with access to the lounge. For a long-term traveler like myself, these kinds of luxuries are a rare treat; I really began to feel like royalty when they offered me a cool towel and a refreshing juice to sip on as I completed my paperwork and caught a glimpse of the glamorous 32nd-floor lounge and its sweeping views of the city.
My room was on the building’s 34th floor and while the lounge had provided panoramic views to the south, my window looked out over sprawling Bangkok to the north; it was the best of both worlds. I’d never had much appreciation for Bangkok in the past, but seeing it from this vantage point opened my eyes to its unexpected beauty. 
It was my final two nights in Thailand after two months in the country; it’d been a whirlwind trip full of visits with old friends, blogging events, and rediscovering the city I once called home. I couldn’t have asked for a better way to wind down than with two nights at Amari Watergate Bangkok before flying across the Pacific to meet my family in Hawaii. 
I took full advantage of the amenities the hotel had to offer starting, naturally, with the Executive Lounge. They offer a sort of “Happy Hour” each evening from 5-7 pm where guests can enjoy drinks and a wide variety of snack foods to nibble on, all while appreciating the city views either from inside or from the small patio in the room’s southeast corner.
The next morning I couldn’t wait to try the breakfast buffet, also served in the lounge. There’s a bigger breakfast buffet served on the fourth floor, but the breakfast in the Executive Loung is more intimate as it’s only open to guests staying on the Executive Floors. It offered plenty of variety for my taste, and again, there’s just no beating those views.
Following breakfast, I made my way for the on-site gym, one of the biggest and most well-equipped I’ve ever seen. They even have squash courts and a yoga studio, and a stunning locker room and spa for when it’s time to recover from your workout. En route to the gym is the outdoor swimming pool perfect for taking a few laps or simply cooling off. Pools are pretty much a necessity as far as Bangkok hotels are concerned–there’s no better way to beat the heat.
Lunch that day was at Thai on 4, the stylish and modern restaurant on the fourth floor that serves up the flavors of ancient Siam, artfully prepared and elegantly presented. I sampled a green pork curry served with roti, Northern style egg noodles in curry, and a grilled marinated Australian sirloin steak, all of this served alongside their “4-colored rice” composed of jasmine rice, brown rice, saffron rice and pandan leaf rice. I think these photos speak for themselves, but in case there’s any doubt, everything was delicious!
After lunch, I thought I’d take advantage of the hotel’s on-site beauty services and made my way down to the lobby to the Breeze Salon for a fresh manicure (I like to indulge in these services in Thailand because they cost just a fraction of what they would back home). Looking and feeling good, I popped back up to my room to spend the rest of the afternoon working, taking breaks frequently to admire my view. 
In the early evening, I left the hotel briefly to meet a friend for coffee and snagged a cute new pair of sandals on my way back; Amari Watergate Bangkok is located smack dab in the middle of Pratunam, a vibrant shopping district, and I just couldn’t say no to that $8 price tag.
For a relaxing final few days in Bangkok, Amari Watergate was the perfect little oasis in the middle of a bustling, hectic city. I loved feeling like royalty for a couple of days and having everything I needed right at my fingertips.
Have you been to Bangkok? Do you love it, hate it, or fall somewhere in between?
I enjoyed this stay as a guest of Amari Watergate Bangkok; all opinions are my own.
