Mandarin Oriental Bangkok, Bangkok

Having first opened its doors well over a century ago, The Oriental has had a long and glamorous history through its evolution into one of the finest hotels in Asia, if not the world.

A haunt of the rich and famous for many a year, The Oriental continues to cater to the highest standards for an incredibly diverse range of clientele from stopover holidaymakers to kings, queens and heads of state - all receiving the same trademark treatment.

The 331 rooms and 35 luxury suites at the hotel vary significantly in design and amenities, with classy design ethic pervading throughout the property. The hotel is divided into two wings; the Garden Wing and the River Wing. Rooms are categorised by their wing and type superior, deluxe, Executive Site, Deluxe Suite, Authors Suite, Selandia Suite, Siam Suite and Oriental Suite. The suites are particularly popular with lavish furnishings and interiors. All rooms have butler service.

The luxurious Oriental Spa is one of the finest in Bangkok. It offers an incredibly diverse range of treatments in luxurious, lavish surroundings.

Dining is another experience at The Oriental. The hotel has twelve restaurant venues serving a variety of Asian and international cuisines to the highest standards. French, Chinese The Lord Jims restaurant, which overlooks the river, has won numerous international awards for its seafood menu.

Additional facilities are too widespread to describe in detail but include Thai cookery classes, business centre, conference and meeting facilities, banqueting halls, ballroom, fitness centre, squash courts, tennis, sports centre, two swimming pools, sauna and steam room. The Oriental has a fleet of luxury limousines and vehicles to see your travel needs while in residence. The cookery class is particularly popular, and packages can be pre-booked to include rooms and an extensive course.

Activities and excursions available from the hotel are wide and varied. The most accessible are those accessible from the river floating markets, temples and river cruises.

The Oriental thoroughly deserves the excellent reputation it has acquired. This kind of service and sophistication comes at a price, but the fact that the hotel is regularly full reflects the quality which it manages to maintain.