Travel
- Amari Watergate Bangkok. Welcome To The Executive Floors
As the taxi stopped in front of Amari Watergate Hotel in Bangkok, we were immediately greeted by someone from the staff. The man helped us with the luggage and showed us to the elevator that would take us to the private reception at the 32nd floor....
- Cabochon Hotel, Bangkok. Elegant And Luxurious
As the taxi stopped in front of Cabochon Hotel in Bangkok, my husband and I were greeted by a friendly face. We were graciously welcomed in, and before we knew it, we were being served cold coconut drinks. Now just because I was asked quite a few times...
- The Sukosol Hotel, Bangkok. Slick Decor With A Personal Touch
Right from the moment my husband and I stepped in the lobby of The Sukosol Hotel in Bangkok, we knew we were going to have a great time here. But it wasn't until we finally wondered through the gift shop of the hotel and found a CD featuring the music...
- Korstäppan Hotel, Leksand. A Peek Into A Swedish Home
Wild fresh cut flowers, my favorite "I must have stepped into a fairytale!" I told myself the minute I entered Korstäppan Hotel. If only I had found this amazing place before getting married I would have held my wedding reception here for sure. Why,...
- Hotel Orgryte, Gothenburg. Spacious & Welcoming
A few weeks ago, during our visit to Gothenburg, we spent the night at Hotel Orgryte, a family-owned, very comfortable hotel with friendly staff. Location Hotel Orgryte is situated in a very quiet residential area, relatively close to...
Travel
Shanghai Mansion, Bangkok. Colorful and Mysterious
When I travel, I constantly look for inspiration for my own house. Hand-made souvenirs, fabrics, reflections, an unexpected design... But I don't think any other hotel I stayed in ever inspired my as much as Shanghai Mansion from Bangkok. Its colorful interiors, recreating the bygone atmosphere of 1930s Shanghai shaped my dreams, inspired me and amazed me for the whole duration of my stay.
Location
Shanghai Mansion is located in Yaowarat Road, right in the heart of Chinatown district from Bangkok. The street outside is chaotic, polluted, dirty and crowded. Which contrasts immensely with the romantic and awe-inspiring hotel interior. The street outside is hot and sticky. But every time my husband and I took the escalator and entered the lobby of the hotel, it felt like we were stepping inside a refreshing oasis. Every evening the sidewalk in front of Shanghai Mansion is literally invaded by street vendors and a huge food market springs out of nowhere, assaulting the senses. But inside Shanghai Mansion there is a pleasant minty fragrance in the air and the peaceful atmosphere makes you forget about the hustle and bustle of the outside world for a minute. Moreover, it is hard to believe that behind such an uneventful and grey facade, hides one of the most colorful hotels I've personally seen.
Our Suite(s)
Shanghai Mansion took us by surprise from the very beginning. Nothing but entering the reception, we were served cold drinks. Next, somebody took our luggage to the room. And after catching our breath, we followed...
Words can't express just how much we LOVED our suite! We instantly fell head over heels in love with it.
The towel swans and the rose petals were an incredibly romantic detail.
But then there were all the colorful cushions, elegant wallpapers, velvet curtains and the gorgeous lamps...
And the bathtub was simply an idea out of this world...
We actually liked Shanghai Mansion so much that we decided to extend our stay. With one condition - we get to experience one other suite.
The four-poster bed was the protagonist here.
We were in awe of just how different the two suites were from one another.
While the first one was mysterious, with dim light coming trough the small windows, the second had huge windows with views over Bangkok's skyline.
The Common Areas
What is now a unique and elegant boutique hotel, was once a Chinese opera house. The building still preserves the charm and character of those times, while adding a striking personal touch.
Shanghai Mansion has heaps of lamps that come in all shapes, sizes and colors. This is idea number one I want to implement in the decor of my own house. The stunning paintings portraying Chinese beauties were a second idea I desperately want to borrow for my own house. And last but not least, I fell in love with the intricate wood panels. I've never been to Shanghai, but after staying at Shanghai Mansion in Bangkok, I'm sure when the time comes, I will love that city.
The whole hotel is organized around an indoor pool garden and this is basically the first thing we saw when we arrived at Shanghai Mansion. The pool is teaming with golden fish and algae and its the perfect place to relax with a book in hand.
The pool garden can be seen from every floor. And the hallways are beautifully decorated with more colorful furniture and lamps. But what caught out attention here were the many available Chinese table games the guests could play.
Everyone was so nice and accommodating! They even offer a free tuk-tuk service every morning to the main attractions in the city center, which came in extremely handy.
And in the evening there was jazz... In the restaurant of the hotel, we enjoyed the most pleasant jazz performances in an intimate and informal atmosphere.
Breakfast
Every morning we had breakfast in this gorgeous setting... Did I mention just how much I liked the colorful decor?
The painting of the lady peaking from behind the curtain was my husband's favorite. Every morning he had breakfast looking at her. And I wasn't even jealous.
The buffet mainly featured yummy Chinese dishes.
But there were also cereals, croissants, eggs and bacon and other more Western usual suspects. Just to keep everyone on the happy side.
Conclusion
Shanghai Mansion is an exceptional hotel. Elegant and unique, it has a very special and romantic atmosphere, and a very strong personality. Definitely an experience in itself! And though it might be difficult to wrap your head around the idea of Shanghai in Bangkok, well, we loved it and our time in the Thai capital was only enriched by our stay here.
- Amari Watergate Bangkok. Welcome To The Executive Floors
As the taxi stopped in front of Amari Watergate Hotel in Bangkok, we were immediately greeted by someone from the staff. The man helped us with the luggage and showed us to the elevator that would take us to the private reception at the 32nd floor....
- Cabochon Hotel, Bangkok. Elegant And Luxurious
As the taxi stopped in front of Cabochon Hotel in Bangkok, my husband and I were greeted by a friendly face. We were graciously welcomed in, and before we knew it, we were being served cold coconut drinks. Now just because I was asked quite a few times...
- The Sukosol Hotel, Bangkok. Slick Decor With A Personal Touch
Right from the moment my husband and I stepped in the lobby of The Sukosol Hotel in Bangkok, we knew we were going to have a great time here. But it wasn't until we finally wondered through the gift shop of the hotel and found a CD featuring the music...
- Korstäppan Hotel, Leksand. A Peek Into A Swedish Home
Wild fresh cut flowers, my favorite "I must have stepped into a fairytale!" I told myself the minute I entered Korstäppan Hotel. If only I had found this amazing place before getting married I would have held my wedding reception here for sure. Why,...
- Hotel Orgryte, Gothenburg. Spacious & Welcoming
A few weeks ago, during our visit to Gothenburg, we spent the night at Hotel Orgryte, a family-owned, very comfortable hotel with friendly staff. Location Hotel Orgryte is situated in a very quiet residential area, relatively close to...