Bangkok
Thailand


The Experience

Known as the Regent until 2004, this business-traveler favorite was given a multimillion-dollar face-lift following its rebranding. Since the hotel dates to the early '80s and the high-end competition in Bangkok is famously fierce, the changes were necessary and welcome. Today, this lavish, palacelike hotel may be located in the heart of Bangkok's business and shopping district, but with 10 acres of verdant tropical gardens and rooms that feel like villas in the countryside, the Four Seasons has been transformed into a place perfect for anyone needing a break from Bangkok's legendary smog and nonstop traffic jams.

The Rooms

Spring 2006 saw the second phase of the hotel's ongoing room renovations, with a complete redo of their interiors and the introduction of new specialty suites. While room sizes -- beginning at roughly 430 square feet -- and the rich teak floors remain the same, interiors are now swathed in khaki and cream-colored fabrics and carpets, accented by pale wooden furniture, and capped by creamy Thai silk drapery. Local bronze artwork and metal lamps complete the traditional Thai feel. But it's the Cabana Rooms and Suites that offer a true getaway feeling: Ranging from more than 500 to nearly 800 square feet, these villalike quarters with unique Thai statues have private patios and gardens that overlook a lush lotus pond and 25-meter pool.

The Service

A staff of 600 serves the hotel's mostly corporate clientele, as does the well-trained massage crew in the hotel's minimalist Mandara spa, one of the most stylish in Bangkok. Expect typically flawless Four Seasons service with authentic Thai touches -- from cold towels and bottled water to a genius concierge to fruits and snacks in the spa.

The Highlights

With its open kitchen and contemporary decor -- not to mention the finest imported ingredients and the talents of new chef Danilo Alassa -- Biscotti is one of Bangkok's best Italian eateries. And while the hotel is better known for its higher-end dining and jazz club, the breakfast buffet is now the stuff of legend, with every imaginable fresh juice available, from basic orange to pale green kiwi. Like its restaurants, the hotel's spa -- the Mspa -- is another favorite of the local elite, who indulge in the new Spa Suites, with their private plunge pools and steam baths.

-- David Kaufman

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