Why You Should Head to the Heart of Bangkok for a Luxury Getaway for the Entire Family

HIDDEN IN THE HEART OF BANGKOK, shielded by verdant trees and iconic malls, is a luxury resort that offers the best of both worlds: immediate access to urban convenience and a lush and serene bolthole to get away from it all. It’s a place with enough excellent dining options, wellness experiences, and immersive children’s activities for the entire family to be entertained on property for an entire staycation weekend (or more!), yet literally attached to Siam Paragon mall, with walking access to the BTS Skytrain and a plethora of the buzzing sights and locations visitors to Bangkok came to explore, if your goal is getting out there and amongst it. It’s a place you’ll want to return to over and over again, to re-experience favorite treats and to discover new ones. Trust us: we have.

We’re talking about Siam Kempinski Hotel Bangkok, which we like to consider our own personal manse in the middle of the Thai capital. How do you make a regal and gilded property of one of the world’s most historic hotel brands approachable and warm? It all comes down to service—smooth, personable, indulgent and intuitive. And Siam Kempinski is particularly attentive to the little ones.

Upon check-in we are greeted by a Lady in Red (they’ve recently introduced Gentlemen in Red, too) who escorts us to our two-bedroom animal-themed family suite. So glad we’d kept it as surprise for the kids, because when they open the door and see the loft beds and tigers happily prowling across the walls and carpets, they roar with delight! They’re the queens of the jungle!

Our Lady in Red shares the hours for cocktails and canapes in the top-floor lounge that affords great views of the lavender and inky dusky skyline, confirms our reservation for Sunday brunch at ALATi, and hands each of the girls their own playtime map. These really are their tickets to making the hotel home, offering a journey to five fun points throughout the property where they can collect prizes and stamps, and also giving them exclusive shopping and entertainment privileges—which really are just as much gifts to us parents as the kids.

Oh, how they adore putting on pretty dresses for afternoon tea in the lobby among the fancy chattering ladies. But what proves even more exciting for our five-year-old is the graceful harpist in her beautiful ball gown, who warmly shows her the pedals and the strings between pieces.

Gratitude also due to my wonderful husband, who takes our daughters to the Kids’ Club when I head off the spa. More aspects of Siam Kempinski that are resort-like are these two oases—one for calming rejuvenation and the other for more exuberant juveniles. While I am indulging in a Winter Warming Energizing massage that soothes my joints and Collagen Forever Young facial, my children are jumping in the ball pit and doing arts and crafts. High-tech creative arts, too: the Kids’ Club has a mesmerizing program where the kiddos make drawings of a certain theme, buses and cars for example, which the staff scan and they appear on a huge screen animated for the entire day. It’s like seeing your dreams come to life.

For dinner, my husband and I are excited for Sra Bua by Kiin Kiin, the Michelin-starred restaurant tucked in the middle of the hotel. Upon entering we are transported to glamorous, romantic old-world Thailand, a luxurious dining space where we’re surrounded by dark wood, gold-accented art, lush, rich violet and other regal colors and textures. We toast to our family with Champagne and ease into the meal, as our waiter brings a series of small bites to the aperitivo area by the lotus ponds before we move to our table and our sumptuous tasting menu of deconstructed Thai cuisine reconceptualized for modern senses by acclaimed Danish chef Henrik Yde-Anderson.

Sunday morning calls for breakfast poolside, so we can all take advantage of the great weather and huge water-and-tree-filled central courtyard. The girls have pancakes and eggs in their bathing suits and bathrobes so they can get into the water quickly. On another visit, we stay in a duplex pool-access suite, and the girls LOVE plunging into the water from our private porch. The lagoon pool is a bit deep for our five-year-old to stand up in by herself, but this makes for a great opportunity to practice her swimming and in just one weekend she learns to hold her breath under water for two full strokes. Our two-year-old, meanwhile, is happily occupied in the shallow splash pool nearby. While splashing around with our children, at least one always in waterwings, we nonetheless find it reassuring to look up and see friendly lifeguards everywhere, not to mention waiters bringing tropical cocktails and comfort food. Highly recommend an East-meets-West combo of the fish and chips plus the kra pow gai (chicken stir-fried with chili and basil).

Today, however, it’s back to the suite to shower and change for Sunday brunch, one of the longest in Bangkok. The combination of a la carte plates including a decadent seafood platter, the open kitchen where you can see all the chefs clattering away, and the lengthy dessert buffet that makes our girls’ eyes go wide is pretty great entertainment. Then a smiling server rolls the cheese cart up to our table and it’s excitement overload with all the options to taste with figs and berries and artisanal honey. It’s never too early to start them gourmet, we say.  

www.kempinski.com/en/siam-hotel

Deluxe Room inclusive of breakfast for up to 2 persons, from THB 16,090++
Two Bedroom Theme Family Suite inclusive of breakfast and Executive Lounge access for up to 2 adults and 2 children, from THB 36,500++ 
Sunday Brunch at ALATi THB 3,400++ per person

Article sponsored by Siam Kempinski Hotel Bangkok.
Images courtesy of Siam Kempinski Hotel Bangkok.

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