Our recent stay at Capella Bangkok was pleasant in many ways and the property itself is beautiful, the staff are genuinely friendly, and the facilities are excellent. However, a few service and operational issues unfortunately took away from what could have been an outstanding experience.
Before our stay, I had contacted the hotel to confirm whether I could use Discovery Dollars (part of the GHA Discovery loyalty program) for payment. I was told this would be possible. Upon arrival, I was informed that only a partial payment could be made that way. That was fine and understandable, but it would have been helpful if this had been clearly communicated upfront, especially for a property of this level.
In the same pre-arrival correspondence, the hotel reminded me that there would be an extra charge for my six-year-old daughter’s bed and that her breakfast would not be included, though ours would. While I understand policy and revenue structures, it did feel a bit transactional and impersonal to lead with extra charges before we had even arrived, not the warmest first impression.
The second night of our stay was particularly disappointing. A large birthday event took place outside, complete with amplified speeches and loud music well into the evening. Every word was clearly audible from our room. I called reception, was told a manager would return my call, but never heard back. About an hour later, after calling again, I was told they had requested the volume be reduced. It seemed incongruous with the serene, five-star experience one expects from a leading luxury property.
Communication around our departure also felt somewhat excessive. I had already informed the staff at check-in that we would be checking out early, yet was asked the same question twice more, received a letter under the door about it, and another reminder by email. The repeated emphasis on our departure created an unnecessary sense of being hurried along rather than being valued guests.
Finally, on the last day, we received a bill showing charges of over 13,000 THB for excursions we had not taken. When I called reception, I was asked twice if I was sure we hadn’t gone on any excursions. Eventually, I was told it was a system error and the charges would be removed. While mistakes happen, such an error at this level of hotel undermines confidence in the overall attention to detail.
To be fair, the property itself is beautiful, the riverside setting is tranquil, and the team members are warm and polite. But for a hotel that was recently ranked among the top in the world, the experience fell short of that reputation. We’ve stayed in several of the world’s leading hotels in recent years, and Capella Bangkok, while good, would not make our top five.
With a little more consistency, better communication, and genuine attentiveness to guest experience beyond procedure, Capella Bangkok could live up to its extraordinary reputation. For now, it remains a lovely hotel that needs a bit more polish to truly stand among the best.