Review: Aloft Bangkok Sukhumvit 11

Before catching a flight back home, I was 4 nights away from achieving Marriott Platinum status this year. Luckily, Marriott was running a double elite night promotion.

To take advantage of the promo, I decided to stay two nights at the cheapest Marriott hotel in Bangkok, which happened to be Aloft Bangkok Sukhumvit 11.

Booking (April 2023)

Back in April 2023, Aloft Bangkok Sukhumvit 11 cost between 2,800 and 3,200 THB a night (about US$80 to $90), or 12,000 to 16,000 points. However, since the promotion was only valid for paid stays, I booked my room for two nights at about 2,835 THB a night, taxes and service charge included.

Location

Aloft Bangkok Sukhumvit 11 is located in the heart of Bangkok’s lively Sukhumvit district. It takes around 40 to 60 minutes by taxi from the airport, depending on traffic.

You may also take the Bangkok Airport Rail Link to Makkasan Station (35 baht in 2023) and then a quick 1.7 km taxi ride from there.

The downside of its location is that the walk from the nearest BTS station (Nana) is quite chaotic: a narrow sidewalk, a bumpy floor, and of course the boiling temperature.

However, there is a shuttle that runs from the hotel to Nana station and the Terminal 21 shopping mall, which is very convenient, especially when you have luggage to carry.

Quick tip: This location is not recommended for families with kids due to its “hot” location 🌶️.

Lobby & Check-in

The lobby presented a lively atmosphere, featuring a pool table, foosball, and a Pac-Man arcade machine. With electronic music playing in the background, the ambience is undeniably youthful.

1 / 2

Checking in at the Aloft Bangkok Sukhumvit 11 was simple. Although there was no dedicated line for Bonvoy Elite members, the many staff members on duty kept the check-in queue moving quickly.

What impressed me most was their generosity. My Grab dropped me off at 8:59 a.m., six hours before the official 3 p.m. check-in, and they let me check in right away. They even let me go enjoy breakfast that morning, which is almost unheard of.

During check-in, I was given a welcome drink voucher, which I later redeemed at the WXYZ Bar.

Room (1 King, City View)

Upon stepping into the Standard King room I had reserved, I was greeted with a personalized Thai dessert. This thoughtful gesture mitigated my disappointment over not receiving a room upgrade as a Titanium Elite member.

The room was somewhat small but aligned perfectly with my expectations for Aloft hotels.

1 / 3

Bed

The king bed is accompanied by bedside tables equipped with light switches, a JBL alarm clock, and universal power outlets. (No USB charging ports, unfortunately.)

1 / 3

Seating & Desk

In one corner of the room is a seating area with a small table, designed to serve as both a dining and a resting zone. Adjacent to it is a desk, topped with a quite old TV. (I hope you’re not in Bangkok to watch TV anyway.)

The desk has a panel with universal outlets and inputs to connect a laptop or a USB stick to the TV. A mini bar is also built into the desk, with a pre-filled fridge of Pepsi, Schweppes, Red Bull, green tea, water and beer, and snacks on the desk.

While I typically favour an empty fridge for my own drinks, it’s still better than not having one.

1 / 4

Closet

Next to the bathroom, you’ll find a closet stocked with a bathrobe, slippers and an iron. Right next to it are a safe, a kettle with coffee and tea bags, and a hairdryer for added convenience.

1 / 4

Bathroom

The bathroom is quite simple, with a compact shower booth behind a striped tile wall. The water pressure was good, and so were the Drybar toiletries.

There’s a make-up mirror attached to the wall, which I always find useful when I’m shaving in the morning.

1 / 3

Breakfast

Breakfast is served buffet style at Crave, the restaurant on the 8th floor. (Of course, complimentary for Marriott Bonvoy Platinum and above guests.)

I was really impressed by the quality and variety of dishes offered. It surpassed my expectations and was notably better than what I anticipated from an Aloft hotel.

Here’s what the signs on the buffet listed:

• Eggs: cage-free eggs to order (fried, omelette, poached, scrambled or Benedict), plus Aloft’s signature kraprao omelette, avocado toast and eggs Benedict
• Thai and Asian: a dry noodle soup station (make it tom yum), local soy milk, and a vegetarian pad Thai
• Hot: hash browns, grilled tomatoes, sautéed mushrooms, baked beans, chicken and pork sausages, crispy bacon, parmesan spinach, and Western hot porridge
• Cold: tropical fruit (passion fruit, watermelon, pineapple), a salad bar, cold cuts, cereals with dried kiwi, raisins and papaya, and juices
• Bakery: home-made croissants, cinnamon rolls, marble cake, chocolate muffins, bread pudding with raisins, and soft rolls, hard rolls and soda bread

I’ll just let you explore the dishes in the photos below.

1 / 21

Amenities

Gym

The hotel features a 24-hour fitness centre that’s impressively stocked with gym equipment in a compact space. It did not have a bench press or a squat rack, but the diverse selection of machines compensated for it.

The cardio machines face the windows, and there’s a full rack of dumbbells.

1 / 5

Rooftop Pool

Aloft Bangkok Sukhumvit 11 also boasts a chic rooftop pool. It’s a bit small, but definitely refreshing and offers a fantastic view of the city. (I wasn’t able to take many pictures for privacy reasons.)

The pool deck has loungers on a patch of lawn, plus a few tables in the shade.

Business Area

Last but not least, the hotel has a small business area for guests who need to jump onto quick tasks such as computer work, document printing, or making calls.

It was quite surprising to find an iMac, because hotels typically equip these spaces with slow and outdated computers.

1 / 2

Final Thoughts

Aloft Bangkok Sukhumvit 11 definitely exceeded my expectations as an affordable mid-tier Marriott brand.

Nevertheless, I find it challenging to recommend this hotel to families or couples. In the evening, the neighbourhood transforms into a nightlife hub primarily catering to single tourists. 😂

Would I stay again? Yes, if it’s noticeably cheaper than the other Marriott hotels closer to Sukhumvit Road and the BTS station.

Have you stayed at Aloft Bangkok Sukhumvit 11? Let me know in the comments.