Aloft Bangkok Sukhumvit 11 in Thailand [In-Depth Hotel Review]

After an incredible 2 months in Asia, which led me to several new destinations, it was finally time to head back to the U.S. As with several prior trips, I returned to Bangkok, one of Southeast Asia’s most important cities.

I was set to fly Thai Airways Royal Silk business class out of Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK). Since I had a day to spare before the flight, I thought it would be best to have one last relaxing night in the city. However, Bangkok has many great hotels, including many Western hotel chains, so deciding where to stay was challenging.

Ultimately, I stayed at the Aloft Bangkok Sukhumvit 11, a Marriott property in my favorite part of Bangkok, Sukhumvit. The area is known for its incredible nightlife, world-class shopping, and delicious street food.

Here’s my full review and take on why you should consider this property the next time you are in Bangkok.

Booking

Since I wanted to book accommodation with a guaranteed 4 p.m. checkout (thanks to my elite status), I started looking at the chains I was most familiar with: Hilton, Hyatt, and Marriott.

Hotel prices were higher than normal because my 1-night stay fell right during the middle of the Songkran Festival, or Thai New Year. After looking at what properties were reasonably priced and available, I decided to book the Aloft Bangkok Sukhumvit 11.

As someone who enjoys hotels, I was glad to experience another Marriott property. A 1-night stay could be booked for ฿3,430, or about $92, before taxes and fees.

Since cash prices were slightly higher than normal, I compared the cash price to the points price before booking.

Paying Cash vs. Points

While cash prices were reasonable for a Marriott property during Thai New Year, I was curious to see how many Marriott Bonvoy points the room would cost as a comparison. I could book a standard room at the hotel for 15,000 points for the 1-night stay. 

According to our valuations, Marriott Bonvoy points are worth 0.7 cents per point, making 15,000 points worth $105. Since the cash price (including taxes) was relatively close to the value of the points, using points for this redemption would have been a decent proposition.

However, I have been able to get a significantly higher value when taking advantage of Marriott’s Stay for 5, Pay for 4 benefit, where the lowest point-value night is free when Marriott Bonvoy members redeem points for 5 consecutive nights under 1 reservation.

I booked a 1 King Guest room, the cheapest room available. Although I was booking this stay at the last minute, I was hopeful I would get upgraded as a Marriott Bonvoy^® Platinum Elite member.

The room for this April 2024 stay amounted to ฿3,831, approximately $104, including taxes and fees.

I used the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant^® American Express^® Card for payment. The card earns 6x Marriott Bonvoy points for Marriott stays, which allowed me to maximize my rewards for this booking. For this 1-night stay, I earned 1,472 Marriott Bonvoy points, worth about $10.30.

Aloft Bangkok Sukhumvit 11 Location

The Aloft Bangkok Sukhumvit 11 hotel is on Soi 11 in the nightlife district of Sukhumvit. The property is a 10-minute walk from the Nana Bangkok Mass Transit System (BTS) station, which easily connects to the rest of Bangkok.

The Terminal 21 shopping mall is just 1 BTS station away. As I would later find out, the hotel offers a complimentary on-demand tuk-tuk service there. 

Nearby attractions include 3 other world-class shopping malls: Emporium, EmQuartier, and EmSphere.

The Aloft Bangkok Sukhumvit 11 is a 45-minute drive from Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK).

Alternatively, you can use Bangkok’s reasonably-priced public transportation, which takes slightly longer than a taxi. You can take the Airport Rail Link from the airport to the Phaya Thai BTS station. Then, you can change to the Green Line at Phaya Thai and ride the BTS SkyTrain to the Nana BTS station.

If you are arriving from Don Mueang International Airport (DMK), Bangkok’s smaller airport, the journey also takes approximately 45 minutes by car. From Don Mueang International Airport, you can take bus A1 or A2 to Chatuchak Park. From there, it’s a 2-minute walk to the Mo Chit BTS station, where you can take the Green Line to the Nana BTS station.

Check-In

I arrived at the property just before 9:30 a.m. A kind and welcoming bellman carried my bag up the stairs to the hotel lobby.

I made my way directly to the check-in desk on the right. Two hotel staff members were working the check-in desk.

I was greeted by a front desk representative, who welcomed me to the hotel. The front desk agent requested some identification so she could locate my reservation.

After taking my passport, she located my reservation and thanked me for being a Marriott Bonvoy^® Platinum Elite member.

The front desk agent confirmed my 1-night reservation in a 1 King Guest room. I asked if any suites were available — unfortunately, there weren’t. However, she informed me that the hotel had already upgraded me to a 1 King Bed City View room on the 30th floor. I was also given a 4 p.m. checkout.

She handed me back my passport and mentioned that the room was not ready yet, as the hotel had experienced nearly full occupancy the night before. I understood, as I had arrived at the hotel at around 9:30 a.m., several hours before the hotel’s official check-in time of 3 p.m.

The staff member mentioned that I could hang out in the hotel lobby or drop off my baggage and go out for a few hours. After gathering some items from my bag, I handed my luggage to the front desk agent, who tagged it and placed it in the storage area.

After a few hours, I returned to the hotel and was greeted by a different front desk agent. I told them I had already checked in, had been assigned a room, and needed to pick up my room keys.

The front desk representative quickly confirmed my reservation and gave me the room keys. He also gave me a voucher for a complimentary welcome drink valid for a single drink at the W XYZ bar between 5 and 7 p.m.

Bottom Line:

Overall, check-in was efficient and completed in under 3 minutes. However, the first front desk agent was not particularly talkative or welcoming. It was all business with her, and I think a little hospitality would go a long way. The front desk representative who provided me with the room keys several hours later was courteous and welcoming.

Elite Benefits

As a Marriott Bonvoy^® Platinum Elite, I am eligible to receive:

• Welcome gift choice (points, breakfast offering, or amenity)
• Enhanced room upgrade (including select suites)
• Guaranteed 4 p.m. late checkout (upon request)
• Lounge access (when available)

Lobby

The lobby was one long hallway separated into different sections.

The check-in desk was directly to the right of the hotel entrance. Across from it were 2 identical seating areas with a TV media unit divider between them.

The sitting areas featured modern furniture, including armchairs, lounging sofas, ottomans, and side tables. The area had a minimalist vibe to it, with some intriguing furniture.

Walking down the hall, I noticed the baggage storage area in the far left corner.

The hotel’s 4 elevators were across the hall from the baggage storage area.

Next to the baggage storage area was a Pac-Man game machine. This evoked memories of my younger years playing Pac-Man, which gave me so much nostalgia.

The hotel’s Re:fuel by Aloft pantry bar was directly to the right of the Pac-Man machine. More on that later.

Across from the Re:fuel by Aloft, stairs led to the W XYZ bar on the first floor.

Walking down the hall, I noticed this massive shelf displaying various art pieces. An ATM was also available.

Further down the hall, I reached a relaxing lounge area separate from the rest of the lobby. A massive wooden desk with seating for 8 people was directly in the center of the hall. The round wooden bucket-styled seats were incredibly comfortable.

Comfortable armchairs along the backside of the wall provided additional seating.

A foosball table was near the secondary seating area in the lobby.

A pool table was available for guest use, with pool cues in the wall cabinet. A sign on the cabinet said guests could contact hotel staff members for a game.

Overall, I liked the design and aesthetic of the hotel lobby. I particularly liked how everything was separated and had a proper place. The colorful and minimalist furniture choice was also a nice touch. The hotel lobby had a good social aspect and was a great place to spend some time.

The foosball table and pool table were also nice additions. I spent a lot of time playing pool against other hotel guests.

Amenities

The Aloft Bangkok Sukhumvit 11 had several amenities for guests.

Wi-Fi

The hotel offered high-speed Wi-Fi to all guests. The Wi-Fi speed was good enough to get some work done and for light online streaming. The network maintained a steady connection, even when connected to a VPN.

Re:Charge Fitness Center

The hotel featured a 24-hour-a-day, fully equipped fitness center on the 10th floor. As I walked in, I immediately noticed the cardio machines, which included 2 treadmills, 2 ellipticals, and a stationary bike.

The gym had a good selection of strength equipment, including an abdominal crunch machine and a leg curl machine.

A chest press machine and a multi-function machine were available.

Guests could use the available weight benches and free weights.

The gym’s weight selection was good, with free weights as heavy as 24 kilograms (53 pounds).

Splash Pool

The hotel also boasted a large outdoor pool next to the fitness center. The Splash pool was open daily from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m.

The pool was incredibly well-maintained, with landscaping along its length.

Several poolside chairs were available for those wanting to lounge by the pool. I loved that the pool deck offered incredible views of nearby buildings.

The pool bar was near the pool seating area and featured a good selection of snacks and drinks.

The pool bar had a separate seating section with patio furniture for those wanting to eat or drink from the bar.

Tuk-Tuk Service

The Aloft Bangkok Sukhumvit 11 offered an on-demand tuk-tuk shuttle service daily between 6 a.m. and 11 p.m.

The tuk-tuk service could drop guests off at the Nana BTS station or the Westin Grande hotel, right next to the famous Terminal 21 shopping mall in Asok.

I found the service extremely useful when avoiding the blistering Bangkok heat.

1 King Bed City View Room

I took the elevator to the 30th floor and walked down the narrow hallway to my room. 

I immediately noticed the simple, open-concept room as I entered the room. The bathroom entrance was directly to the left.

Straight ahead was a large corner sectional sofa with seating for up to 4 people and a small table. There was also a floor lamp with an interesting and minimalistic design.

Upon my arrival, I was happy to see that the hotel had provided a small, complimentary fruit plate, chocolates, and silverware on the table.

The room’s extremely comfortable king-size bed was directly to the left.

The housekeeping staff arranged a nice welcome message with flower petals on the bed.

The bed featured 4 thick pillows and 2 small decorative teddy bears (which I didn’t keep) placed directly in the center of the bed. 

The bed also had a supportive, padded headboard below a trio of interesting art pieces.

Each side of the bed had a wall-mounted wooden shelf and lamp. The room’s alarm clock was on the left nightstand, where a universal power outlet and light switches were located.

The right nightstand was empty, but this side also featured 2 universal power outlets.

The flat-screen TV was directly across from the bed and to the left of the sofa, resting on a large, wooden, multipurpose storage unit.

The fee-based minibar was in a compartment below the countertop of the wooden storage console.

A decent selection of beverages was available, ranging from soda, Red Bull, green tea, and sparkling water to local and international beer.

The minibar featured a selection of overpriced snacks on the counter, including cocktail nuts, Mentos, and Pringles chips.

The room’s workstation was integrated into the wooden unit, complete with a small desk lamp and the room’s telephone placed on the desk.

Numerous connection ports were available, including an HDMI, USB-A, audio jack, and 2 universal power ports.

The workstation also boasted a comfortable office chair, though it lacked armrests, rendering it useless after a short period of sitting.

After exploring the room, I went to the windows to admire the views from the 30th floor. The room offered a stunning panorama of all of Bangkok. It was amazing to see the city from so high.

I spent a few minutes reminiscing about my first time in Bangkok in 2016 and how much the city has evolved since I first visited.

Bottom Line:

Overall, the room was quite basic. However, it did the job and offered an incredible view from the room. I appreciated the hotel’s effort with the complimentary fruit platter and chocolates. I also enjoyed the flower petal welcome message on the bed.

Bathroom

The entrance to the bathroom was near the entrance to the room.

The bathroom was fairly large, featuring a vanity with plenty of counter space and a massive floor-to-ceiling mirror.

The bathroom featured a deep sink.

The hotel provided 2 glasses and complimentary toiletries, including a shaving kit, cotton buds, a shower cap, 2 dental kits, and Drybar-branded body lotion, which felt quite luxurious.

A separate, smaller, adjustable mirror was mounted to the wall.

Across from the vanity was a massive closet. On the left side of the closet were several storage compartments. The room’s safe was on one of the shelves.

A separate shelf in the closet had an electric kettle, coffee and tea packets, 2 complimentary water bottles, glassware, and a small ice bucket.

I found a hair dryer and a copy of the Book of Mormon in the drawer.

A sliding glass door separated the left storage area from the rest of the closet. On the right side of the closet, I found 2 bathrobes and the room’s iron and ironing board. The hotel also provided 2 complementary pairs of slippers.

A massive wooden sliding door divided the toilet and shower room from the rest of the bathroom. The toilet was directly to the left and was equipped with a bidet wand.

The walk-in shower featured an intriguing tile backsplash with colorful vertical lines.

The walk-in shower had an overhead showerhead and fantastic shower pressure.

The shower was stocked with Drybar-branded toiletries in reusable bottles.

Food and Beverage

The Aloft Bangkok Sukhumvit 11 had several on-site restaurants, ranging from a cozy bar to a full dining experience.

Crave

The hotel’s main on-site restaurant, Crave, was on the eighth floor. You could reach Crave from the guestroom elevators or the dedicated elevator entrance at the front of the hotel.

The restaurant serves authentic Thai cuisine and also features a seafood dinner buffet. Crave also offers a draft beer happy hour daily with dinner.

Breakfast was served here Monday through Friday from 6 to 10:30 a.m. and on the weekends from 6 to 11 a.m.

The breakfast buffet featured a good selection of hot and cold dishes. A large pastry section featured different types of bread and various spreads, including jams, jellies, peanut butter, and honey. Homemade butter croissants, an assortment of muffins, and gluten-free bread were also available.

The pastry selection also included cinnamon rolls, fruit danishes, and banana cake.

The limited selection of yogurts included Greek, mango, and cantaloupe.

Next to the yogurt offerings was a good selection of fruits, including apples, bananas, oranges, papaya, cantaloupe, dragonfruit, and guava.

A small salad bar had several toppings and dressings.

Additionally, the buffet had a made-to-order egg station and a small section offering Belgian waffles and French toast.

Crave also featured a dry noodle soup station. A board had instructions on what ingredients to add to make traditional tom yum soup. 

Lastly, a small beverage station had ice water, orange juice, and fruit punch.

After grabbing a few plates, it was time to eat. I grabbed a little bit of everything and appreciated the variety of food available. The pastries were fantastic, and the cinnamon rolls stood out.

Bottom Line:

Overall, I enjoyed the breakfast experience at Crave. For breakfast, there was a huge selection of food available; everything tasted delicious, and the food was continuously replenished and fresh.

W XYZ Bar

The hotel’s main on-site bar, W XYZ Bar, was on the first level. The bar could be reached from the stairs in the lobby or from the elevators.

The W XYZ Bar featured some vibrant decor reminiscent of a nightclub. I enjoyed the variety in the colors. The bar also hosted live musical performances every Friday night from 7 to 10 p.m.

The bar boasted an impressive wall display showcasing every imaginable type of alcohol.

The bar also featured a smaller menu with food from Crave. It emphasized Thai and other Asian food.

The W XYZ Bar boasted a variety of seating, including plush, rounded sofas, which were extremely stylish and comfortable.

The sofas’ colorful pillows served as stylish accent pieces. I loved the contemporary design elements and overall aesthetic of the couches.

A unique art piece was on the wall behind one of the couch seating areas.

Across the hall from the sofas, more intimate seating included cozy armchairs paired with small tables.

Lastly, another seating section featured these triangular seats. They were not comfortable whatsoever.

W XYZ bar featured a separate beverage menu for those with complimentary drink vouchers (provided to Marriott Bonvoy Platinum, Titanium, and Ambassador Elite members at check-in).

For my complimentary drink, I ordered a pina colada. It instantly reminded me of my time in Cuba, where I had enjoyed these drinks all over Havana.

Splash Bar

The hotel also featured Splash Bar, a poolside bar on the 10th floor.

Splash Bar boasts an expansive beverage menu, offering everything from classic cocktails to refreshing mocktails, along with a selection of sodas and a variety of coffees and teas.

Re:fuel by Aloft

The hotel also had a 24-hour Re:fuel by Aloft pantry bar in the lobby. Re:fuel by Aloft is a self-serve dining concept that serves as a hub for guests’ takeaway needs at any time of the day.

Re:fuel by Aloft featured an extensive selection of snacks, including potato chips, chocolate chip cookies, assorted nuts, granola bars, and packaged brownies.

It also had an extensive selection of beverages, including soda, fruit juices, sparkling water, Red Bull, and Gatorade.

Ice-cold beer was also available.

Re:fuel by Aloft also boasted a huge pastry selection. Options included almond, chocolate, and butter croissants, strawberry and cheese Danishes, and chocolate and blueberry muffins. 

A small selection of savory bites included margherita sandwiches, ham and cheese croissants, and honey and ham and bacon and egg muffins.

Re:fuel on Wheels

The hotel also featured a Re:fuel on Wheels food truck outside the lobby near the entrance to the hotel. Re:fuel on Wheels was open daily from 6 p.m. until late.

Re:fuel on Wheels served currywurst infused with a delightful Thai twist.

Service

Aside from the straightforward front desk representative at check-in, I found the staff at the Aloft Bangkok Sukhumvit 11 welcoming and warm. The team seemed happy and determined to help where they could.

The hotel was extremely busy, so I didn’t expect personalized service. However, the hotel staff went out of their way to ensure I had a pleasant experience.

I particularly appreciated how the housekeeping staff arranged a flower petal welcome message on the bed in the room. The complimentary fruit platter was also a nice gesture. Small acts like this always make hotel stays that much more enjoyable.

Final Thoughts

Overall, the Aloft Bangkok Sukhumvit 11 is a solid Marriott property worth considering for those visiting Bangkok.

The hotel is relatively close to many major attractions, including some of Bangkok’s world-class shopping malls. It is also incredibly close to a BTS station that easily connects you to the rest of Bangkok, and the hotel’s convenient tuk-tuk service gets you to the station within minutes.

Although prices were slightly higher than normal, the hotel provided excellent value. I enjoyed the room’s comfort and the views from the room. The outdoor rooftop pool was a great place to spend a few hours.

I would consider staying at the Aloft Bangkok Sukhumvit 11 on my next trip to Bangkok. Hopefully, the hotel won’t be nearly as busy, so I can get an upgrade to a suite!