Updated 2020: The ibis Bangkok Sukhumvit 4 (formerly ibis Nana) is one of the cheapest Accor Hotels in Bangkok and conveniently close to the all-important BTS Skytrain. You get standard ibis rooms with additional amenities, a full breakfast and good service for a bargain price. It’s not ideal for families though, as the ibis Sukhumvit 4 is located in the Nana neighborhood, known for its naughty nightlife and busy bars. If that doesn’t bother you, the ibis Bangkok Sukhumvit 4 is a solid choice.
Location: I have been to Bangkok many times and have staid at a number of hotels along Sukhumvit – the BTS train is the best way to get around Bangkok and the hotels nearby are the most convenient places to stay. You have access to the many malls along Sukhumvit road, countless restaurants, bars and shops. You can get to the airport by train in about 1h, roughly the same by taxi depending on traffic. Sukhumvit Soi 4 is a bit of a red light area, with friendly ladies looking for company in beer bars before lunch. While I felt safe and had no troubles, it is not necessarily a neighborhood I enjoy walking through on the way to/from the hotel. And it’s about a 10minute walk from the BTS Nana station. The ibis offers a free shuttle that runs every 30-60 minutes to BTS Nana and the friendly driver would even take me off-schedule!
Service: Service was friendly and competent, getting me into my room quickly. The staff at the restaurant for breakfast and the shuttle driver were equally friendly and went about their job as needed. The bell boy was friendly and persistent in finding a metered taxi to the airport, which is becoming a hassle in Bangkok.
Ibis advertises their “Smile Team”, determined to fix any issue you report in 15 minutes – and they delivered: The shampoo dispenser in my room was full, but not working, and they got it done quickly.
Room: If you have stayed at an ibis hotel before, the photos will look familiar. The ibis Bangkok Sukhumvit 4 follows the ibis prototype closely: it’s quite modern and very functional.
like the hardwood/laminate floor and the light-wood furniture, giving it a bit of a Scandinavian feel. The room has universal electric outlets for all your gadgets, a safe for valuables, a fridge and kettle (these are all amenities, you won’t find in most European ibis hotels!). The TV is wall-mounted, but tiny. There is a bench to sit or store luggage and plenty of room around it. There is also a work desk, if you need it with electricity outlets and a desk lamp. The bed features the latest ibis mattress topper, which makes this one of the most comfortable beds in the price category!
The bathroom is also small, yet well thought out. It is all-tiles with accent mosaic tiles above the sink. The shower is in the corner, giving me enough elbowroom at 6ft3, has glass doors and great water pressure. There are shampoo/soap dispensers which some people don’t like. I find them very practical and better for the environment than thousands of little plastic bottles. There is a hair dryer as well as soft towels. Everything was clean and functional – nothing to write home about, but also little chance to get irritated about anything!
On my most recent return visit, the ibis Sukhumvit 4 had added a bathrobe, lotion and dental kits – amenities you usually don’t find in this price category!
The free WiFi internet was blazing fast with average download speeds of 80Mbps. Upload speeds were also high, making this great for streaming movies, web conferences or video calls.
Amenities/Restaurant: I used the free shuttle to the BTS Nana station a few times. It runs on a schedule, but the friendly driver volunteered to take me even off-schedule once! It’s convenient in the heat, but it can get bogged down in traffic during rush hour
There is a lobby area to hang out and you’ll find a small bar next to it. I had breakfast included in my rate, but it is worth the small price. I give credit to the French ownership for the butter and chocolate croissants, baguette and French toast. There are also hot Western and Asian food offerings, juices, coffee, tea, fresh fruit & yogurt and cornflakes. You should be able to find something to your liking. The quality and variety of items are much better than I expected at this price point.
Value & Rewards: I most recently booked the ibis Bangkok Sukhumvit 4 at a member rate of $37/night, including breakfast. I earned 8.7% in Accor ALL reward points as an Accor ALL Platinum member and 3 points/$ for paying with my Citibank Prestige card.
As a Platinum member, I received a “preferred” room on a high floor, but all the rooms are otherwise the same. I also found a fruit plate as a welcome amenity, received a voucher for a free drink at the bar and the offer of a late check-out, which was welcome but not needed on this trip. I’d consider the elite treatment to be very good and in line with what the program promises.
Bottomline: The ibis Bangkok Sukhumvit 4 is another solid execution of the ibis template, basic without any serious flaws, making for a good and uneventful stay. You get a modern, functional and comfortable room with better amenities than usual for the ibis brand. The location along Sukhumvit, close to the BTS Skytrain is convenient, even though the neighborhood is less than ideal. While I like the ibis Siam better, it’s usually significantly more expensive, making the ibis Sukhumvit the bargain choice!