I returned to the JW Marriott last week after about 10 years. Apparently the rooms have been renovated in that time....well maybe. There's certainly a newish large flat screen TV but that appears to be it and the shower cubicle with mould in the grout looks like it hadn't been cleaned since my last visit!

My initial experience of check-in at the club floor was enough to have me searching on the internet for alternative hotels for the remaining three nights of my planned four-night stay but all nearby high-end options were full and I needed to be in this area of Bangkok for a conference.

As the days at the JWM went by I found myself liking it more - the club floor staff were very friendly although this should not be mistaken for professionalism. They did their best to help although several of them had very basic English.

If I have one main grouch it is that, unlike every other hotel when I've paid for and stayed on the Club/Executive floor, I was not allowed the option to take breakfast in the cafe downstairs without paying extra. This was explained when I enquired on check-in and I accepted this.
However, the terms of the club floor perks stipulate that children under 12 are not accepted in the lounge and therefore families with such children must take breakfast in the restaurant downstairs.
Firstly, this is ageist and discrimatory but - at least you might think - this means no kids in the lounge however, on at least two occasions toddlers and babes in arms were in the lounge so the JWM Bangkok wants to have it both ways.
This might seem like a minor whinge to many but, as a vegetarian, there was a very limited range of food served in the lounge. The stir-fry with garlic rice on 10 February was amazing though - a notable exception and the best meal of our stay.
Also, small things like there was no toothbrush/toothpaste or disposable razor in the room puts this hotel more on a four-star rating than a five-star in my opinion.
One last point, if my memory serves me well there was champagne available in the lounge on my first visit but not this time around.
For an overall rating I'd place this hotel at average compared to the other nearby options were it not for the excellent Illy decaff coffee on tap for free in the lounge.

Stayed twice in last six weeks.

The first on December 23 when the hotel was busy with Christmas parties, then again a couple of weeks ago.

Overall it's great value. The room included breakfast for two and free in room wifi - at rather less than I genaerally pay to stay at the Meridien, or less frequently, the Sheraton Grande Sukhumvit, when in Bangkok.

The spa / sauna is an excellent facility. Amongst the best in Bangkok, in fact better than the Oriental and even the Peninsula. I particularly like the cold plunge. Spending six months of the year in the tropics makes being cold for an brief moment quite a luxury, especially after using the steam and sauna rooms.

Rooms are Ok, standard corporate, with some contemporary touches. Nothing to complain about save the sound proofing is not as good as some.

The only drawback is the lack of any real "destination" restaurant within the hotel. The main restaurant is a big buffet affair with a separate a la carte menu. It resembles the Thai air first class departure lounge at Swampy airport more than an intimate restaurant. The lounge bar is an extension of the same.

Valet parking is efficient. More so than the Oriental in fact. Plus they don't sneer at you when the Thai girlfriend arrives in her Toyota, not in a BMW.

A better choice than the Sheraton Grande in most respects. It's better value for sure. Although like the SGS, it's really more business hotel than holiday destination. Stick to the Sukhothai, MO or Peninsula if that's what you're after.

I am currently staying here and have to say i have been underwhelmed. From the outside and lobby your expectations will be high. I am here on business and my reservations were made for me so i am not changing hotels. Each time i have checked in the reception has stated they dont have the type of room i had reserved. Both times they have tried tirelessly to get me to accpt a smoking room. "we have sprayed it so you wont notice". Anyone who is a non-smoker knows that is BS? And, i ended up getting off on the smoking floor by accident once and the entire floor reaks..not surprisingly. When i insisted on the room i booked, and today when trying to check in i finally said...fine, book me a room at hilton conrad, but yiu will have to call them AND drive me over there...magically a room "just opened up". Do not believe a word they tell you. My coworker compplained of mold in his room, and they said they cleaned the filter. He could tell it hadnt been touched. He asked for 2 levels higher at the front desk and thAt manager actually had it done. Exec Lounge looks nice and the food isnt bad...but you will likely end up sitting next to an old wrinkly white guy and his prostitute of the evening. They turn a blind eye to it all and its in-your-face nasty! If you are female, expect to cime second after service provided to the males in the room. The hotel is right next to one of the busiest sex trafficing streets...so unless you're looking for that its a horrible location.

We stayed 4 nights in the JW in a corner delux room with access to the Executive Club Floor which I must stay is probably the best Club floor I have used in 30 years of travel. Great hotel , good location and excellent staff make this a most enjoyable stay.