The rooms are air conditioned and include a flat-screen TV, an alarm clock and a desk. Each provide a DVD player, a bathtub and a telephone.

Skyscrapers provide a twinkling backdrop to the poolside bar come dusk at the Anantara Siam Bangkok, in the heart of the Ratchaprasong district. Inside, expect silk murals, frescoed ceilings, three restaurants and spacious rooms. The hotel’s Sunday brunch is popular with Bangkokians and should be booked ahead.

The elegant lobby sets the tone of the public areas, with delicate silk murals, frescoed ceiling and marble staircase. The open-air Parichart Court, with its upmarket boutiques and a range of dining options, has a more relaxed feel. When the hotel was built, its nine storeys were considered distinctly high-rise; today, the rear of the building is dwarfed by genuine skyscrapers, which at dusk provide a twinkling backdrop to a cocktail by the generous-sized pool (a rarity for Bangkok hotels).

Dining options include Madison, a sophisticated steakhouse offering Wagyu beef on its predominately surf-and-turf menu; Shintaro, specialising in sushi and sashimi dishes; and Spice Market, for traditional Thai dishes. The hotel’s Sunday brunch is popular with Bangkokians and should be booked at least a fortnight in advance. The excellent breakfast buffet caters to both European and Thai guests’ tastes.