A CITY GETAWAY

De-stress at Centara Grand at CentralWorld

Travelling to a nearby province for a beach or a tranquil mountain stay is great, but just staying in the city offers as much as all the trappings of a getaway. Maybe you just want to stay within the confines of the hotel to relax and enjoy what they have to offer rather than go out exploring while huffing in a mask. If a wonderful city staycation is what you’re after then Centara Grand at CentralWorld’s “The Place to Be” package has pretty much everything you need.

FIRST IMPRESSIONS

Centara Grand at CentralWorld’s access from the mall can be a little tricky to find. But once you find it on the seventh floor at the supermarket, you’ll find that you still have to take an elevator up to 23rd floor to the hotel lobby. If you haven’t already guessed, the hotel is pretty high up. Upon check-in, I was told that I would be staying on the 50th floor, the highest floor that rooms are on, which just meant a fantastic and far-reaching view of the city. From the window, you can see the nearby Siam Paragon and MBK malls, as well as Silom and the Mahanakorn building. But the view is only one of the few things I enjoyed.

STAYING IN

You have a few choices in rooms with the package and you can choose according to how many guests there are; be it yourself or with a family of four. I stayed in a Club Deluxe King, which was extremely spacious and could easily accommodate two people. There’s a couch with a small table, which is perfect since you’ll have a B1,000 daily credit you can use for food and beverages — space for when you order room service. The bathroom is incredibly roomy with a bathtub that’s practically begging you to spend some time in it while sipping a drink and playing jazz. Yes, there are speakers connected to the TV in the bathroom so you can connect your phone via Bluetooth to the TV. Plus, if you’re a stickler for good shower pressure like I am, I’m happy to report that their rainfall shower does the job. Plus, the shower has ample space for you to do your Blackpink choreography. I’m sure I’m not alone in doing that, right?

The B1,000 daily credit should be enough to enjoy the fantastic food on offer. The easiest option is to order in, and there’s nothing like ordering a plate of pancakes in the middle of the afternoon to make you feel like the king/queen of the world. But there are also a number of dining establishments within the hotel. If you check in on a Friday, head over to Ventisi where they have the special “TGIFoie Gras” buffet dinner, which not only serves a number of mouthwatering dishes but also gives you a selection of truffle dishes to feast on. Trust me, fries with truffle dip with foie gras and steak are a great combo. They also have other international dishes, a number of seafood selections and a great number of desserts though one thing you definitely shouldn’t miss is their truffle ice cream. Weird? Sure. Does it work? Most definitely.

Aside from Ventisi, you can also head over to Dynasty for a sumptuous all-you-caneat dim sum lunch. Their dim sum menu is wide and varied whether it’s salmon, shrimp or even something sweet like their chocolate-filled steamed buns. It’s impossible not to be full afterwards since you also get your choice of noodles or rice, dessert and an appetiser along with the unlimited dim sum. Finally, you can also head over to Red Sky Restaurant for a dinner with a view. Protip: give them a call and ask when it’s possible to sit outside so you can dine al fresco and really enjoy the Bangkok skyline. Though do look out for the storm clouds.

The B1,000 daily credit isn’t strictly only for food and beverages. You can also use it for spa treatments so book yourself a Thai or foot massage. The question is whether you want to spend your credit on spa treatments or food.

THE VERDICT

Centara Grand at CentralWorld’s “The Place to Be” package has everything you need for a fabulous staycation: a relaxing and spacious room where you can chill to your heart’s content, a number of dining facilities that offer a variety of delicious cuisines, spa treatments to help you get some zen and a B1,000 daily credit that you can use so you don’t have to worry about spending more. If you’ve got The 1 Card, you get 15% off when booking directly from their website. At a starting price of B2,970 per night, it’s a great getaway in the city.

Bookings can be made until Oct 31 for stays until Dec 20. Visit bit.ly/2YVzyzO for reservations.