Let me start by saying that I love the Peninsula brand. After our stay here in Bangkok I only need to stay in Manila and Chicago to complete all their locations.
But sadly there is something wrong with the management in Bangkok. Let me explain.
Upon arrival at 6:30 p.m. from our travels in Myanmar I asked the receptionist if we needed reservations for any of the dining rooms and she stated that it was mandatory. She would call & book us a table for 7:00 pm as we were tired and wanted an early night. She said there was nothing at the Thai or Chinese restaurant until after 9:00 pm. So we got settled in and just took a walk to familiarize ourselves with the hotel, missing a meal is no big deal. We passed the Thai restaurant and it was almost empty! Only 5 tables of 2 were occupied. We walked in & were immediately seated, no problem, so why did the receptionist lie to us? We were asked if we wanted still or sparking water and we said, "regular still" and got a bottle. Many places to this at no charge but not at the Peninsula in Bangkok, 2 bottles of water and not a liter each cost us in US$ 16.64 and our shared hot starters only cost US$14.00
The next morning of our 3 night stay began in the buffet venue for breakfast. This was the only place we were told offered breakfast. At 8:30am, it was a mad house, no one to give us a table and kids running all over the place. Finally with a long queue waiting a suit walks over to seat us. I ask not to seating next to screaming kids and he just looks a me. I know then that we should have left and to find a quiet McDonalds somewhere. Never got coffee that I asked him for, and the table with kids was just one of many, a woman on the other side of us just pulled down her top and started breast feeding then began changing the baby's diaper right there in the seat next to her seat. So this is the Peninsula Bangkok that we experienced on Feb. 11,12,13 & 14.
We tried dinner one night at the Chinese venue and again, Food & Beverage did not disappoint with lousy service and questionable behavior. The room had only 3 tables occupied and a private party of 7 but service was a snail's pace. We had our starters and then nothing and then only one entree showed up. I demanded the bill and it had
the starter on it and US$17.00 for a small pot of tea. I refused to pay for it and it was removed.
I complained to the concierge to speak to a F&B manager and a woman appeared and of course "this has never happened before" - "I come from the Chicago Peninsula and we don't get these complaints.
The last afternoon upon checkout, I had issues was an incorrect bill and 20 minutes later 3 people behind reception were playing with their computers but no resolution. Then the head of F&B appears and he too says he is from the Chicago venue and he will look into these issues I had for my stay, but of course that will not help me at all. Not even the offer to pay for an evening cocktail.
So at least in Bangkok I know to stay at the Mandarin Oriental. Management better look into the shoddy F&B dept.