(I stayed in this hotel as part of a press trip with Viking Cruises, however, all opinions are my own. This post also contains affiliate links, which means that I may make a small commission on bookings at no extra cost)

Here’s my full room tour and review of the Shangri-La hotel in Bangkok, Thailand.

I didn’t know what to expect when I first arrived in Bangkok.

I’d never been to Thailand before and, groggy from the 12 hour flight from London Gatwick, I was grateful to arrive at my hotel.

I visited the city as part of an exciting trip with Viking Cruises, who organised a two night pre-extension in Bangkok before we boarded our ship and set sail around Southeast Asia.

It didn’t take long for us to arrive at the gorgeous Shangri-La hotel, which is just a 40 minute drive away from the local airports. Located next to the Chao Phraya River, the hotel is accurately described as a five star ‘urban oasis retreat’ with multiple restaurants, shops and a stunning outdoor swimming pool.

After arriving we were offered a delicious welcome cocktail by the friendly staff while we checked in and received our room keys. I was allocated a Horizon Executive River View Suite that featured panoramic views of the river.

The room itself was beautiful, with a traditional painting positioned behind the comfortable kingsize bed. The bathroom was enormous, with marble floors as well as a separate bath and shower. It made a wonderful place to relax after a long day of travel or exploring the city.

During our first evening in the city our group enjoyed a delicious evening meal at one of the onsite restaurants, Salathip Thai. I was treated to a fully vegetarian four course meal that featured a delicious red curry, delicate mushroom soup, and lots of veggies with tofu. Our dessert was served in a coconut shell, with coconut milk and water chestnut dumplings.

Entertainment was provided between courses and I thoroughly enjoyed watching the traditional Thai dance. I’d definitely recommend eating at the Salathip Thai Restaurant while staying at the hotel for a scrumptious and authentic Thai meal.

It would seem that delicious food is a theme of this hotel, and that included the generous breakfast spread that welcomed me when I arrived at the NEXT2 Cafe on my first morning in Bangkok. This hotel easily has the largest breakfast buffet I’ve ever seen, with different sections for a wide variety of cuisines.

Local and western options are both available, with the usual full English fare, pastries and pancakes as well as delicious curries, dosas and other Southeast Asian breakfast items.

Other eateries at the hotel include the Shang Palace Chinese Restaurant, Volti Tuscan Grill & Bar, and the chocolate boutique. The NEXT2 Cafe serves breakfast, lunch and dinner, and there’s a casual lounge area and bar in the lobby. Guests also have the option of booking either a river cruise dining experience, or room service for a more low key meal.

Outside of the many fab food options, my favourite area of the hotel was the riverside pool area. Open between 7am and 8pm, this is a great spot for a dip and helped me to cool down in the humid Thai weather. I spent one lovely lazy afternoon lounging by the poolside, reading a book and napping in the sunshine (although please do remember to reapply your suncream after swimming - I was reminded of this the hard way!)

A full spa, fitness centre and tennis courts are also available for guests to enjoy.

If that wasn’t enough, the hotel also has a variety on onsite shops to peruse. I stopped by the lovely Elephant Parade shop, where hand painted elephant ornaments are sold to raise money for elephant welfare and conservation projects around the world. I purchased a set of three elephant statues with lovely floral designs. They made a fab souvenir from my stay in Bangkok!

All too quickly, it was time for us to depart the Shangri-La hotel for our cruise ship, the Viking Venus. I would have been sad to leave but, filled with excitement for our trip, I couldn’t wait to board our ship and set sail around Southeast Asia.

Pre-and-post-extensions are available on many of Viking’s voyages, and typically offer a variety of hotels. As part of their service, Viking offer transfers from the airport to your hotel, and onwards to the ship. Similarly, transfers are also provided from the ship to your hotel after your voyage, and onwards to the airport for your flight home.

In my opinion, it’s so worth booking a pre-or-post-extension if you have the time and budget. Thailand is a very long way from the UK, and it was great for us to have a few extra days to explore.

Excursions are provided by Viking, and we enjoyed visiting the Grand Palace & Wat Pho as part of a tour with a local guide. You can explore independently if you prefer to do your own thing.