Just came back from a three night stay at the Grand Millennium Sukhumvit. As has been repeatedly noted, it's a very new hotel, having opened in November 2007. So everything still feels (and smells) new.

I've become a fan and would definitely stay there again. The hotel's done in a certain avant-garde style - from the building (which reminds one of a sail - almost like the Burj Al Arab in Dubai), the lobby, the hallways, the atrium beginning from the seventh floor all the way to the top) and, finally, the rooms - without (at least for me) verging on the overly opulent or gaudy.

The Grand Millennium's a city, business hotel. So don't expect much geared towards the entertainment of kids or teenagers. There is, however, a spa, a putting green, a gym and a small pool - though of how much use those facilities are for kids is something of a question.

How are the rooms? Very nice indeed.

The beds are superbly comfy. The LCD TV was large and all the standard audio-visual fare - movies on demand, guest services, the major cable TV channels (CNN, BBC, ESPN, HBO, Discovery, NGC, etc.) - were on offer. The glass topped desk is great. The in-room safe's large enough to hold your laptop, camera, Ipod and all the other things the connected citizen of the world brings with him (or her) when traveling.

The piece de resistance, though, has to be the glass enclosed tub. Perfect for watching TV while enjoying a good soak. (There are Roman shades for the bashful types sharing a room.) And the rain shower. I love rain showers! By the way, the throne room (aka the toilet) is enclosed in its own little niche inside the bathroom. It likewise sports what substitutes for a bidet nowadays. And the towels were perfect. Very large, thick and soft.

All the other standard amenities are present as well. Slippers, bathrobes, clothes hangers, an umbrella, flash light, writing materials, min-bar, complimentary mineral water that is re-stocked daily, a tea and coffee maker (with actual tea and coffee =), laundry bag, and a shoe bag.

The breakfast buffet, however, was just good. Not superlative. (For superlative, try the breakfast buffet at the Shangri-la Jakarta). It was a standard Continental (breads, fruits, cereals and juices), and American (sausages, eggs, bacon, flapjacks, hash browns) breakfast with some Japanese (miso soup, nothing else unfortunately) and Chinese (congee and two types of very plain dimsum) elements thrown into the mix.

The superlatives notwithstanding, a few things worth noting:

1. The pool is tiny. (But then again, it is a business hotel, not a city resort hotel.) In any case, the pool is adequate if all you need is the chance to get some exercise.

2. There is no Wi-Fi in the rooms. For a brand new property, I was hoping they would have extended Wi-Fi to the whole hotel rather than limiting it to the lobby and other common areas. Internet access isn't free either.

3. The tub is great, at least while you are in it. However, the lack of hand grips and the utter slipperiness of the tub's surface makes getting out successfully a challenge.

4. The lock in the toilet (aka the throne room) in my room wasn't properly aligned so that, in fact, it couldn't be locked. Not a great concern for me but it may be for someone sharing the room with someone else.

Over-all, though, definitely one of the best hotel's I've stayed in.

I highly recommend it.