It may not be the sexiest of hotels in Bangkok, it may not be the most luxurious hotel in Bangkok, it may not be the most creative hotel in Bangkok, but it is home! I have been coming to the Plaza Athenee quite regularly for the past year, and I have just got addicted to the smiles of the staff, the location, the ease of access, the friendliness of the people and the great facilities in the hotel itself and in the surrounding area. So even when I am not coming on business I have found myself opting to still go there.
The team, as in any hotel, are the key ingredient that make or break the stay. The Plaza has a great team, that remembers their guests by name, and by preference of morning coffee at breakfast (I don't need to ask!).
The facilities are very up to level, the pool and gym and very adequate and pleasant, it even has a squash court (I used to play but missed doing so for a long time due to non-availability of location, then I find this extra touch an amazing benefit to use whenever I come to the hotel). The restaurants are of excellent quality, notably the Smooth Curry Thai restaurant, it has some of the most delicious Thai food in town, highly recommended even to those who are not staying at the hotel.
The rooms are very adequate, though, if I would also say, probably they would need a bit of a different touch of decoration / updating to make the experience even more attractive and add some more in-room facilities.
The surrounding area is among the nicest in Bangkok, the shopping centres are a few minutes walk (or BTS) ride away, the business offices of CBD are all around in walking distance, and the trip to and from the airport is not out of the way (not factoring the BKK traffic jams at peak hours but this in all towns and more an issue for the mayor of the town to deal with rather than the hotel manager!)
I very highly recommend this hotel any visitor to BKK on business or leisure.