If you are travelling with a group of friends, couples or family you can get great value out of staying at the Ascott. The per room rate is a fair bit lower than a 5 star hotel (similar quality quality accommodation) but the difference is you get an entire apartment with a kitchen and living room. You wont have access to extensive restaurants and room service as you would at a hotel but there are xcellent Italian and Asian restaurants in the building and they will deliver to your door - or order online with Food by Phone - they use scooters to deliver so are prompt even if the traffic is bad. The facilities are extensive and high quality - huge swimming pool, spa, and without question the best gym in Asia (the guys who own it have the distribution rights to a number of brands of equipment for Thailand so they have kitted this place out with the best of the best).