Over the past decade I have visited Thailand many times and, as usual for this tour, began it in Bangkok.

There is a bewildering array of hotels and accommodations to be found in this city, so choosing one is never easy. Having experienced many, from 2 star to 5 star, one has emerged as a favourite, the Rembrandt located in Soi 18 on the well known Sukhumvit Road.

Why? For a number of reasons...a walk away from famous shopping centres and the overhead skytrain...first rate staff...amenities such as a fully fitted gym...a super spa...outside swimming pool...three great themed restaurants...large rooms with super sized beds...the list goes on.

But the number one factor for me is the quality and professionalism of the staff, many of whom have been loyal employees for many years. The interaction and respect between them and the management is, I believe, the clincher which empowers the hotel to have its guests leave with a smile.

In 2012 I had the pleasure of staying at the Rembrandt Hotel in Bangkok. Then, I was indeed impressed.

Recently, I undertook a 14 day detailed 'Fact-Finding Tour' of Vietnam, starting in Hanoi and working south to Ho Chi Minh City. That tour was intensive and tiring (as I has expected) and so decided that on its completion, I would fly the short distance to Bangkok and spend a few days basking in the 35 degree temperature and preparing for my return to the UK where the December temperature would hover around 6 degrees.

As I had enjoyed my first stay at this hotel so much and had been made aware of certain up-grades and improvements scheduled for 2013, it wasn't difficult to make my choice to be a guest for a second time.

With that 'basking' at the forefront of my mind - once having eaten breakfast from a bewildering array of food items – and it being the first morning of my stay, I headed for the pool, a sweet smelling bathrobe covering my torso and with two, large, fluffy towels under my arm ready to toss onto one of the comfortable loungers.

It was then that I noticed that the very large swimming pool had undergone a major makeover. It had been completely re-tiled with high quality ceramics which reflected its colour through the clear water. Money well spent indeed as verified by the many favourable comments by those with the same 'basking' idea as myself.

The changes didn't stop at the pool.

Now, the hotel can boast two new restaurants. Senor Pico, a vibrant Mexican style one on the 1st floor and the Red Pepper - what else but one serving authentic Thai dishes - also on the 1st floor. Add these to the already popular Da Vinci (Italian of course) and the Rang Mahal on the 26th floor - the most popular Indian Restaurant in the city (if its discerning Indian clientele is anything to go by) - and hotel guests have a dining extravaganza to choose from, all housed under one roof!

Rooms are large by any standards and are accessed by four express elevators. When stepping out on any floor, guests are met with wide corridors, fresh orchid decorations and a soft, quiet ambience that is hard to beat.

Use of computers - set aside in the cavernous lobby - are free to use and Wi-Fi is available throughout the hotel.

From early evening onwards guests are treat to real quality music, not from 'musak' machines and broadcast through speakers, but by musicians of exceptional talent. In particular the pianist displays his virtuosity through every genre and the saxophonist wafts his subtle tones, sometimes in concert with his fellow musicians and at other times as a solo artist. It's really hard to drag oneself away, except perhaps for an hour or so while eating a meal?

Located down Soi 18 on the internationally known Sukhumvit Road, the hotel freely provides a Golf Buggy style three wheeler (with a driver of course) from and to that exceptionally busy road with its MRT (overhead railway) station a minute's walk away.

Once there, the world is your oyster. There are huge shopping malls such as Terminal 21, hundreds of shops and street stalls, restaurants galore, clubs, pubs and nightspots. Take your pick and go with the flow.

One of the Rembrandt's best advantages, is, unlike those of similar class and rating located directly on Sukhumvit Road, that the frenetic traffic noise is not noticeable even when sitting out around the pool....and that is a real bonus, believe me.

The hotel has a diverse choice of rooms with a range of prices to suit most pockets, those at the higher end of the scale (but still affordable) are located on the higher floors where guests are invited to use the Executive Lounge, and enjoy a delightful hour or so each evening sipping cocktails and nibbling canapes (free of course). Oh...I nearly forgot...those rooms entitle guests to take breakfast there too!

Finally a word about people. The entire staff work under the quiet authority of Eric Hallin, the General Manager, while Jamie Miller a dynamic American has the role of Hotel Manager and on the occasions that I have watched him in action, immerses himself in every facet of the hotel's operation, to the benefit of every guest.

This was the second time we had visited the Rembrandt so knew what to expect. We were not disapointed. On this occasion we travelled with my parents in law and my wifes brother and sister. They were blown away with the views from their room and the friendliness of the staff.

The location is very close to Sukhumvit Road. Very good for the ladies who like to shop but not so good for those holding the purse strings! No, that is a bit unfair. The night market is great fun and you really can get a bargain. JUST WATCH YOUR BAGGAGE WEIGHT LIMITS, it is so easy to get carried away.

The Skytrain which goes along Sukhumvit Road has a station conveniently close to the hotel and offers very inexpensive, fast, airconditioned travel around the city.

The food at the hotel is very well presented as you would expect from such a hotel but compared to eating out is comparatively expensive.

The hotel is in a great location close to Sukumvit and a few minutes walk from the sky train and the local train service. We stayed in the cheapest room which was clean, comfortable and spacious, had cable TV and minibar. It was everything that we expected of a world class hotel. The staff are friendly and welcoming, we arrived at eight thirty in the morning and were given a free drink in the lobby bar while we waited for our room which was available by nine thirty.

We booked the hotel via the Rembrandt Hotel website and were given a rate of $US70 per night although you have to add seven percent tax and ten percent service to this. If you attempt to book for further nights at reception you are quoted twice this rate, so we went to the internet cafe around the corner and booked our extra nights from there. One drawback of staying at the Rembrandt is that you can only get wireless internet in the lobby and in the more expensive rooms and it is expensive. If you come out of the hotel and turn left there is an excellent internet cafe with friendly staff a few shops along the road.

There is a limo service available to and from the airport in brand new BMW 5 series cars for 1100 baht. However it is just as easy to get a taxi which costs 400 baht. Make sure that you go to the official taxi desk at the airport and buy a voucher, you don't want to end up in one of the unlicensed taxis that ply their trade in the terminal building. Also don't take one of the taxis that wait outside the hotel they are cheap but they are unlicensed and consequently uninsured. The concierge will arrange a licensed taxi for you at no extra charge.

One bonus for us was that the hotel looked after our bags containing our winter clothes for six weeks while we travelled around the country.