Royal Orchid Sheraton Bangkok Review: Is This the Best River Hotel for Families?

Bangkok can feel overwhelming with kids, so choosing the right hotel matters more than it does in many other cities. We wanted somewhere that made sightseeing easy, gave us space to relax after busy days exploring and didn't require multiple transport changes every time we left the hotel.

Quick Answer: Is the Royal Orchid Sheraton Bangkok Good for Families?

Yes. If you're looking for a family-friendly Bangkok river hotel with easy access to the city's major attractions, the Royal Orchid Sheraton Bangkok Hotel is a strong choice. Its riverside location, direct river boat access, family-friendly pool areas and free shuttle to ICONSIAM made it a practical base for exploring Bangkok with our 8-year-old son, Joshua.

This review is for families deciding where to stay in Bangkok. I'll cover the rooms, pools, location, transport links, food, family facilities and whether I think it's worth booking over some of Bangkok's newer hotels.

If you're planning your Bangkok itinerary, I’d also recommend: Bangkok With Kids: A 3-Day Family Itinerary That Actually Works

Just a quick note: some links throughout this guide are affiliate links. This doesn't affect the price you pay, and we only recommend hotels and travel services we'd happily use ourselves.

Should Families Stay at the Royal Orchid Sheraton?

I think the answer depends on what you're looking for. If you want ultra-modern luxury, Bangkok has newer and more design-focused hotels. If you want a hotel that makes exploring Bangkok with kids easier, the Royal Orchid Sheraton gets a lot right.

The hotel sits on the banks of the Chao Phraya River, directly opposite ICONSIAM and within easy reach of many of Bangkok's most famous attractions. While you won't be able to walk to places like the Grand Palace or Wat Arun, that's actually fairly typical in Bangkok. What matters is how easily you can get around, and this is where the location works particularly well for families.

Rather than spending hours sitting in Bangkok traffic, you can simply hop on a river boat and travel between many of the city's main sights. For Joshua, the boat journeys became part of the adventure rather than just another form of transport, which made sightseeing much more enjoyable.

What worked best for us was:

• Excellent riverfront location

• Easy access to Bangkok's river boat network

• Comfortable family-sized rooms

• Swimming pools for downtime

• Regular shuttle access to ICONSIAM

• Plenty of dining options nearby

The area also felt safe, easy to navigate and well connected. Having ICONSIAM just across the river was a bigger advantage than we expected, giving us easy access to restaurants, air-conditioned space and familiar food options whenever we wanted a break from sightseeing.

It felt less like a luxury resort and more like a practical family base that helped us enjoy Bangkok without constantly worrying about transport. For a family city break, that's exactly what we needed.

Rooms & River Views: Why I'd Recommend a Riverfront Room

We stayed in a riverfront room, and if your budget allows, I'd prioritise one. Looking out across the Chao Phraya River towards ICONSIAM, there was always something happening outside. River ferries, dinner cruises and longtail boats passed throughout the day, and Joshua spent a surprising amount of time watching the river traffic from the window. It gave the room a genuine sense of place and reminded us we were in Bangkok rather than just another international hotel chain.

The room itself was a good size for a family of three. There was enough room for luggage and room to move around without constantly being in each other's way.

The rooms have clearly been updated over the years but aren't trying to compete with Bangkok's newest luxury hotels. The décor is comfortable rather than cutting-edge, but everything felt clean, well maintained and functional. We had comfortable beds, a decent-sized bathroom, plenty of storage and enough charging points for the inevitable collection of family travel gadgets.

For families, I think that's the key point. These aren't the most luxurious rooms in Bangkok, but they are comfortable, spacious enough for a family stay and, with a river view, provide one of the best outlooks you'll find in this part of the city. For a sightseeing-focused Bangkok trip, they worked perfectly as a base between adventures.

If you'd like to compare room types, see what's included and check whether a riverfront room is available for your dates, it's worth taking a look at the latest room options before booking here. For us, the river view was one of the features that helped make the stay feel distinctly Bangkok rather than just another city hotel.

Breakfast & Food: Easy Options for Families

Breakfast was as expected for an international hotel.

There was a good mix of:

• Fresh fruit

• Pastries

• Cereals

• Cooked breakfast options

• Asian dishes

• Made-to-order stations

Most importantly, there was enough familiar food that Joshua could easily find something he wanted each morning. When you're moving between hotels or dealing with jet lag, having a straightforward breakfast can make life much easier as a parent.

We didn't use the hotel restaurants much in the evenings, mainly because of the location next to ICONSIAM, where there are endless dining options. However, we did enjoy drinks by the riverside one evening, which was a lovely way to end the day.

Location: Why This Hotel Works So Well for Sightseeing

This is where the Royal Orchid Sheraton really stands out. Bangkok traffic can be brutal, and one of the easiest ways to avoid it is by using the city's river network.

The hotel sits directly on the Chao Phraya River, giving you easy access to:

• Wat Arun

• Grand Palace

• Wat Pho

• Chinatown

• ICONSIAM mall

• River dinner cruises

We ended up using the river constantly. Not only was it convenient, but it also became part of the experience. For Joshua, travelling by boat was far more exciting than sitting in a taxi.

There are two main options:

• Local public river boats

• Tourist hop-on hop-off boats

We used a mixture of both throughout our stay. If you're planning a similar route, see: Bangkok Hop-On Hop-Off River Boat: Easy Temple & Chinatown Tour With Kids

ICONSIAM Access: An Unexpected Family Advantage

One of the most useful features of this hotel is its free shuttle boat to ICONSIAM. While that might not sound particularly exciting, it ended up solving several family travel problems at once.

ICONSIAM gave us:

• Easy dinner options

• Air-conditioned escape from the heat

• Supermarkets and convenience stores

• Family-friendly restaurants

• Entertainment when we needed a quieter evening

Several evenings we simply jumped on the shuttle boat, had dinner at ICONSIAM and returned to the hotel. It removed a lot of the stress from deciding where to eat every night. Our favourite part was the light show and inflatable displays that came to life every evening.

We also used nearby piers for our Bangkok River Dinner Cruise, with our free shutting making getting there very straightforward. If you are considering if this experience is worth it with kids, read: Bangkok River Dinner Cruise With Kids: Honest Review

Pools, Gym & Family Facilities

While Bangkok was primarily a sightseeing stop for us, we still made good use of the hotel's facilities, particularly during the hottest part of the day.

One thing I hadn't appreciated before arriving was how large the hotel grounds are for a central Bangkok property. With two swimming pools, riverside gardens, a fitness centre and plenty of outdoor seating areas, it never felt overcrowded despite being a busy hotel.

Family Pool

This was where we spent most of our downtime.

The larger pool has a relaxed family-friendly atmosphere, a swim-up bar and plenty of space for swimming without feeling packed. After hours of sightseeing in Bangkok's heat and humidity, it was exactly what we needed.

Importantly, we never struggled to find sun loungers, which isn't always a given at busy city hotels.

Quieter Pool

The second pool is smaller, calmer and set away from the main family area.

It felt more suited to adults wanting to relax with a book or enjoy some quieter time, although families are welcome to use both pools. Having two options helped spread guests out and made both spaces feel more relaxing.

Both pool areas offered:

• Pool towel service

• Plenty of loungers and seating

• River views

• Food and drink service

Gym & Fitness Facilities

Although we didn't spend much time indoors during our Bangkok stay, I did make use of the gym and was pleasantly surprised.

The fitness centre is significantly better equipped than many city hotels, with a good range of:

• Cardio machines

• Treadmills

• Cross trainers

• Free weights

• Resistance machines

Most importantly, it was spacious, well maintained and had strong air conditioning, something that quickly becomes important in Bangkok's heat and humidity.

The gym also overlooks parts of the hotel grounds, which makes it feel brighter and more pleasant than many windowless hotel fitness rooms. If you're somebody who likes to keep a workout routine going while travelling, it's more than adequate for a few days in the city.

Combined with the two swimming pools, it gives families and active travellers plenty of options to unwind after sightseeing without feeling like they need to leave the hotel.

Day Trips From Bangkok: Easy Access to Ayutthaya

One thing we wanted to do while staying in Bangkok was visit Ayutthaya.

You can do this by:

• Train

• Organised tour

• Private taxi

We opted for a DIY approach using a taxi, which gave us maximum flexibility as a family. The hotel's location made this straightforward because transport links were easy and we weren't adding unnecessary complications to an already early start.

For an overview of how we planned this trip, see: Ayutthaya From Bangkok: DIY Family Day Trip

What Worked Well (And What to Consider)

Looking back, there was a lot to like.

What Worked Well

• Excellent location for sightseeing

• Easy river transport

• Great views

• Comfortable family rooms

• Free ICONSIAM shuttle boat

• Family-friendly pool areas

• Good breakfast choice

Things to Consider

• Some areas feel a little dated compared with newer Bangkok luxury hotels

• It isn't a resort-style hotel where you'll spend all day relaxing

• The design is more practical than luxurious

None of those were deal-breakers for us, but they're worth knowing before booking.

Final Verdict: Is the Royal Orchid Sheraton the Best River Hotel for Families?

For our trip, the Royal Orchid Sheraton Bangkok was an excellent choice.

It isn't the newest hotel in Bangkok, nor is it the most luxurious. What it does offer, however, is something many families need more: convenience.

The riverside location made sightseeing significantly easier, the free ICONSIAM shuttle simplified evenings, and the pools gave Joshua somewhere to unwind after busy days exploring temples, markets and river boats. Combined with the spacious rooms and easy access to Bangkok's transport network, it provided exactly the sort of stress-free base we were looking for.

If you're visiting Bangkok with kids and plan to spend most of your time exploring the city rather than staying in the hotel all day, I'd happily recommend it. The hotel did exactly what we wanted it to do — it made Bangkok feel easier and more manageable as a family destination.

And when you're travelling with children in one of Asia's busiest cities, that's probably the best compliment I can give it.

If you're looking for a family-friendly Bangkok river hotel with easy access to the city's major attractions, comfortable rooms and one of the best riverfront locations in Bangkok, the Royal Orchid Sheraton is well worth considering. I'd particularly recommend booking a riverfront room to make the most of the Chao Phraya views and choosing this hotel if you plan to use the river boats as your main way of getting around the city. I've included a link here if you'd like to explore the available room types and see whether a riverfront room is available for your dates.

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About Plan Family Escapes

We’re a UK-based family sharing real, experience-led travel guides based on trips we’ve taken with our school-age son Joshua across destinations like Lapland, Turkey and India.

Everything we share is based on what we’ve personally experienced — with honest advice on what actually works when travelling with kids, focusing on making family travel easier, more comfortable and genuinely enjoyable.