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The MBK Group is one of the latest firms to join the current metropolitan travel
trend with its MBK Holiday Club timeshare offering at Bangkok’s already popular
Pathumwan Princess Hotel.
And if immersing oneself in the vibrant culture and exciting day-to-day bustle
of Bangkok is the goal, it doesn’t get much easier to do so than at Pathumwan
Princess.
Established in 1996, the Pathumwan Princess Hotel is “located in the perfect
Bangkok location,” says Kritsakorn Pratchawittayakorn, MBK Holiday Club’s vice
president. “It offers direct access to the renowned MBK Center, with its seven floors
of air-conditioned stores and street-market prices. Moreover, our guests can conve-
niently connect to gleaming shopping malls, entertainment zones, and other major
business centers in minutes, thanks to the speedy BTS Skytrain system.”
Referring to the MBK Center as merely “renowned” is actually an understate-
ment. It’s easily Bangkok’s most famous shopping area, and arguably one of the
city’s most prominent tourist attractions. And its scale is hard to fathom. Packed into
those seven air-conditioned floors are some 2,000 shops, selling just about anything
you could want. Even for nonshoppers, it’s a sight to behold.
Healthful Amenities
As Pratchawittayakorn points out, Pathumwan Princess’ location is an undeniable
asset. It’s attached to the MBK Center, and an easy walk or train ride away from
many of the city’s other notable attractions. So, obviously, consumers are going to
be interested in the project based simply on its address. For some timeshare devel-
opers, that might be enough.
Not for Pratchawittayakorn and his team, though. They are dedicated to pro-
viding a well-rounded and comprehensive overall vacation ownership experience
at the resort. “No other Bangkok property can connect you so swiftly and conve-
niently to the city’s amazing, not-to-be-missed attractions, while also providing the
modern comforts and wide-ranging facilities—as well as the exemplary care and
service—you expect from a first-class establishment,” he says. “We offer our guests
personalized care, comfort, and unparalleled access to everything.”
Indeed, the on-site amenity list is quite impressive, with the crown jewel being
The Olympic Club, a sprawling fitness center where visitors can settle in for a seri-
ous workout or simply work up a little sweat.
The main room features two aerobic studios, an indoor cycling area, steam
and sauna setups, extensive cardio machines, and a weightlifting space. There are
professional trainers available, and enough organized classes—yoga, step, Pilates,
and more—to keep guests active for their entire stay. The Sport Zone provides rec-
reational facilities such as badminton, basketball, and squash courts; three table
tennis surfaces; an outdoor jogging track; and two rooftop tennis courts.
Finally, there’s an outdoor saltwater swimming pool. Technically, the pool is an
extension of The Olympic Club, and guests can certainly dive in for some heart rate–
elevating laps of freestyle or breaststroke. One look, though, and your state of mind
may switch from burning calories in the water to lounging around next to it—with a
fruity, umbrella-laced cocktail in hand.
Even Pratchawittayakorn understands the potential dilemma. “It is an oasis,” he
says. “Imagine the feeling of sitting on the beaches of Phuket or Pattaya, but in the
heart of Bangkok.”
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PATHUMWAN
PRINCESS HOTEL
For decades, timeshare developers focused on
building properties mainly by the beach, in the
mountains, or on the countryside so that purchasers
could escape from the city. The vast majority of resorts
are still found in these general locales, but there is
an obvious uptick in companies offering an urban
product—for consumers who want to do exactly the
opposite of escape the city, and, instead, immerse
themselves in all the activity and life of it.
BY J.B. BISSELL
RENOWNED
BANGKOK
PROPERTY
Adds Vacation
Ownership