The Emerald is a huge property, with all the facilities you would expect of a big hotel. With its 80's decor and comfortably lived-in feel, its not exactly 5 star; but its welcoming and well located, and good value for money.

Location:
Close to the MRT station, its only 4 stops from Sukhimvit station, which is a good jumping off point for shopping, restaurants, or to change onto the skytrain. There are several girlie bars close to the hotel, which means frequent sightings of drunk male tourists. There are several department stores close by which, while not as fancy as those on Sukhimvit road, are good for shopping when you dont want to venture far.

Rooms:
I stayed in a deluxe room and it was very comfortable. The room itself was spacious, and the bed lovely. The bathroom was huge, with a bath and separate shower - nice to have options. The view over Bangkok was great, espeically at night - ask for a room on a higher floor.

Food:
The breakfast buffet was comprehensive, with Western and Asian options. Food was OK- nothing special. Room service was average too, although somewhat unimaginative.

Service:
Staff were friendly and helpful, although it wasnt alway easy to be understood; patience and clear explanations helped. Room was clean and fresh.

Facilities:
There are several restaurants, and a cheesy bar complete with band. The pool is moderate size,but clean and quite relaxing.

All in all- a good choice at a reasonable price. Just dont try to leave the hotel in the middle of a visit by the Princess as i did - I had to force the concierge to give me my bags and take me out the back entrance (front was blocked by security) to find a cab,or I would have missed my flight!

Have stayed at the Emerald a couple of times in October 06 and April 07 for 3 days each time and this was in a deluxe room. I can tell the reader that I am fairly choosy about where I put my head without being stupid regarding budget. If you want 5 star then go and spend 300usd a night on the Conrads and Grand Hyatts. This is not for you. Likewise if you wish to be in the centre of Bangkok. If, however you want someting that is good value for money at less than 3000 baht per night including breakfast for two then I would recomend this hotel. At breakfast there was plenty of choice but are a bit slow on coffee refills but have had the same problem when I stayed at an Amari. It is just over 5 minutes walk to the subway station (which is exellent by the way). Evening music entertainment in the form of 3 Phillipino girl singers is also recomended. Staff seem friendly and respond to a smile with a smile.

for a rated 5 start hotel this was awful.
The lobby look very fancy yet the 5 rooms that was assigned to us were so awful. They were all very smelly, the bad room =s were so dirty and all the rooms furnitures were so beat up and wort yet tere were fleas, bed bugs and cockroaches in bad rooms.
If this was happen to only one room then I might be able to tolerate and ask for a room change, but all 5 rooms on the same floor ?
we got bed bugs bite all over.
I booked to stay there for 6 days but we ran as fast as we could after only one night.

Booked it for USD65 per night, which includes breakfast. The hotel is generally good except that it is situated in an entertainment area (so when you look out the window you will see neon lights and pictures of attractive ladies) and far from the greater metropolitan area (not even in a Bangkok city map). It being situated in a red light district didn't bother me except that, as an Asian woman traveling with my non-Asian male boss, I got certain stares from male guests when we walk in the hotel which can be annoying. Getting to the city is convenient though because there is a train station a few minutes walk away. The breakfast buffet is superb. There is an extension of this hotel which is relatively newer, so make sure you get a room there and not from the old part of the hotel.