“Even in the world of remote work, there are rankings for which destinations are the most popular among the digital community for working abroad. Thailand has been on the front lines for years: sunny, inexpensive, and with excellent digital connectivity. The country offers everything from beach huts and apartments to hotels of all categories. Seems like it’s time to take another look.” Kai Blocking
Starting in Bangkok: Centara Life Hotel Bangkok Phra Nakhan
I know Thailand well, having been to almost every part of the country, through work and vacation. This time, I’m flying to Bangkok to check out three hotels belonging to a group that is yet to be well known in Europe but is considered one of the largest in Thailand. Centara is owned by a Thai family that made its money from supermarkets and department stores, among other things and, for example, bought the KaDeWe in Berlin.
Landing in Bangkok, the city is as lively as ever, a little hectic, and not as noisy as it used to be – thanks to the many electric tuk-tuks. But as always, there are crowded markets, street food, and people from all over the world everywhere. I check into the Centara Life Hotel Bangkok Phra Nakhon, located in close range to the backpacker hotspot of Khaosan Road. The lifestyle brand is aimed at travelers who want affordable and practical accommodation. There are 180 rooms and suites here, with wooden floors, open bathrooms, storage spaces, desks for working, and plenty of charging facilities. The large flat-screen TV connects to your own computer. In the lobby there is a bar and a café serving breakfast, light snacks, and local dishes. Almost everyone is looking at their laptop or tablet. The Wi-Fi works perfectly, including in the pool area and the 24/7 gym. Ideal for all bleisure travelers who value the location in what is probably the liveliest corner of Bangkok and the proximity to the Royal Palace more than ultra-chic furnishings.
Colonial charm and beach feeling
I experience a completely different kind of remote work in Hua Hin, about a two-hour drive southwards away from Bangkok. The king’s summer residence is Thailand’s oldest seaside resort. Since 1921, the railway line from Bangkok to Singapore has run through here. And because the journey was still very arduous at that time, a hotel was built in Hua Hin for weary travelers. The legendary Railway Hotel is now the Centara Grand Beach Resort Hua Hin, with huge gardens, a private beach section and casual service. German hotel manager Jan Weisheit is currently tredding the thin line of guest experience and renovations. By 2027, the three historic wings will be restored and new luxury villas will be erected on the beach.
Until everything is finished, you can choose between the old, playful rooms or the already completed versions in the renovated area. Because I like patina, I take an old room with a view of the garden and the sea. The wood on the floor and walls shines, the veranda is large, the seating furniture appears heavy and dark, with a free-standing desk in the middle. The internet and the air conditioning work better throughout the complex than on Deutsche Bahn trains – including special workspaces such as the benches in the park with giant hedges sculpted into animals. You can even walk through an elephant-hedge. They say it brings good luck and that’s certainly one reason why there are so many long-term guests here, many of whom you see working.
The breakfast in the historic hall with many souvenirs from the 1920s is magnificent. And definitely worth a visit is the Hagi restaurant: modern Japanese cuisine, sushi & co. with a view of the evening live about in Hua Hin.
Pure bleisure on the roof
CRU Champagne Bar at Red Sky, Centara Grand at CentralWorld
I now return from the quiet beach in Hua Hin to bustling Bangkok – to Central World, the largest convention, shopping- and hotel-center in Southeast Asia. The reception of the Centara Grand & Bangkok Convention Centre at Central World is located on the 23rd floor. From there, there are over 30 floors located above, plus spectacular rooftop restaurants and bars. I am here for a tourism trade fair, so it’s a classic business stay. The 565 rooms are not a Thai dream, but rather a classic business promise with plenty of space, woodwork, a desk for working and lots of charging options. WI-FI works great throughout the complex and the wide range of amenities allows you to make the most of your time before and after work.
The 25-meter outdoor pool, for example, is open from 6 a.m. The lounge for guests staying in the club rooms on the 51st floor is an oasis of calm, offering breakfast, snacks, afternoon tea, and cocktails, along with with a view over Bangkok. Here, I always find a quiet area to work or make calls. It doesn’t get any better than this, right? At least even higher.
If you google spectacular rooftop bars in Bangkok, you’ll inevitably end up here: a four-story restaurant-bar combination that puts the Asian metropolis at your feet. On the 54th floor, Uno Mas invites you to enjoy Spanish tapas. On the 55th and 56th floors, I see red: the Red Sky Restaurant brings together European cuisine and world tour worth of drinks. From now on, you should be able to cope with heights and have a sweet tooth – Cocoa XO combines chocolate and selected cognac. How weird is that? The summit is situated on the 59th floor: the champagne bar with a 360-degree panoramic view of Bangkok. Pure bleisure – lots of business with lots of leisure and a little touch of the stars.
“MICE is more and more turning to bleisure”
Since 2023, a German hotel veteran has been responsible for the development of the Thai hotel company: Michael Henssler, former China boss of Kempinski and COO of Centara Hotels & Resorts. We spoke to him about more diversity for bleisure travelers.
Michael, what are your goals with Centara? Which target groups are you trying to reach out to?
We are already very well known in Asia. But we want to grow internationally – with our new premium brand Centara Reserve, with the lifestyle brands Life and Cosi, and in the future also with residences.
We currently have 55 hotels with 35 more planned. We just opened hotels in the Maldives and Nepal, and new hotels are coming in Osaka, Qatar and China, followed by Europe. We offer a wide range of options: we focus on hotels for luxury fans and fans of modern Asian design, bleisure travelers who combine business and leisure, and remote workers who travel the world as digital nomads.
Are you currently renovating a lot in the luxury sector in Thailand?
Yes, at the end of 2026, the completely renovated Grand Beach Resort & Villas will open as a reserve on the island of Krabi. The Railway Hotel in Hua Hin is also getting an upgrade with 70 new villas and a lifestyle hotel. On Samui, we are delighted to already be among the top 3 with the first Centara Reserve on the market.
How important are Wi-Fi and work facilities during stays?
In addition to cuisine, wellness, and relaxation, we strongly focus our hotels on digital accessibility and services. Work facilities in the rooms, with some movable tables, charging options and of course, fast Wi-Fi are absolutely essential for us. The latter should not only work in the room, but everywhere, including the pool.
How is the traditional MICE (Meetings Incentives Conventions Events) business developing?
We are seeing a strong demand for big events at our larger convention hotels in Bangkok – but with a combination of leisure elements. Exotic destinations such as the Maldives are increasingly being booked for conferences and incentives. MICE is therefore turning more and more to bleisure.
Why aren’t Centara Hotels affiliated with a hotel loyalty program?
We have our own program, CentaraThe1, which allows you to earn points at all hotels who are part of the group. In the future, this will also be possible at all other outlets owned by our owner, the Central Group, e.g., at KaDeWe in Berlin, Alsterhaus in Hamburg, Selfridges in London, or Rinascente in Italy.
Thank you very much for talking to us, Michael!
Kai Böcking …
… was impressed by how naturally the topic of work/work opportunities is a focus in hotels in Thailand. The country, and Bangkok in particular, are, with good reason, always at the top of the remote work rankings.
Info Destination/Bleisure Tips
The Kingdom of Thailand is the number one destination for many remote workers. From Chang Mai in northern Thailand to the small islands in the south, it is an affordable place to live and work, with the best Wi-Fi in the country.
population and Location: 72 million, borders with Laos, Myanmar, Cambodia, and Malaysia Currency: 100 Baht (THB) = 2,70 euros Getting there: Bangkok is a popular hub for all major international airlines. Direct flights are available from Europe with Thai Airways, the Lufthansa Group, KLM/Air France, and many charter airlines, among others.
bleisure tip: Wine from Thailand? You can find it not far from Hua Hin, about a two-hour drive south of Bangkok. Wine has been grown in Mansoon Valley since 2001. With the help of winemaker Kathrin Puff, the valley has been transformed into a winery -producing premium wines. Tip: enjoy wine tasting on the terrace with local food and a magnificent view of the vineyards.
Advertorial
Thailand Travel Info
Take advantage of the low season in Thailand
May to October is the green season in Thailand. Fewer tourists, more vegetation, and still pleasant temperatures. Even though many refer to these months as the rainy season, the showers are usually short-lived and rather refreshing. The low season has many advantages: affordable hotel prices, inexpensive domestic flights, fewer tourists, and plenty of time to enjoy Thailand’s cultural diversity without the crowds. And if it does rain heavily, many festivals in Thailand offer an alternative to a beach vacation, such as the Phi Ta Khon Ghost Festival in June, Buddhist Lent (Phansa) in July, and the Phuket Vegetarian Festival in September/October. Thailand is particularly attractive for remote work during these months.
Further information at: www.tourismthailand.org
