Singapore, Bangkok luxury hotels live up to their hype
Beyond the level of service, what makes a truly great hotel feel so truly great? It's excellence in the details. Pile together enough exceptional touches, large and small, and at some point our impression reaches a critical mass. This isn't just an incredible place to stay; it's among those rare great hotels.

When every room in a 39-story property faces a city's finest view, that's a start. When grand-scale works by famous artists are part of the decor, that makes a certain statement, too. A bedside panel that does everything from opening and closing the curtains to selecting ambient music to controlling the temperature and more – this definitely adds something to those impressions. A marble bathtub for two doesn't hurt, either, especially if it has a picture window overlooking a famous skyline.

These were among the many touches I savored on a recent trip to Southeast Asia that was bookended by stays at two great hotels: the Peninsula in Bangkok and the Ritz-Carlton Millenia Singapore.