While the Carlton Hotel in Bangkok is an otherwise beautiful establishment, I had a very disappointing experience with the service. To start, despite my late arrival, there was no valet service available. This is simply unacceptable for a 5-star hotel; valet service should be a given. I did not appreciate having to park my own car and then walk down three floors in the heat. Furthermore, the front desk staff member, Tan Ria Nia, was not pleasant to deal with. Although not rude, she seemed uninterested in her job and made me feel as if I were an inconvenience. Additionally, my room had no hot water, which is inexcusable for a hotel of this caliber. Such issues should be checked before any guest’s arrival.