Hot Ko Samui hotel deals

August 26, 2008 – 9:22 pm

Remember those movies where people leave everything behind and travel to that amazing island in the south, with clear blue water, pearly white beaches and misty atolls rising up out of the sea just off shore? Samui actually is that island. With some of the most beautiful beaches in the world, this paradise in the Gulf of Thailand is a premier destination for all those who want to get away from it all, without actually getting away from it all.

No longer the backpacker homestead it once was in the ’70’s and ’80’s, Samui has matured into an island destination for everyone. With amazing 5-star properties like the stunning beach front New Star Beach Resort and the elegant Centara Grand Beach Resort, plus possibly the most beautiful private airport in the world, the new Samui is quickly becoming a world renowned resort destination.

But don’t worry, there are still the famous full moon parties of Koh Phangan nearby and cheaper hotels aplenty if you feel the need to rough it, though nothing about island life seems rough at all.

Coconut Villa
96 USD		 Melati Beach
319 USD		 Dara Samui Beach
227 USD		 Sarann
125 USD		 Samui Cliff View
120 USD		 Le Paradis Boutique
264 USD
Chaweng Regent
239 USD		 Bo Phut
414 USD		 Impiana
97 USD		 Punnpreeda Pool Villa
292 USD		 The Kala
103 USD		 Kirikayan Luxury
548 USD

By The concierge | Posted in Beachside hotels, Ko samui, Resorts | Tagged | Comments (0)

Grand Hyatt Erawan Bangkok

August 13, 2008 – 3:11 pm

Grand Hyatt Erawan Bangkok LobbyThe Grand Hyatt Erawan Hotel in Bangkok is one of my favorite hotels in Thailand. The location is excellent, the hotel itself is beautiful, nice large pool, and the rooms are well appointed and nicely furnished.

When you first arrive at the Erawan hotel, probably by taxi, you are swept up the driveway (after the security detail checks the trunk and under your car for bombs (!) ), to be greeted by two large elephants which are the symbol of the nearby Erawan shrine.

When the doors are opened for you, the spectacular lobby will blow you away. It is huge and elegant and really befits the “Grand” in Grand Hyatt. The lobby is 3 storeys high and contains a lot of marble and wood as well as lots of plants and is very pleasant indeed.

To the left is “The Dining Room”, where they serve the breakfast buffet as well as lunch, dinner and Sunday brunch buffets. There is also a lounge area to the right of the lobby where you can meet and greet people and beverages are available.

Workdesk at The Grand Hyatt Erawan BangkokThe 40 sq. m rooms are beautifully appointed and furnished with very comfortable King size beds and comfortable work table with leather reclining work chair by the window. The bathrooms are marble and feature a separate bath and shower. The bathroom is of course fully stocked with luxury amenities as well as bathrobes, slippers, distilled water, bathroom scales and everything else you’d expect from a luxury 5 star hotel.

There were fresh flowers and fruit in the room which was replenished daily. The huge bed was very comfortable and the television had all the satellite TV stations you would want. They will even bring you an iPod docking station of you request it.

A collection of images of the grand Hyatt ErawanClick the image above to see an enlarged version for a clearer view of the rooms and facilities of the Grand Hyatt Erawan.

Although I haven’t stayed in one yet, they also have five 100 sq.m spa cottages located in their i.Sawan  garden. This is what I found out about them:

Each cottage covers 100 m² and consists of a bedroom, living room, spa treatment room, bathroom with oversized tub together with wall mounted TV, rain shower with steam,in-room yoga mat with YogaAway DVD, scrub table for body treatments and private outdoor patio for relaxing and dining. They can be used as a daytime relaxation escape, or for an overnight pampering get-away-from-it-all spa package. Blending contemporary flavours with timeless details, these cottages are a completely unique concept for Bangkok.

They are right by the pool as well, so you could slide straight off the massage table into the pool.

Speaking of the pool, one of my favourite memories of the Grand Hyatt Erawan is sitting by the pool on the teak deck, reading a book and enjoying the Fish and Chips along with one of the tropical fruit drinks from The Breezeway, located by the pool.

The location of the hotel is also very convenient, not only closely located to but connected by covered walkway to many shopping areas and skytrain stations.

Erawan tearoom By Grand Hyatt ErawanUrban Kitchen at Erawan BangkokThere is direct access from the hotel to Erawan Bangkok, a graceful upmarket boutique shopping mall that carries only the most exclusive lifestyle brands. There are also a number of eating establishments on the lower ground floor.

The hotel is also connected by covered walkway to many other shopping malls including Gaysorn, Central World, and Siam Paragon, which also features a new aquarium.

This is one of my favourite hotels in Bangkok, which is just around the block from another of my favourites in Lang Suan, which I will be reviewing next week.

Visit ReserveThaiHotels.com to find out more about, or make a reservation at The Grand Hyatt Erawan hotel Bangkok


By The concierge | Posted in Bangkok, Hotel reviews | Tagged , , | Comments (0)

Cultural Dos and Don’ts in Thailand

August 6, 2008 – 10:15 pm

Elephants cooling off in AyuthayaDon’t get caught out being an ass while you are holidaying in Thailand.

While you are having fun in Thailand, please remember that there are a lot of social taboos that you may not know about that could easily cause you to offend your hosts. Some could even land you in jail!!

One if the most important things to remember while you are in Thailand is that respect for the monarchy is of utmost importance. NEVER say anything that could be remotely construed as critical of any member of the Royal Family. Doing so would not only deeply offend every Thai person with earshot, but could be dangerous to your personal safety and could get you jailed under Thailand’s Lese Majetse laws. The law, expressed in Article 112 of the Criminal Code, states, “Whoever defames, insults or threatens the King, Queen, the Heir-apparent or the Regent, shall be punished (with) imprisonment of three to fifteen years.”

Other things to be careful about are touching other people’s heads, which, even if you touch it by accident can cause offense. The head is considered the highest part of the body and is a very personal space. Feet, being on the opposite end of the body are considered dirty and you should take care not to point to things or people with your toe. Also you should be careful not to step over anybody, be sure to walk around them.

When visiting temples you should be careful to wear appropriate clothing, meaning no open toes sandals and no exposed shoulders.

There are plenty more cultural tips to keep in mind the next time you visit Thailand at Thailand dos and don’ts in issue 6 of our ezine.


By The concierge | Posted in vacation tips | Tagged , , , , , | Comments (0)

100 Best Hotels in the World

July 19, 2008 – 7:32 pm
Luxurious Hotels
Photo Source

Thailand claimed 3 spots in the top 20 of the 100 best hotels in the world this year in the 2008 Travel + Leisure World’s Best Awards.

In the 13th annual poll, readers voted for their favorite hotels from around the world.

Two hotels from Bangkok as well as the Four Seasons Chiang Mai- which consistently ranks in many list of top hotels around the world- not only made it in the top 100 best hotels in the world, but into the top 20, ranking at 14, 17 and 19.

Bangkok also made it to number 1 on the list of best cities of 2008!

Here are the hotels listed in order or their ranking. Click on the links for more details or each hotel.

  1. Singita Sabi Sand & Kruger National Park, South Africa
  2. Oberoi Rajvilas, Jaipur, India
  3. Fairmont Mara Safari Club, Masai Mara, Kenya
  4. Oberoi Udaivilas, Udaipur, India
  5. Triple Creek Ranch, Darby Montana
  6. Oberoi Amarvilas, Agra, India
  7. Kirawira Luxury Tented Camp, Serengeti National Park, Tanzania
  8. Sabi Sabi Private Game Reserve, Sabi Sands, South Africa
  9. Tortillis Camp, Amboseli national Park, Kenya
  10. Domaine des Hauts de Loire, Onzain, France
  11. Alvear Palace Hotel Buenos Aires.
  12. Little Palm Island Resort and Spa, Little Torch Key, Florida.
  13. Hotel Bel-Air, Los Angeles

  14. The Oriental Hotel, Bangkok, Thailand.

  15. Four Seasons Resort Lanai, the lodge at Koele, Hawaii
  16. Kichwa Tambo, Masai Mara, Kenya

  17. The Peninsula Hotel, Bangkok, Thailand

    Pool at the Peninsula Hotel, Bangkok

    Photo source.
  18. Taj Lake Palace, Udaipur, India

  19. Four Seasons Resort, Chiang Mai, Thailand

    Four Seasons Chiang Mai.

    Photo source
  20. The Peninsula, Beverly Hills, California
  21. Hotel Hassler, Rome, Italy
  22. Cape Grace, Cape Town, South Africa
  23. The Peninsula, Hong Kong
  24. Voyages Lizard Island, Great Barrier Reef, Australia
  25. Treetops Lodge & Wilderness Experience, Rotorua, New Zealand
  26. Four Seasons Resort, Maui, at Wailea
  27. Four Seasons Resort, Hualalai, Hawaii
  28. Wickaninnish Inn, Vancouver, Canada
  29. Four Seasons Hotel, Hong Kong
  30. Hotel Amigo, Brussels, Belgium
  31. Hotel Monasterio, Cuzco, Peru
  32. Il San Pietro, Positano, Italy
  33. Four Seasons Hotel George V, Paris France
  34. Four Seasons Hotel Gresham Palace, Budapest, Hungary
  35. Four Seasons Hotel, New York
  36. The Peninsula, Beijing
  37. Auberge du Soleil, Rutherford, California
  38. Four Seasons Hotel Mexico D.F, Mexico City, Mexico
  39. Mount Kenya Safari Club, Nanyuki, Kenya
  40. Post Rabch Inn, Big Sur, California
  41. Four Seasons Hotel Istanbul at Sultanahmet, Turkey
  42. Montage, Laguna Beach
  43. Four Seasons Hotel. Prague, Czech Republic
  44. Halekulan, Honolulu
  45. The Peninsula, Chicago
  46. Four Seasons Resort, Jackson Hole, Wyoming
  47. Grace in Rosebank, Johannesburg, South Africa
  48. One & Only Ocean Club, Paradise Island, Bahamas
  49. Bernardus Lodge, Camel Valley, California
  50. Four Seasons Hotel, Chicago, Illinois
  51. San Clemente Palace Hotel & Resort, Venice, Italy
  52. Raffles Hotel, Singapore
  53. Grand Hotel Baglioni, Bologna, Italy
  54. Bevery Hills Hotel & Bungalows
  55. Four Seasons Resort Whistler, British Columbia
  56. Four Seasons Resort, The Biltmore, Santa Barbara, California
  57. Le Meridian Bristol, Warsaw, Poland
  58. Ritz-Carlton Bachelor Gulch, Beaver Creek, Colorado
  59. La Casa Que Canta, Zihuatanejo, Mexico
  60. St. Regis, Shanghai, China
  61. Ngorongoro Crater Lodge, Ngorongoro Crater, Tanzania
  62. Victoria-Jungfrau Grand Hotel, Interlaken, Switzerland
  63. Inn at Little Washington, Washington, Virginia
  64. Four Seasons Hotel, Shanghai
  65. Hotel Goldener Hirsch, Salzburg, Austria
  66. Tides, Zihuatanejo, Zihuatenejo, Mexico
  67. Kempinski Ciragan Palace Hotel, Istanbul, Turkey
  68. Hotel Hana-Maui & Honua Spa, Hana, Hawaii
  69. Villa d’Este, Cernobbio, Italy
  70. Stein Eriksen Lodge, Park City, Utah
  71. Ritz-Carlton, Laguna Niguel, Laguna Niguel, California
  72. Portman Ritz-Carlton, Shanghai, China
  73. Post Hotel & Spa, Lake Louise, Alberta
  74. Little Nell, Aspen, Colorado
  75. Raffles Grand Hotel d’Angkor, Siem Reap, Cambodia
  76. Royal Palms Resort & Spa, Phoenix, Arizona
  77. Park Hyatt, Tokyo, Japan
  78. Four Seasons Resort, Nevis, St. Kitts and Nevis
  79. Occidental Royal Hideaway Playacar, Playa del Carmen, Mexico
  80. Hotel Bristol, Vienna, Austria
  81. The Dorchester, London, Great Britain
  82. Ritz, Paris, France
  83. Le Meridien Cancun Resort & Spa, Cancún, Mexico
  84. Hotel Healdsburg, Healdsburg, California
  85. Auberge Saint-Antoine, Quebec City
  86. Fairmont Kea Lani, Wailea, Maui
  87. Grand Hotel Quisisana, Capri, Italy
  88. The Westcliff, Johannesburg, South Africa
  89. Four Seasons Hotel, Buenos Aires, Argentina
  90. Baur au Lac, Zürich, Switzerland
  91. Le Sirenuse, Positano, Italy
  92. Calistoga Ranch, Calistoga, California
  93. InterContinental, Hong Kong, China
  94. Hotel Punta Islita, Guanacaste, Costa Rica
  95. Rusty Parrot Lodge & Spa, Jackson Hole, Wyoming
  96. Westin Sydney, Australia
  97. The Cloister at Sea Island, Sea Island, Georgia
  98. Inkaterra Machu Picchu Hotel, Cuzco, Peru
  99. Ritz-Carlton, Santiago, Chile
  100. St. Regis, Beijing, China

Check out Travel+Leisure for the results of the other awards, including best spas, best cities, best airlines and best islands


By The concierge | Posted in featured hotels | Tagged , , , | Comments (0)

20 Thai hotels under $20- Part 1: Phuket

July 7, 2008 – 12:00 pm

There is no need to break the bank on a trip to Thailand. While a lot of people enjoy the luxurious surroundings and facilities of 5 star resorts, some people just want a clean place to shower and sleep, saving their money for other activities. If you don’t have an unlimited budget, the less you spend on accommodation, the longer you can stay in Thailand, or the more money you have to spend on Mai Tais.

We have found 20 hotels throughout Thailand, in Bangkok, Phuket, Pattaya, Krabi and Chiang Mai that have rooms available for under 20 USD. Rates can change throughout the year, so click on the name of each hotel to check availability.

Phuket

image © source

Lamai Apartments. USD 12 per night. Air conditioned rooms with television and balcony. Located at Patong Beach. Airport pickup and drop off available.

Lamai Hotel.  USD 15 per night.  All rooms have hair dryer, telephone, air conditioning and a minibar. Other facilites available at the Lamai hotel include safe box, car rental, salon, travel counter and currency exchange.

Orchid Hotel at Kalim Bay USD18 per night.  The room facilities including; Mini-bar, Safety Box, Internet Corner, Air-condition, Satellite TV, IDD Telephone, and Laundry Service.The hotel is located at the north end of Patong Beach, five minutes walk from Patong night bazaar.

Blue Sky Residence.  USD 15 per night. Spacious rooms with a nice pool, located in the south of Patong beach, a 2 minute ride on a motorcyle or tuk tuk to the beach. The slight distance from the crowds provides a tranquil escape after you days discovering the beaches and islands.

Casa Jip Guesthouse. USD 15 per night. Modern and clean facilities, this guesthouse has received many good reviews from previous guests.


By The concierge | Posted in Beachside hotels, Phuket, cheap hotels, vacation tips | Tagged , , , | Comments (1)

Useful Thai phrases for tourists

June 30, 2008 – 11:17 pm

We have just added a new article to our eZine called  “Useful Thai phrases” at ReserveThaiHotels.com.

There are some great tips on simple Thai phrases such as greetings, as well as phrases to use when taking a taxi or a tuk tuk.

Here are some phrases that may help you get a better bargain while shopping:

While haggling for a price, Thais may be inclined to give a slightly better price if they see you trying to converse in Thai. Why not give it a try?

How much is this?  “Ra ka tao rai?”

That’s a little expensive.  “Paeng bai”

Can you give me a better price?  “Lot noi dai mai?” - The answer will will be “Dai” (can do) for yes or “Mai dai” (cannot do) for no.

If you are being hassled by street hawkers and you are not interested you can tell them that you don’t want what they are selling by saying “Mai ow khrap/kha“. If they still don’t leave you alone you can easily get rid of them by telling them you don’t have any money, “Mai mee dtung“

Read the full article here: Useful Thai phrases for your Thai holiday.


By The concierge | Posted in vacation tips | Tagged | Comments (0)

“Guest friendly” hotels in Bangkok

June 21, 2008 – 8:00 pm

If you are traveling to Bangkok alone and decide that you would like to entertain a friend in your room, you may be in for a surprise at checkout.

A number of hotels in Bangkok, and Thailand for that matter, charge an extra fee for having an unregistered guest visit your room. Mind you, they only charge you if your guest is a Thai national…

One way to get around this is to book for two people at the time of the reservation, however, if you show up with a different guest every day, that may not work.

All hotels have their own policies, but to save the run around of contacting each hotel individually, we have compiled a list of so called “guest friendly” hotels in Bangkok- hotels that, as of the time of writing, do not charge extra when guests bring back a guest of their own.

The hotels range in price from as low as USD37 a night, and go all the way up to international 5 star hotels like The Davis Hotel Bangkok and the Plaza Athanee.

See the full list here at Bangkok guest friendly hotels.


By The concierge | Posted in Bangkok | Tagged , | Comments (0)

Hua Hin Marriott Resort & Spa

June 16, 2008 – 11:05 pm

Marriott Hua Hin LobbyAfter mentioning The Hua Hin Marriott Resort and Spa in the previous post about the Hua Hin Jazz festival, I thought I’d share some photos and thoughts about the place.

We arrived quite late (around 8pm) on a Friday night because we couldn’t leave Bangkok until after I finished work. We were seated in the airy lobby (seen in the picture to the right) and handed chilled towels scented with jasmin and a complimentary drink while the staff got our details and checked us in.

After being shown to our room we decided to grab something to eat at the Sala Thai restaurant. This restaurant, like most of the public spaces in the hotel is open to the elements and the soft scented breeze while we ate, combined with the soft sounds of the unseen beach nearby made for quite a romantic setting. The red beef curry was delicious and even though we were the last customers in the restaurant, we never felt rushed to pay the bill and leave.

Guest room at the Marriott Hua HinBack to room, which was pleasantly appointed, not surprising for a Marriott property. The bed was large and comfortable, with plenty of pillows and a Thai silk bed runner over the foot of the bed.

Satellite TV with all the channels you would expect, CNN, BBC, HBO, ESPN, Star movies, MTV and the like were of course available.

The bathroom was well appointed with separate bath and shower with plenty of towels, some of them folded in cute little configurations, see the elephant on the bed in the picture to the left.

I’m not usually an early riser, but for some reason on our first morning at the hotel I woke up before 6, and happened to open the curtains and was dumbstruck to find that not only was our room facing right out onto the beach, but that the most beautiful sunrise over the Gulf of Thailand was underway and we (well, I), had perfect view from the double sized floor to ceiling glass windows. Absolutely stunning!

Pool at the Hua Hin MarriottThe next morning we decided to try the pool. Unfortunately, it seemed that while I was enjoying the sunrise at 6 am, a lot of guests from a certain European country were busy heading down to the pool to place their towels on the poolside lounge chairs to “reserve” them for when they decided to turn to the pool late morning. After circling around the pool a few times we asked one of the pool staff if there were any places to sit available. He looked around and moved a couple of unaccompanied towels from some poolside lounges and told us we could sit there. About 30 minutes later we were accosted by a middle aged couple who were outraged that we were sitting in “their” seats. Thankfully, one of the pool staff soon came to our rescue and sent them on their way.
The pool is large and quite family friendly and features some waterfalls and a small slide made of stone at one end of the pool.

Overall the stay was very pleasant, the staff were friendly and helpful, the rooms comfortable and the facilities very relaxing. We would definitely stay there again.


By The concierge | Posted in Hotel reviews, Hua Hin, Resorts | Tagged , | Comments (0)

Hua Hin 2008 Jazz Festival

June 11, 2008 – 11:55 pm

Hua Hin Jazz festival

Over the past six years,from 2002 to 2007, Hua Hin (about 200 kilometers south of Bangkok) has played host to an increasingly successful and popular jazz festival. From quiet beginnings, the Hua Hin Jazz festival has grown to become one of the most important Jazz festivals in the region.

Now in its 7th year, Thailand’s most popular jazz festival fills the beaches with crowds and the air with music. An idyllic setting on Hua Hin Beach allows fans to revel in the sounds while staring out across the water. This year’s edition includes a tribute to Billie Holiday late Saturday afternoon, as the sun melts into the Gulf of Thailand. Good music, good food, good weather and good vibes at the Hua Hin’s Jazz Festival.

Currently the schedule for the weekend is as follows:

Friday 13 June 2008
15.30-16.30 Silpakorn Kickin Ass Quintet
17.00-18.00 Zao Za-Dung Band
18.30-19.30 The Hua Hin Music All Stars Band
20.00-21.00 Mansri Band featuring Kop Songsit & Jean AF1
21.30-23.00 (22.30) The Kenny Garrett Quartet/Quintet
23.30 (23.00) - 24.30 T-Bone

Saturday 14 June 2008
15.30-16.30 Air Quartet Band
17.00-18.00 Young Blood Band Tribute to Billie Holiday
18.30-19.30 The Jazz Dojo ft Luk Pad Cholanan/Puifai AF4
20.00-21.00 The Pomelo Town featuring Surachai Jantimatorn “Nga Caravan”
21.30-23.00 (22.30) Denny and Friends featuring Rudklao Amaraditra & Jirasak Panpoom
23.30 (23.00) - 24.30 Mike Stern’s Band featuring Dave Weckl and Chris Minh Doky

The Hua Hin Marriott Resort and Spa and the Sofitel Centara Grand Resort and Villas Hua Hin are ideally located right by the beachside stage, providing a perfect staging area for your Jazzy weekend.

More Hua Hin Hotels


By The concierge | Posted in Beachside hotels, Hua Hin, Resorts | Tagged | Comments (0)

New featured hotels in Chiang Mai

June 9, 2008 – 11:13 am

We have added four hotels to our featured Chiang Mai hotels section recently, covering all price ranges from cosy but comfortable boutique bed and breakfast, to one one of the most luxurious hotels in not only Chiang Mai, but all of Thailand.

3B boutique bed and breakfast Chiang Mai

The 3B Boutique bed and breakfast Chiang Mai is a 3 star family run inn conveniently located 5 minutes from the center of the old Chiang Mai city center and 2 minutes from the airport. Rooms feature balcony, refrigerator, air conditioning, mini bar and TV and pets are permitted! Rates are from USD 38.

Kantary Hills hotel Chiang Mai has rooms from USD 47 and all rooms feature a CD player and a balcony in addition to the usual items like A/C, tea/coffee maker and TV. They also have 1 and 2 bedroom apartments as well as studios, and an outdoor pool and jacuzzi, fitness center, steam room and sauna.

The Chedi Chiang Mai

The Chedi Chiang Mai is a beautiful 5 star hotel with a lot of features which make it ideal for both the business traveler and the leisure traveler, and perfect for the guest who wants to combine a bit of both. Take a look at the beautifully appointed rooms and you may not want to leave them to spend time in the pool, or get a massage at the spa. High speed internet access, 24 hour room service, a nursery and airport transfers are all available.

This is what a recent guest had to say about his stay at the hotel.

“I liked the personalized service. The hotel is small and they remember you. I got good advice on touring that allowed me to do what I wanted and they saved me money.”

The Four Seasons Chiang Mai is renowned as one of the most beautiful hotels in all of Thailand. Situated amongst luscious rice terraces, the hotel offers a variety of accommodation choices from 64 elegantly appointed pavilions with mountain, rice terrace or gardens views, each with a private covered veranda.

Four Seasons Chiang Mai

Sixteen private residences of up to 524 m² (5,640 sq ft) with one two or three bedrooms with private pools are also available.

Guests can enjoy themselves with many recreational activities like taking a Thai cooking class, or pamper themselves at the world-renowned spa.


By The concierge | Posted in Chiang Mai, featured hotels | Comments (0)