Category: vacation tips
Posted by Aaron in vacation tips Tuesday, 22 June 2010 10:57 1 Comment
Private pool villas, a growing trend in Thailand and in popular resort spots around the world seem to be popping up at an increasing pace. If you are looking for the ultimate in privacy and pampering, private pool villas could be just what you are looking for.
If you have ever had the unpleasant experience of having to deal with other guests at a resort who get up at dawn, go down to the pool and “reserve” their place by placing a towel and book on a poolside recliner, only to leave it there unattended for 4 or 5 hours so they can come back to claim their spot in the middle of the day, you would certainly appreciate having your own private pool.
Families might also appreciate having their own private pool where they can easily keep an eye on their children in their own personal space.
Check out the 6 resorts throughout Thailand that offer private pool villas below in our first showcase.
Popularity: 100% [?]
Posted by Aaron in featured, vacation tips Friday, 26 March 2010 16:35 No Comments
Click here for a full list of all consulates and foreign embassies in Thailand.
Lose your passport? Overstay your visa? Want to get married in Thailand? Need a visa to take your sweetheart for a visit home? Get arrested? (heaven forbid!) Or maybe you just need some documents notarized.
In any of the above cases you will need to visit, or at the very least call the embassy or consulate of your home country. If you get into a spot of trouble and find that you need the services of your embassy or consul, finding the contact details at the last minute can be just another hassle.
With that in mind I have put together a list of every foreign consulate and embassy in Thailand, incorporating not just Bangkok, but Phuket, Chiang Mai and Songkhla. Pretty much every country has their embassy in Bangkok, but a number of countries also have consulates in other cities throughout Thailand.
Here is a short list of foreign consulates in Thailand’s major cities outside of Bangkok.
Popularity: 27% [?]
Posted by Aaron in vacation tips Friday, 26 February 2010 12:38 No Comments
It’s no secret that I am a huge fan of serviced apartments, with executive serviced apartments a particular favorite. I’m also no big fan of Pattaya but as I still haven’t gotten to some of the reported nicer beaches and close islands I’m not going to give up on it yet.
- Woodlands Suites Pattaya pool suite
The 5 star rated Woodlands Suites Serviced Residences are a luxurious alternative to the hotels of Pattaya, whether you’re staying here short or long term. The 74 studios and apartments offer a fully furnished and spacious retreat that’s close to all the action in Pattaya yet far enough away to make this a peaceful and quiet accommodation choice.
The beach, for example, is only 500 meters, and the famous Walking Street is only 1 kilometer away, plus there are numerous shops, restaurants and entertainment options all close by.
The luxurious studios and apartments have some great features such as the TV with home theater system and DVD player, plus complimentary high speed wireless internet. All guest rooms come with a kitchen that has all the crockery, cutlery and glassware you should need, as well as a microwave, fridge freezer, and kettle.
- Living room of one of the serviced residences at Woodlands Suites Pattaya
The direct pool access studios are popular with guests, whether you’re here with family or friends, and for larger groups the 2 Bedroom Executive Apartments offer space and real value for money. The Woodlands Suites Serviced Residences Pattaya also have a good range of facilities and services including swimming pool, fitness center, spa, Italian restaurant, and meeting rooms.
While serviced apartments offer a lot more space and what I consider vastly greater value than regular hotels, there are some facilities and services that are not always available that you may be used to in a regular hotel. For example while there is room service available, it is not a 24 hour room service. In-room dining hours are from 6:30 am to 11pm. There is also no concierge so if you rely on one to make a lot of bookings for you, this is something you may need to consider.
The Woodlands Suites Serviced Residences are one of the newer and more luxurious properties and one of the very few serviced residences in Pattaya and makes a welcome addition to the accommodation choices in this seaside town not usually known for luxury.
Popularity: 4% [?]
Posted by Aaron in vacation tips Friday, 29 January 2010 11:35 No Comments
- Pool at The Pattaya Marriott Resort & Spa at night
The 5 star Pattaya Marriott Resort and Spa is a peaceful oasis in the center of this noisy, hedonistic city and will appeal to many different guests, from couples to families to business travelers, due to its great range of facilities and services and its excellent central location.
Located in the center of Pattaya, shops, restaurants and nightlife are only steps away but then so is the beach! Guests can dine out or make use of the Pattaya Marriott Resort and Spa restaurants and bars. The 296 guest rooms and suites are modern and come with all the facilities you would expect from a 5 star hotel that’s part of the world-renowned Marriott chain.
- Poolside area at Pattaya Marriott Resort & Spa
The large outdoor swimming pool is at the center of the hotel and provides a calm oasis, and is one of the main attractions of the hotel. The pool is large and gets quite deep at one end, in fact it is the deepest pool that I have seen at any hotel in Thailand. Being a Marriott of course the pool is surrounded by tropical gardens, providing plenty of shade for the many sun lounge chairs, where you can relax and also enjoy some drinks and food from the nearby “Manao” poolside bar, open from 6 am to 11 pm. Other recreational facilities include a fitness center featuring an aerobics studio with sprung floor, spa, and 2 floodlit tennis courts.
With Pattaya and it’s multitude of go-go bars being a magnet for a lot of men from all around the world, I think it’s not unreasonable to discuss whether or not a hotel in this area has a joiner fee. While the Pattaya Marriott Resort and Spa is decidedly NOT on the list of Pattaya girl friendly hotels, the 25 Terrace Suites located around the garden at the back of the hotel near the pool, are accessible from Beach Road via a small unobtrusive gateway manned by a security guard. This entrance bypasses the scrutiny of the lobby and allows you to go directly to your room in privacy.
- The oversized bathroom in the Terrace Suites
Very close by guests can enjoy an 18 hole golf course and many other activities, plus of course make the most of the lively atmosphere in Pattaya. For business travelers there are 8 different size meeting rooms culminating in the ballroom that can seat 300 people and would make the ideal venue for any special occasion.
Popularity: 12% [?]
Posted by Aaron in Landmarks & Attractions, vacation tips Friday, 13 November 2009 16:46 No Comments
Almost everybody who visits Bangkok Thailand checks out Patpong at least once. Love it or hate it, Patpong is one of the best known and night spots in Bangkok.
There are two main activities on offer in Patpong. The first one is the night market that is set up in the street from about 6pm until late at night. Here you can find anything that you would expect to find in a market catering to tourists in Thailand, and not a single thing here is real. Knockoffs of just about anything are available here from cheap(ish) Diesel jeans and shoes, heaps of T-shirts, watches, CDs, DVDs, handbags and belts.
A Patpong gogo bar.
Make sure you bargain because it is expected and you can get everything for a lot cheaper than originally quoted. Of course bargaining doesn’t mean being rude or pushy, as that will most likely get you nowhere.
There are two great ways to get the best price you can while bargaining at a market like Patpong. The easiest way is to bargain as low as you can and when bargaining seems to have reached a standstill and you both won’t budge, ask them one more time for your price, and when they say no, start to walk away. If there was ever any possibility of getting the price that you were asking for then the owner of the stall will come after you and submit to your offer.
The other way to get a great price, most times lower than other tourists will get takes a little work, but can turn out to be a lot more fun and rewarding. If you learn how to count from 1 to 1000 and also a couple of simple bargaining phrases in Thai, people will be so impressed that you have put the effort into learning their language that they are likely to give you a local price. Why not spend the hours on the flight over learning some phrases and numbers and you would be surprised by the reception you get.
The other attraction in Patpong of course is the go-go bars. These are on both sides of the street that the market stalls have been set up in. Which is why it’s probably not a good idea to bring the kids to this market as the will be exposed to sights they have never seen before and could drive your young son (and maybe even husband) to total distraction.
Everyone has heard the stories of ping pong shows and all the other sordid stories from Bangkok. Couples are welcome at these shows and indeed many do go, however one important piece of advice you should remember is to stay away from upstairs bars. Anything on the ground floor should be ok, but there are too many stories of people being ripped off in the upstairs bars.
There are plenty of Patpong hotels as it is located in the Silom district, which is a major hub of business and very close to Sathorn. So whether you are in Bangkok for business or pleasure, staying in Patpong will position you close to both business areas and nightlife.
Photo by The Philosophy of Photography.
Popularity: 2% [?]
I am a lover of Thailand and luxury hotels. I stay in as many hotels as possible and blog about them all.
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