January 19, 2010 – 11:41 pm
Z Through by the Zign is a new boutique hotel in soi 12 off Naklua Road in Northern Pattaya. As the name somewhat clumsily points out, it is an offshoot of the nearby Zign Hotel, a huge twin tower complex overlooking it’s own private beach, which mostly caters to Russian and Korean tour operators. The same family owned group is responsible for the new TSixty5 hotel in the same street, closer to Naklua Road.
- 2 of the 4 pools at Z Through by The Zign Hotel Pattaya
The concept of this hotel is lofty and one can really see how the designers and owners have put a lot of effort into this property. The problem lies in the gap between the concept and the execution, which is sometimes clumsy, but I will get to that later, in the review below.
The Z Through comprises 40 two-story villas, all perched around four large pools that make up the grounds of the hotel property. The 40 villas on the ground floor have direct access to the pools from a terrace that opens up from the room. The villas on the second floor also have terraces, which are twice the size of the lower ones and offer great views of the pools and the resort itself. Both upper and lower suites (I’m using suits and villas interchangeably here) have two sun lounges and a small table.
The huge pools are the centerpiece of the hotel and cover pretty much all the ground once you go through the lobby and enter the area where the villas are located. There are two shallow pools connected to the two front pools, which would be suitable for children and also a swim-up bar.
Video of the pools at Z Through by The Zign
The rooms are decorated in four distinct styles and are have been based on the four concepts of L.O.V.E which stand for Light, Ozone, Viva and Emotion. Each room is quite large and has a sleeping area, a living area with a sofa and coffee tables and a large bathroom with separate bath and rain shower and flat screen TV above the very large bathtub.
There is a lot to like and some minor annoyances at the Z Through by The Zign, which I will now detail in a review of our stay.
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December 8, 2009 – 3:21 pm
Next in the ongoing series of hotels near Bangkok attractions, are hotels near Siam Paragon, in the Siam district of Bangkok.
Siam Paragon is one of the newest, largest and most well renowned shopping malls in Thailand, if not all of Southeast Asia. Opened in December 2005, this huge shopping complex boasts 400, 000 square meters of retail space and houses over 250 retail stores and services.
Apart from shopping at some of the many upscale brand stores here, there is plenty of things to do if you wanted to spend a day indoors away from the Bangkok heat. You will find the 21 screen Paragon Cineplex complex and Krungsri IMAX theatre, as well as Siam Discovery center. In the basement, covering 10,000 square meters is Siam Ocean World, the largest aquarium in Southeast Asia, with 30,000 marine animals comprising of 400 species.
Siam Paragon is easily accessible by public transportation from almost anywhere in Bangkok thanks to the BTS Skytrain. Siam Station, which is at a junction between the Sukhumvit line and the Silom line is connected to the M floor by a covered elevated skybridge. You can travel by foot along the skybridge as far as the Grand Hyatt Erawan Bangkok, with the famous Erawan Shrine on the corner and the Intercontinental Hotel across the street.
Click for a full list of hotels near Siam Paragon.
December 4, 2009 – 3:45 pm
If there was an official star rating above 5 Star then the Phulay Bay Ritz Carlton Reserve would deserve to have it!
- View of the Andaman Sea from the pool
This brand new resort is the flagship for the new Ritz Carlton “Reserve” brand, and like the others that will follow, the Phulay Bay Ritz Carlton Reserve is a smaller and more intimate resort featuring just 54 one bedroom villas.
Luxury and privacy are key features, plus of course a personal service second to none; each villa has its own personal butler service, available 24 hours a day to answer your every whim. Although each villa provides one bedroom there are five different villa types, ranging from the comfortably sized Beach Villa at 50 sqm, to the exquisite Royal Beach Villa with 120 sqm of indoor space.
What sets the Phulay Bay Ritz Carlton Reserve apart from others is the outdoor space provided with each villa. The Royal Beach Villa has a staggering 458 sqm of outdoor space, so guests really can enjoy total privacy when staying here.
- Private pool of a villa at Phulay Bay, A Ritz Carlton Reserve, Krabi
Aside from the villas, there are several casual and formal restaurants to choose from, serving international, Thai, seafood, and more. Other on-site facilities include an infinity pool, spa, event venue, shopping, bars, fitness center, and cooking classes. All this is offered in a secluded position on the west coast of Southern Thailand, just 40 minutes from Krabi International Airport.
November 27, 2009 – 1:01 pm
The 5 star Katathani Phuket Beach Resort is situated on the southwest coast of Phuket on a secluded and private beach and bay. Fronting the resort is 850 meters of white sandy Kata Noi beach, however if beach life isn’t your thing, the Katathani features six pools and three jacuzzis to choose from.
- One of the six pools aat Katathani Beach Resort Phuket
Rated one of the top 10 child friendly resorts in Phuket, the resort offers Chang Noi kid’s club for the kids with a variety of activities in their daily program including Thai kite making and balloon painting free of charge and a number of other activities for a nominal fee of 100 Baht, including oil clay making, doll painting and bead necklace arrangement.
There are a number of indoor facilities to keep the young ones occupied including a ball house, PlayStation, videos and cartoons, creative games and books. On weekends outdoor activities include a mini Olympics, treasure hunting and sand castle making.
Though family friendly, the Katathani is Ideal for all types of travelers, whether families, couples, friends, or business travelers as there are many different types of rooms to choose from either within the Bhuri Wing, or the beachfront Thani Wing. From standard rooms to 2 bedroom suites and 2 storey villas, there’s something here for everyone.
November 19, 2009 – 11:44 pm
- Chedi Hotel Phuket pool
The 5 star Chedi Hotel Phuket is marketed as one of the few hotels on the island that is actually right on the beach, and what a beautiful beach it is!
The peaceful and secluded Pansea Bay is on the west coast of Phuket and has a wonderful white, sandy beach that invites you in to the warm waters of the Andaman Sea. Although this is a hotel it has a resort feel as each one of the 108 guest ‘rooms’ is actually a detached cottage with traditional thatched roof.
A stay at the Chedi Hotel Phuket is what many visitors have in mind when thinking of a vacation in Thailand! There are both one and two bedroom cottages, some of which are right on the beach while others meander their way up the hillside and give guests wonderful views. Though rustic-looking from the outside, inside the cottages you’ll find all the usual luxuries from a 5 star hotel.
- View of the individual thatch roofed cottages from the beach at the Chedi Hotel Phuket
The Chedi Hotel Phuket also offers restaurants and bars, a swimming pool, spa, tennis courts and more, and is only 20 minutes from Patong.
