Loy Krathong 2010 hotel packages

The Loy Krathong festival is one of the most popular events on the Thai calendar, and originated historically when Thai people offered thanks to the Goddess of Water by floating their krathongs, or delicately crafted floats – made of lotus leaves, a candle and incense sticks – on the river to wash away all bad luck and misfortune, and make wishes for the future. Loy Krathong is a magical time to visit Thailand.

I have assembled a list of hotels in Bangkok, Phuket and Chiang Mai that offer special Loy Krathong packages designed to relax and replenish your soul.

Peninsula Bangkok

The Peninsula 2010 Loy Krathong Package includes two tickets to gala buffet dinner at the River Cafe and Terrace– a great vantage point right on the River of Kings to view the colorful Bangkok skyline – and a stunning firework display over the Chao Phraya River. The evening will also feature classical Thai entertainment and dances, and each guest will receive a krathong to set afloat on the water. A buffet breakfast is also included, as well as an 800 THB Spa gift certificate from the Peninsula Spa ESPA.
THB 14,500 (about USD485). Valid date: November 21, 2010.
Package details (PDF download)

Amari Boulevard Bangkok

The Amari Boulevard’s Loy Krathong package 2010 includes 2 nights upgraded to Deluxe room, breakfast, THB1000 food & drink credit, a floral krathong to float in the pool and one way airport transfer upon departure.

THB 7599 (about USD254). Valid dates: November 20-25, 2010. Package Details It appears the website may be wrong as the woman on the telephone at the reservation center quoted me THB5599, and confirmed it when I questioned it. If so, that’s a great package deal.

Amari Koral Beach Phuket

Package includes 3 nights in a superior room with breakfast included. Round trip airport transfers by car.
THB 18000 (about USD600). Valid dates: November 20-23, 2010. Package details

Mandarin Oriental Dhara Dhevi Chiang Mai

Enchanting Loy Krathong Package. Minimum 3 night stay. Package includes daily breakfast, round trip private limousine airport transfers, a cocktail followed by an outdoor Thai buffet dinner on November 21st on the Colonial Lawn, and floating of your krathong on the lotus pond.
THB 12300 per night (about USD 412 per night). Valid dates: November 19-22, 2010. Package Details

Puripunn- A Baby Grand Boutique Hotel Chiang Mai

The 5 star Puripunn offers a Loy Krathong package that includes private check-in and check-out, daily breakfast, a fruit basket and hand garlands, in-room traditional Thai desserts, free use of the fitness center and a Loi Krathong candlelight dinner with live Lanna music.

THB 17520 for Deluxe room, THB 19920 for Puripunn Deluxe. Valid dates: Package is valid for 3 consecutive nights over Loy Krathong and must include November 21st. Package Details

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The annual festival of Loy Krathong (Loi Kratong) is celebrated throughout Thailand on the full moon of the 12th month of the traditional Thai lunar calendar. It usually falls in November, and in 2010 Loy Krathong falls on November 21st, a Sunday.

The festival is a very popular attraction for tourists but it has a deep spiritual significance to local people and is a very beautiful and romantic ceremony to watch.

In Thai, ‘loi’ means to float and ‘krathong’ is a tiny floating raft about 7 inches (17cm) long. Traditionally these krathong are made of banana tree trunk and are decorated with flowers. More modern versions are made of Styrofoam and decorated with flowers made of bread. The most beautiful krathong are made of intricately folded banana leaves and decorated with real flowers, candles and sticks of incense. These of course are also much better for the environment as they are biodegradable, unlike the Styrofoam versions.

The festival tradition is for these rafts to be released onto a river during the full moon. Restaurants will also host Loy Krathong celebrations on their own ponds.

The origins of the festival may be in the Hindu festival when floating lanterns were released on the Ganges as thanksgiving for the deity of the Ganges giving life throughout the year. This festival was adapted by the Thai Buddhists as a ceremony to honor the original Buddha. As the candles float away they symbolized the letting go of grudges and anger. Some people cut their hair or fingernails and add them to the krathong as a symbolic letting go of the bad parts of their lives. Many Thais believe that floating a krathong creates good luck and they do it to honor the Goddess of Water, Phra Mae Khongkha.

The events which precede the raft floating ceremony are even more fun. Beauty contests are held and are known as ‘Noppamas Queen Contests’. Noppamas was a beautiful consort of the 14th century King Loethai of Sukothai where the first Loy Krathong festival was held. Vegetable carving is another skill associated with the festival. Huge markets are held before the festival and Giant Krathongs are paraded around the streets before being floated.

In Chiang Mai the festival is known as ‘Yi Peng’. Before the festival you can see many beautifully made krathongs for sale in the Chiang Mai markets. The banana leaf krathongs are floated on the waterways of the city to honor the Goddess of Water. Sky lanterns, called ‘khom fai’ consist of a rice paper balloon-like shade with a candle suspended inside. They are carefully lit and launched to float in the air making a picture of serenity as they rise up into the sky like silent boats heading for another world.

Where to celebrate Loy Krathong 2010

Loy Krathong is celebrated nationwide, but is particularly delightful in the provinces of Sukhothai, Chiang Mai, Ayutthaya and Bangkok, where the celebrations are perfect for tourists to get a glimpse of a beloved Thai tradition.

Sukhothai

Among the highly recommended places to participate in the Loy Krathong celebrations is Sukhothai, which, as the birthplace of the festival, remains a focal point of the festivities. The Sukhothai Historical Park provides a dramatic setting for an amazing light and sound show that is truly spectacular.

Chiang Mai

As mentioned above, Chiang Mai is also a very popular destination for Loy Krathong celebrations, where the largest krathongs are colorfully lit and paraded through town on trucks on their way to the river.

Bangkok

Being the major waterway in Bangkok, The Chao Phraya River is one of the main destinations for Loy Krathong celebrations on Bangkok. Many Bangkok riverside hotels hold special celebrations and some have Loy Krathong packages and dinner cruises.

Places to stay during Loy Krathong 2010

Sukothai Hotels |  Chiang Mai Hotels |  Bangkok Hotels |  Ayuthaya Hotels

Have you ever experienced Loy Krathong in Thailand? Do you have any recommendations for places to celebrate the festival? If so, please feel free to leave a comment below and share your experiences.

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It’s almost that time of year again, for the most romantic of Thai festivals, “Loy Kratong”.

Translated as “floating raft”, Loy Kratong celebration is one of the most enchanting experiences for many visitors lucky enough to be in Thailand during the festival.

Loy Kratong is celebrated by releasing small, intricately decorated rafts, made with folded banana leaves, and decorated with flowers, candles and incense sticks, into  lakes, rivers and klongs throughout Thailand. The rafts are released to give blessing and thanks to the goddess of water, Phra Mae Khongkha.

The Thai people believe that the act of freeing the kratong symbolizes the releasing of one’s troubles, worries, bad luck and grudges accumulated throughout the year, and hope for a fresh karmic start. In a romantic twist, couples will send their kratong along a waterway and believe that if the candle stays lit until it is out of sight, their love will last forever.

This video is from 2006, but the concepts and celebration do not change from year to year. TAT (Tourism Authority of Thailand) makes a new Loy Krathong video each year, but I like this one a lot better than the ones from this year and last year.

The night sky will glow throughout Thailand as the celebrations continue with displays of stunning fireworks and hot-air lanterns (khom fai) being released into the sky. Other cultural activities including the “Noppamas Queen Contest” beauty pageants are held during Loy Kratong.

This romantic and traditional festival officially begins on the full moon of the 12th month of the Thai lunar calendar, which is November in the western calendar. Loy Kratong in 2008 runs from November 11-15.

Below are some deals on Chiang Mai hotels that will have you very near the action so you can join in the fun of Loy Kratong.

• Novotel Hotel Chiang Mai, from USD 28.
• Rati Lanna Riverside, from USD 119.
• De Naga Hotels Chiang Mai, from USD 91.
• Puripunn Baby Grand boutique hotel, from USD 139.
• Bodhi Serene, from USD 89.
• Buri Gallery House Hotel, from USD 36.
• Diamond Riverside Hotel, from USD 27.
• U Chiang Mai Hotel, from USD 137.
• Maninarakorn Hotel, from USD 38.
• Royal Princess Hotel, from USD 65.
• Sukhothai Heritage Resort Sukhothai, from USD 71.
• Dusit 72 Hotel, from USD 137.

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