anderson asked:
Related Links: or is it preferable to book earlier on the net. I mean, its allways better to see the hotel you are staying in, as long as the prices dont skyrocket
September 23, 2009
Any nice, modern, minimalist, chic hotels in Krabi, Thailand (Ao Nang Beach Area)?
Ram asked:
We’re going to Asia this September and staying in Krabi (or Ao Nang Beach) for 3 days. Wanted to see what are some nice modern, minimalist, chic or boutique hotels worth looking into. Based on Tripadvisor, the only one I have found so far is the Alis Hotel & Spa.
We’re going to Asia this September and staying in Krabi (or Ao Nang Beach) for 3 days. Wanted to see what are some nice modern, minimalist, chic or boutique hotels worth looking into. Based on Tripadvisor, the only one I have found so far is the Alis Hotel & Spa.
We’re looking for something that is close to all the action. I’m not looking for anything fancy, just good location, clean rooms and safe hotel and of course, one where the AC works. I don’t need a fancy pool, or the outstanding customer service, or the awesome super breakfast buffet or the state-of-the-art fitness center, etc.
In saying that, what are your thoughts of this hotel and/or do you recommend any other ones in particular? I’m looking to stay within the $50-$90US/night price range.
Any information is appreciated.
And ideas on luxury hotels in Phi Phi, Koh Lanta or Krabi for start of January?
Elky asked:
Me and my girlfriend are looking for somewhere really nice to stay but dont want to spend more than £100 a night (total). We are looking for somewhere from 3rd January to 11th january. We know its expensive then but there must be a really nice place we can stay at that isnt going to cost the earth? Any ideas would be appreciated
Me and my girlfriend are looking for somewhere really nice to stay but dont want to spend more than £100 a night (total). We are looking for somewhere from 3rd January to 11th january. We know its expensive then but there must be a really nice place we can stay at that isnt going to cost the earth? Any ideas would be appreciated
September 10, 2009
Things to see and do in Pattaya
Once a sleepy fishing town, Pattaya first boomed during the Vietnam War as an official R&R spot. Now it’s Thailand biggest seaside resort with 13,000 hotel rooms, whose main attractions are its golf courses, its wild nightlife, its family theme parks and its proximity to Bangkok.
Things to see and do in Pattaya:
1) Tee off.
If you are a fanatic golfer or one who doesn’t like to play the same course twice then Pattaya, which has more nearby top-flight golf courses than any other Thai beach resort, is the place for you.
2) Get foamed at the Hard Rock Café.
Once everyone is suitably inebriated, a thick blanket of foam is pumped onto the dance-floor, under whose cover everyone slips and slides around. Although this is about as attractive to older visitors as a spell in a dentist’s chair, younger tourists love it.
3) Check in at the Cabbages and Condoms Resort.
Part of a nationwide chain of resorts that encourage safe sex, the resorts are the brain-child of a Thai cabinet minister who wants to make condoms as numerous as cabbages in a market. There aren’t actually that many cabbages in the average Thai market, so maybe the name ‘Morning Glory and Condoms’ would have been a better choice for the resort: it has a nicer ring about it and, if you think about it, is also kind of appropriate.
4) Eat.
As Thailand’s biggest resort the selection of restaurants is as excellent as is to be expected and includes establishments serving all the world’s major cuisines. Ignore that salty wet stuff next to the beach (it’s a bit murky anyway) and concentrate on expanding your waist-line at the maximum possible rate.
5) Check out the Alcazar transsexual cabaret.
You’ll be amazed at the beauty of most of the ‘women’. If in doubt as to someone’s gender, check out the way their arms hang – the arms of people who have at any stage been male bend slightly inwards below the elbow, whereas
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Thailand, The Paradise of Scuba Diving
Phuket, known as the pearl of Andaman Sea, is the biggest island of Thailand. It is a province located in the southern part of the country and has many fascinating attractions that lure people around the world to visit. Because of beautiful beaches and sea, wonderful nightlife and nice weather, Phuket becomes one of the top places in Thailand that travelers choose to go
The southern of Thailand is sandwiched between The Gulf of Thailand on its eastern coastline and the vast expanse of the Andaman Sea on its western coast. It is in these body of waters that scuba divers can explore the marine life of the Indian Ocean and the Pacific Ocean without having to cross continents.
The waters in Thailand have one of the richest and diverse marine life in the world because conditions here for coral growth is almost perfect with an average temperature of 28C all year round and fantastic underwater visibility.
Because of these almost ideal scuba diving conditions and attractions, the scuba diving industry in Thailand is thriving robustly with the proliferation of first class scuba diving facilities, services and diving schools.
When you throw in what the tourist industry has to offer in Thailand such as fantastic entertainment, a spread of accommodations, hotels and resorts for every budget and Thailand’s renowned delightful cuisines, you can be assured of an enjoyable scuba diving vacation.
The Gulf of Thailand has hundreds of islands on its 1,840km (1,143 miles) long coast. The gulf is a shallow bowl shaped body of water separated from the South China Sea by a pair of underwater ridges that extend from Vietnam on one side and Malaysia to the other.
The sea bed bottom here is mostly mud mixed with sand and shells. Corals are usually found around the fringes of the gulf islands. There are several rivers in the north bringing enough sediment and freshwater to inhibit coral growth until to the south or the eastern side of the Gulf of Thailand.
The underwater scenery in the gulf is perhaps not as visually appealing as those of the Andaman Sea as it has slightly less variety of marine life. Marine parks such as the Ang Thong Marine Park include spectacularly formed limestone islands with lush rainforest covering them and many of these islands are actually uninhabited.
World famous resorts of Pattaya, Phuket and Koh Samui offer excellent scuba diving facilities as well as other reacreations and entertaiment.
The Andaman Sea was already thriving thousands of years ago with Chinese, European, Thai and Indian trading vessels plying its waters. Today, the Andaman Sea is more of a playground for dive boats and sailing yachts rather than for trading vessels.
One of the better known playgrounds for divers in the Andaman and is often rated amongst the top scuba diving destinations in the world are the Similan Islands. Divers can explore Similan, the Surin Islands and the Mergui Archipelago in liveaboard diving cruises.
Thailand’s Andaman Sea stretches 870km (541 miles) from Tarutao National Park on the border of Malaysia to the Surin Islands on the border of Myanmar (formerly known as Burma). It is part of the Indian Ocean and is separated from the Bay of Bengal by the Andaman-Nicobar Ridge. Quaint formations of granite outcrops can be senn in the Surin and Similan Islands.
Other island groups such as Koh Phi Phi are shaped by massive limestone and calcium carbonates since prehistoric time.
The only problem when you travel to Thailand for scuba diving is where to start your diving vacation since there are so many excellent dive spots to choose from and you will be spoilt for choice.
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September 4, 2009
Bangkok Tour: Sightseeing in Bangkok
Welcome to Bangkok, one of the most popular tourist destinations in south-east Asia. The city of Bangkok is known for its shopping complexes, pulsating nightlife, lovely restaurants and good accommodation options. Tourists will love to shop in Bangkok, as it offers plethora of stores and shopping malls selling international brands of clothes and other souvenirs. As for staying, there are range of Bangkok hotels and resorts to provide travelers utmost comfort and luxury. Some of the interesting attractions in the city are:
Abhisek Dusit Throne Hall
This royal building is a stunning example of Thailand’s architectural excellence. Its intricate design has an extensive Thai character despite it is highly influenced by western culture. This was built by the first king Chulalongkorn who must have kept swimming in his mind when he got the construction started. You will be required to put on long pants or long skirts and closed-toe footwear in order to enter the hall.
Ancient City
It is the largest open-air museum in the south of Bangkok. This place consists of Thailand’s most impressive monuments. The architectural integrity in the ancient city can impress anyone who passes by this place. Cycling and biking are interesting activities of this place.
Lumphini Park
This is the biggest green lung in Bangkok. It has been named after the birthplace of Buddha in Nepal. Always crowded with local and foreigner visitors, this place is fabulous and proves to be a great escape from Bangkok city. Come here in early morning and you will enjoy the
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Phuket Travel – The Island At A Glance
Phuket is one of the places that enjoys great popularity as a travel destination in Thailand. The popularity of this city lies in its stunningly beautiful beaches, the lovely Phuket town and its picturesque natural beauty amongst other things. This is the largest island of Thailand lying at the Andaman Sea coastline in southern Thailand. Phuket Town is the administrative center of Phuket Province and the main center of population in the province. Phuket is popularly known as the Pearl of Andaman and offers something for every traveler.
Phuket island is about 850 kilometers South of Bangkok. The province covers 590 square kilometers including the additional 39 small islands. The main island itself covers about 540 kilometer square and measures 48 kilometers North to South and 21 kilometers East to West.
As the island is the biggest in Thailand you can find quite beaches and you can party the night away at others. It is all up to what you are looking for.
Phuket is connected to the mainland by two bridges. These cover the narrow strip of water that separates Phuket from Phang-Nga province on the North side of the island. The rest of Phuket borders only the tropical Andaman Sea.
The island is a variety of manly forested mountains stretching North to South and flat plains. However it is the jewel of the Andaman Sea and its palm fringed beaches that has contributed to making it the wealthiest and most visited island in the South. It attracts thousands of visitors a year. Many are content to relax on its many beaches, but for the more adventurous Phuket is a center for diving in the area with world class dive sites a short boat trip away and facilities for all levels.
The year is divided into the rainy season and the dry season. The rainy season falls from May to October, with September and October being the wettest. The dry season, from November to April gradually gets hotter and hotter until the rains start again. The most pleasant time to visit, but also the most busy, is from November to February. At this time blue skies and spectacular sunsets are the usual, along with a cooling sea breeze and average temperatures ranging from 23c to 33c.
Phuket also has something to offer those who are looking for more than beach lounging. Phuket town with its Sino-Portugese architecture, markets, temples and friendly small town atmosphere is a place to sample real thai living and enjoy the bustle – just be careful in the narrow streets with all the motorbikes! Phuket island has food and restaurants for any taste and budget. Surrounded by the rich Andaman Sea its no surprise that its sea food is exceptional. Accommodation ranges from five star world class resorts to simple bamboo beach side bungalows with everything in between.
Nevertheless, emphasis is put on the upper sector. Phuket is not just the most popular destination in the South of Thailand but it also is extremely popular among people from Hong Kong and Singapore and other foreigners that are looking for a holiday house. In no other place in Thailand is it as expensive to buy property as in Phuket. Many rich people are living here and the offered property is very much geared to the higher end.
Due to Phuket’s world known status as a tourist destination it was rightly or wrongly at the center of the media attention after the tsunami of 2004. In comparison to other provinces in Thailand, Phuket actually received less damage and had a lower death toll. Also, compared to other countries that were affected by the Tsunami Thailand had probably the least problems. Only days after the tsunami many beach front bars were open and ready for business. Since then there has been much attention and help by the Thai government (focusing on the big businesses) and other organizations to get business back up and running and to promote tourism back to the region. Now apart from the warning sirens and ‘tsunami evacuation route’ signs there is little evidence that the tragic events of the 26th of December, 2004 ever happened.
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Songran Festival in Chiang Mai Thailand
Chiang Mai is Thailand’s largest city in the country’s northern region. It is considered the most culturally place in Thailand. In the past years, Chiang was developed into a more modern city. It has a vast number of attraction sites which bring thousands of tourists in the city every year. the city is important for it holds most of the country’s history.
If you are ever in Thailand in April you definitely must travel to Chiang Mai to celebrate Songkhran, The Thai Lunar New Year. The Songkhran is celebrate all over Thailand the Festival in Chiang Mai is the mother of Songkhran festivals.
I had the privilege of celebrating Songkhran in Chiang Mai a few years back. It was a most memorable experience. The good feeling chaos is something you have to experience for yourself to understand. I am happy to report that will all the people interacting with each other in a big water fight I never once observed anybody losing their temper. That included Thais as well as the tourists and expats.
It is the extreme high tourist season during this festival. Hotel rooms are at a premium and if you don’t reserve early you might just be out of luck. Try to get in the city near the canal. The canal is the focal point for the activities. Most of the water comes out of the canal. For 3 days people are crowded around the canal celebrating, partying and just having a good time.
Get up around 8 and have a good breakfast and some hot coffee. No need for a shower because most of the day will be a big community shower of sorts. Activities would begin around 10am and continue til evening. So after a few hours and a couple of laps around the canal it is time to break for lunch. It might get a bit soggy but it tastes good and the energy is needed. After the recharge it’s time to hit the streets again until dinner. I found the whole experience invigorating.
I would recommend arriving early, a couple of days before the merriment begins. It’s worth it as Chiang Mai has a lot to offer besides Songkhran. It is a tourist and travel destination year round. You can experience Eco-tourism, shopping, travel to the highest point in Thailand at Doi Intanon or just hang out in town and watch people at the Night Bizarre. I was happy to find an authentic Mexican restaurant there. Nightlife offers, discos, pubs, restaurants, karaoke and shopping.
From my personal experience I would highly recommend you schedule Songkran Festival in Chiang Mai on your travel calendar. Until I actually went there to see for myself it was just one of those things that are hard to envision. Happy Travels.
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September 3, 2009
Buying Real Estate in Phuket, Thailand
Phuket is placed 867 km away from Bangkok, the capital of Thailand, and is a perfect vacation destination for leisure as well as corporate guests. This island is a great combination of white sandy beaches, superb hospitality and reasonable accommodation option. There are wide range of hotels in Phuket of different categories and price range that suite the pockets of all travelers coming here.
Investing in a foreign country can be very rewarding and exciting. If Images of a tropical deserted beach with only you and that special someone enjoying the warm sunshine, tropical breezes and azure blue water are something you long for, maybe Phuket is just the place for you. Here is a rundown of some great reasons to invest in Phuket Thailand.
The weather in Phuket Thailand is absolutely wonderful for about six months of the year. During the dry season of November through April the weather is filled with hit sunny days and sizzling nights. Cooling off is easy by enjoying an afternoon swim at one Phukets’ many beaches found around the island. Later in the day, you can enjoy a swim at one of the many great hotels or apartment projects on the island or sip a nice tropical fruit drink at a swim up pool bar or poolside café.
Sun worshipers won’t be disappointed either in Phuket because even in monsoon season or low season there are many hours of sunshine per day. Some days are known to have liquid sunshine but it stops shortly after it starts and the rest of the day becomes a great day to go outdoors with the cooler air the rains have bought. The rains bring on a cleaning to the land, air and add greenery to the tropical forest surroundings.
Phuket is known for fantastic nightlife in the west coast towns like kata, Karon and Patong Beach. Even Phuket Town has many lively nightspots like local pubs and discos. Places like the night plaza in Kata beach and Bangla road are a great place to enjoy local entertainment and cool down with your favorite brew. Many opportunities present themselves to meet friends as Thai people are very friendly to foreigners. After hours there are many late night establishments to ring in the dawn of a new day.
Phuket town has is the home to many festivals and street bazaars. Many night markets fill the streets on the weekends to buy local homemade and copied goods. Phuket is becoming known as a place where tourists can shop for western goods with the opening of Central and Jungceylon shopping centers. These malls have all the western stores you find if you were shopping retail in any big mall in the west. Shopping in Thailand can be a lot of fun when your Thai is good enough to haggle with the locals.
Phuket can’t be written about if one doesn’t mention all the great water sports the island has to offer. Scuba diving has become very big on the island as the water off Phuket offer a diversity of life not found in other places. Many local shop and tours are here to show you what the island has to offer. Even if you like to enjoy parasailing, jet skiing, fishing, sailing or motor boating, the many marinas, piers, beaches and places to go on the island, one can never be bored with the endless choices to pass the time away.
Investing in Phuket is something everyone who visits here knows they must consider. The demand to stay in a place like this is so high and the cost of living is so low it remains South East Asia’s number one tourist location with almost five million visitors in 2008. Investing in Phuket is a natural choice with so many reasons to want to stay here and make Phuket your second home.
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