Bangkok Blog

Seven new hotels for Thailand

Christopher — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 09:14:34 +0000

Carlson Hotels Worldwide - Asia Pacific has announced it will open seven new hotels in Thailand.

Martin Rinck, President and Managing Director of CHW-AP said: "Thailand's hospitality market remains buoyant despite a number of challenges and continues to hold enormous potential for accelerated growth."

The new hotels will add more than 1,500 hotel rooms in Bangkok and Phuket by 2010. CHW-AP currently manages the recently opened Park Plaza Sukhumvit Bangkok (the picture shows the rooftop swimming pool) and has a franchise property, the 448 room Radisson Hotel Bangkok.

Four hotels are scheduled to open in Bangkok under the CHW-AP portfolio by the end of 2010. This includes the Radisson Hotel Bangkok Aathorn, a 436-room property located in the business district and close to Silom, and the Radisson Suites Bangkok Sukhumvit, a 170-room hotel. Both properties are on-track to open next year. Additional openings in 2010 include the 142-room Park Plaza Bangkok Asoke, located along a trendy stretch of Sukhumvit Soi 18, and The Regent Bangkok, a 321-room luxury development also located on Sukhumvit Road. Phuket will see two new CHW-AP managed properties by the end of next year - Radisson Plaza Resort Phuket Panwa Beach and The Regent Phuket Cape Panwa to open in 2009. The Radisson Resort and Spa Krabi is also scheduled to open at a later date.

More Flights To Phuket

Christopher — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 17:07:01 +0000

At last some goods news about flights in Thailand: Bangkok Airways, Asia's boutique airline, has increased the frequency on its Bangkok-Phuket route with another daily service during weekends. The additional flights will be available on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays and will be operated by an Airbus 320 (one is pictured here) with 162 seats. PG 273 will leave Bangkok (Suvarnabhumi Airport) at 13.45 and arrive in Phuket at 15.00. PG 274 will leave Phuket at 15.50 and arrive in Suvarnabhumi at 17.10. Currently, the airline operates twice daily on this route with departures from Bangkok at 11.45 and 17.30, and departures from Phuket at 13.50 and 19.40. Bangkok Airways is also offering 1,000 Baht one-way fares to Chiang Mai and Sukhothai, 1,250 Baht to Phuket and Trat, which serves Ko Chang, and 2,800 Baht to Samui.

One-Two-Go Suspends Operations

Christopher — Sun, 20 Jul 2008 07:18:17 +0000

Low-cost airline One-Two-Go has suspended its operations until September 15, blaming the rising price of oil as the reason. The airline said it would resume operations when the situation improved. Industry analysts said the carrier had been losing money for months and doubted the situation would improve greatly by September 15.

One-Two-Go was one of Thailand's no-frills first airlines, starting service in December 2003 with flights between Bangkok and Chiang Mai. The airline hit the headlines on September 17, 2007 when one of its planes crashed in Phuket killing 90 passengers.

Nok Air Cuts Flights

Christopher — Sat, 05 Jul 2008 08:53:48 +0000

Nok Air, Thailand's no-fills airline has stopped its daily Bangkok to Krabi flights. In an effort to reduce costs, the airline also stopped its flights from Bangkok to Chiang Mai and to Ubol Ratchathani. The flights ceased operating from July 1, 2008.

Those booked on flights are being offered seats on Thai Airways or a refund. The airline also announced it would cut management salaries by 20 percent and said it was considering raising its ticket prices.

Bangkok taxis will cost more:

Christopher — Sat, 05 Jul 2008 08:49:25 +0000

The government has given the go ahead to Bangkok taxi drivers to increase their charges. The new rates will start at 35 Baht ($1) for the first kilometer, not two kilometers as before. Even with the increase, the taxi costs here will be among the lowest of capital cities of the world.

The Department of Land Transport works together with Mahanakorn University of Technology on resetting the taxi meters. The work takes 30 minutes and costs the drivers 200 baht ($6).

Buy One Thai Ticket and Get One Free

Christopher — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 11:41:46 +0000

Thai Airways International has launched a bogof (that is buy one got one free) promotion. The special deal is available to royal first and royal silk travelers and even includes full royal orchid plus mileage accumulation on both tickets.

Under plan passengers who buy one international ticket from Bangkok to all cities in Europe, Japan and Korea, Johannesburg, Auckland, Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Taipei between 25 June and 30 September 2008, will receive a free second ticket for the same class of travel. As an added incentive, full royal orchid plus mileage accumulation is accrued on both tickets.

Travelers must commence travel together, outbound from Bangkok on the same flight from 1 July to 30 September 2008. The return tickets are valid for three months from the date of commencing the journey. Travelers can however return separately and the journey must be completed by 31 December 2008.

Swiss Park Gets New Owners

Christopher — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 13:13:19 +0000

InVision Hospitality, a Thailand-based consultancy and management company has acquired the Swiss Park Hotel on Bangkok's Sukhumvit Soi 11.Swiss Park Hotel is a 108-room full-service hotel. The new owners plans to expand and modernize the number of rooms with a completion date in the last half of 2009. Renovations of the existing rooms and public areas will be in two phases. The hotel will remain open and serving guests during the renovations, which are estimated to cost around 150 million Baht. Once renovations are completed, the hotel will be re-launched as Glow Hotel @ Sukhumvit 11.

TRIUMPH FOR BANGKOK PUPPET TROUPE

Christopher — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 11:56:36 +0000

The Bangkok-based Joe Louis puppet theatre troupe has won the top award at the World Festival of Puppet Art in Prague. This is the second international award for the troupe, which presented The Birth of Ganesha, a famous episode from the Ramayana, at the same competition two years ago. The Ramayana (or Ramakien in Thai) is the Indian epic tale, filled with all kinds of intriguing plots. Instead of remaining behind screens during the performance, the puppeteers are an integral part of the show as the picture shows. Another troupe from Thailand, the Sema Thai marionette troupe, won the Most Poetic Creation award. Twenty-five puppet troupes from 17 countries around the world competed in the event.

New boutique resort for Chiang Mai

Christopher — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 01:28:42 +0000

The 42-room Yantarasiri Boutique Resort is now open for business. The luxury property is just steps away from Nimmanhaemin, Chiang Mai's most fashionable street. Architecture, décor and impressive landscaping were inspired by the culture of the Lanna Kingdom which ruled northern Thailand for centuries.

Chiang Mai is a one hour flight from Bangkok. There are numerous services throughout the day between the two cities operated by Thai Airways, Nok Air, Bangkok Airways and Air Asia.

The property is offering a 30 percent discount as an opening special. Regular low season room rates start at 5,000 Baht a night for a superior room and rise to 18,000 Baht for the special presidential suite.

The property is within walking distance of numerous top quality stores, art galleries, restaurants and spas. The airport, international hospitals and the Chiang Mai University campus are a short drive away.

Facilities offered by the resort include a salt-treatment swimming pool, reading and sun-bathing sala, Spa, and a full service restaurant offering Thai, Chinese and international cuisine.

The rates include transfers to and from Chiang Mai Interational Airport and wireless Internet access.

Contact informaton: 24/17 Nimmanhaemin Road Soi 6 Tambol Suthep, Amphur Muang Chiang Mai, 50300. Tel: 66 (53) 214214, fax +66 (53) 212 060 http://www.yantarasiriboutiquehotel.com/. Email: sales@yantarasiri.com.

SPECIAL DIVE PACKAGES

Christopher — Tue, 11 Mar 2008 11:04:13 +0000

Centara Hotels and Resorts is offering a collection of Scuba dive packages, at its resorts in Phuket, Samui and Krabi. All three areas are an hour's flying time from Bangkok. The packages are available for beginners as well as experienced divers,

Beginners start their training in a resort swimming pool, like the one pictured here, which is at the Krabi resort.

Resorts where the packages are available are Centara Grand Beach Resort Samui, Centara Villas Samui, Centara Karon Resort Phuket, Centara Villas Phuket, Centara Kata Resort Phuket and Centara Grand Beach Resort and Villas Krabi.

The packages, starting at under 2.000 Baht, include a choice of dive options, hotel accommodation for four nights including a daily American
breakfast and all taxes, airport transfer to and from resort, welcome drink on arrival, fruit basket in room and transfer to and from the dive boat.