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Bangkok's Chaophya Park Hotel Has The Best Multi-Use Key Cards Ever
Security issues aside for the moment, Chaophya Park Hotel in Bangkok, Thailand has what are possibly the best hotel room key cards ever: they also function as one-day subway passes. It's the first hotel in Bangkok to offer the amenity of hotel-keys-as-subway-passes since it lies along the MRT route of public transportation. But it won't be the last; the MRT is looking to partner up with further hotels in Bangkok and make this a regular perk.
Still, the Chaophya Park might look like your typical business hotel in the picture above, but judging from this new feature and the fact that they've got iPod docking stations in the rooms, have greening initiatives, and are the first hotel in Thailand to offer free internet, the Chaophya Park is more dynamic than boring.
Now let's talk security...
Tags: Hotel Openings / Langham Hotels / Thailand Hotels / Hotel News / → All Tags
The Langham Place Samui Will Open in November
We usually find plenty of good things to say about Langham Hotels and the Langham Place Samui looks like it will follow the good reputation when it opens later this year. With 77 villas and suites suitable for private getaways or arranged together for group vacations, the Langham gang are promising the same good service we expect along with a few interesting innovations.
One is their idea of "borderless dining" which means you can have a romantic meal in "specially-designed dining retreats scattered in the grounds". We also like the sound of the Portal Surf & Play area, which sounds like a combined WiFi zone and cocktail bar, plus they also have the Splash Bar poolside where you can keep a cocktail handy while watching a poolside movie.
Tags: Ritz-Carlton Reserve / Ritz-Carlton Hotels / Thailand Hotels / → All Tags
Ritz-Carlton Launches 'Ritz-Carlton Reserve' Brand This Month
When we hear announcements that luxe hotels are launching ritzier, more upscale amenities or properties in this recession, we cringe a bit because we've been hearing nothing but doom-and-gloom predictions and sad news out of the luxury sector — but, nevertheless, Ritz-Carlton Hotels has announced the launch of "a new exclusive brand extension for the most discerning global travelers" called Ritz-Carlton Reserve, complete with a website and everything.
Per a press release:
These unique resorts have been designed for those who seek to escape the stresses of everyday life by retreating to experience new cultures and adventures. Each exquisite destination will feature signature, one-of-a-kind low density resorts situated in choice settings, each with a distinctive personality and sense of place. Future development will be limited to select corners of the globe with upcoming locations to include Costa Rica, Puerto Rico, Turks & Caicos and The United Arab Emirates.
These properties will mostly be low-rise suites and villas that allow guests "to experience a completely secluded environment, with as much or as little contact with the rest of humanity as they choose."
The first Ritz-Carlton Reserve property is in Phulay Bay in Krabi, Thailand an expansive (and expensive) resort looking out onto the Andaman Sea, made up of 54 one-bedroom villas that look seriously posh. The website says it's been taking rezzies since June 1, but we were unable to find any available rooms for June at all [UPDATE: That's because, a hotel rep tells us, they starting taking rezzies on June 1st for dates starting in September] — regardless, the rates are listed at around $575 and up.
Tags: International Hotel WiFi / Thailand Hotels / → All Tags
Email By The Pool At Pattaya's The Venue
In our neverending quest for finding hotels around the world with sensible WiFi — in other words, WiFi that not only works but is also free — we were daydreaming this week about vacationing near the beach in Thailand and we came across someone with a similar wish looking for WiFi in Pattaya.
Any beachside town will do, we figure, so Pattaya is an interesting spot for us, and according to the locals there are quite a few hotels with good WiFi. But the one that grabbed our attention is The Venue, a stylish and very gay-friendly hotel near the beach. What grabs us most is this:
The Venue [has] wireless throughout the hotel...very relaxing around the pool doing laptop work.
The Venue is a boutique hotel and the private pool is not huge, but if you're typing away you probably don't want too many people jumping into the pool and splashing you, so we figure it's a great combination. A standard room will cost you just 1,290 Baht ($40) in the low season, or you can splash out on a junior suite, which goes up to 2,390 Baht ($70) a night in high season.
Tags: Fashion Hotels / Four Seasons Hotels / Thailand Hotels / Hotel Swag / Christian Louboutin / → All Tags
Buy Some Louboutin Shoes and Save an Elephant With Four Seasons
Famous sexy shoe designer Christian Louboutin has dabbled with hotel partnerships before, making a One & Only Resorts line of sandals for One & Only Resorts, which we totally understand as well as covet. Happily, he's back at it again, but this time teaming up with Four Seasons to create an extremely limited-edition colorway of a stiletto sandal.
The "Rodita" sandal, a fashionista favorite of Christian's Spring 2008 line, has returned in hot pink specifically for the Four Seasons Tented Camp Golden Triangle in Thailand, with all proceeds going to the GTAEF charity (Golden Triangle Asian Elephant Foundation). Yes that's right: sales from the $895 shoes are going to save elephants from the streets in Thailand, but there's only 50 pairs of the hot numbers to sell.
They're real showstoppers, but at $895 for the togs alone, we're wondering exactly how much it costs to stay at the Four Seasons Tented Camp itself? It's just as we expected: plan to shell out 70,200 THB ($1,995) for a one-night, all-inclusive stay at the luxury retreat. Thanks, but we think we'll just take the Louboutins as consolation. For those interested, the 50 pairs are only available for purchase on FootCandyShoes.com until they run out forever.
[Photos: Four Seasons]
Tags: Leading Hotels of the World / Hotel Deals / Thailand Hotels / Thailand Resorts / → All Tags
A Thailand Deal That Caters to Shopaholic Beach Bums
With the state of emergency lifted and mid-April's unrest easing, it's time to start looking at Thailand again. And one of the things we love about it is that it can be a shopping paradise as well as an R&R-on-the-beach vacation destination.
We got tipped off about a clever "joint venture" hotel deal, put together by the Sukhothai Bangkok and the Rayavadee resort in Krabi. They've picked up on our shopping and beach combo desires and put together a five-night deal including two nights in the city at Sukhothai and three nights on the beach at Rayavadee. The package includes all kinds of extras like breakfast, a dinner at each location, shopping coupons in the city and a massage at the beach, transfers to both Bangkok and Krabi airports, and – in Bangkok only – free WiFi (once you get to the beach you should be keeping your laptop packed away).
The deal comes up to 86,900 Baht ($2,400) for a double for the entire five nights and inclusions. That's not bad considering both the Sukhothai and Rayavadee belong to the Leading Hotels of the World group and sound like above average places to stay.
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Get a Taste of Chiva-Som This Week at Claridge's London
With the good ol' economy the way it is right now (and those problems in Bangkok, come to think of it), we can't really get to Thailand at the moment. Let alone to a posh place in Thailand like the internationally-known wellness resort Chiva-Som.
But all is not lost, because (a bit of) Chiva-Som has made its way to London. Well, the resort's Executive Chef Paisarn Cheewinsiriwat has made his way to London, to be precise. To combat Easter's over-indulgence, Claridge's has flown the chef over to cook up some "gourmet spa cuisine" (i.e., low on the bad stuff like calories and fat, and high on super-fresh ingredients).
Chef Paisarn's three-course menu is being served until Friday in Claridge's Foyer & Reading Room (choose from things like herbed chicken coconut soup and steamed mussels with basil). That one costs £32.50; if you really want to go all out, you can try a gala dinner tomorrow evening (including a champagne reception) for £100.
To book, contact the Foyer & Reading Room on +44 (0)207 490 6307.
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Thailand Protests Apparently Not Affecting Hotel Stays in Pattaya
Judging by the headlines shouting about violent protests in Thailand and the danger to political leaders that forced the cancellation of the ASEAN Summit in Pattaya, you might feel inclined to stay away from the Royal Cliff Beach Resort where the Summit was due to be held. But the owners say that's not at all necessary.
Quick to put a halt to bad PR damage that this kind of event normally brings, the family owners of the Pattaya resort have already put a message online explaining that the protesters spent less than an hour at the hotel, no violent clashes took place there and no guests were affected. Well, apart from all those summit VIPs who were quickly whisked away and returned to their home countries.
The popular resort area of Pattaya is now trouble-free, with all the protests currently centered on Bangkok. The Royal Cliff Beach Resort rates really well according to recent guests, and apparently it was going to be good enough for all those Prime Ministers and Presidents.
Usual rates start from 6,400 Baht ($180) a night for a mini suite with a sea view. But if we were already in the Pattaya area we'd be dropping in to pick up a last-minute special — after all, they should suddenly have quite a few rooms free.
Tags: Ritz-Carlton Reserve / Ritz-Carlton Hotels / Thailand Hotels / Retreats / → All Tags
Ritz-Carlton Reserve Will Kick Off Exotic Brand in Phulay Bay
While last week we were focusing on cheap Thailand hotels on the beach, we can't help getting a little excited about the latest announcement from Ritz-Carlton about their Ritz-Carlton Reserve hotel brand. The theory behind their new brand suits us perfectly, because they are targeting:
People who want to get away from the stresses of everyday life by retreating to experience new cultures and adventures in exotic locations.
The first Reserve to open up will be Phulay Bay, A Ritz-Carlton Reserve in Krabi, Thailand, and it should be ready sometime during 2009. Although prices for Phulay Bay show from April onwards, their website currently says they're accepting reservations from June 1, 2009.
At that time of year--off-peak for them--rooms will be starting at 19,550 Baht ($550) for a resort pavilion, going up to 68,000 Baht for a Royal Villa stay (almost $2,000). We'll be picking a villa though, because they're the ones with outdoor baths and private plunge pools. Definitely falls into the category of getting away from stress somewhere exotic.
Tags: Le Meridien Hotels / Starwood Hotels / Thailand Hotels / → All Tags
Le Meridien Going For The "European Chic" Look
After Starwood finally was able to get the Aloft and Element brands off the ground and open, their next job is to reinvigorate the Le Meridien brand which they bought in 2006.
The Le Meridien Bangkok just opened in December and is the first hotel to show off this new design concept which Starwood will formally introduce in March, according to an article in the Bangkok Post.
Le Meridien will be going for the "European Chic" look, which will build on the LM100 promotion that Le Meridien presently is running in their hotels and on their website.
Tags: Phuket Hotels / Thailand Hotels / → All Tags
Phuket Resorts Jumping on the Mixed-Use Bandwagon
This latest news on Phuket resorts comes from Claire Duffet who is traveling through the area.
Phuket, a beautiful island in the Andaman Sea on the coast of western Thailand, has a serious congestion problem. Everyone wants to see it, and there are loads of hotels cashing in on the island's draw.
So it's refreshing that the en vogue trend there is "mixed-use" development. We have a friend studying urban planning at an East Coat Ivy League grad school. She says whenever someone mentions the term, she and her fellow students moan with pleasure.
That's because constructing buildings that aren't for one single purpose avoids the pour-in, pour-out routine that occurs with condos, hotels, or office buildings surrounded by parking lots.
Tags: Hotel News / Thailand Hotels / → All Tags
Thailand Hotels Are Feeling the Impact of Political Unrest
Oh dear. With the political unrest going on in Thailand -- People's Alliance for Democracy protesters are causing the closures of roads and airports -- the country has declared a State of Emergency. The protesters are now threatening to blockade seven (!) airports across Thailand -- but the tourism industry is already feeling the burn from all the hooplah.
At least five nations have warned their citizens about traveling to Thailand, and concerned would-be tourists have started to cancel the trips they'd already planned. The Bangkok Post reports that hotels are really starting to hurt as a result.
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