Etihad Holidays, a division of Etihad Airways, has announced a new cooperative agreement with Tourism Thailand to promote holiday packages to Bangkok, Phuket, Pattaya and Koh Samui. Peter Baumgartner, chief commercial officer of Etihad, said that as part of a special promotion running throughout February and March 2010, Etihad Airways would offer travellers the best value-for-money holiday packages to Thailand – known as the country of smiles.

Mr Baumgartner said: “Thailand is one of our key holiday destinations, offering travellers a rich culture and history and vibrant nightlife, backed by the warm hospitality for which the Thai people are renowned.” Etihad Holidays guests are being offered a range of bonus privileges at various hotels, including additional complimentary nights, free room upgrades, breakfast, airport transfers and attractive discounts on a wide selection of services.

The packages, combining airfares and accommodation, include:

Bangkok – the cosmopolitan capital of Thailand. Packages start from AED 3205, including three nights’ accommodation at the luxurious Imperial Queens Park Hotel.

Phuket – the largest island in Thailand, famous for its coves and bays which offer powdery beaches, clear blue sea and beautiful coral reefs. Packages including three nights’ accommodation at the Courtyard by Marriott Patong start from AED 3495.

Pattaya– the fun capital of Thailand, offering pristine beaches, memorable shopping and exotic hideaways. Etihad Holidays packages, including three nights at the Woodlands Resort and Suites of Pattaya, start from AED 3125.

Koh Samui – one of Thailand’s most popular holiday destinations, with coconut tree-fringed beaches, tropical jungles and a vibrant nightlife. Three night packages at the Amari Palm Reef are priced from AED 3685.

Mr Baumgartner said: “Etihad is committed to forging strong partnerships with tourism bodies in all of our destinations, to give our customers access to the best range of holiday packages under our Etihad Holidays World Deals.” Etihad Holidays offers its World Deals programme to destinations across the globe including Europe, US, Africa, Middle East and Asia as well as Etihad’s newest destinations in Japan and Sri Lanka.

To book with Etihad Holidays, customers can visit Etihad Holidays shops in Al Wahda Mall, Khalidiyah Mall, Marina Mall Abu Dhabi,Madinat Zayed, Dubai Marina Mall and Bawadi Mall Al Ain or call the UAE toll-free telephone number 800 2324.

Source: abawaba.com

Smile, you’re in Thailand. That’s not a suggestion here, it’s practically a requirement. Thai people begin every interaction with a smile: Go into a store, smile; pass someone on the street, smile; order a fried curry with squid and a Singha beer, smile. All this smiling becomes contagious. The friendly people, inexpensive massages, delicious food and tropical weather don’t hurt either.

I was lucky enough to spend this past New Year’s Eve in Koh Samui, a tropical island in the Gulf of Thailand. I had just gotten married in Bangkok (my wife’s father lives there), and after the reception the wedding party (all 14 of us) flew to Samui to celebrate New Year’s, relax on the beach and of course play golf.

“Men only organize two things: how they’re getting beer and where they’re playing golf,” my wife said when I told her about my morning tee time at Santiburi Samui Golf Club. Our foursome (me, my father, my brother and my brother-in-law) took a 30-minute cab ride (about $15 U.S.) from our resort to the course. The course is less than 10 years old and the clubhouse has decent rental sets and all the tees, gloves and balls you forgot to pack, plus an outdoor restaurant overlooking the coconut jungles and white-sand beaches of Samui for your lunch or post-round drinks.

The course is carved into the island mountain and the elevation changes make it virtually unwalkable. Instead each player has a cart and a caddie. The caddie experience is what makes golf in Thailand so remarkable. In Asia, the caddies are almost all women, as is often reported with an unseemly wink. It’s not like that at all. First, the caddies are completely covered to protect themselves from the sun, which make them look about as provocative as Scarlett Johansson in a beekeeper’s suit. (OK, bad example.) Second, the caddies are all about the golf: they give yardages, select clubs and read putts like any chain-smoking Scotsman, they’re just a lot sweeter. And just like at those Scottish courses, your caddies get into your round. If you’re playing well, you’ll hear a lot of “good shot” and soft applause. My father was the biggest hit with the caddies at Santiburi, who took to calling him “Papa” and cheered loudly when his tee shots split the fairway.

The Santiburi Samui course is a challenging resort track: generous fairways and large greens, but enough doglegs, tricky greens, ravines and bunkers to make you think. The views are the real treat though. The downhill par-3 sixth plays into a natural waterfall, and on the par-4 16th you play toward the ocean and nearby Koh Phangan island, site of Samui’s legendary full-moon parties.

And the best part is that once your round is over, you’re still in Samui. After we finished our round and settled our bets over a beer, we headed back to Chaweng Beach, which hosted a New Year’s Eve celebration the likes of which I’ve never seen before. Take a look.

Santiburi Samui Golf Club
Koh Samui, Thailand
6,930 yards, par 72
Fees: Green Fee 3600 baht ($110); Caddie fee 250 baht ($8); Caddie tip: about 300 baht ($9); Cart: 600 baht ($18); Clubs: 1000 baht ($30)

Source: blogs.golf.com

Baan Ling Noi, a spacious four bedroom, infinity pool villa in Koh Samui offers special rates from US$300 – $650++ per night during the first half of 2010. The prices, which vary based on the dates and on the number of guests using the house, represent a substantial saving on the regular rates.

Baan Ling Noi (which means Little Monkey House) has been featured in many luxury travel magazines due to its stunning interiors and location on a lush hillside, with spectacular views over the north coast of the paradise island of Samui. Setting new standards in elegant Thai living, the spacious open-plan villa is fronted by a totally private 14m x 6m infinity-edge swimming pool that overhangs tropical landscaped gardens and the green jungle below.

Simply but elegantly furnished, the house has free Wi-Fi, a large flat screen TV and DVD player, i-Pod speakers and a fully equipped modern kitchen. There are two dining tables, inside and out, as well as four big soft white deckchairs on the terrace – the best place from which to which enjoy the glorious views.

Around the pool area, each of the four air-conditioned, en-suite bedrooms (three doubles and a twin bed room) has double washbasins, rain-forest showers and WC. Two of the rooms also have large terrazzo bath, suitable for couples to bathe together.

All rooms are furnished with top quality materials and the beds have hotel quality, high thread count linen.

The large terrace and over-sized sala, set in the colourful landscaped gardens, provide the perfect spot for sunbathing or simply relaxing with a book and a refreshing drink.

Baan Ling Noi is serviced round the clock by a couple who keep the house and bedrooms clean and do the laundry, all included in the price. They also prepare both continental and American breakfast on request. A qualified chef is available for guests who prefer dinner at home – as is a massage by the pool – for a small extra charge.

More and more people are choosing private villas over luxury hotels these days, as the privacy and dedicated service at a villa offers an enhanced guest experience, not to mention outstanding value for money. In addition to having 24-hour personalized service, all food and beverages are? bought at cost, meaning huge savings – particularly for families and groups of friends.

The beautiful island of Koh Samui has many attractions and Baan Ling Noi is the ideal place from which to explore it, being just 10 minutes away from several palm-fringed, white sand beaches, the quaint Fisherman’s Village, three supermarkets and several 24-hour convenience stores. It is also just 15 minutes from the 18-hole Santiburi Championship Golf Course and five minutes from the 9-hole Bophut Golf Club.

Koh Samui is easily accessible from Hong Kong and Singapore, with daily direct flights on Bangkok Airlines (under three hours’ flying time from either destination) and by hourly flights from Bangkok. Baan Ling Noi is a short 15 minutes’ drive from Samui International Airport.

Source: etravelblackboardasia.com

FHM model Shashi Naidoo, finally said “I do” on December 30, last year when she wed her boyfriend of two-years Marc Sandler on the Thai island of Koh Samui.

The model who walked the ramp at the Audi Joburg Fashion Week last night at the Southern Sun Hotels’ Lingerie Show featuring Dax Martin, this morning posted the pictures on her Facebook page from her wedding that took place in front of “only 40 close friends and family of the couple”.

Actress and activist Rosie Motene was also a guest at the wedding.

The two were engaged for nine months.

Source: blogs.timeslive.co.za

Pay for two, stay for three. Pay for three, stay for four. As they say, you only need just a moment at Miskawaan to illuminate your brilliance, and the beachfront villa resort in Thailand is inviting guests to maximize their stay. Available until November, this special offer reflects Miskawaan’s dedication to providing optimal service and high quality accommodations for all exclusive luxury vacations.

Miskawaan offers exclusivity and privacy on Maenam Beach in Koh Samui, Thailand’s third largest island full of coconut trees, ribbons of sugary beaches and lush tropical gardens. Each of Miskawaan’s eight private villas include a private pool, courtyard and lavish furnishings fit for a king.

Starting with the private villas, guests can select from a three to five bedroom private villa decorated with an Asian island motif reflecting the lavish surrounding environment. Each private villa includes a private staff to organize activities and services like a private chef or personal driver.

The elegant villas are perfect for families, friends and romantic getaways. The living spaces are open and airy, with panoramic sea views and full amenities. The bedroom quarters are located in a separate pavilion and complete with en-suite marble facilities and open-air showers. Outside, each property has its own private swimming pool overlooking the beach and is surrounded by landscaped gardens, lawns, walkways and shaded terraces.

Source: blog.paradizo.com

First W Retreat in Southeast Asia to Feature 75 Villas, Brings New Dimension of Modern Design and Contemporary Lifestyle to Thailand.

W Hotels Worldwide has announced the spring 2010 opening of W Retreat Koh Samui, the first W Retreat in Southeast Asia. An all-villa beachfront resort set on the north shore of Thailand’s Samui Island, W Koh Samui will bring cutting-edge design, contemporary lifestyle, and exhilarating experiences to Thailand.

Adjacent to W Retreat Koh Samui will be The Residences at W Retreat Koh Samui, featuring 17 secluded beachfront villas and full access to W Koh Samui benefits, services and amenities.

“W Retreat Koh Samui will redefine the way we live and play, delivering a fully integrated contemporary lifestyle experience with the signature W twist,” commented Coetzer Deysel, general manager of W Retreat Koh Samui. “We are delighted to bring our world of ‘Wow’ to Koh Samui, one of the coolest islands in Southeast Asia.”
A modern paradise of vibrant foliage, unspoiled golden sand and warm island breezes, W Retreat Koh Samui will offer panoramic sunrise and sunset views of the Gulf of Thailand from its beachfront location. The Retreat will feature 75 private villas with modern lifestyle innovations, including a private pool, daybeds, outdoor shower, 47-inch plasma screen TV, wine refrigerator, and signature W bed.

W Retreat Koh Samui’s signature services and amenities will bring a new level of extravagance to a renowned Thai island. Exclusive experiences will include W’s signature Whatever/Whenever(R) concierge service, providing guests and residents with whatever they want — from Champagne brunch on a deserted beach to an impromptu island-hopping excursion — whenever they want it.

aWay Spa, the signature spa at W Retreat Koh Samui, will offer guests a wellness escape with signature treatments incorporating local Thai influences, like ingredients, massage techniques or design details, in a cool, playful way. aWay Spa will be a masterpiece of modern design with spa villas, TONIC juice bar and the first “Thaimazcal” treatment facility, based on Mexican tribal rituals, using local Thai ingredients.

For reservations and more information, please visit http://www.whotels.com/kohsamui/

Source: blog.paradizo.com