Thailand JING JING - Thai Travel Blog

On Nut: Bangkok's Local Side Without the Tourist Crowds

2026-07-21T22:25:46.305+07:00

Normally, when on assignment, I would stay closer to the centre of the action in Bangkok, likely at a branded property within walking distance of one of the central BTS stations. But on this occasion, I was here for a boring dental appointment and didn't need to be in the thick of it.

My only previous exposure to this district was when reviewing the brand new Melia INNSiDE and a small radius from there. Some had described it as an emerging locality in the Bangkok landscape. To that end it has two substantial retail malls, a modern multi-screen cinema complex and another upscale AVANI hotel attached to one, all of which are within a literal stones' throw of the BTS station.

Beyond the BTS core, the neighbourhood expands into a labyrinth of alleyways, linked by narrow, busy thoroughfares like Sukhumvit 81, that lead to more shops and businesses. On Nut Road is a major, 4-lane arterial road, encircling the district with its own assortment of larger enterprises, banks and automotive dealerships.

For many years, On Nut marked the eastern end of Bangkok's BTS Skytrain. Today, it has transformed into one of the city's more appealing neighbourhoods for travellers seeking an authentic slice of Bangkok without sacrificing convenience. Sitting around BTS On Nut Station on Sukhumvit Road, the district blends modern condominiums, bustling street markets and everyday Thai life in a way that few central tourist precincts still can.

Unlike nearby Asok, Thonglor or Siam, On Nut isn't so much about luxury malls or rooftop bars. Instead, it rewards visitors with excellent street food, lively local markets and prices that remain noticeably lower than Bangkok's more fashionable districts. The huge Lotus shopping centre, neighbourhood cafés and countless family-run restaurants make it an easy place to spend several days simply soaking up daily life.

For food lovers, On Nut is a standout. From sizzling moo ping skewers and fresh seafood to traditional noodle shops and late-night eateries, it's easy to eat exceptionally well for just a few hundred baht. Massage shops, small bars and coffee houses are plentiful, but the atmosphere remains relaxed rather than frenetic.

The BTS Skytrain is major advantage. Central Bangkok attractions, including Siam, Asok and the riverside transport connections, are only 15 to 25 minutes away, making On Nut an excellent base for visitors who want comfortable accommodation without paying premium Sukhumvit prices and I was able to sample several acceptable properties well under AU$100 a night.

However, On Nut isn't for everyone. First-time visitors hoping to walk between Bangkok's famous temples, nightlife districts and major attractions may find the commute inconvenient. The neighbourhood has relatively little traditional sightseeing of its own, nightlife is subdued compared with Thonglor or Nana, and traffic along Sukhumvit 77 can be heavy, particularly during peak hours.

So, should you stay there?

If your ideal Bangkok experience includes discovering neighbourhood markets, sampling authentic Thai food, travelling easily by Skytrain and avoiding inflated tourist prices, On Nut is one of the capital's better-value districts. If your priority is nightlife, luxury shopping or being within walking distance of Bangkok's headline attractions, you'll probably be happier staying closer to Asok, Silom or the riverside and visiting On Nut for an afternoon of eating and exploring instead.

Thailand's "Pay Like a Local" Campaign Hits a Digital Speed Bump

2026-07-20T16:26:44.092+07:00

Thailand has invested heavily in positioning itself as one of Asia's most digitally advanced tourism destinations. The Tourism Authority of Thailand's (TAT) "Pay Like a Local" campaign encourages international visitors to use QR code payments in much the same way as Thai residents, reducing reliance on cash while making spending easier for travellers and merchants alike.

At the centre of the initiative is the TAGTHAi app and its Easy Pay digital wallet, launched in partnership with Kasikorn Bank. The system allows eligible foreign visitors to load funds into a prepaid wallet and pay by scanning Thailand's ubiquitous PromptPay QR codes, eliminating many foreign card fees and the need to carry large amounts of cash.

On paper, it is an elegant solution. In practice, however, the rollout has exposed several frustrations that threaten to undermine an otherwise excellent concept.

Online reviews and user reports point to a range of issues including difficult registration procedures, verification delays, intermittent payment failures, app crashes and slow transaction processing. Some users have also reported that payments are declined when merchants use older QR code formats or when mobile internet connectivity is poor.

The registration process itself can be confusing for first-time visitors. Before a tourist can begin spending, they must download the app, complete passport verification, obtain a physical PAY&TOUR prepaid card at participating Kasikorn Bank exchange booths, then load funds onto the wallet. While none of these steps is individually complex, together they create considerably more friction than simply tapping a Visa or Mastercard.

That complexity is disappointing because Thailand's domestic QR payment ecosystem is among the world's best. PromptPay has become almost universal, from Bangkok shopping malls to tiny rural food stalls, allowing Thais to pay almost instantly with virtually no transaction costs. The TAGTHAi platform aims to extend that convenience to foreign visitors, but the user experience has yet to reach the same level of polish.

None of this means the system is a failure. Many travellers report successful use after completing setup, particularly in larger cities with reliable mobile coverage. The app also bundles accommodation, attractions, transport and tourism information, giving it value beyond payments alone.

The challenge is that payment platforms are judged not by their potential but by their reliability. A traveller whose transaction fails while buying lunch or boarding a ferry is unlikely to give the system a second chance.

As Thailand continues promoting its "Pay Like a Local" campaign, improving the TAGTHAi user experience should become a priority. Streamlining registration, improving app stability, broadening compatibility with merchant QR codes and reducing dependence on specific bank-issued cards would significantly improve adoption.

The vision remains compelling. Thailand already possesses one of the world's most sophisticated QR payment networks. If TAGTHAi can overcome its early technical hurdles, the "Pay Like a Local" campaign could become one of the country's most valuable tools for enhancing the visitor experience. At present, however, the concept is running slightly ahead of its execution.

Thailand on Screen: Where Paradise Meets the Movies

2026-06-19T16:02:37.929+07:00

Thailand has always looked ready for its close-up. With jungle-clad mountains, gleaming temples, tropical islands and Bangkok streets buzzing with neon, tuk-tuks and organised chaos, the country has become one of the world’s favourite filming locations.

And honestly, who can blame Hollywood?

Thailand can play almost any role. One minute, Phang Nga Bay is a glamorous James Bond hideout in The Man with the Golden Gun. The next, Maya Bay becomes the dreamy, secret paradise in The Beach. Bangkok has doubled as wartime Saigon in Good Morning, Vietnam, while forests and rivers elsewhere in the country have stood in for Vietnam, Bangladesh and other far-flung locations.

That is quite the acting range for one destination.

Recent productions have continued the tradition. Netflix’s Extraction turned Thai streets and bridges into high-octane action territory, while major science-fiction and adventure projects have tapped into the country’s dramatic coastlines, dense jungles and otherworldly limestone formations. Thailand does not merely provide scenery; it brings atmosphere, colour and a sense of scale that would be difficult to recreate in a studio.

Of course, the appeal is not just photogenic beaches and moody mountain mist. Thailand also has experienced local crews, skilled set builders, strong transport links and plenty of hotels capable of housing large casts and production teams. Add competitive costs and government-backed filming incentives, and it becomes easy to see why major studios keep returning.

For travellers, all this movie magic has created a whole new reason to explore. James Bond Island remains one of southern Thailand’s most famous excursions, while Maya Bay still draws film fans eager to step into their own cinematic paradise. Bangkok offers endless opportunities to spot familiar rooftops, riverside streets and nightlife scenes from the big screen.

There is a serious side to the story, too. The popularity of some filming locations has placed pressure on fragile environments. Maya Bay, for example, required a lengthy closure and ecological recovery programme after years of heavy tourism. Today, stricter controls aim to keep the scenery spectacular without loving it to death.

So, the next time you visit Thailand, take a good look around. That quiet cove, jungle road or rooftop bar may already be famous, or waiting for its starring role.

Thailand Pride Month 2026: Celebrate Diversity Across the Land of Smiles

2026-06-04T19:06:50.987+07:00

Thailand is turning up the rainbow colours for Pride Month 2026, with celebrations taking place across Bangkok, Phuket, Pattaya, Ko Samui and Chiang Mai. For LGBTQIA+ travellers, it is an opportunity to experience one of Asia's most welcoming and inclusive destinations while enjoying the country's renowned hospitality, culture and nightlife.

The celebrations come as Thailand continues to build on the momentum of its landmark Marriage Equality Act, which took effect in January 2025. The legislation made Thailand the first country in Southeast Asia to legalise same-sex marriage, reinforcing its reputation as a leading LGBTQIA+ travel destination.

Bangkok remains the centre of Pride activity, with colourful parades, community events, rooftop parties, drag performances and cultural programmes throughout June. The city's famous Silom district comes alive with rainbow flags, themed events and nightlife that attracts both local residents and international visitors.

Beyond the capital, Thailand's resort destinations offer their own Pride experiences. Phuket and Ko Samui combine beachside celebrations with pool parties and luxury resort stays, while Pattaya hosts lively parades and community festivals alongside its well-known entertainment scene.

In northern Thailand, Chiang Mai takes a more cultural approach, with art exhibitions, community gatherings, café events and performances celebrating local LGBTQIA+ voices and creativity.

Thailand's tourism industry has embraced Pride with enthusiasm. Hotels, restaurants and tour operators offer inclusive experiences ranging from wellness retreats and cooking classes to island excursions and cultural tours.

Visitors can also support local LGBTQIA+-owned businesses, attend community events and learn more about Thailand's diverse and vibrant queer culture.

Whether you're seeking a lively Pride parade, a tropical beach escape or meaningful cultural experiences, Thailand Pride Month 2026 offers a colourful and welcoming way to explore the kingdom while celebrating diversity, equality and inclusion.

Thailand Pride Month 2026, LGBTQ travel Thailand, Bangkok Pride, Phuket Pride, Chiang Mai Pride, Thailand LGBTQ tourism, same-sex marriage Thailand, Pride events Asia.

Koh Chang’s Best Kept Secret? A Stylish Little Hideaway Called The Retreat

2026-05-18T17:26:05.178+07:00

Thailand has no shortage of beach resorts. Some come with giant pools, booming beach clubs and enough buffet trays to feed a small nation. But every now and then you stumble across a place that does things differently. That’s exactly the feeling at The Retreat Koh Chang, a boutique hideaway tucked away on Thailand’s gloriously green island of Koh Chang.

First things first. Koh Chang itself already feels like old-school Thailand. Compared with Phuket or Samui, things move slower here. The roads twist through jungle-covered hills, monkeys occasionally appear beside the road like curious traffic police, and sunsets seem to arrive with theatrical flair every evening.

Then there’s The Retreat.

This isn’t the sort of place where staff greet you with choreographed drum performances and twenty-page activity schedules. Instead, the vibe is calm, relaxed and effortlessly stylish. Think polished timber, soft lighting, tropical gardens and the kind of peaceful atmosphere that immediately lowers your blood pressure by about 20 percent.

The rooms lean heavily into modern tropical design with lots of warm wood, oversized beds and terraces perfect for doing absolutely nothing except pretending to read a book while secretly watching the ocean. Some rooms even step directly into the swimming pool, which sounds dangerously convenient for anyone planning to “just have one quick swim” before breakfast.

And speaking of breakfast, food here deserves a mention. Fresh tropical fruit, good coffee and seafood dishes make it very easy to lose track of time at the open-air restaurant overlooking the water. Sunset cocktails also become something of a nightly ritual. Strictly for research purposes, of course.

One of the nicest things about The Retreat is that it never feels overbuilt. The property blends into the surrounding greenery rather than fighting against it. There’s a genuine sense of escape here, helped by Koh Chang’s laid-back personality and slower pace.

If you eventually manage to leave your sun lounger, the island has waterfalls, boat trips, snorkelling spots and sleepy fishing villages worth exploring. But honestly, many guests seem perfectly content alternating between pool, restaurant and hammock all day long.

And who could blame them?

For travellers chasing a quieter side of Thailand with a bit of boutique polish, The Retreat Koh Chang might just be the perfect excuse to slow down for a few days and rediscover the art of island time.

Main Image: Supplied.
Images: Roderick Eime

Where to Stay in Sathorn: A Practical Bangkok Hotel That Delivers Value

2026-04-21T11:49:00.006+07:00

Hotel Review: Best Western Click Sathorn 11 Bangkok

There’s a certain honesty to Best Western Click Sathorn 11 Bangkok that becomes clear within minutes of arrival. It doesn’t try to pass itself off as a lifestyle statement or boutique showpiece. Instead, it leans into what many travellers actually need in Bangkok: a clean, modern, well-located base that works without fuss.

Lobby

The location is one of its strongest cards. Tucked into a relatively quiet soi just off Sathorn Road, the hotel feels removed from the main traffic flow, yet it’s only a short walk to the BTS at Saint Louis. That proximity makes a real difference. Bangkok’s distances can be deceptive, and being able to step onto the Skytrain within minutes takes much of the friction out of getting around. There’s also a scattering of cafés, convenience stores and low-key eateries nearby, which gives the area a lived-in feel rather than a purely commercial one.

Room sizes are generous and thoughtfully arranged (Superior 24sqm, Deluxe 29sqm). The design is contemporary without being overworked, with neutral tones, decent lighting and a layout that makes sense for both short and slightly longer stays. Beds are consistently praised for comfort, and the air conditioning, which can be hit-or-miss in some Bangkok hotels, performs reliably here. Bathrooms are modern and well-maintained, with good water pressure and practical amenities rather than indulgent extras.

RELATED STORY: Best Western has Bangkok covered

Where the property scores highly is in cleanliness and upkeep. Housekeeping standards are generally strong, and the building still feels relatively new, as evidenced by the condition of the common areas and guest rooms. Staff interactions tend to be efficient and polite rather than overly personalised, but that suits the tone of the hotel. Service here is about getting things right rather than putting on a performance.

Handy rooftop pool is great for a cooling dip

Facilities are modest but adequate. There’s a small rooftop pool that offers a welcome break from the heat, though it’s more for a quick dip than a day spent lounging. The bright and airy dining area, Copper, serves breakfast and light meals, offering a selection that covers the basics without competing with larger hotels. For most guests, especially given the surrounding food options, that feels like a reasonable trade-off. A special shout-out to Khun Joy and her team for 'above and beyond' service.

Copper restaurant combines service and value

The value proposition is where this hotel consistently earns its reputation. In a district where room rates can climb quickly, this property delivers a level of comfort and convenience that often exceeds expectations for the price point. It’s particularly well suited to independent travellers, business visitors and anyone planning to spend most of their time exploring the city rather than staying in.

Khun Joy (seated left) and her outstanding F&B team

That said, it’s worth being clear about what it is not. This is not a resort-style property, and it doesn’t offer the depth of facilities you’d find at higher-end hotels in Sathorn. There’s no expansive gym, no signature dining experience, and no sense of the hotel itself being a destination.

But for many travellers, that’s precisely the appeal. Best Western Click Sathorn 11 Bangkok gets the fundamentals right. Good sleep, reliable comfort, strong connectivity and a location that supports rather than complicates your time in the city. In a place like Bangkok, that can be exactly what you want.

Our team received a discounted rate to create this review. We stayed in Room 701 on 16-17 March 2026

All images supplied

View Hotel Fact Sheet

READ MORE: Sathorn Surprise

Sathorn Surprise - an authentic local Bangkok experience

2026-04-21T10:22:00.005+07:00

I didn’t expect to warm to Sathorn quite so quickly. On paper, it reads like Bangkok’s corporate engine room, all glass towers and embassy blocks. In reality, it’s one of the most comfortable and practical places I’ve stayed in the city, especially when you want a base that works rather than overwhelms.

A little context helps. Sathorn’s story begins as a canal-side trading strip. The Sathorn Canal, dug in the late 19th century by a Chinese entrepreneur named Luang Sathon Rajayutka, connected the Chao Phraya River to the inner city. Warehouses, shophouses and small docks followed, and the area took on a distinctly mercantile character. As Bangkok expanded through the 20th century, the canal was filled in and replaced by Sathorn Road, which steadily evolved into a spine of finance, diplomacy and corporate life. What’s interesting now is how that business core has softened into a place people actually want to stay.

I based myself at the shiny new Best Western Click Sathorn 11 Bangkok, off the main drag, and immediately noticed the difference from Sukhumvit. Fewer touts, less noise, and a sense that people here are getting on with their day rather than performing for visitors. Coffee in the morning meant a choice between a polished café or a street cart doing a brisk trade with office workers. Both felt equally authentic.

RELATED STORY: Why choose Sathorn?

Getting around is straightforward. The BTS from Chong Nonsi or St. Louis drops you into Siam in minutes, and the MRT isn’t far away either. I found I could plan the day without worrying about long, grinding transfers. That matters in Bangkok, where distance on a map rarely matches travel time.

What surprised me most was the hotel mix. Sathorn leans heavily into space and value. Even mid-range properties offer rooms that feel considered rather than squeezed. I spent a few nights at Best Western Click Sathorn 11 Bangkok and it did exactly what I needed. Clean lines, decent workspace, reliable Wi-Fi, and a pool for a late-afternoon reset. No theatrics, just a well-run city hotel with super attentive staff in the right place. If you want more polish, you’re a short walk or cab ride from places like The Sukhothai Bangkok or COMO Metropolitan Bangkok, both of which lean into a quieter, design-led take on luxury.

Evenings were a reminder that Sathorn isn’t all suits and spreadsheets. There’s a steady drift of good restaurants and bars, some tucked into old houses, others perched high above the street. You can dip into Silom for something louder, then retreat to somewhere calmer without a long haul home.

If Bangkok can feel like a series of extremes, Sathorn sits comfortably in the middle. It has grown from a trading corridor into a business district and now, almost by accident, into a very workable leisure base. For me, that evolution is the draw. It’s a place that reflects how the city actually functions today, which makes it easy to settle in, even for a short stay.

See our review of Best Western Click Sathorn 11 Bangkok

We stay at the new Dusit Thani Bangkok

2025-12-18T23:23:00.006+07:00

Bangkok’s beloved legend has rebooted itself with flair: the new Dusit Thani Bangkok isn’t just another skyscraper hotel — it’s like the city’s classic nodding graciously to the future. After a stellar transformation and grand reopening in September 2024, Dusit has taken its rich heritage and wrapped it up in slick modern design and views that make you go “wow” every morning.

View from room 2807 (Roderick Eime)

Let’s talk rooms. Every one of the 257 spaces faces Lumpini Park, which basically means your morning coffee comes with a front-row seat to Bangkok’s leafy green lung. The floor-to-ceiling windows and cantilevered window seats are the kind of feature that Instagram was invented for — seriously, those panoramas could make you forget to check out altogether.

The design? Think Thai elegance meets contemporary cool, all stitched together by André Fu Studio — warm colours, subtle traditional motifs, and a vibe that feels luxurious without being stuffy.

Dusit Thani kitchen team in action for breakfast (Roderick Eime)

Dining and lounging bring a fun mix of refined and relaxed. Breakfast at The Pavilion feels like a celebration of flavours (bring your appetite), and the rooftop bars — particularly the Spire and 1970 — serve up cocktails with views that rival any skyline in town.

Deluxe corner king suite (supplied)

Downsides? A few reviewers quibble about over-festive duvets and temperamental light switches (first-world problems, honestly).

Lobby (supplied)

Overall, Dusit Thani Bangkok has taken its storied past and turned it into a vibrant playground for modern travellers — warm, stylish, a bit dramatic (in the best way), and absolutely worth your bucket-list Bangkok stay.

Dusit Thani Bangkok among the world’s top 100 hotels

2025-11-05T16:58:00.003+07:00

Dusit Thani Bangkok, the reimagined flagship of Dusit Hotels and Resorts under Dusit International, has earned global acclaim by ranking #60 on the inaugural extended list of The World’s 50 Best Hotels 2025. This newly introduced list highlights 50 exceptional hotels across six continents, chosen by over 800 independent travel professionals—including hoteliers, journalists, and seasoned luxury travellers—for their innovation, service excellence, and guest experience.

First opened in 1970 as one of Thailand’s pioneering luxury hotels, Dusit Thani Bangkok quickly became a cultural landmark and symbol of Thai hospitality. After a five-year redevelopment within the Dusit Central Park mixed-use project, the hotel reopened in September 2024, redefining its signature brand of Thai-inspired gracious hospitality for a new era.

The redesigned property pays homage to its heritage while embracing modern sophistication. Iconic elements from the original hotel have been thoughtfully preserved, including the distinctive spire—now elegantly encased atop the new structure overlooking Lumpini Park—as well as ornate pillars, artworks, and frangipani trees planted by the company’s founder. These details create a seamless blend of legacy and contemporary design.

Renowned designer André Fu has crafted refined interiors that reinterpret the hotel’s storied past with modern elegance. Spacious rooms and suites offer panoramic views of Lumpini Park, and the hotel features curated dining concepts and the signature Devarana Wellness centre, all reflecting a commitment to craftsmanship, culture, and heartfelt service.

Gilles Cretallaz, Chief Operating Officer of Dusit International, described the recognition within a year of reopening as a significant milestone that reinforces the brand’s dedication to excellence, authenticity, and culturally rooted hospitality. The accolade follows additional recent success, including the awarding of Michelin Keys to Dusit Thani Bangkok, Dusit Thani Mactan Cebu, and Dusit Thani Kyoto in October 2025.

LAY Beach Club Makes Waves in Pattaya

2025-09-16T16:00:00.005+07:00

In the heart of Thailand's vibrant Pattaya, a new hotspot has emerged, promising to revolutionise the city's nightlife and dining scene. LAY Beach Club, situated on Beach Road along the Gulf of Thailand's east coast, has officially opened its doors, offering an unparalleled beachside experience.

A Hydro Bar Like No Other

The pièce de résistance of this exciting new venue is its hydro bar, an elegant cocktail pool that appears to seamlessly merge with the ocean. Surrounded by a pristine white-sand area and deck featuring circular sofas and cabanas, the hydro bar is dotted with submerged loungers, creating an immersive experience like no other.

Mediterranean Flair and Panoramic Views

The exciting new venue is situated on Beach Road on the Gulf of Thailand’s east coast, a short drive from Bangkok, and has already been dubbed “the place to be”.

The beach club's lounge and bar area, catering to nearly 250 people, exudes a Mediterranean feel, while the chic rooftop lounge offers panoramic views of Pattaya Beach. With a capacity for over 100 guests seated or 300 for cocktail events, this space is poised to become a favourite among locals and tourists alike.

A Menu that Blends Flavours

LAY Beach Club's à la carte menu showcases a blend of Mediterranean and Asian flavors, featuring artisanal sandwiches and wraps, hearty rice and pasta dishes, fresh seafood mains, and signature specialties. Standout dishes include hand-shucked oysters with shallot mignonette, lemon, and salsa verde, and seafood paella rice with prawn, mussel, squid, and clam.

Creative Cocktails and Beverages

The beverage menu is extensive, featuring smoothies, juices, beers, wines, champagne, and imaginative cocktails crafted by the award-winning bar team. Signature cocktails like the pandan-scented "Blue Tides" and the floral "The Wave Rider" showcase the team's creativity.

As LAY Beach Club settles into its new role as a Pattaya hotspot, it's clear that this venue is set to make waves in the city's nightlife and dining scene. With its unique hydro bar, stunning vistas, and creative offerings, LAY Beach Club is the perfect destination for those seeking an unforgettable beachside experience.

LAY Beach Club has already been dubbed “the place to be” in vibrant Pattaya

“LAY Beach Club brings the atmosphere of the famed Mediterranean chill-out beach clubs to Pattaya, with a dynamic menu offering something for everyone,” said Javier Gimeno, the general manager at Meliá Pattaya Hotel, which manages LAY Beach Club. “By day, our sun-soaked beach club has a laid back feel and by night, it’s a lively hotspot with DJs spinning the decks, dance performances and LED visuals on our state-of-the-art giant LED screen.”

The evening’s entertainment is underscored by an enthralling 20-minute fire show packed with high-impact tricks and choreography.

Open daily from 11am until midnight, Lay Beach Club also caters to an array of events.

For reservations and more information about Lay Beach Club, please call +66 33 168 599.

"Eat Spain Drink Spain" at LUZ Bangkok this Friday

2025-09-15T16:40:00.003+07:00

Spanish market-themed evening on Friday at INNSiDE by Meliá Bangkok Sukhumvit

LUZ Bangkok Tapas Bar is set to celebrate its second anniversary in style with an "Eat Spain Drink Spain" evening on September 26, 2025. This rooftop venue, located on the 33rd and 34th floors of INNSiDE by Meliá Bangkok Sukhumvit, will transform into a Spanish spectacle, showcasing premium products and entertainment.

The festivities will kick off at 4 pm on the 33rd floor, where guests can indulge in authentic Spanish tapas, sangria, and signature cocktails while enjoying live music from a guitarist and DJ. The evening will take an exciting turn at 7:30 pm when the party moves upstairs to the Giant Swing Pool Bar on the 34th floor.

Here, guests can take in breathtaking views of the Bangkok skyline while savouring sangria, draft beers, and signature cocktails, all accompanied by more music and entertainment. The 34th floor's pool bar, transparent infinity pool, and rooftop terrace provide a stunning backdrop for the celebration, with The Giant Swing, a contemporary interpretation of Bangkok's Brahman structure, being the most photogenic highlight.

With its unique blend of Spanish flair and Bangkok charm, this anniversary celebration promises to be an unforgettable experience.

The dress code is Smart Casual with a preference for the colors red, blue and black. Table reservations can be made in advance at: luz@innsidebangkok.com or (tel) 02 340 5498.

Flashback: Bangkok 25 years ago

2025-09-09T09:22:00.005+07:00

Bangkok is very different from the rest of Thailand. It has a population of six million and a totally dysfunctional transportation system, which they are trying to fix by building raised freeways. As if that had helped any anywhere it was tried... During Bangkok's extensive rush hours, car exhaust forms a swirling smog in the main streets, and the noise is deafening. There is lots of construction, but the noise of the jackhammers is drowned out by the traffic. Crossing a street becomes a matter of courage, timing, and good judgment of the potential homicidal tendencies of the drivers. Unless everyone is hopelessly tangled again and nothing moves. Policemen wear smog masks here.

The easiest way to move here is one of the water taxis on the Chao Phraya river. They cost almost nothing and are very efficient, always either running full throttle forward or full thottle backward to slam against the ponton stations to let people on or off. I stayed at the Oriental Hotel, considered one of the best hotels in the world, which has its own water taxi station.gold spire.

The Oriental is impressive. They average three employees per guest and right after I checked in they all seemed to know my name. Everyone is smiling, bowing, rushing to open doors, making up my room whenever I wasn't looking, and are generally helpful with everything. Finally, a hotel with noiseless air conditioning. They actually have a dress code, but then so does the Grand Palace, some water taxi stations up the river.

The latter is overwhelming in its gold and mirror mosaic splendour. (So are the touts outside, preying on tourists like vultures.) The palace and the adjoining Wat Pho are huge, full of temples, shrines, buddhas from finger-sized to 46x15 meters, and tourists and their desperately beeping cameras that know that their flashes don't have a chance in front of the 46-meter Buddha. No matter where one turns, there is another group of palaces and chedis, covered in gold and mirror mosaics.palace statue.

The picture to the left shows the central chedi, covered entirely with gold. It is possible to enter some of the temples, but only after taking one's shoes off. They have long rows of racks to store them. Taking pictures inside is not allowed. There is a row of over three hundred golden buddhas, hundreds of meters of wall paintings, statues and gates and stone temple guards and chedis. In another temple eslewhere they have a three-meter Buddha made of pure gold, weighing 5.5 tons.

When I couldn't stand it any longer, I left the temples, fought my way through the ubiquitous touts trying to sell cab rides, gems, girls, or custom-made suits, and wandered all over the city's markets. It is actually possible to see Bangkok by walking; the interesting part of the downtown area is not large, only a few square kilometres garbage dump.

Of course, not all of Bangkok consists of golden temples. They have deceptively scenic canals, called Klongs, that are said to be so polluted that nobody who falls in gets out. There is a modern part of town near the university that contains some shopping centres, but it is not worth visiting. There is construction everywhere, mostly those raised freeways but also new office buildings. The picture on the left shows the other side of Bangkok.

Walking by a Thai dumpster is a truly stunning experience. Guess what happens to garbage, especially meat, real quick in hot and humid weather?

Retrieved from Travelhog.net. Originally published January 2000

Flashback: Ko Samui 25 years ago

2025-09-08T09:20:00.002+07:00

Ko Samui is a bit like Ko Phuket, only not as developed. The luxury resorts are missing, and rooms are cheap and simple. The island does make up for it by providing picture-perfect beaches and palm forests. The picture on the left shows the entrance to the hotel park with the huts to both sides, seen from the hotel beach.

Ko Tao is largely undeveloped. Undeveloped doesn't mean pristine beaches but construction and wild garbage dumps because the lack of development obviously cannot be tolerated. Power failures happen here. Not really recommended except as a base for diving.

I went to the supposedly nicest hotel, Ko Tao Cottages. The room was nice enough but the beach was filthy, there was construction, the showers were cold, and the outdoor restaurant was so poorly lit that the waiter brought a flashlight. The food was good though, and I discovered fresh coconut milkshakes.

I took the speedboat from Ko Tao to Chumphon, a distance of about 80 km. A speedboat is a small boat with two large outboard motors, much smaller than the boats in the picture (the boat hadn't arrived yet). Once clear of the island, the waves got higher and the boat started to bounce off the waves - a splash, the motors go idle, a moment of weightlessness and then the crash into the water. What started out fun got worse. The sea turned dark gray, deck plates shook loose, and the left motor started to be thrown up in its gimbal mount. The pilot and copilot stopped and fixed it with some rope while the boat was bobbing on the waves. Some time after that both motors made Ko Tao pier, 6.9kfunny noises - more inspections, and we were now asked to wear life jackets. The waves were now so high that if one of us went overboard it would be impossible to see him more than ten meters away. Meanwhile, the pilot was conferring with someone on the radio (we had radio - good). I don't speak Thai, it could have been an SOS or an advice that they'd be late for lunch. We went on at lower speed for hours, with several more motor problems.

When we finally reached Chumphon, after twice the normal travel time, the sea went green and quiet and the sun comes out. As I sit here safely on the pier, I decide to take a good look at the boat that will take me to the Caribbean next month.

Retrieved from Travelhog.net. Originally published January 2000

KANCHANABURI – DAY TRIP – BRIDGE ON THE RIVER KWAI

2025-08-31T16:24:00.004+07:00

‘What a load of shite, eh?’ says Dick Lee, in a thick cockney accent. The octogenarian former-HQ dispatch rider is building up quite a head of steam about the 1957, seven-Oscar-winning blockbuster Bridge on the River Kwai. Ever since the movie premiered to worldwide acclaim, he has not been alone among ex-POWs who still voice their disenchantment.

A friend, Paul, remembers attending a screening for veterans in London in 1958 with his father, Captain Hugh Pilkington. ‘He turned to the doorman and said, “What a lot of tripe”.’

But perhaps the biggest idea of how wide of the mark the script was comes from Colonel Philip Toosey, the commanding officer played by Alec Guinness. ‘He didn’t even recognise himself as the character portrayed in the movie,’ Julie Summers, Toosey’s granddaughter and author of The Colonel of Tamarkan, tells me. ‘The film made millions of people think they were seeing something realistic when they were not.’ Unsuccessful entreaties were made to the film’s flamboyant producer, Sam Spiegel, to add a super-title that branded the movie ‘fiction’.

The real; bridge today (R Eime)

So where did the movie go wrong?

Bombshell: There never was a River Kwai. Blame Pierre Boulle. In 1952 the French author published his novel Le Pont de la Riviere Kwai. A POW himself, he’d heard survivors talk of building two bridges on Khwae Mae Klong; and many railway camps were along the adjoining Khwae Noi. The ‘khwae’ part obviously stuck in his head. But khwae is simply a Thai word for river. ‘So he inadvertently named it “River River”,’ laughs Summers.

In 1942, the Japanese desperately needed a railway link between Bangkok and Rangoon to fuel their push into India. Use was made of 60,000 Allied POWs in Singapore and Java, a windfall labour force. A further 200,000 native labourers were also chain-ganged.

With the route fording rugged terrain adjacent to the Burma border, 688 bridges spanning nearly 13 kilometres were needed along the 415-kilometre sector that became notorious as ‘The Death Railway’.

One bridge had to span 378 metres across Khwae Mae Klong at the provincial town of Kanchanaburi (‘city of gold’). Tamarkan, on the south bank near the confluence, was historically where the Burmese crossed the river in their bid to sack the ancient kingdom. The POWs swelled the usual population of 5000 and local vendors enjoyed a boom, trading much-prized duck eggs which supplemented meager rice rations.

Kanchanaburi was also the headquarters of the Imperial Japanese Army 9th Railway Engineering Division. ‘They was no mugs, they knew what they was doing,’ Lee reckons. Some of the best minds behind the Thai-Burma Railway – including engineer Yoshihiko Futamatsu – went on to design Japan’s ‘Bullet Train’.

For eight months, POWs toiled in blistering sun and driving downpours to complete The Bridge, with little mechanical assistance. Materials from an 11-arched steel bridge in Java were shipped up, and British-laid railway tracks in Malaya were recycled.

While never sabotaged with explosives, quality control was deliberately lax, the admixture of the concrete pylons diluted when guards’ backs were turned. The wooden service bridge adjacent was also home to a fine colony of white ants, introduced by the very men who’d built it.

One humorous episode involved two Japanese guards who disappeared during a lunch break, presumably consumed by the setting concrete. They were subsequently found, AWOL with their local girlfriends!

Nine POWs lost their lives during construction, but a further 400 of 2600 Australians, English, Dutch, and Americans based at Tamarkan perished from disease, malnutrition, and wayward Allied bombs. (The attrition was low compared to 24% of all POWs who died in Japanese hands --12,800 Allies and up to 100,000 Asians died building the railway.) Credit to Toosey, a strict disciplinarian and stickler for maintaining hygiene and dignity. And, unlike in the movie, he did encourage – even covered for – one escape attempt.

With little or no fanfare, the bridge was completed at the end of April 1943. After a foot regiment, the first train crossed May 1. Many POWs probably willed The Bridge to come tumbling down. But it stood defiant.

Again, unlike in the movie, The Bridge did its job, enabling 1000 tons of goods and munitions each day to reach Japanese troops in Burma, despite the RAF and USAAF trying to blow it back to Indonesia. Hitting a narrow-gauge rail line from several thousand feet proved tricky, so American military boffins devised the Azon: radio-controlled bombs with adjustable fins. BOOM! On June 24 1945, three curved spans were blasted into the river. A couple of months before war’s end, The Bridge was out of action.

Post-war, the bridge was repaired. Two rectangular spans lend an awkward asymmetrical look. With the movie achieving ‘classic’ status, the Seventies saw a new army arriving in Kanchanaburi – backpackers. Lee says: ‘There was nothing there at the time except a couple of rooms and a shack.’ They all wanted to see the bridge on the River Kwai. But there was no such thing. So Thailand responded by changing the name from Mae Khlong to River Kwai. Happy now?

Kanchanaburi -- three hours northwest of Bangkok and gateway to Erawan Falls, the Tiger Temple and Hellfire Pass -- is a buzzing low-rise town where everything screams ‘tourism’ … T-shirt stalls, friendly but persuasive post-card vendors, T-shirts, pirated CDs, T-shirts, hawkers cooking Unidentified Frying Objects, T-shirts, and bars where you can ‘get shit-faced on a shoestring’ (as one sign exhorts) while watching screenings of The Movie. Cue infectious Colonel Bogey March soundtrack. Pencil-sharp V8-engined long-tail craft cannon along the river, dodging floating karaoke bars.

There is a dramatic beauty. Depending on the season, the backdrop is either the purple peaks of the Burma Ranges, or a hazy grey painterly rendition. But, no, Thailand was deemed not jungley enough -- the film was shot in Sri Lanka (Spiegel sending the footage home on five separate flights).

The train line insinuates itself into the burgeoning tapioca-and-sugar cane centre of 175,000 it helped foster. We hop off the third-class rattler at Kwai Bridge Station, where vintage locomotives and Japanese diesel truck-trains litter the station. We approach it side-on from water level for a more theatrical impression. ‘But that can’t be it … it’s metal,’ says John from Australia, derailed by the movie.

We walk the planks. They creak underfoot, as a scrum of tourists pick their way across the metal spans. When the train and tour buses arrive from Bangkok it is standing room only, as we sardine our way from one end of the bridge to the other. Yawning gaps open to a watery grave 20 metres below. ‘No Occupational Health & Safety issues here then,’ quips John.

TOOOOTTT!!! A short, sharp horn blast. Expletives deleted! A yellow-and-red loco chugs into view. Fortunately, it stops at the platform. Relieved, nervous giggles. The train inches gingerly forward to the slaps and groans of displaced planks. Further horn blasts shoo stragglers. Beaming faces peer from open sash windows. Motor-drives click and whirr in syncopation with the train’s squeaking wheels. Two Muslim girls give a super-friendly wave. The train clatters above umbrella-ed vendor carts, past tapioca fields, then swallowed by the jungle ...

‘I walked into the jungle where a bit of the old railway was still lying,’ Lee says. ‘It was so silent, you think, Did that all really happen? Like a bleedin’ dream.’

More like a recurrent nightmare. Which is why, to me, the most resonant line in the movie is when Alec Guinness says: ‘I hope in years to come, when the war is over, people remember who built it and how they built it.’ Amen. Ironically, certainly not by watching that movie.

Now, if I could just get that damn Colonel Bogey tune out of my head.

Question: Do you think this movie has done more good or more harm in telling the story of the POWs on the Death Railway? Leave your comments here.

Meliá Chiang Mai’s signature restaurant Mai Restaurant & Bar's new menu

2025-08-28T13:54:00.001+07:00

Supporting Local Sustainable and Organic Farming

Meliá Chiang Mai’s signature restaurant Mai Restaurant & Bar has unveiled a new menu of innovative dishes concocted via a thoughtful cooking process to slash food waste and greenhouse emissions.

The intimate restaurant on the hotel’s 21st floor serves contemporary Northern Thai dishes with Mediterranean influences to a backdrop of a compelling design referencing the city’s rich culture and spectacular vistas of the city and famed Doi Suthep Temple on the mountaintop to the west.

As part of the hotel’s 360° Cuisine concept, executive chef Suksant Chutinthratip (Billy) and Mai Restaurant & Bar’s Sous Chef Karn Phojun craft dishes featuring fresh produce from the hotel’s network of ethical and chemical-free suppliers including organic gourmet farms Rong Khum in San Pa Tong and SEED in San Sai. The chefs use as much of every ingredient as possible before leftovers are returned to the farms as compost, and leftover cooking oil is sent to be recycled into biodiesel.

The new menu’s six appetisers range from ‘Hoi Shell Samunprai’ featuring hot seared deep blue sea scallops, dried chili drops and turmeric chip, to ‘Khao Soi Salad’, a mixed salad bowl with fresh produce from the farms, accompanied by khao soi dressing, tai lue tofu, wheat, and cage-free eggs.

‘Neau Yang Nam Prik Kha’ made up of grilled
Thai-Angus rib eye beef, dried galangal gravy and San Pa Tong rice.

In addition to three soups and three rice and noodle dishes, the menu outlines nine meat, seafood or vegetarian main courses. ‘Cheeva Pork Chop’ with locally sourced pastured pork chop, wild pepper corn sauce and apple salad, ‘Neau Yang Nam Prik Kha’ made up of grilled Thai-Angus rib eye beef, dried galangal gravy and San Pa Tong rice, ‘Kua Haam Gai Benja’ low cooked chicken roulade, sai oua stuffing and lemongrass foam are among the delectable meat mains.

Alongside seafood dishes such as ‘Kanom Jeen Nam Prik Goong Pao’ with seared tiger prawns, fermented rice noodles, curry sauce and garden herbs, vegetarian mains include ‘Yum Makeua Yao’ comprising grilled eggplant, chili-soy dressing, garden herbs and wheat germs and ‘Saar Phak Tod’ of vegetable fritter, lemon aioli and garlic chips.

To round off the dining experience, four desserts are on offer including ‘Lum Yai Pudding’, comprising organic longan pudding, butterscotch sauce and coconut ice cream. The organic longhans, for example, are a product of Rong Khun farm’s “Farm Lab” established by Prof. Dr. Puangrat Kaewlom and Mr. Piroj Kaewlom (Dr. Puangrat’s father) to explore and demonstrate real-world solutions for sustainable agriculture that range from healing soil to improving consumers’ health.

As part of the hotel’s 360° Cuisine concept, executive chef Suksant Chutinthratip (Billy) and Mai Restaurant & Bar’s Sous Chef Karn Phojun craft dishes featuring fresh produce from the hotel’s network of ethical and chemical-free suppliers including organic gourmet farms Rong Khum in San Pa Tong and SEED in San Sai. The chefs use as much of every ingredient as possible before leftovers are returned to the farms as compost, and leftover cooking oil is sent to be recycled into biodiesel.

The Farm Lab’s key responsibilities include: developing and testing organic farming methods tailored for perennial fruits, starting with longan orchids; applying and evaluating biochar, compost, and natural microbial treatments to improve soil health and enhance soil carbon sequestration; and monitoring soil respiration and biodiversity as indicators of ecosystem recovery and carbon storage potential. The Farm Lab also serves as a training and demonstration site for farmers, researchers, students, and businesses seeking practical tools to address climate change, food safety, and regenerative farming.

Through the ‘Organic Longan Project’, Chiang Mai Green Kitchen partner restaurants including Mai Restaurant & Bar visited the Farm Lab, learned about organic Longan production, and created signature Longan-based menus, that highlight health, sustainability, and creativity, featuring ‘Lum Yai Pudding’.

Adjacent to the hotel’s executive lounge and tucked under MAI The Sky Bar, the highest rooftop bar in the city, the 38-seat Mai Restaurant & Bar is a visual marvel. Diners enter the venue under an arch that pays homage to a nearby temple. In a salute to Chiang Mai's Bo Sang Umbrella Village, large lit installations of umbrella ribs cling to the ceiling. Various artworks of umbrella canopies hang on the walls, such as those made from antique Chiang Mai textiles. The carpet’s concentric patterns, in the likes of gun-metal grey, periwinkle and soft amber hues, reference umbrella tops in a striking yet subdued way.

For further information or to make a reservation, call Mai Restaurant & Bar on +66 52 090 603, email fb@meliachiangmai.com or visit https://www.melia.com/en/hotels/thailand/chiang-mai/melia-chiang-mai/index.htm

Banyan Tree Krabi: Where the Pristine Meets the Prehistoric

2025-07-09T18:44:00.004+07:00

A Thai resort launches a Jurassic Explorer package for its guests.

The spectacular limestone cliffs and lush landscape of Krabi have returned to the silver screen as the primary film location of the blockbuster movie, Jurassic World Rebirth, which debuted worldwide on July 2, 2025.

After considering the Dominican Republic, Mauritius, Panama and Costa Rica, Hollywood producers opted instead for Krabi as the setting for the fourth in the franchise of Jurassic World movies, inspired undoubtedly by the same natural splendour that lured Banyan Tree’s developers, Asset World Corporation (AWC), to choose Krabi as the site for Banyan Tree Krabi, which opened in 2020.

Indeed, it was apt that Krabi was selected as the location for a prehistoric backdrop. The pristine environment, and in particular the magnificent limestone cliffs that jut precipitously from the sea, are no less than 90 million years ago, formed at a time when the sea level was much higher. The collision of the continents then uplifted the limestone, contributing to the dramatic karst towers and cliffs we see today.

“It didn’t surprise us at all that the film’s producers would call on Krabi as the setting for a dinosaur habitat,” said Haruethai Maneerat, General Manager of the 5-star Banyan Tree Krabi. “I can’t count the number of times I’ve had guests remark that the landscape is so abundantly natural.

“We are blessed with a beachfront view directly facing the spectacular uninhabited islands of a marine national park,” she added. “This is one of the most iconic views a visitor to Thailand can witness, and it always amazes guests to know that this untouched paradise is millions of years old.”

To celebrate the release of the hit film, Banyan Tree Krabi has introduced a new family-friendly package, offering guests the opportunity to trace the dinosaur-sized footsteps involved in the making of the movie and the spectacular film locations where scenes were filmed.

Named the “Jurassic Explorer”, the new promotion for guests includes: a Jurassic World Rebirth-themed welcome drink and snack; a half-day marine excursion to Hong Island and neighboring islands by local longtail boat; a 3-hour tour to discover the natural wonder of Klong Root (Clear Water Canal); a guidebook to explore the picturesque locations where Jurassic World Rebirth was filmed; a 60-minute massage treatment at Banyan Tree Spa Krabi; and special price on tickets for two persons to the Jurassic World Experience at Asiatique The Riverfront, Bangkok.

The resort’s developer, AWC, is a partner in sponsoring the Jurassic World Experience, an exhibition in central Bangkok, which features life-size dinosaurs and interactive fun.

The excursion to Klong Root takes in one of Krabi’s hidden gems — the rivers and waterways seen in the penultimate scenes of Jurassic World Rebirth, where the surviving protagonists of the film attempt to evade dinosaurs by paddling downriver through the dense jungle.

Guests who prefer to scout the sites independently will find that the Banyan Tree Krabi guidebook lays out a map of the spectacular sites and tropical terrain where Jurassic World Rebirth was filmed, including: Klong Root (Clear Water Canal), located 30 minutes by car from the resort; Phra Nang Cave Beach, adjacent to Railay Bay some 40 minutes by boat from the hotel; and Huay To Waterfall, which lies within Khao Phanom Bencha National Park, a 60-minute drive from the resort.

In Jurassic World Rebirth, Scarlett Johansson stars as Zora Bennett, the leader of an expedition aiming to secure DNA from dinosaurs which could have life-saving benefits to mankind.

Indeed, Johansson herself is a devotee of all things Thailand, stating in a recent interview that her favorite dish is laab gai, a ground chicken meat salad that perfectly balances spicy, sour, and herbal flavours.

As a gesture to the film star’s spice-proof palate, Banyan Tree Krabi has now introduced its own version, dubbed “Jurassic Laab–A Star’s Wild Bite”, offering guests at the resort a mouth-tingling recipe, with options of either minced chicken or ground beef, and served with toasted rice powder.

The kitchen has also hatched another new dish, a “Fossil Egg”, which is a hard-boiled egg wrapped in sausage meat, coated in breadcrumbs, deep fried, and presented on a platter.

Additionally, the mixologists at the hotel’s beachfront Kredkaew Bar have also shaken up some new concoctions: namely “The Raptor Forest”, a tangy blend of Midori liqueur, Chalong Bay rum, pineapple juice, lemongrass syrup, ginger ale and lime juice; as well as introducing the Campari-based “T-Rex Rampage”.

Meanwhile, at Banyan Tree Spa Krabi, guests can unwind after a hard day exploring the outdoors with a Rebirth in Tranquillity treatment, which involves an hour-long full-body massage followed by a luxurious 30-minute rejuvenating bath.

The Jurassic Explorer package is available until 21 December, 2025, with a minimum three-night stay at Banyan Tree Krabi. For enquiries and reservations, go to: https://www.banyantree.com/thailand/krabi/offers/jurassic-explorer

The Resort

Located on tranquil Tubkaek Beach, some 25 km west of the town of Krabi, Banyan Tree Krabi has 72 pool suites and villas, among them seven two-bedroom options, one three-bedroom villa, and a majestic seven-bedroom Presidential Beachfront Pool Villa. The resort backs into a lush forested national park, and each of the 72 rooms faces westward towards uninhabited islands in the Andaman Sea.

Facilities at this 5-star hotel include two restaurants and a beach bar, a beach club, a kids’ club, a fitness centre, meeting rooms, and the award-winning Banyan Tree Spa Krabi.

North Phuket Unveils Strategic Destination Rebrand

2025-06-17T17:41:00.002+07:00

Exciting news out of Thailand, with a group of hoteliers in Phuket coming together to launch a new campaign to attract more visitors to the less-developed north of the island.

While much of the world knows Phuket for its crowded beaches and neon-soaked nightlife, a bold new initiative is flipping the script, with “Above & Beyond”, a destination branding campaign redefining North Phuket as Thailand’s next must-visit locale, not for the masses, but for mindful, high-value travellers.

Led by The Slate Phuket’s GM Claude Sauter and backed by MICE Magnet Asia and top academics, this movement is more than a slogan. It’s a strategic shift: from volume to value, from visibility to authenticity. With Thailand welcoming over 11M international visitors last year, and the south reaching saturation, the serene northern coastline is emerging as a luxury alternative.

This is a great example of industry coming together for the greater good and could become a blueprint for Southeast Asia’s tourism future.

More awards for Devasom

2025-05-25T18:14:00.001+07:00

Devasom Resorts is pleased to announce that Devasom Khao Lak has been recognised in the Best Luxury Resort category and Devasom Hua Hin in the Best Boutique Resort category for Thailand as part of Tripadvisor’s® Travellers’ Choice® Awards Best of the Best for 2025. This prestigious recognition places both resorts among the top 1% of hospitality experiences worldwide based on genuine traveller reviews.

As the world’s largest travel guidance platform, Tripadvisor has unparalleled authority with travellers and diners. This award is based on genuine feedback from anyone in the community who has visited and left an authentic, first-hand review on Tripadvisor over a 12-month period, making it a valuable and trustworthy designation of travellers’ favourites.

Devasom Khao Lak – A Secluded Beachfront Sanctuary

Just 75 minutes from Phuket International Airport, Devasom Khao Lak Beach Resort & Villas offers a refined tropical escape surrounded by natural beauty. With luxurious rooms, suites and villas nestled between a pristine beach and a tranquil lagoon, the resort is a haven for discerning travellers.

Guests enjoy elevated culinary experiences at Devasom Beach Grill | Bar and Takola Thai Restaurant, both featured in the Michelin Guide, as well as immersive wellness programs such as the recent Devasom Sol Festival as well as private excursions, and serene spa therapies. The resort combines barefoot luxury with authentic Thai culture, making it an ideal destination for relaxation and rejuvenation.

Devasom Hua Hin – Timeless Elegance on the Gulf of Thailand

Overlooking a quiet stretch of the Hua Hin coastline, Devasom Hua Hin Resort channels the elegance of a bygone era. Designed in the style of early 20th-century summer mansions, the resort features only 23 spacious, sea-facing guest rooms, suites and villas.

With its romantic beachfront ambiance, personalised service, and proximity to cultural attractions, golf courses, and dining in Hua Hin town (via complimentary shuttle), the resort continues to be a favourite among travellers seeking intimate, boutique luxury. It has received consistent accolades since its opening in 2010.

Celebrating Traveller-Centered Hospitality

These awards reaffirm Devasom Resorts’ commitment to creating unforgettable, heartfelt travel experiences through curated design, exceptional service, and a deep connection to local heritage.

"Two properties, two awards. We are deeply grateful. Since day one when our family poured our hearts into founding these unique resorts with natural beauty and thoughtful design, Devasom has focused on creating experiences that embrace nature, attend to every detail, and foster genuine connections that become treasured memories. Our heartfelt thanks to our dedicated team members who bring this vision to life, and to our wonderful guests whose trust makes this recognition possible. Excellence remains our continuous pursuit through heartfelt hospitality," said Is Atirak, Co-founder and Managing Director of Devasom Resorts.

“Congratulations to Devasom Khao Lak and Devasom Hua Hin on its recognition in Tripadvisor’s Travellers’ Choice Awards Best of the Best for 2025,” said Kristen Dalton, President, Tripadvisor. “Ranking among the top percentage of businesses globally means you have made such a memorable impact on your visitors that many of them took time to go online and leave a glowing review about their experience. Travelers rely on Tripadvisor’s Best of the Best lists to help them navigate the myriad things to see, eat and do across the globe. We hope this recognition continues to drive business to you in 2025 and beyond.”

Check out all the reviews and discover more about Devasom Resorts here Devasom Khao Lak and Devasom Hua Hin

Barefoot luxury at Let's Sea Hua Hin Al Fresco Resort

2025-04-13T15:05:00.003+07:00

From an intimate beachfront eatery to the recently renovated boutique hotel it is today, Let's Sea Hua Hin Al Fresco Resort has undergone a culinary evolution, putting Hua Hin on the food map long before it was a barefoot luxury hotel. The local talent of its kitchen awakens guests' senses to the authentic wonders of Thai cuisine, and hospitality standards transcend across the 40 private suites.

To create an all-encompassing gourmet hotel in their twenties, Let's Sea Hua Hin Al Fresco Resort's three investors decided to achieve their goals starting first with the Beach Restaurant, established more than twenty years ago. Truly believing that memorable experiences start with great gourmet hospitality, four years later, their passion project transformed into a luxury boutique hotel.

Success that stems from its renowned Beach Restaurant, personal recipes that have been passed down through generations are exclusive to the restaurant and evoke childhood memories of the investors who started their business in the nostalgic town of Hua Hin. Celebrating the heritage of Hua Hin that was once a quiet fishing village attracting Thai royal families, dishes combine the fragrance of Thailand with the hotel's ocean front location with fresh crab meat spring rolls, coconut coated popped shrimp, wok tossed of Hua Hin clams with white wine & basil, Hua Hin Clam &Crab Chowder and seafood BBQ feasts.

With glamourous cocktails that are globally as well as Hua Hin naturally inspired, the Beachfront Bar showcases refined mixology skills whilst those looking for laid-back afternoon vibes is the Sand Lounge Positioned at the edge of the resort's spectacular 120-metre lagoon pool and conveniently accessible and exclusive for the resort guests, guests can sink into sand or stay semi-submerged in pool whilst indulging in one of the hotel's culinary delights

With a sense of responsibility to sustain its gourmet reputation on an international scale, Let's Sea Hua Hin Al Fresco Resort is eco-chic and dedicated to supporting the community whilst preserving the natural beauty of its surroundings. The resort's minimal carbon footprint with revolutionary waste management systems and seasonally sensitive local produce attracts conscious travellers looking to taste Thailand's true palate.

An ocean-facing boutique hotel and restaurant that champions locality and eco-minded initiatives, barefoot luxury has recently completed a significant renovation, its fresh new look as a destination that draws a new blueprint of cutting-edge cool in Hua Hin. The hotel's staff are entirely local, and its eco-architectural design minimises the overall environmental impact.

83/188 Soi Huathanon 23,
Hua Hin-Khaotakieb Road,
Hua Hin, Thailand,
Prachuap Khiri Khan

+66 32 900 800 || info.huahin@letussea.com || letussea.com

How to go shopping in Thailand

2025-04-02T14:35:00.005+07:00

It’s no secret that Thailand is one of the most popular shopper’s paradises. Shopping is a prime item on a Thailand tourist's itinerary. A wide range of beautiful and quality items are on offer everywhere. Clothes, homewares, handicrafts, paintings, furniture, handbags, shoes, jewellery the list of bargains is endless. Having 24-hour service clothes tailored is very good value – especially for men. Department stores and local markets are equally fun and interesting to visit.

For those who do not like haggling and bartering, department stores are perhaps more likely to suit your style. They are still very good value and are often filled with bargains and sales. There is not one “shopping street” in Bangkok, however there are a number of recommended department stores throughout the city:

Department Stores in Bangkok

1. Gaysorn: International standard shopping centre featuring famous Thai and international brands and fine restaurants. This is a must destination for those who like designer brands.

2. MBK (MahBoonKrong): For those who like a cheap bargain (e.g. shoes for A$7.00), this is the best place to go for shoppers who love shopping in a market-style atmosphere, but would prefer to do so in air-conditioned comfort. It is positively packed with stalls selling anything from clothes, leather goods and fashion accessories to electrical supplies, furniture, cosmetics and all kinds of gift items.

3. World Trade Centre: Bangkok's largest downtown mall is a labyrinth of shops, restaurants and entertainment, including cinemas, an ice-skating rink and the Thai Duty Free Shop.

4. Central Department stores: Central Department Store Chain is the largest retailer in Thailand with department stores, specialty stores, specialty stores, supermarkets, mini-marts and hypermarkets.

5. Emporium: Offers many well-known brands at excellent prices. This is a very trendy and more expensive shopping mall that has a number of specialty stores so you can get all your shopping done at once. It includes a number of stylish boutiques, the Coffee Shop, a supermarket, bookstores and a number of good restaurants.

Markets in Bangkok

1. SILOM-SURAWONG-PATPONG
Silom Road is the main artery of Bangkok’s commercial heart and is paralleled by Surawong Road, while Patpong runs crosswise between the two. In addition to housing dozens of specialist shops and boutiques representing all the major buys, this area also boasts many branches of well-known retailers and several shopping plazas. Street stalls also abound, most notably at Patpong’s famous night market.

2. BANG LAMPHU
Situated close to the Grand Palace and Temple of the Emerald Buddha, Bang Lamphu has a lively market where clothing is a popular buy.

3. PRATUNAM-PHETCHABURI
A highlight in the district is Pratunam market, one of Bangkok’s biggest centres for ready-to-wear clothing.

4. BAIYOKE TOWER
Located next to Bangkok’s tallest hotel building, Baiyoke Tower is one of the city’s renowned garment centres.

5. CHINATOWN
Centre on Yaowarat Road and Sampheng Lane, Bangkok’s Chinatown offers a profusion of gold shops as well as two nearby traditional shopping places, Ban Mo Jewellery Street and Phahurat Cloth Market.

6. NAI LERT MARKET
Situated close to Pratunam Market, Nai Lert Market is one of many shopping areas in Bangkok where you can buy just about everything from clothing to handicrafts

7. CHATUCHAK WEEKEND MARKET
Located adjacent to Chatuchak Park, the weekend market, open on Saturday and Sunday, is a Bangkok landmark where you can buy just about everything from clothing to potted plants and everything in between — a paradise for browsers and bargain-hunters alike. Chatuchak Weekend Market also offers items of furniture and home decor. It is also where professional and amateur artlovers and artists meet. With it's own skytrain station, it's simply and quick to get there and back too!

New Year Shopping Festival

Shopping street
As part of the year-end shopping celebrations, TAT, the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration, and members of the private sector representing hotels, department stores, shopping malls and other business interests around Bangkok’s famous Ratchaprasong Intersection have joined hands to make the area a colourful shopping street with bright, fresh and fun look decorations.

The harsh lines of the buildings are softened with trees, plants, landscaping, and a touch of Thai to make the area aesthetically appealing. All electrical wiring is buried underground. Street furniture and new lighting are installed and sidewalks smoothly paved with all the shopping malls in and around the intersection linked by covered elevated walkways.

There are shopping discounts, special offers and festive celebrations as well as leisure and entertainment extravaganza held throughout the period. The highlight is the “Bangkok Countdown” held in front of the Central World Plaza on New Year’s Eve in which Thai and foreign visitors gather and join the rest of the world in welcoming the New Year.

VAT refunds
Vistors to Thailand can now claim VAT refunds at Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Hat Yai and Phuket international airports for a minimum purchase of 5,000 baht per day (this amount can be reached through many purchases in one day). Upon making a purchase, visitors should request the store to process a VAT refund form. If in a department store, tourists must collect their receipts and take them to the specified VAT counter to be processed. Receipts must be processed on the day of purchase.

When departing Thailand, visitors must have the form stamped at the customs VAT checkpoint prior to airline check-in. Please note that the goods bought and claimed under the VAT refund system must be shown to the customs representative before the form can be stamped.

When passing through passport control, visitors will have the form processed by the Revenue Department officials and receive a VAT refund.

Important Update for Travellers to Thailand

2025-04-02T14:31:00.000+07:00

Starting 1 May 2025, non-Thai nationals entering Thailand by air, land, or sea must complete the Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC) online prior to the arrival.

click to enlarge

Banyan Tree Samui Embraces the White Lotus Effect

2025-04-01T15:29:00.007+07:00

Banyan Tree Spa Samui has introduced a “Sense of Lotus”
spa package — a 120-minute rejuvenating treatment

Banyan Tree Samui, a MICHELIN-listed resort overlooking sapphire seas from its vantage point on a lush hillside at the southeastern peninsula of Koh Samui, has announced a series of in-house innovations to celebrate the growing popularity of the island under what has quickly become known as “The White Lotus Effect”.

The sudden surge in demand, according to Thai tourism authorities, is attributed to the hit U.S. TV series The White Lotus, a dark-humour drama with an all-star cast. The third series of the widely acclaimed show was filmed primarily on Koh Samui and premiered on TV screens around the world in February, with its production lauded for tasteful and tantalizing shots of the tropical island and its idyllic landscape and scenery. Although The White Lotus was not filmed at Banyan Tree Samui, fans of the show will doubtless recognize similar panoramic vistas and the verdant rainforest setting.

“I think we can expect a surge in prestige,” said Banyan Tree Samui General Manager Remko Kroesen. “Viewers are falling in love with the idea of Koh Samui and dream about travelling here. This will add to the luxury factor on the island – 5-star resorts, spas and wellness retreats should all see increased interest, and hopefully this wave of visitors will have a newfound appreciation for the island.”

The locations of the first two series of The White Lotus — Maui and Sicily — apparently saw a 300% increase in enquiries and hotel reservations year-on-year, and nobody doubts that the popularity of the series and its focus on local culture have been at the heart of this new “set-jetting” trend.

For its part, Banyan Tree Samui has introduced a range of new initiatives linked to The White Lotus, which Kroesen hopes will sate the thirst of fans as well as pique the interest of guests as yet unfamiliar with the American series.

Banyan Tree Samui’s specially
crafted White Lotus cocktail

From the locally-infused welcome amenities guests receive upon arrival at the 5-star resort to the on-site Wellbeing Sanctuary programs with yoga, meditation, fitness and healthy cuisine; reminiscences of The White Lotus abound.

Banyan Tree Spa Samui has this month introduced a “Sense of Lotus” spa package — a 120-minute rejuvenating treatment that begins with a White Lotus Polisher, where fine bead powder from lotus seeds gently exfoliates and renews the skin. The experience continues with a relaxing Sense of Lotus body massage designed to calm the mind and body.

Meanwhile, guests can luxuriate with the latest sundowner, a specially-crafted cocktail aptly named White Lotus - a lip-smacking concoction of vodka, white rum, lychee juice, lime juice, coconut milk and fresh lychee, garnished with dried Damask rose petals.

The resort has its own private speedboat, Sense of the Sea, which guests can hire to recreate their own White Lotus-inspired day trip with an exclusive excursion to the limestone islets of Mu Koh Ang Thong Marine Park, which is featured prominently in the third series, as well as several islands and other attractions among the diverse marine ecosystem and azure waters of the Gulf of Thailand.

Each of the 88 villas at Banyan Tree Samui has an infinity pool and the resort is tiered into the hillside offering spectacular vistas. The 38-acre property is rich in flora and plant life, and its private beach is flanked by coral reefs.

The resort hosts three restaurants including Saffron which was recently listed in the 2025 MICHELIN Guide. The resort also boasts an award-winning spa with Banyan Tree’s signature Rainforest hydrotherapy facility, a fitness centre, a kids’ club, a meetings and events centre, and a library.

For reservations and more information, contact samui@banyantree.com or tel: +66 077 915 333.

Villas at Banyan Tree Samui, each with a private infinity pool, start from US$585 per night.

Where can I change my Australian dollars into Thai Baht?

2025-03-05T14:38:00.003+07:00

You can change your dollars into Baht in Australia at exchange centres or banks; however, we recommend waiting and changing some of your money at Bangkok International Airport. You will receive a more favourable exchange rate in Thailand, and the changers at the airport will give you a better rate than the hotels. Banks will also have a more favourable rate than the hotels.

Automatic Teller Machines (ATMs) are in all major cities and you can draw money directly through your ATM or credit card, provided it has Cirrus or Maestro on it. Be aware that all Thai ATMs will charge a fee of around 200b ($10) on top of any fees your own bank will charge. Better to draw larger amounts than lots of small ones.

If you still use travellers' cheques, in USD or Australian dollars, they are accepted in all major hotels and banks. Major credit cards (American Express, Diners Club, JCB, MasterCard, and VISA) are also accepted in all major banks, restaurants, hotels, and shops. You will also find that new 'tap on' technology is gaining wide acceptance.

TIP: American Express says that you could pay fees that total 6% or more of purchases if you don't pay in the local currency.

Street stalls and markets are usually best with good old cash.

An Andaman Surprise in Krabi

2025-02-24T16:48:00.004+07:00

Situated in a quiet corner of tranquil Tubkaek Beach and facing a spectacular panoramic vista of uninhabited limestone islets, Banyan Tree Krabi is an idyllic venue for a special Valentine’s evening surprise. The resort’s beachfront lawn provides an intimate setting for couples with a candlelit dinner under the moonlight. On February 14th, for one night only, the resort offers an outstanding “Scent of Love” 5-course set dinner (9,900 THB per couple, inclusive of one bottle of sparkling wine). An amuse-bouche of crispy beer-battered oyster and rose jam is followed by homemade smoked beet-cured Salmon Gravlax, served with black caviar and salad. After soup and a sorbet, the main dish will be roasted Wagyu Beef Tenderloin Embraces Slow-Braised Beef Cheek in Red Wine Sauce, Asparagus, Truffle Purée, Risotto and Brandy Beef Jus or, alternatively, a fish dish which includes Krabi lobster. The meal will be rounded off with delightful sweets and fresh berries, and, hopefully, some memorable moments of magic. For more information and reservations, contact krabi@banyantree.com or tel: +66 75 811 888.

Exciting New Menu Takes Diners on Culinary Pilgrimage of Thailand

2025-02-18T11:16:00.005+07:00

INNSiDE by Meliá Bangkok Sukhumvit’s all-day dining restaurant The Kites Eatery has unveiled a playful and eclectic menu that celebrates central, northern, north-eastern and southern Thai cuisine.

Situated on the hotel’s 31st floor and dominated by soaring windows offering spectacular views of Bangkok, The Kites Eatery is adorned with abstract artwork of kites—a reference to the popular pastime of kite flying in state park Sanum Luang.

Fashioned by executive chef Katisak “Note” Pinkaew and his team, the new menu is served a la minute using quality ingredients from local farms. It has six sections: “Yum,” “Kub-Khao,” “Jan-Deaw,” “Kin-Len,” “Ping-Yang,” and “Khong-Wanh.”

Thai salads are known as “yum”, which means “mix”. “Yum Woonsen Boran - Rustic recipe glass noodle salad with minced pork and dried shrimps” and “Yum Nuea Yang - Spicy grilled grass-fed Australian beef salad” are among highlights of the menu’s Yum offerings. Meaning “eat and play”, Kin-Len’s appetisers include “Thod Mun Mhuk - Bite size spicy squid cake with cucumber relish” and “Lookchin Plakray - Slow poached leatherback fish ball with Chef s recipe sauce”.

“Our new menu draws on our inspiration to offer all sorts of surprises as we take diners on a culinary pilgrimage of Thailand,” said Pinkaew.

Kub-Khao, which translates to “with rice”, features options served with a choice of jasmine rice or brown rice. Kub-Khao dishes range from “Phed Palow rice field duck stew in herbal soya sauce served with egg” to ‘Talay Phad Phong Karee - Stir fried catch of the day seafood with smooth yellow curry sauce’”. Meaning “grilled”, Ping-Yang’s options such as “Mhuk Yang - Yaowarat’s style grilled squid tubes

Goong Phao - Grilled Samut Songkhram’s tiger prawns with chili lime sauce” are also accompanied by rice.

Jan-Deaw, a.k.a “a la carte”, affords the likes of “Khaw Soi Nuea - Chiang Mai curry noodle with tender grass-fed beef” and “Khaw Nha Gai - Bangkok China town chicken rice stew with chili and chive”. Mango sticky rice and coconut ice cream are among Khong-Wahn’s “sweet things”.

Open from 6.30am-11pm, The Kites Eatery’s chefs serve a healthy buffet breakfast and a la carte menu from noon, as well as customised lunches and banquets for meetings and events.

INNSiDE by Meliá Bangkok Sukhumvit is the newest member of an eclectic collection of urban and beach INNSiDE hotels — in 14 different countries across Asia, Europe, and the Americas — designed for those with curious minds who have a fluid lifestyle when it comes to work and leisure.

For further information and to make a reservation, visit https://www.melia.com/en/hotels/thailand/bangkok/innside-bangkok-sukhumvit, email reservation.innside.sukhumvit@melia.com or call +66 2 340 5499.