Thai Smiles announces new Bangkok-Cebu-Bangkok direct air service

Thai Smile Airways, the budget subsidiary of Thai Airways International has recently announce it will fly direct to Cebu, Philippines starting October 2016.

Photo Credit : www.philippineflightnetwork.com

The said airline will fly to Cebu on a daily basis with three times weekly in the morning and four times weekly in the afternoon using an Airbus 320 with 162 dual class seats (12 business class and 150 economy class).

 

Thai Smile Airways is the regional airline and wholly owned subsidiary of Thai Airways. Based in Thailand, it began operations in July 2012.  The daily Bangkok-Cebu-Bangkok route is in addition to Thai Smiles’ five international routes and twelve domestic routes in Thailand.

 

Mr. Wutcharin Thatan, Thai Smiles executive, said the airline expects a good amount of traffic from both ends considering that Bangkok is one of the popular destinations for Filipino business and leisure travellers.  Likewise, Thailand is located strategically between the Philippines and Europe, the Middle East, and India, where visitor traffic to the country is registering double digit growth annually.

 

Mr. Thatan also explained that the non-stop service between Cebu and Bangkok will be faster and more convenient for travellers from the Central and Southern Philippines than the current option which is to fly from Cebu to Manila onward to Bangkok, saving up to one and half hours of domestic flight and a few thousand pesos for local fares.

 

The airline executive, together with the Market Development Group of the Department of Tourism (DOT), recently visited Manila, Cebu, Bohol, and Clark to gather information and to meet airport officials in preparation for the coming flights.  Mr. Erwin Balane, Head of the DOT’s Route Development Team, said that the new route will provide an additional 58,968 international air seats per year to Cebu.  This will provide expanded opportunity for the country to generate foreign exchange and employment.

 

The new route is an offshoot of the Philippines’ hosting of Routes Asia 2016 held at the SMX Convention Center last March 2016 in Manila.  The event was considered as the biggest aviation event in Asia where airlines, airports, and tourism authorities met to discuss possible aviation opportunities.

 

DOT Undersecretary Benito C. Bengzon, Jr. said the new route complements the agency thrust to intensify promotion of direct flights to other international gateways such as Cebu by stimulating air traffic demand in opportunity markets.

 

Thai Smiles currently has 15 units of the Airbus 320 which are intended to serve the market gap between low-cost carriers and full service airlines.

 

Bangkok's Famous Chicken Rice : Go Ang / Kaiton Pratunam

After enjoying a night in Pattaya, we head back to Bangkok and stayed at Arnoma Grand Bangkok in Pratunam Disctrict - the shopping haven of the city. (Read : Arnoma Grand Bangkok Hotel Review)

We're already starving when we arrived at the hotel but we don't want to eat just anywhere, so, we asked one of Arnoma's staff where we can find the best place to eat nearby. He said we should try Bangkok's Chicken Rice. He added that it's probably the most popular chicken rice in the city and luckily it's just a walking distance from the hotel.

We got really excited. He wrote a sketch in a piece of paper and told us to just show it to any local in the street if we get lost and we should be guided accordingly. True enough, we're kinda lost and showed the paper to a local and he pointed us to the right direction. It seems that everyone in the community knows where this famous chicken rice stall is.

It's a bit early when we arrived at the stall but it's already full packed. We're very lucky to have been able to get the last vacant table. Of course, we ordered their famous chicken rice. After a couple of minutes, our orders were served. We ate it with gusto. I really love chicken rice. The sauce perfectly complements the steamed chicken. It's totally different from the usual sauce I've tried in Singapore. It was good, I mean really good. Nothing fancy and spectacular but it's worth to try. I'd love to go back again when I get back to Bangkok.

Go Ang / Kaiton Pratunam Chicken Rice stall is conveniently located across the road from Platinum Fashion Mall. When you're in the vicinity, you can immediately distinguish the place - lots of people and the pink uniforms of the staff. 

GO ANG / KAITON PRATUNAM CHICKEN RICE RESTAURANT 

960 – 962, Phetchaburi Road, Soi 30, Pratunam, Bangkok, Thailand 

Opposite of Platinum Fashion Mall, look for the lane named Petchaburi Soi 30 

Opens 5.30am – 3pm, 5pm – 3am

10 Travel Tips for A Cheap Getaway in Southeast Asia

Southeast Asia is one of the emerging tourist destinations in the world. It has become a part of most travelers' itinerary in their journey around the world.. From pristine beaches, pagodas, mountains, UNESCO Heritage sites and delicious cuisines, the region has got it all for you.

Traveling across Southeast Asia does not need to be expensive. With careful planning, you can travel around the region cheaply and conveniently. Here are some tips and guidelines for a Cheap Getaway in Southeast Asia.

Plan ahead of time

It is important to plan your vacation at least three to six months before your actual travel. Airline ticket prices are lower when it's far from the travel dates. The closer the date when you book a flight, the more expensive the fare is. The same situation for some accommodations. Some hotels and hostels offer promo rates when you book in advance like GoHotels in the Philippines and Tune Hotels and Red Planet Hotels across Southeast Asia.

Set A Budget

You must set a budget like an estimated amount you can spend for the duration of your trip. I suggest you travel within your means. Meaning, don't go beyond what you can afford. Make sure you include at least 20% buffer in your budget to cover unforeseen expenses.

Draft an itinerary

You have to make a rough itinerary and polish it later on. You have to know when and where you want to go and how many days you will be staying in one place. It's good if you start your travel in a regional hub so you have lots of options to fly across the region. Start your journey in Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, or Bangkok. I suggest you use an excel sheet or a google sheet so you can update it anytime. 

Check for Flights at third party websites

If you are not certain where to go next or if you are looking for cheap fares, you can try Skypicker or Adioso. These booking sites let you search for flights for a specific destination or search by radius. This way, you can see which destination has a cheaper fare from where you'll be flying out. I once book my Yangon-Bangkok flight with Skypicker and saved around $10 compared to the airline website's booking system. So, before you book always try the next tip. It's also worth trying Skyscanner, Wego and Expedia. 

Compare prices of flights from third party sites and airline websites

Once you checked the fares at third party websites, go to the airline's website and check their rates. Most of the times, booking directly through the airline's website is much cheaper. Of course, as I mentioned above, sometimes you get lucky too, booking at third party websites. 

Consider flying with the Region's low-cost Carriers (LCC)

There are a number of Low Cost Carriers operating in Southeast Asia and beyond. You have AirAsia in Malaysia; Thai AirAsia and Nok Air in Thailand; Jetstar Asia, Scoot and Tiger Air in Singapore; Indonesia AirAsia and Lion Air in Indonesia; JetStar Asia and VietJetAir in Vietnam; and Philippines Air Asia and Cebu Pacific in the Philippines. These budget airlines often have promo fares so watch out for it regularly. Subscribe to their newsletter or follow their Facebook pages for updates.

Consider traveling by train or bus

If flights are expensive, consider traveling by bus or train. Actually it could save your accommodation cost of you travel an overnight bus or train to your next destination. It can also be fun traveling overland. I once tried traveling by train from Penang to Bangkok for almost 24 hours and I had so much fun. Also tried an overnight bus from Yangon to Bagan in Myanmar and the experience was delightful. Tourist buses are very comfortable.

Checkout Regional Passes

Airasia has ASEAN Pass and Bangkok Airways and Lao Airlines offer Discovery Airpass to explore the region. Check them out and study if you can save on flight costs. These passes do not cover taxes and other fees so you have to be careful. I know some folks who were able to save a lot by using these passes. 

Check for Accommodation

Once you booked your flights or you polished your itinerary, consider booking your accommodation. Booking sites such as Expedia, Wego, Agoda and HostelBookers are great websites to begin your search. Do not book right away, compare prices. Most of the time, Agoda has cheaper rates but from time to time Expedia offers promotions exclusive to its members. I once saved around $20 after booking from Expedia. As mentioned above, try GoHotels, Red Planet Hotels and Tune Hotels as they offer really cheap rates when you book in advance.

Get A Travel Insurance

There are a lot of companies offering travel insurance. You don't know what's going to happen so make sure you spend a portion of your budget to purchase a travel insurance. I suggest you get an insurance from World Nomads. It's easy and it's affordable.

Arnoma Grand Bangkok: Your Tourist Haven in the Heart of Bangkok

A visit to the capital and most populous city in Thailand is always an interesting experience. Bangkok is a bustling metropolis known for its ornate temples and lively street life, and this is all within easy distance from one of the best tourist hotels in the central business district, Arnoma Grand Bangkok.

Location

Just across from Central World, Asia's largest mall and a 10-minute walk from the Platinum Market and Platinum Mall in the Siam/Pratunam district, it is nestled among the best offices, shops, and restaurants in the city. It is within a stone’s throw from the Big C Supermarket if you need any essentials, and a 7-11 if you get the munchies in the middle of the night. You can easily stroll around the street market to get a bit of local flavor and some souvenirs, but leave most of your money and passport in the hotel safe as the streets can get very crowded. The hotel is also walking distance from the BTS Sky Train Chit Lom station, which is the best way to travel around Bangkok.  If you are in Bangkok for business or leisure, it is a convenient choice for home base.

Amenities

The hotel was recently renovated, and the lobby is splendid. It has 369 well-appointed rooms and suites with excellent beds, and each one was bright and cheery, complete with welcome drink and basket of fruits. Ask and you can get a room with a great view of the metropolis.  All rooms have free Wi-Fi, large screen cable television, and excellent air conditioning, which is an important feature in humid Bangkok. The hotel has meeting rooms, a fully equipped gym, and both indoor and outdoor covered swimming pools with sundecks. You have everything you need for work and play.

Dining

You can enjoy a splendid Asian-Western buffet at Mango 99 with an extensive choice of cuisines, including authentic Thai. Complimentary buffet breakfast is served at Mango 99.

If you fancy a snack or a drink, head over to the open air Arnoma Terrace or the Camelot Wine Pub. You can also choose to stay in your room and order room service, or you can check out one of the excellent restaurants in the area. 

An upcoming restaurant, Ah Yat Abalone Forum Seafood Restaurant, Bangkok's iconic Chinese restaurant will be opening soon at Arnoma.

Services

The best thing about Arnoma aside from the excellent location is the hotel staff. Everyone from the hotel manager to the cleaning crew is very friendly and helpful, willing to bend over backward to satisfy client needs, and all with a smile.  They all speak English, so communication is not a problem for most visitors. The massage service is a must-try. If you need private transportation, want to book a tour, or require an airport shuttle, all you need is to ask and they will accommodate you. 

The Arnoma Grand Bangkok is one of the best tourist hotels in Bangkok. It combines a central location, friendly staff, comfortable accommodations, and reasonable rates to make it a prime favorite for many visitors to the city. If you want to do a lot of shopping in Bangkok, Arnoma Grand Bangkok is your best bet hands down. 

Arnoma Grand Bangkok

99 Ratchadamri Road, Pathumwan, 10330 Bangkok, Thailand 

Phone +66 (0) 2655 5555 Fax: +66 (0) 2655 7555 

E-mail : arnoma@arnoma.com

http://www.arnoma.com/

Thai Garden Resort Pattaya: Tranquility in the Busy and Vibrant City

Known for its many pristine waters, beautiful shorelines, and its ancient treasures, Thailand is among the most popular destinations in South East Asia. It might be a small parcel of land, but it’s blessed with lush sceneries and rich culture.

If you are planning to stay in Thailand in the next few months and you want to stay somewhere in Pattaya Bay, then it is worth knowing which resorts you should go to. Among the best places that you should check out is the Thai Garden Resort Pattaya.

They are quite popular for their free buffet breakfast, and the excellent dinner buffet that they serve. They mostly serve European dishes for breakfast but also serve Asian cuisine for those who prefer to try local foods. As for dinner, they have different theme each night so you'll surely enjoy it when you stay at the resort. Pizza and Pasta Buffet on Monday, BBQ Buffet on Tuesday, Multi-cuisine Buffet on Wednesday, German Buffet with Roasted Pig on Thursday, Thai Buffet on Friday, International Buffet on Saturday, and Steaks & Skewers Buffet on Sunday. Aside from the good food, you'll also be entertained by their trio band from the Philippines. The buffet starts at 18:00 and ends at 21:00. The rates are Bht399 for adults and Bht199 for children.

Thai Garden Pattaya is a four-star category accommodation that offers over 200 rooms. You can select from the standard room, Superior Room with a garden view, holiday bungalow, and their different selection of deluxe rooms and apartments that can either have the view of a pool or that of the garden. The resort also provide accessible rooms for handicapped travelers. Two rooms are designed especially designed for the resort's disabled visitors.

All of their rooms are inclusive of the basic hotel necessities such as an IDD telephone, refrigerator, working desk, TV, Coffee facility, electronic safe and hairdryer.

Travelers get to enjoy the benefit of the peaceful ambiance of the resorts and their variety of rooms. A great number of guests love the earthy motifs of the rooms and the bungalow. The overall design is very subtle and they used small and fine details for each room to stand out.

The Thai Garden Pattaya is a perfect place to retire in after a long day of walking around the beach or nearby tourist destination. 

I personally love the accessibility of the area, you can readily visit the nearby market to fill your gastronomic desires and walk around to explore the vibrant city. Pattaya Bay is only about 900 meters away from the resort.

You can also get to enjoy using their top notch facilities like their very large and clean pools, their beach benches and umbrellas and even their spa.

Expect a good number of Thai inspired motifs like group of three concrete sculptures by the pool and a number of Buddha sculpture scattered around the resort. There are also a number of Thai designed potteries that adorn some parts of the general area and the garden.

Apart from the high end features of the Thai Garden Pattaya Resort, they also take pride of their very skilled and highly trained employees. They are friendly and approachable, and they do try their best to live up to the label of the Thailand as the Land of Smiles.

All of the rooms are well maintained, and if you need assistance, the resort’s crew members are always on standby to help. They also provide free Wi-Fi connection so you don’t need to worry much about getting connected 24/7 while you are staying in the resort.

The resort is safely tucked in a quiet corner by the Pattaya Bay. It is not far from the city centre, and it is very accessible to all the travelers and visitors. From time to time, you can drop by the malls nearby if you want to find other recreational activities other than walking around the beach front. 

Thai Garden Pattaya Resort

179/168 Moo 5 North Pattaya Road,

Naklua, Banglamung Pattaya, Thailand
http://www.thaigarden.com/

reservation@thaigarden.com

+66 38 370 614-8

+66 38 413 571-4

+66 38 424 356

+66 38 426 009