Exotissimo News Blog

Soft opening in February, the Amata Lanna is the new luxurious boutique alternative in Chiang Mai. Within walking distance of Wat Chai Mongkol, the Night Bazaar, and the Mae Ping River, the property is a harmonious fusion of traditional Thai ambience and modern amenities, including a Jacuzzi and an HD plasma LCD screen TV in every room.

On 1st April 2007, the Sheraton Chiang Mai will be rebranded as a Holiday Inn. The hotel has 526 guestrooms and 3,300 square metres of meeting space.

Please note that airport tax in Thailand was increased on 1st February 2007. The International Flight tax increased from 500 Baht to 700 Baht, and the Domestic Flight Tax from 50 Baht to 100 Baht.

Uthai River Lake has completed the construction of ten riverside rooms. Located on Koh Tepo accros the Sakaerang River from Uthai Thani, this charming resort makes an excellent stopover for groups travelling around Thailand by bus. Located between Ayuthaya and Sukhothai, Uthai Thani is often skipped by tour groups and retains a charming, Thai atmosphere that is becoming increasingly difficult to find. See our tariff for programs featuring Uthai Thani or contact thailand@Exotissimo.com.

The delicate blend of exotic herbs, spices, fruits and fresh ingredients makes Thai stand out as one of the world’s most flavourful cuisines. Exotissimo’s choice for a cooking course in Chiang Mai is Kaohom. Lessons are conducted in the gardens of a lovely house in the Chiang Mai countryside.

Just before the Lunar New Year, a cable car connecting Hon Tre Island and Nha Trang will begin operatoins. This gondola is the result of a billion (US$6 million) investment by Vinpearl Land resort. A one way trip on the cable car will take about nine minutes.

From the cable car, visitors will have a bird’s eye view of Vinperal Land resort, Nha Trang and the Vietnamese coastline. The resort provides guests with a variety of recreational facilities, three large fresh water swimming pools including the largest swimming pool in Vietnam and complete relaxation with the award wining Shiseido Spa, coupled with a diverse selection of Food & Beverage venues and cuisines.

Over the winter holidays, cruiseships, the Spirit of Adventure and the Costa Marina, brought a total of 1,600 tourists to Saigon port on Christmas Eve 2006. Upon arrival, the passengers visited famous Ho Chi Minh City landmarks, the Cu Chi tunnels and the Mekong Delta. Also on Christmas Eve, the Costa Allegra cruiseship brought another 1,000 passengers to port at Ha Long City. These tourists traveled to Hanoi to visit Hoan Kiem Lake, Tran Quoc Pagoda and Van Mieu - the Temple of Literature.

The Sandy Beach Resort in the central city of Da Nang has been awarded a 4-star classification, making it the second luxury resort in Danang after the 5-star Furama Resort. The Sandy Beach Resort opened in September 2004 and is located conveniently near Danang’s “China Beach.”

The Romana Resort and Spa has just had its soft opening in Mui Ne. The property’s 28 suites and 64 rooms all have views of the ocean, satellite TV and ADSL Internet service. Property facilities include an outdoor swimming pool, a beauty salon, a fitness centre and a tennis court. The Romana Resort and Spa is also the home of the Oceania Spa, the Laguna Bar and the Panorama Restaurant.

Air Bagan will begin flying between Yangon and Bangkok and Singapore daily in April. The carrier also has plans to increase the number of flights to Siem Reap, Cambodia. Air Bagan was established in 2004 and is based in Yangon, Myanmar.