In December 2006, the chic Siam@Siam Design Hotel and Spa had its soft-opening in Bangkok. Located near Siam Square, this sylishly-designed boutique hotel is just a short walk from the National Stadium Skytrain station.

The Siam@Siam is comprised of 203 luxury suites designed by Thailand’s top designers for “young travellers looking for first-rate pleasures in life.” Each suite is designed to reflect sophisticated and modern lifestyles. The designers of the Siam@Siam aimed to make each suite feel like a “Hollywood movie set,” incorporating high ceilings, wide bay windows and modern facilities in each.

Guests can relax in the sun around the hotel’s stylish pool, or relax in the Jacuzzi. The in-house spa offers 7 private treament rooms, Thai massage chambers and a Foot Massage pavillion. Get away from the hustle and bustle of downtown Bangkok and let the staff of the Siam@Siam ease your troubles away.

Contact Exotissimo Travel to organize your next stay at the Siam@Siam Design Hotel and Spa, where the “in-crowd” hangs its hat.

Qatar Airlines completed its first direct flight to Ho Chi Minh City on 28th March 2007. The airline will fly the route four times weekly on Airbus 300 aircraft. Qatar Airways Chief Executive Officer Akbar Al Baker said, “The growing economy of Vietnam and its ascension into the World Trade Organisation has seen a large influx of business and leisure visitors to the country. We look forward to attracting passengers to our award-winning Five-Star service here in Ho Chi Minh City.”

Vietnam’s recent membership into the WTO has been a milestone event for the country, illustrating its development and transition into a world-class economy and tourist destination. Its economy is the second strongest in South-East Asia and one of the strongest emerging markets in the world.

Vietnam is still viewed as one of Asia’s hidden gems, full of natural rainforests, beaches and mountanis. Culture and history lovers can explore the country’s many heritage and historical sites. In Ho Chi Minh City alone, visitors will enjoy seeing the Notre Dame Cathedral, the Old Saigon Post Office, Dong Khoi Street (formerly Rue Catinat), the Continental Hotel, the Opera House and City Hall.

Please contact Exotissimo Travel to book your next trip to Vietnam.

Samed Resorts has just opened the Samed Club Resort, a quiet and comfortable resort situated on Samed Island’s tranquil Noi Na Beach. Comprised of 30 bungalows and cottages, with sea, garden or mountain views, the Samed Club is decorated tastefully with a minimalist modern flair. There are 10 deluxe cottages, eight deluxe hillside rooms, six deluxe rooms, four garden rooms, and two beachfront rooms.

The Samed Club offers guests a little of everything. Thril-seekers are sure to take advantage of the resort’s sailing, scuba diving, windsurfing, canoeing and snorkelling, and its quiet location is within easy reach of the tourist shops, nightclubs and bars of Sai Kaew beach and Na Dan village. The Samed Club itself is just one hour from Pattaya and 2.5 hours from Bangkok.

Please contact us at Exotissimo Travel to schedule your stay at the Club Samed Resort.

When people think of Myanmar, wine is probably the last thing that they will think of, but Bert Morsbach hopes to change that. Set among Buddhist monasteries in the Aythaya hills, Morsbach runs Myanmar’s premiere vineyard, Aythaya Wine.

Started in 1997, Bert Morsbach’s objective was to create a wine that could compete with the top vintners from the world’s classic wine-producing countries. As creating wines in hot climates differs greatly from doing so in his German homeland, Morsbach faced many challenges and obstacles. “Had I not been convinced that we could make a quality wine up in our mountains, I would not have started the project,” said Bert Morsbach. In 2004, after two failed crop seasons, Aythaya Wine was finally able to present its first wine at Yangon’s Le Planteur Restaurant in December 2004.

Aythaya’s wines are part of the “new latitude wines,” or wines created in places far from the traditional wine making centers of Europe, California, Australia and South America. In terms of wine-making, countries like Brazil, India and Thailand hope to someday stand in pride next to France, Australia and Chile.

In Thailand, Khao Yai is home to several vineyards. The family-owned Gran Monte Winery is set among 800 acres of Shiraz, Tempranillo, Chenin Blanc and Clombard grapes. Close to Khao Yai National Park, the Khao Yai Winery grows 200 acres of high-quality grapes, and produces 600,000 bottles of wine a year. In Samut Sakorn, just 60km from Bangkok, you will find the Monsoon Valley Winery, one of Asia’s largest wine producers.

In Vietnam, to cater to the locals, the vast majority of wine is made from table grapes from Phan Rang. Dalat, with its strong French heritage and cool central highland climate, is where most of the wine is made. Vietnamese wine, developed for local consumption, has a much different taste than what is expected by most Western palates.

Morsbach plans to eventually retire in Myanmar, and sees the Aythaya Vineyard as a labor of love. As part of developing this area, the vineyard has renovated a local Buddhist orphanage, earning the name the “orphanage vineyard.” They are in the process of expanding their tourist facilities, which already include five guest rooms, a restaurant and a swimming pool.

Why not add a visit to the Aythaya Vineyard to a tour of Myanmar? Exotissimo Myanmar makes stops at the Aythaya Vineyard on the way to Inle Lake, where you can indulge in some wine tasting and have a lunch in an intimate setting.

On 2nd January 2007, Samui welcomed a very unique new hotel, The Library. This hotel is for those of us who want something a little different on our travels. Using a modern, minimalist aesthetic, the hotel minimizes its impact on the local environment, while simultaneously providing world-class comfort to its guests.

The property is composed of 26 small discrete buildings scattered across its 6,400 square metres. Each cabin consists of a suite on the groundfloor, and a studio upstairs. Each room is decorated in a minimalist style with strong color palates. All rooms are equipped with 42”Plasma TV with DVD player, on-line PC, Jacuzzi in the Suite and bathtub in the Studio.

“The Library Building” is a unique feature of this property, and it is simultaneously a cafe, library and a business centre. “The Fit” Fitness Centre commands a breathtaking 270 degree view of the ocean, and guests can spend time lounging at the red-tiled swimming pool. “The Page,” the hotel’s restuarant offers guests a wide selection of wines from its wine cellar.

Let Exotissimo Travel arrange your stay at this “Exotic, Smart Concept” Hotel as labeled by the management. Try something a little different. Check a book out of The Library.

IMEX, the world’s premiere exhibition for MICE (Meetings, Incentive, Conference and Exhibition) Travel will take place in Frankfurt from 17th April to 19th April. Last year, a record 3,300 hotel groups, destination management companies, airlines and regional tourist offices from over 150 countries attended IMEX, and show organizers expect 2007 to be its busiest year yet.

Mr. Erik Meriot, Director of EXO Travel Paris and Ms. Carine Battajon, MICE Manager, will be at IMEX to answer all of your questions. Stop by to see how we can help you arrange your next MICE event.

Exotissimo Travel has everything you need to organize a successful MICE trip in Vietnam Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar or Thailand. We specialize in planning and organizing incentive trips and have been one of the leading MICE destination companies in the region for over 10 years. Visit our booth at IMEX to see what we can do to help you arrange your next meeting, conference, seminar or exhibition.

The Purimuntra Resort and Spa is a new, beachfront boutique resort on Pranburi, just 30km from Hua Hin. This medium-sized 19-room luxury resort is located on a private beach with a tranquil atmosphere. Each of the 19 rooms command cool ocean breezes and gorgeous views. For your convenience, the hotel has a 100-meter pool located near the beach, as well as a hip restaurant and bar to spend evenings in. Contact Exotissimo Travel if you want to spend some time in this private, peaceful environment.

The 5-star Sala Phuket Resort is set to open in December 2007, and it will be a gorgeous new addition to the Phuket scene. Located on Phuket’s northwest shore, it will feature private swimming pools for 63 of its 79 rooms, suites and villas, and its well-appointed rooms will combine traditional Sino-Portugese design with luxurious 5-star facilities. The resort will have two beachfront swimming pools, the Sala Spa, a fitness center, wireless internet and a world-class beachfront restaurant and bar.

We’re sure that this new property will be every bit as opulent as its sister property, the Sala Samui. Rooms will become hard to get as the opening date approaches, so contact us here at Exotissimo Travel to make your bookings early.

Set against gorgeous mountain scenery, a new golf course opened on 7th January in the provicne of Vinh Phuc, about 75 km from Hanoi. The course’s lakes, running streams and strategic bunkering make it the perfect place for golfers to enjoy a game of golf. The clubhouse’s facilities rival those found at the finest golf courses in Asia.

This 200 billion VND golf course is part of the larger Tam Dao resort complex, which also offers villas for lease and sale.

At Exotissimo Travel, we understand exactly why you take your clubs everywhere you go. Let us take care of all your golfing needs.

The Laotian government has now opened the five caves of the wartime “cave city” to the public. These caves have been compared to the Cu Chi tunnels near Ho Chi Minh City and the Killing Fields Memorial near Phnom Penh. History buffs interested in South-East Asian history are sure to enjoy experiencing this unique historical site.

Between 1964 and 1973. during the Indochina war (Vietnam War), 480 caves in the Viengxay district of Houaphanh province were transformed into a cave city. This complex was used to shelter 23,000 Laotians during the aerial bombings of that time. The caves were used to house members of the Phathet Lao Army, and some were used as shops, schools, hospitals and bakeries.

The landscape around these caves is breathtaking, with gorgeous waterfalls set against karst mountains. Tigers and leopards make their homes in the jungle nearby these caves, and the locals still live quiet traditional lives.

If you’re interested in being one of the first to visit this historic site, please let Exotissimo create a custom-tailored tour for you.