Lao Airlines will be introducing e-ticketing soon. The airline has been conducting successful system tests for the past month, and will be running a limited public trial beginning this week. E-tickets will soon be available through most of Lao Airlines’ ticketing agencies, and in August through the company’s website www.laoairlines.com.
On 23rd May 2007, Cambodia and Myanmar agreed to have direct flights between Siem Reap, Mandalay and Bagan. The greatest Buddhist temples in South-East Asia are located in these three cities. Siem Reap is the home of Angkor Wat, the legendary 800 year-old temple complex, and is the foundation upon which the Cambodian tourism industry is based. In 2006, 1.7 million tourists visited the ancient ruins.
When comparing Bagan and Siem Reap directly, most people prefer Bagan for the thousands of temples that dot the gorgeous landscape. Mandalay is the former capital of Myanmar, before its annexation as a colony by Great Britain. However, Myanmar’s Bagan and Mandalay remain unknown to most of the world. This is mostly due to poor infrastructure, as up until now, most flights had to be routed through Yangon.
With this new agreement between Cambodia and Myanmar, the world will be better able to explore these wonderful destinations. Contact Exotissimo Travel to visit Myanmar’s ancient treasures.
Exotissimo Travel will be gracing the ITE MICE trade show in Hong Kong this year. As part of the Vietnam Meeting and Incentive Club (VMIC), we will be working with Vietnam Airlines, Saigontourist, Caravelle Hotel, Celadon Hue, Rex Hotel, Sofitel Metropole Hanoi, Sofitel Plaza Hanoi, Furama Danang, Sheraton Hanoi, Sheraton Saigon, Hanoi Daewoo Hotel, Melia Hanoi and Saigon Phu Quoc Resort to demonstrate why Vietnam is one of the region’s fastest growing MICE destinations.
Come visit Mr. Paul Robinson at booth 2A 301 to discuss Exotissimo’s MICE offerings, in Vietnam and also our other destination countries.
United Airlines will begin daily flights between Ho Chi Minh City and Los Angeles beginning 29th October 2007. The route will fly from HCMC to Hong Kong first, with continuing non-stop service onwards to Los Angeles. Southern California and Orange County are home to the largest community of overseas Vietnamese (Viet Kieu) in the world, and this flight and this specific route will be very popular in the coming future.
Ticket sales for this new route will go on sale in June 2007. Though United Airlines has flown direct between Saigon and Los Angeles before, its schedule was infrequent. 29th October 2007 marks the beginning of a more frequent and dependable daily schedule, and this increase in flights has been timed to take advantage of the holiday rush, when many Viet Kieu return to Vietnam for Christmas and the New Year holidays.
Though the most dramatic temple in Cambodia has been open to visitors for several years, most people are not familiar with Preah Vihear. This legendary temple remains unspoilt in comparison to Angkor Wat, because access to it had been inconvenient at best and difficult at worst. Now new roads have opened, and Preah Vihear is now accessible via Koh Ker, the pre-Angkor period temple site.
This trip however is not for the faint of heart, as accommodation of any standard is impossible to find there. Instead, Preah Vihear has a nice campsite on top of the mountain overlooking Thailand and Cambodia, and this site commands gorgeous views of stunning sunsets and memorable sunrises.
Contact Exotissimo Travel to help organize your next expedition to this legendary temple.
To accommodate increased demand between Dubai and Bangkok, Thai Airways will add two additional flights on this route from 5th July to 18th August 2007. This is another sure sign of the continued development of South-East Asia as a market for the Middle-East market. Just a couple months ago, Qatar Airlines began direct flights between to Ho Chi Minh City, introducing Vietnam to this promising market.
Now Thai Airways is continuing this trend by expanding their flight schedule during the highly-anticipated busy summer period. Bangkok serves as a central hub for most travel in South-East Asia, and the new flights will help ensure seamless and convenient connections between Dubai and destinations onward at newly-opened Suvarnabhumi International Airport.
Ayravata Cruises will launch the RV Paukan 2007 in the fall of 2007. The Paukan will be the newest boat on the Ayeyarwaddy, and features 29 cabins with direct river views for the Upper cabins(where the gang-way is out of sight). There will also be 12 double-bedded cabins (including 2 Suites) instead of the usual twin-bedded configuration. New massage services will also be offered on board.
The IFC fleet will use the larger 28-cabin RV Pandaw IV for cruises between Mandalay and Bagan and vv. For the upcoming season, there will be massage services. Soft drinks, beer and local spirits will be included in the price of all packages. There will also be one unique rate for both Main and Upper Deck cabins.
The Shwe Keinneryi (SKY) and the Malikha are two river vessels that will compete for day trips. The SKY offers daily departures, while Malikha will operate on a fixed non-daily schedule. However, the Malikha will stop at the Yadanabon pottery village for short shore excursions and arrive in Bagan earlier, at 13:30 instead of 15:00-16:00.
Please contact Exotissimo Travel to book your next river cruise.
Why not do something a little different for your next trip to Northern Laos? Combining two of Lao’s premier eco-friendly properties, the Luangsay and the Kamu Lodge, creates a unique experience blending different cultures, climates and geographies. The two properties are connected by LuangSay’s fleet of riverboats. Each boat has a capacity of 38 pax with open-air views.
The LuangSay Lodge is a charming 19-room property that is nestled in the town of Pak Beng. It was built in 1999 with a native Lao aesthetic. The eco-friendly Kamu Lodge is situated on the banks of the Mekong River. At the Kamu, you will be able to take part in a number of activities, including planting or harvesting rice, panning for gold in the Mekong, searching for medicinal plants in the jungle, trekking through the forest to waterfalls, fishing using traditional techniques, visiting local villages and learning archery.
Please contact Exotissimo Travel to spend time at both the LuangSay and Kamu Lodges.
The Pak Houey Mixay restaurant is one of the best restaurants in Luang Prabang. Opened in April 1997, the restaurant can handle up to 250 pax. The Pak Houey Mixay serves traditional Lao cuisine and is open every day from 10:00 to 22:00.
Please contact Exotissimo Travel to make a reservation.
Air Bagan will start daily service between Yangon and Bangkok on 15th May using Airbus A310s. The Yangon-Bangkok flight will fly from 07:30 to 09:10. The return flight will leave at 10:10 and arrive in Yangon at 10:45. A special promotional rate of 88 USD per person including taxes will be available for travel from 15th to 31st May 2007. The normal fare after promotion will be 158 USD per person including taxes.
Le Planteur Restaurant has relocated to a new location on Kaba Aye Pagoda Road, providing it with easier access and an even larger garden. The restaurant is now able to seat 80-90 pax comfortably in its new air-conditioned location.
