Recently, local-owned King Express has purchased some retired carriages from the Victoria Express for use on the Lao Cai / Hanoi route. The King Express trains are older cars and do not provide the same level of service that we have come to expect from the Victoria brand. We would not want to have anyone disappointed by their trip to serene Sapa.
On January 15th, Exotissimo Laos was pleased to welcome Laurent Granier as General Manager. He returns to the Exotissimo family after having been program director for Embers Asia. Laurent is no stranger to Laos having been present when we first opened our Vientiane office. Since then he has also been the Customer Care Manager of Exotissimo Vietnam. Laurent is excited to re-join the Exotissimo team and looking forward to the challenges of managing our all three of our Exotissimo offices.
This month, Exotissimo Myanmar is greeting 2008 with a great promotional package. This 10D/9N package takes clients hits all the highlights of Myanmar, starting in Yangon with visits to Scott Market and Shwedagon and Kyaukhtatgyi temples, continuing onward to visit the legendary leg-rowers of Inle Lake, and onward to Mandalay and the thousands of temples in Bagan. The trip ends with a nice beach break at Ngapali before returning home via Yangon.
For people just discovering this magical destination, this trip is a great way to get acquainted (and fall in love) with Myanmar. Please click here to download this detailed itinerary with rates with Spanish, German, Italian and Russian supplements.
Both properties are part of the Ho Chi Minh Golf Trail, organized by Mandarin Media in partnership with Exotissimo Travel. The golf trail is an effort to demonstrate to the world that Vietnam has grown beyond being just a gorgeous country with a rich cultural heritage. Golf in Vietnam is world-class and the accommodations tres posh (and often suffused with French colonial charm), but that is only part of the country’s charm. The Ho Chi Minh Golf Trail is a marriage of the culture adventure that is Vietnam with the invigorating holiday that can only be found on 18-holes of a golf course. The Ho Chi Minh Golf Trail delivers the ultimate in golfing adventure.
Our Southern Leg tour takes guests through both the Dalat Palace Golf Course and the Ocean Dunes Golf Club. Over ten days, this itinerary visits Ho Chi Minh City, relaxes in the cool mountain air of Dalat, takes a beach (and golf) break at Mui Ne and finishes with another round of golf at the Dong Nai Golf Resort on the way back to Saigon. We have gone the extra mile to create an itinerary that satisfies the high standards of golfers everywhere, with the needs of their families and friends who might not have that same craving. From bustling Saigon and cool Dalat to breezy Mui Ne, this tour has a little of everything.
Exotissimo Travel at AIME 2008 in Melbourne
Dear Partner,
We are pleased to remind you that Exotissimo Travel will be attending AIME in Melbourne next month from 19-20 February.
We have been in business for 15 years and operate literally hundreds of events each year ranging from small groups to conferences with hundreds of participants.
If you are looking for a creative, forward thinking operator that has great ideas and really knows what they are doing then please come and see us at stand number 3410 where we will be represented by Hamish Keith, our Director of Business Development.
Click here to make an appointment with us.
I look forwards to seeing you in Melbourne
Best Regards,
Hamish Keith
Director of Business Development
Exotissimo Travel at ITB Berlin 2008
Without a doubt, ITB 2008 is the highlight of the Spring trade show season. We are pleased to inform you that Exotissimo will be attending ITB in Berlin from 5 – 9 March.
As usual we will have lots of new products and ideas to share with you as well as plenty of refreshments available.
Click here to make an appointment with us.
We look forward to meeting you in Berlin.
Best Regards,
Exotissimo Travel Team
With its now 7 rooms set in a beautiful garden, La Villa remains the best option in Battambang and for sure adds great value to your holiday. On top of that has Battambang much to offer in terms of unexplored temples and beautiful countryside. The quiet river town is a laid back stop over for 2 or 3 days to indulge in local life and soak up the real Cambodian atmosphere!
Granted, flights to Ko Samui are a bit more expensive than to Phuket but for that price difference, your clients will experience a genuine “holiday in paradise.” A flight with Bangkok Airways comes complete with free access to the Bangkok Airways lounge (and its free snacks, drinks and internet facilities), and the brand new airport in Ko Samui still has all the charm of the old one with small trains to transfer passengers to the luggage belt and then again to the arrival terminal and the open air lobby. Ko Samui airport itself creates a “festive” holiday, one that is seen in the faces of most clients upon arrival.
When to go?
“When NOT to go” is an easier question to answer. The rainy season in Samui lasts from September through November, and its best to avoid the island during these months. In Phuket, it rains from June to September, so during these months, why not send your clients to Samui?
Which hotel to stay?
If your clients are looking for luxury and good service the Napasai hotel on Ko Samui is the best choice. The hotel is situated in a large garden and has a private beach and beautiful pool. It may not be the best beach on the island but it is a stunning property with excellent service and delicious food. Other recommended deluxe hotels are the Sala Samui, Sila Evason, Karma and the recently completed Kamalaya resort.
On Phuket we would recommend Bundarika resort which is on a very quiet beach and has stunning pool villas. The Bundarika is a great place for those looking to focus on their “health and well-being.” Other recommend hotels are Evason Phuket, Twin Palms and of course the Paradise Koh Yao which is on a stunning island about 30 minutes by speed boat from Phuket.
Other very good choices are Zazen resort (which is going to extend the number of rooms next year and will be closed for a couple of months at the end of 2008). The junior ocean view suites at the Rocky Resort are something truly special. In Phuket it is a bit more difficult to find a boutique hotel but the Manathai (same owner as the Manathai in Chiang Mai) did a very good job and is not too far from the beach (just cross the street, walk 2 min through the park and you’re on the beach).
Ko Samui or Phuket?
Firstly we recommend you to check the period clients are going to the beach and avoid the rainy season. (A beach in the rain is no fun.) Secondly if your clients are looking for charming hotels on the beach and an ‘island’ or ‘tropical paradise’ atmosphere we would suggest to look first at Ko Samui. Flights might make a trip there more expensive, but the extra expense is definitely worth it. And don’t forget to book your clients on a boat trip through the Marine National park for a snorkelling trip – they will love it.
Last month, the International Association of Golf Tour Operators named Vietnam the “2007 Undiscovered Golf Destination if the Year.” Vietnam beat out Abu Dhabi, Costa Rica, Italian Lakes and Oregon for this honor. Earlier this year, the New York Times named Vietnam one of its “53 Places to Go in 2008,” citing its many golf courses. Special attention was paid to the Dalat Palace Golf Course and the Nick Faldo-designed Ocean Dunes Golf Club near Phan Thiet.
Exotissimo is Asia’s leading Destination Management Company with dedicated Incentive and Event teams in Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Thailand. 
We hope you will have time to come and meet our team at stand number 213 in Hall 26B where there will be four representatives from Exotissimo.
La Villa in Battambang is long standing and well established boutique guesthouse that has now added an extra room and free internet to its supply. Besides the well appointed rooms, the free internet and the magnificent restaurant, La Villa is currently constructing a swimming pool and more rooms to suit everyone’s needs.
Located along the West Lake, the Sedona Suites is a charming alternative to busy Hanoi. With room shortages an unfortunate fact of life, these managed apartments provide 4-star level accommodation. They are perfect for families and small groups looking for a cozier alternative to some hotels. Getting to Hanoi’s quarter does however take a 20 minute car ride, so please plan accordingly.
As hotel prices (and occupancy) in Phuket are increasing rapidly many clients are asking for beach alternatives while visiting Thailand. Ko Samui has always been a very popular destination. The hotels on Ko Samui are smaller in general, have a bit more boutique atmosphere and are predominately located directly on the shore. Interest in the area is increasing as many Exotissimo clients are looking for destinations away from the more “traveled” mass tourist destinations.
There are plenty of beautiful, small and very charming superior category hotels in Ko Samui. They exude an aura lacking from the larger and sometimes colder hotel resorts one finds on Phuket. Some examples are Le Paradis composed of Thai traditional houses beautifully converted into private bungalows. The ouses are authentic and sacrifice no comfort within its beautiful gardens. Le Paradis is located on Chaweng beach which means the best sand and clear crystal waters on lie on one side of the resort, and restaurants, shops and bars are on the other.