March 5th, 2012
We need to inform you that last week domestic airlines in Myanmar announced a fuel surcharge of between 10-20 USD per sector for every domestic flight within Myanmar applicable for every domestic carrier. This surcharge was initially to be applied with immediate effect however after much backlash from clients and agents the decision was delayed a little and it was announced last night that the new surcharge will go into effect for all flights on 8 March 2012 onwards. This is affective regardless of when the ticket was issued and the airlines are granting no leeway for groups, agents nor direct clients.
We have notified agents with clients traveling within the month of March individually over the past two days. We were hoping that through our meetings with various government departments and airlines we would be able to receive an extensions but as that is looking unlikely at this point we felt it was our duty to fully inform you, our valued agents. Click here to see the official announcement from the government to the airlines on the evening of 29 February.
The procedure for collecting this surcharge is as follows:
- For confirmed files arriving after 1 April that have already been invoiced we will have to issue a second invoice with the amount of the fuel surcharge.
- For files that have not yet been invoiced add this surcharge when we issue the invoice.
- For all future bookings: the new selling rate will be applied.
- Fully updated tariffs have been added to our Travel Trade website.
Of course we accept that airlines can and do apply fuel surcharges when oil prices are increased however we are disappointed to say the least that we have been given almost no warning or time to manage this professionally according to normal practice. The situation for Exotissimo is that we have over 1,500 clients travelling in Myanmar during March and unless we win a last minute reprieve we are left with no choice but to follow their policy and implement the additional surcharge.
Please let us know if you have any questions or feedback on this by return email to myanmar@exotissimo.com
Otherwise our staff will be in touch with further details on each file that is affected by a surcharge. We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience and hope that this unexpected issue will not dampen your enthusiasm for Myanmar or have any adverse affect our relationship.
February 29th, 2012
Exotissimo now offers the option to book a local SIM card in advance for your clients. They will have a number to give their family and friends before departing and can be easily contacted while avoiding expensive roaming charges. The cost is just USD 5 per card for 15 days validity. Please request the SIM card info kit by emailing vietnam@exotissimo.com
February 23rd, 2012
Exo Vietnam is starting the New Year with a new Product Manager, Sally Berg. Sally takes over from Holly Richter who moved to Hanoi to take charge of the Vietnam Adventure Department.
Sally Berg comes from Portland, Oregon and brings twenty years travel business experience to the Exo team. Since 2001 she has operated her own agency creating innovative, cutting-edge itineraries enabling clients to enjoy memorable, once-in-a-lifetime journeys in the remote corners of the world. Sally has traveled extensively on six continents exploring, guiding and volunteering and has a keen appreciation for Southeast Asia, particularly Vietnam. Sally has also held leadership positions in a number of non-profit organizations and has a passion for combining travel with social responsibility. We are excited to have her join our team.
You can contact Sally directly at sally@exotissimo.com
February 10th, 2012
Exotissimo now exclusively offer tours accompanied by knowledgeable expert Francis Englemann. Francis has been researching ancient sites in Laos for more than 20 years and it is thanks to his studies and deep knowledge of Lao Culture, including its colonial past that Luang Prabang was made a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1995. We can tailor any tour in Laos to be accompanied by Francis, providing an educational and intriguing insight into the regions architecture and culture.
For more details please contact laos@exotissimo.com
February 6th, 2012
Asia’s most laid back capital, Vientiane in Laos, is perfect for exploring by bike. Flat, full of intriguing sites and teeming with side streets and dirt track roads, to explore by bike is a must for any traveler. This is a great way to see the daily life of locals and interact with the community. We can arrange for integration of full or half day bicycle programs in any of the following tours; Vientiane half day city tour, Vientiane Full day city tour, Buddhism Explored, Vientiane by night and Vientiane cooking class.
To view the factsheet click here
For more details please contact laos@exotissimo.com
January 25th, 2012
Exo have created a new and engaging 5 day/4 night journey aboard the Rahai’i Pangun Cruise Boat, a refurbished traditional ‘rungkan’ boat with expansive viewing decks. Guests can now cruise along the the Kayhan River, stopping for lunches at riverside villages and visiting areas of tropical jungle to see wild orangutans.
Sleep overnight in the comfortable sleeping quarters and awake each day to the fresh riverside air and a delicious breakfast. Hike through the overgrown forests and take canoes to reach the Tangkiling Nature Reserve to see the village of ‘patahu’ before climbing the Batu Banama Rock to watch an awesome evening sunset. A spectacular tour unveiling a local way of life and the many natural wonders along the Kayhan River.
To view the full program click here
For more details please contact indonesia@exotissimo.com
January 19th, 2012
Exotissimo Travel were recently involved in a project with Hotel de la Paix, Golden Banana Boutique Hotel and Heritage Suites Hotel in assisting the Green Gecko Project to help in packing food and water to three villages and 400 families on the outskirts of Siem Reap. Another 470 families in Kampong Thom received the same assistance.
This CSR initiative was noted in a recent article on Travelfish.org that discussed the vast amounts of money spent in Siem Reap each year yet the province remains the third poorest of Cambodia’s 23 provinces. The flood relief drive and initiative shown by businesses such as those marked above, with the lack of government intervention, was vital in supporting local communities.
Click here to read the article on Travelfish
January 12th, 2012
Experience the early morning chanting ritual of monks at Wat Po, tour the grand palace, take a longtail boat ride through the klongs of Bangkok and explore the colorful streets of Chinatown after walking through the vibrant flower market. We can now offer great savings on this tour that includes 3 nights staying at the exclusive Banyan Tree hotel in central Bangkok. Guests are treated to a Club Room with unlimited access to the Club Lounge where complimentary snacks are served, buffet breakfast at the Romsai restaurant or Club Lounge. A complimentary 10-minute neck and shoulder massage and 1 x FREE afternoon tea set for two.
To view the full program click here
For booking or more information, please contact thailand@exotissimo.com
December 29th, 2011
Around 2.00 AM local time this morning, a fire broke out at a warehouse in Yangon. It appears that the fire then hit a gas line as a large explosion soon followed causing reverberations throughout the city. Unfortunately several local residents were killed and many more injured- exact numbers are still unknown. It is a terrible tragedy and our sympathy goes out to the victims and their families.
We do wish to make clear, however, that this was an accident and not the result of a bomb. All Exotissimo clients and employees are safe and no hotels were affected beyond minor shaking.
If you have additional questions please feel free to contact us.
December 15th, 2011
Designed to combine the tranquil nature of the seaside town of Kep with the new Spa at Knai Bang Chatt resort, ‘Spa Weekend in Kep’ creates the perfect mix for a relaxing 4 day 3 night stay. Combining the highlights of the two extremely scenic provinces of Kampot and Kep, ‘Blend of the South’ delivers the perfect getaway to explore the countryside, local life and Khmer culture. Highlights of the tour are the sunset boat trip towards the sea in Kampot, a trek in Bokor National Park, a visit to a pepper farm and exploring one of the caves around Kampot. Both tours can be booked as modules and in combination with other tours along the coast or with Vietnam’s Mekong Delta or Phu Quoc.
To view the full ‘Spa Weekend in Kep’ program click here.
To view the full ‘Blend of the South’ program click here.
