March 15th, 2010 by Tom Armstrong
Experience Travel were pleased to organise trips for two senior Guardian travel journalists who were looking for something a little special and off the beaten track to cover in Thailand. The double page feature, which went to press on Saturday March 13th, was entitled ‘Thailand’s last unspoilt islands’ and featured ideal places to go for the off the beaten track beach experiences in Thailand.
Laura Barton wrote a piece about the stunning island of Koh Kood, where she stayed at Away Koh Kood, Shantaa and the new Six Senses Soneva Kiri - 3 unique properties where you can really get away from it all. We will be featuring the island and its accommodation options in a separate blog entry in the coming weeks.
Meanwhile, Gemma Bowes visited Koh Yao Noi and enjoyed a retreat at the fabulous Koyao Island Resort.
Tags: Away Koh Kood, Experience TTravel, Guardian, Ko Yao Yai, Koh Kood, Koh Yao Noi, Shanthaa Resort Koh Kood, Six Senses Hideaway, Six Senses Koh Kood, Soneva Kiri Koh Kood, Thai Islands, Thailand
Posted in Thailand |
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March 12th, 2010 by Tom Armstrong
Phuket can now seriously claim to host some of the most luxurious properties in Asia. However, I personally find many of the so-called ‘top’ properties fall way short of the mark and do not offer relative value for money or anything particularly spectacular beyond flash brochures & websites and prices to match! Having a private swimming pool or lavish facilities is not enough to give a room character or romance. A property needs a blend of factors and thought to truly be elevated into the list of those actually worth spending top-dollar prices for. Luckily though, a number of properties have found the perfect mix and carved out a real niche for themselves in the sea of seemingly luxurious hotels.
So, for those seeking a luxury holiday in Thailand, I have decided to compile my strictly subjective list of the 5 best luxury hotels in Phuket. In no particular order, they are: Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: Amanppuri, Amanpuri, anadara, barefoot luxury, kamala beach, luxury, phuket, pool villas, sala phuket, Sri Panwa, surin beach, Thailand, trisara, ultimate luxury
Posted in Thailand |
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February 17th, 2010 by Tom Armstrong
Leopard in Wilapttu
Great news for wildlife enthusiasts and tourism in general was released today when the Sri Lankan government announced that the spectacular
Wilpattu Nation Park is due to re-open before at the end of February 2010.
The park had been closed for security reasons since 1988 although opened briefly during 2003 to give a fortunate few a glimpse of its natural treasures. With the end of the three decade civil war in Sri Lanka, the park has been cleared and deemed safe to re-open. Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: elephants, Leopard, NAtional PArks, Vilus, Wilpattu National Park
Posted in Sri Lanka |
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February 17th, 2010 by Tom Armstrong
Thailand has been named the world’s Best Tourist Country by a leading Swedish travel magazine. Thai Airways also won a second place award for the Best International Flight in 2010.
The magazine, ‘Travel News’, presented the prize at its annual awards ceremony in Stockholm last week. Thailand fought off competition from Australia, Egypt, South Africa, Spain, Turkey, USA and Italy to win the award for the 8th time.
Thailand’s mix of culture, food and stunning environments has long delighted international travellers. We are fans of both the mainstream attractions in Thailand and more ‘off-the-beaten’ track locations and will be adding many more unique properties and destinations to our Thailand portfolio throughout 2010.
Tags: awards, Bangkok, Thai Airways, Thailand
Posted in Thailand |
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February 16th, 2010 by Tom Armstrong
Kandy Perahera
The 2010 dates for the legendary Kandy Perahera have finally been announced. This year the festivities will kick off on August 14th and finishes with the grand day procession on August 25th.
Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: elephants, Esala Perahera, Kandy, Perahera, Procession
Posted in Sri Lanka |
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February 11th, 2010 by Tom Armstrong
Thai Airways has announced a plan to acquire 15 new aircraft and add numerous new routes. Seven 300 seat craft will be purchased for flying routes within the region while a further eight 350 seat craft will be purchased for their long haul routes.
Thai Airways
These new aircraft, which the company say will be operational by 2014, are an addition to five A330-300 aircraft that have already been ordered and will be put in service this year and six A380 aircraft that will enter the fleet from 2012-2013.
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Tags: airlines, Bangkok, Eva Air, London, Quantas, South East Asia, Suvarnabhumi airport, Thai Airways
Posted in Thailand |
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February 8th, 2010 by Sam Clark
A reminder from our friends at Moonhill came in today about their paining workshop which seemss to be proving popular. I doubt there are more inspiring places anywhere!
For more details get in touch with us.
Andy from Moonhill writes:
Only a few places still available on Billy Showell’s ‘Orchids & Tropical Flowers’ painting
workshop in Sri Lanka. Course dates 4th-10th & 11th-17th April 2010.
Spend 6 nights in the tranquil setting of Moonhill, a luxurious beach villa on Sri Lanka’s
southern coast, drawing and painting orchids & tropical flowers Sri Lanka is orchid heaven!
More than 188 orchid species grow here, with a stunning 55 that are unique to the island and
provide the source of inspiration for this course.
Under Billy’s encouraging step-by-step guidance you will find yourself drawing and painting
these exquisite flowering plants with increasing confidence and skill. All-ability levels and
beginners are welcome on the 4-day painting course, with the small group size (maximum no. 
guaranteeing you individual tuition and guidance. Places are limited and will be based on
first come first serve.
Tags: Arts#, Moonhill, Painting, Painting Workshop, Sri Lanka
Posted in Guest Contributors, Sri Lanka |
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January 15th, 2010 by Tom Armstrong
Sri Lanka has been rated number 1 in the New York Times’ top travel suggestions for 2010.
Of the 31 countries listed in the feature, the publication cited the end of Sri Lanka’s civil war, the island’s glorious beaches and spectacular wildlife as some of the principal attractions.
The Nilaveli Beach Hotel and unexplored east coast, Thambapanni Retreat were singled out for particular praise, as were The Sun House and Galle Fort Hotel in Galle.
It’s great to see Sri Lanka finally getting some much deserved attention for the right reasons and we look forward to sharing in, and contributing to, the success and progress the country will make in 2010.
Tags: awards, new york times travel, recommendations, Thampanni, The Sun House, Unawatuna
Posted in Sri Lanka |
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January 12th, 2010 by Tom Armstrong
The British Foreign Office (FCO) has further relaxed it’s travel advice with regards to travel in Sri Lanka’s fascinating eastern provinces. This puts the fabulous beaches at Pasikudah and Kalkudah back on the travel map. Vibrant towns such as Amparai and Batticaloa are also officially considered safe again.
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Tags: Arugam Bay, Batticaloa, Beaches, FCO, Travel advisory
Posted in Sri Lanka |
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December 24th, 2009 by Sam Clark
We’ve had 2 directors and a staff member in Sri Lanka for the bulk of this month - looking at product, talking to suppliers and generally making a nuisence of themselves. The overwhelming impression that were left with is how Sri Lanka is starting to take off after the end of the war 6 months ago. It aint a bed of roses by any means - but there is hope for the future and that is something new in Sri Lanka in many ways.
One of our directors, Mick Lowe, below gives his personal reflections on the political scene in Sri Lanka, from a tourist point for view and watch out for some great product news and reviews over the coming weeks.
Happy Christmas One and All!
Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: Add new tag, politics, Sri Lanka, sri lanka politics
Posted in Cambodia, Experience Travel, Sri Lanka, Vietnam |
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