Holiday Helpline
We asked three operators, Qantas Holidays, Kuoni and Magic of the Orient – to come up with a recommendation and sample price for three clients with special request for a holiday in Thailand.
Request 1: Client A is a mother and daughter who want to combine some culture, beach time and use of spa facilities.
Magic of the Orient
Area: Bangkok and Hua Hin 10-night two-centre.
Product: stay five nights at the Peninsula Bangkok, by the Chao Phyra River, and four days’ sightseeing and taking excursions. Move on to Hua Hin – the Gulf of Thailand holiday resort – and stay five nights at the Chiva Som Spa Resort.
Price: £1,513 flying with Thai Airways International in March. Includes full board and daily massage at the Chiva Som.
Kuoni
Area: Bangkok, Ayuthaya, Sukothai, Chiang Rai and Chiang Mai tour.
Product: fly to Bangkok and after two days exploring the city, join an Ancient Thailand tour of eight nights visiting the Thailand Kingdoms of Ayuthaya and Sukhothai, the Bridge over the River Kwai and the scenery, temples and shopping of northern Thailand. End the tour with a five-night resort stay at Chiang Mai.
Price: £1,073 for 14 nights flying with Thai Airways, next year from April – July. Includes all meals during the tour.
Qantas Holidays
Area: Bangkok and Patong.
Product: fly to Bangkok for five nights at the Indra Regent with time to tour the Grand Palace and a day tour to the Damnern Saduak floating market. Then join a three-day coach tour to the Rose Garden Country Resort, 20 miles west of Bangkok, where you can see local crafts and cultural shows before cruising the Ta Chine River and touring on to Nakorn Pathom – the oldest city in ancient Siam. Visit the Rose Garden Botanical Garden before returning to Bangkok for a flight to Phuket. Stay six nights at the Patong Beach Hotel, with pool and spa, beach, shops and vibrant nightlife.
Price: £899 per person for 14 nights with Qantas in March. Accommodation on a room-only basis.
Request 2: Client B is a honeymoon couple in search of luxury and relaxation.
Magic of the Orient
Area: Chiang Mai and Krabi.
Product: fly to Chiang Mai via Bangkok and stay four days at the luxurious Regent Resort – a very romantic setting. From here the couple can visit Chiang Mai, take an elephant trek or visit an orchid farm. Complete the 10-night/13-day holiday by flying to Krabi for a transfer to the Rayavadee Premier Resort – a deluxe hotel.
Price: £1,908 per person including flights with Thai Airways in March or April and half-board at the Rayavadee.
Kuoni
Area: Bangkok and Krabi.
Product: fly to Bangkok and spend four nights at the Royal Orchid Sheraton. Honeymooners receive fruit, flowers, room upgrade and a late check-out. Explore the city before moving on to the Dusit Rayavadee in Krabi for eight nights. Honeymooners receive a free sunset cruise, bottle of wine, flowers and use of the health club. Price: from £1,800 per person for 12 nights’ flying with Thai Airways next year. Includes half-board at the Rayavadee.
Qantas Holidays
Area: Bangkok and Koh Samui.
Product: fly to Bangkok for five nights at the luxury Shangri-La Hotel where honeymooners receive fruit and flowers and an evening dinner cruise. Dine at the Tam Nak Thai Restaurant – the largest restaurant in the world. Fly on to Koh Samui and stay at Le Royal Meridien Baan Taling Ngam – a deluxe romantic resort.
Price: £2,069 per person flying with Qantas in March. Accommodation on a room-only basis.
Request 3: Clients C are two friends who want explore and be adventurous.
Magic of the Orient
Area: northern Thailand.
Product: start with three nights at the Royal Princess Hotel in Chiang Mai’s famous night market. Then take a self-drive tour stopping at Thatorn, close to the Burma border, and then travel as far as the Golden Triangle. One night is spent at Le Meridien Baan Boran with its views across to Burma and Laos. Turn south to historic Chiang Rai and then back to Chiang Mai via Lampang and the Elephant Conservation Centre.
Price: £802 per person flying with Thai Airways. Includes nine nights’ accommodation, with breakfast while touring and seven days’ car hire.
Kuoni
Area: Bangkok and the north.
Product: fly to Bangkok and stay for three nights before joining the three-night Tree Tops Tour taking in Raja Phraba Lake and Khao Sok National Park for wildlife and jungle walks. Return for a night in Bangkok before moving on for three nights at the Dusit in Chiang Rai and three nights in the Rincome Hotel in Chiang Mai.
Price: £1,043 per person including excursions and flights with Thai Airways. Accommodation on a room-only basis for 13 nights.
Qantas Holidays
Area: Bangkok, Chiang Mai and escorted northern tour.
Product: fly to Bangkok and stay at the Indra Regent. Explore the city and join a day tour to the Bridge over the River Kwai. Fly to Chiang Mai for four nights at the Royal Princess Hotel. Join a four-day tour which takes in the Mae Kok River, the rare Palong hill-tribe village, a river-barge cruise to the Karn hill-tribe village, where you can canoe, enjoy an elephant safari and visit to the Golden Triangle region.
Price: £889 per person flying with Qantas in March. Accommodation on a room-only basis except during the tour when two or three meals are provided each day. Total stay 14 nights.