Last week I had the opportunity to spend a few days with my entire family and some friends at WDW. My family are Disney Vacation Club Members and the Bay Lake Towers at the Contemporary is a Vacation Club resort (however anyone can stay at the Bay Lake Towers based on availability.)

The benefit of the Bay Lake Towers and the Contemporary Hotel is both the proximity to the Magic Kingdom and that it's on the Magic Kingdom Monorail line.

The room type we had at the Bay Lake Towers is called the 3-bedroom Grand Villa with a theme park view. The alternative view is of Bay Lake and the pools/activity area. The first floor of the room has a full kitchen, living room, laundry room, master bedroom with master bath and a second full bath in the living area. The second floor has 2 bedrooms and each has a full bath and double beds. There's a loft area on the second floor with a sleeper sofa.

[caption id="" width="360" align="alignnone" caption="Courtesy Disney Vacation Club"][/caption]

The views from the room were spectacular because there were floor to ceiling windows. The view from our room looked onto the Magic Kingdom and you could see iconic figures like Cinderella's Castle and Space Mountain.

The room was really comfortable.

[caption id="" width="383" align="alignnone" caption="Kitchen"][/caption]

One of the best parts of the room in my opinion was the perfect view of the fireworks from the park. I love fireworks, I hate crowds. From the room you could sit on the balcony and enjoy the show.

I really enjoyed the Bay Lake Towers and even as a non Disney Vacation Club member I would stay at the Contemporary Bay Lake Towers if I was visiting The Magic Kingdom.

Part 2 of my Disney Vacation review: The New Fantasy Land

 

American entrepreneur and architect, Jim Thompson made his home in Bangkok, Thailand after World War II. Thompson is credited with saving the dying craft of silk weaving in Thailand and reviving the entire Thai Silk industry. The beautiful Thai Silk that Thompson’s Thai Silk Company produces has become famous for many reasons. Thompson provided all of the silk for the Hollywood movie “The King and I” and “Ben Hur”, his company provided silk for the famous Savoy Hotel London and Hilton Hong Kong. The silk can also be found in Windsor Castle!

Jim Thompson’s silk used for costumes in The King and I. Photo Courtesy of Fox Media

Thai Silk Curtains (above the bed) at the London Savoy, courtesy of London Savoy Hotel.

During the Easter weekend in 1967, Thompson disappeared while on holiday with friends in Cameron Highlands, a northern Malaysian resort. An extensive and extended search failed to reveal any clues about his disappearance. His disappearance is considered auspicious because before he moved into his home, now known as The Jim Thompson House, he consulted a Buddhist monk who plotted his astrological chart and determined the date construction on the house should begin, the date he should move in and at that time, and predicted that his 61^st birthday would be his last. Thompson disappeared just days before his 61^st birthday.

Spirit House at The Jim Thompson House

Thompson moved into the house that he designed in April of 1959. The house consists of a complex of six traditional Thai-style houses, teak structures that were purchased from several owners and brought to the present location from various parts of Thailand. Unlike traditional Thai homes, Thompson added covered walkways so that he and his guests didn’t have to walk outside to move from room to room.

Thompson’s house sits on about a half-acre of land in the heart of busy Bangkok. It’s an oasis from the cement jungle surrounding it. When you arrive at the house, you feel like you’ve been transported to the Jungle and are surrounded by beautiful greenery, flowers and of course, his home. In addition to his love of silk, Thompson collected art and antiques and made it his mission to save important pieces of art from destruction and from being sold to other countries. On the tour of his home, you’ll see and learn about some of the oldest known Buddha sculptures and many very old paintings.

Flowers outside Jim Thompson’s house

This is a great tour and something I highly recommend everyone whose in Bangkok experience. You’ll learn a lot and be inspired to follow the mystery of Jim Thompson. After my trip I learned that there are dozens of conspiracy theories about Thompson’s disappearance and they’re all fascinating.

The cost of admission, which includes the 45-minute tour, is 100 baht. The restaurant at the Jim Thompson House is well known and if you have the opportunity you should plan to eat there as well.

Thank goodness, there no snakes on or in the plane! The A380 is quite impressive in size and design. I was very excited about this flight because even though it was only 3 hours, it was my first time on an A380. I used miles to upgrade from Hong Kong to Bangkok. I didn’t mind using the 15,000 miles for this upgrade because they were some random miles I’d earned on Thai and they were set to expire in June of 2013.

Business Class and First Class are located on the top level of the airplane. The front section of the top floor held 12 first class pods with a 1-2-1 configuration and the middle section held 60 business class seats with a 1-2-1 configuration and the rear section held 58 economy seats in a 2-4-2 configuration. The bottom level held 377 economy seats in a 3-4-3 configuration.

The floors in the galley’s and other multi-purpose use areas (MTAs as they are listed on the floorplan) are all wood. The galley’s, bathrooms and other public spaces are larger than I expected – it seems a bit more spacious than other airplane configurations.

The seats have the same color schemes as other planes, shades of purple and pinks. First class is yellow with purple accents, business class is purple with pink accents and coach is purple and pink.

The business class offers four different seat configurations. The window seats are A, B, J and K. The center seats are D, G, E and F. E and F seats would be great for people who are traveling together as the seats are close together with a traditional divider inbetween (not a ton of privacy.) D and G would be good seats for single traverls in the center section as would A, B, J and K. The difference between A, B, J and K is where the seat is. B and J are directly on the asile with the seat console and storage area next to the window. A and K seats are directly next to the window with the console next to the aisle. A and K provided the most privacy of any seats.

One thing worth noting is that there is a break between row 24 and 25 where there are 2 restrooms and a galley. I was in 24J and it was very noisy and busy area. Not bad for a 3 hour flight, but I would prefer something more quite for a long haul flight.

My seat – 24 J

The tray table locks against the pod wall as opposed to being located in the seat arm. It’s a large table and you can put it into many positions. The inflight entertainment system is operated by traditional remote but is also touch screen. The seat iteslf has a massage feature and can be put into several different positions and does lie flat – completely! That’s a huge difference from Thai’s traditional business class product which lie at an angle.

Storage next to seat – it was large enough for my back-pack and purse.

Seats 23 E and F – you can see how close the seats are to each other.

Seat 22 G – a center section seat better for single traveler

As of December 2012 Thai now has 3 A380s in their fleet and has 3 more on order. The current routes are Bangkok to Hong Kong and Bangkok to Singapore (though I couldn’t find any flights on the A380 to Singapore).  With its second A380 Thai operates roundtrip from Bangkok to Frankfurt (TG920/TG921) and Bangkok to Hong Kong (TG600/TG601) and the third A380 began flying from Bangkok to Narita (TG676/TG677 as of 1 January 2013. The next A380 delivered in 2013 will operate Bangkok to Paris. The final two A380s are set to arrive in Q4 of 2013 and no destinations were yet announced.

I would absolutely make the effort to fly on the A380 in Thai Business or First class on future trips. The product is nice and the service is very traditional Thai Royal Orchid, what they are known for. It was a great experience and I’m glad I got to try it out!

 

Additional photos courtesy Thai Airways

Coach

First Class

My annual December holiday – something I plan early and impatiently await as the year ticks by. This year I did a pretty major holiday touring around South East Asia. There were some Very Good Points and some Not So Good Points along the way. Here’s a recap:

Stop 1 – Phuket, Thailand – 2 days

I joined a friend, for the sake of anonymity we’ll call him “Platymur”, for a quick weekend in Phuket before he headed back to the states. Platymur is perhaps the ultimate foodie and a lot of fun to travel with. He will try almost any food – and on this trip he ate shrimp skins. We really didn’t do anything in Phuket except sit by the pool, visit the spa and eat great Thai food. That was a fine way for me to start the holiday!

Stop 2 – Singapore – 2 ½ days

I had a great time in Singapore. One of the more memorable stops on this trip. I wrote a full review, but here are a few of the VeryGoodPoints. I loved visiting the Botanical Garden, it’s an amazing place and so cool that it’s in the middle of such a large city. I was blown away by the Christmas lights, what a spectacle. I also splurged and saw Sting in concert, what a fun experience to see a legend (IMO) in a foreign country. The Not So Good Points – the Marriott Hotel was nice, but service really fell short. Location was perfect, but the service, or lack thereof, made it a frustrating choice.

Stop 3 – Malaysia, Langkawi and Kuala Lumpur – 2 days

So, I think the first thing to note about this stop in the trip are the Not So Good Points. The stop was supposed to have been 6 days, 4 days in Langkawi and 2 days in Kuala Lumpur. The absolutely Worst Point in the trip was the Sheraton Langkawi. I would never recommend the hotel to anyone. In addition, I didn’t feel comfortable as a single female traveler on that part of the island and because the hotel seemed to cater to the extremely religious Muslim community. I never felt unsafe, but I didn’t feel comfortable or particularly welcome at the resort. So, after ½ a day in Langkawi, I packed up and got the first flight out to Kuala Lumpur. I spent the next day and ½ in KL and really enjoyed two things particularly – the food and the hotel. The Le Meridien KL is amazing! I didn’t write up a trip report on this stop because, honestly, you can read Gary’s review on View From The Wing (which is what I did to plan that day and a half)

Stop 4 – Khao Lak, Thailand – 5 days

Stop 4 was totally unplanned and a spur of the moment decision. It made up for the time I didn’t spend in Malaysia. I chose to go back to Khao Lak because I wanted to go somewhere without any visa requirements, somewhere that had a great pool/beach and I knew I would enjoy and could relax. The only thing I did in Khao Lak was relax and take some great photos!

Stop 5 – Siam Reap, Cambodia – 2 days

This is where the regularly scheduled trip picks back up. One of the other highlights of my trip was Cambodia. I would absolutely recommend a visit if you haven’t been. I wrote a more through report on this stop, but there were a few Very Good Points that I have to mention here. Angkor Wat is one of the most beautiful places/things I have ever seen. If you like history, nature, or architecture, you won’t be disappointed. If you don’t like any of those things, you should still go because it’s spectacular. There really weren’t any Low Points on this stop. Loved it!

Stop 6 – Bangkok, Thailand – 5 days

Stop 6 was really just a positioning stop and a pick-up location. I met two friends in Bangkok who joined me for the remainder of the trip. We were only supposed to have spent 4 days in Bangkok, but one of my friends baggage decided to stay in Paris! It actually became one of the more hysterical points of the trip. I’ll recap the story very briefly here: My friend, very jetlagged, tired and frustrated arrived at the hotel around 8am. She flew Air France, booked through KLM and has status on Delta. She made a few calls and didn’t get anywhere. They told her the bags would arrive in Bangkok the day after we left for Vietnam. She asked me to get involved since I’m a more frequent international traveler and I wasn’t about to fall asleep. On the phone with Air France, the woman says “your bags will arrive in Bangkok on Wednesday.” I say “but we’ll be in Vietnam on Wednesday, can you forward the bags?” Woman “sure, hold on. Okay, I updated the record, the bags will be sent to Vietnam. Me, “where in Vietnam?” Woman, “Vietnam” Me: “Vietnam is country, what city or airport did you send them to?” Woman, “when they arrive in Bangkok they’ll decide where to send them.” WOW, that was the most bizarre conversation. It’s like saying “your bags have been forwarded to America.” “What state?” “Just America, they’ll decide what state when the bag gets there.” Honestly, one of the funny points. However, Air France better respond to the claim filed. Their Twitter team was great, but beyond that, I’m not impressed.

I really have nothing great to add about Bangkok. You can see my 855 other posts on Bangkok J Okay, JK, it’s not 855 posts, but it sure feels like it!

I’ll have a post later this week about traveling with friends! It can be quite an adventure – or nightmare, depending on what your friends are like.

Stop 7 – Saigon, Vietnam – 2 days

Stop 7 was cut one day short because we had to wait for the bags in Bangkok. We really could have spent more time in Vietnam. I haven’t yet written up the post on Vietnam, so I’ll give some sneak highlights here. Very Good Points – the food! WOW, what a great culinary city Saigon is. I could have had Pho for 3 meals a day. There were many other good points, which I’ll write about later, however, the Sheraton Saigon isn’t one of them. It’s an “ok” hotel, but nothing special. I was a little underwhelmed and very disappointed that the hotel allows smoking everywhere. There are some smoke free rooms, but the lobby, restaurants, etc.. all smelled like smoke, all the time.

Stop 8 – Krabi, Thailand – 4 days

For those of you who regularly read my blog you’ll know that I got hurt in Vietnam and so I was sort of crabby in Krabi (oh, that was too good not to say!) I didn’t blog and I didn’t really have an amazing time – not because of the location or anything else, but because I just wasn’t feeling great.

Krabi is beautiful and how I remember Phuket being about 5 or 6 years ago. It’s not overly commercial yet – there are no outlet malls or water parks yet – it’s more low key and laid back. We celebrated New Year’s Eve in Krabi and spent it at the hotel – which was a nice and chill NYE.

The End

That was it, January 4^th I headed back to Bangkok and back to “reality” – otherwise known as smog and traffic! You shouldn’t be surprised if I tell you that I’ve already started to plan my 2013 holiday(s) yes, this year there will be 2. I’m not saving up all my time for December this year. Anyone care to take a guess at the two locations I’m going to visit?

Everyone has been blogging about how 2012 went for them and so I thought I’d take a slightly different twist and look back at the year in pictures!

January – I’m pretty sure everyone will guess where I was this month!

 

February – February was a little tougher to find a picture that clearly showed where I was. So for those of you who don’t know every building in Bangkok, that’s where I was!

 

March – again, March should be pretty easy to figure out!

 

April – with these photos you should be able to tell where I was! I wasn’t just in Amsterdam though…I was in Brussels as well.

 

May – May was a repeat trip for me. A country I would visit frequently throughout 2012. Any guesses?

 

June – June had me in two places on totally different continents.

 

July – not many great photos to show for July due to Typhoon Vincente! I was in Hong Kong and Macau

 

August – home sweet home! Good old Charleston

 

September/October – September brought me to Chicago and to Den Haag, The Hague. It also brought me to one of my bucket list hotels – the Hotel Des Indes. That was fun!

 

November – guess where I was…

 

December – December was a busy month! I spent most of it on holiday and got to visit quite a few countries

In order: Cambodia, Singapore, Vietnam, Malaysia and Thailand

 

So, that was 2012! I’m looking forward to a great travel year in 2013!

I spent two days in Cambodia visiting the area around Siem Reap and Angkor Wat. I arrived on Bangkok Airways to the amazingly small airport. Even though the airport is small, large jets fly into it – of course, mine was not a large jet. But it was painted very nicely. One of the hottest tourist attractions is right at the airport. There’s a very interesting statue that everyone took a picture of.

 

Siem Reap is a contrast in poverty and opulence. There are fancy hotels that cater to the hundreds of thousands of tourists that flock to Angkor Wat and the reality of the city that is Siem Reap. In some ways I found it similar to Phuket, Thailand in terms of busy streets filled with shops and heavy motorbike traffic.

Everyone says you must go to Angkor Wat at sunrise or sunset. Well, I’m not a morning person, so I chose a sunset tour for my first night. The sunset was spectacular and nightfall made the heat tolerable. Angkor Wat is stunning and words hardly can describe it. They say that in 10 years Angkor Wat may not even exist because of the rate of decay. However, many other countries have funded projects to save the World Heritage site.

The next day I took a full-day tour that again brought me to Angkor Wat, through Siem Reap, to an elephant conservation center, to an area where the United Nations Foundation is clearing mines and finally to a small fishing village. It was an extremely long day and the heat was exhausting. The temperature reached 100 degrees and the feels like temperature was 107 degrees. The guide told us that normal temperatures for December are around 90 degrees for the high in the day and mid-80s for the low at night and that Cambodia is suffering from global warming like the rest of the world. One thing that I noticed is that the air is not nearly as smoggy as other parts of Asia.

Angkor Wat:

Elephant Conservation Center :

Fishing Village: (from top left: Fish drying in the sun, market, snake (could have done without seeing that..and oh, yes, I was in a bus), and water buffalo)

Cambodia is a fascinating and diverse country with a complex history. While I only visited one small part of the country, it definitely sparked my interest about the rest of the country, especially the Khmer Rouge and the country’s history with war. I would highly recommend seeing Cambodia, and especially Angkor Wat, if you have the opportunity.

My visit to Singapore ended up being way to short. I had a great time and packed in a lot of sightseeing. There were a ton of things I wanted to do, and didn’t have time for…so it looks like I’ll be planning another trip back. This is the rainy season, so there wasn’t a day without some rain. Luckily I had almost 1 full day without rain to get a lot done.

City Tour

A great way to get acquainted with any city is by taking a city tour. I love the double-decker hop-on hop-off busses. There was a stop just outside my hotel, the Singapore Marriott, and the tour stops at all major attractions/areas of interest. Make sure you take water and a hat along as it can get quite hot on the tour bus if you sit outside.

Botanical Gardens

The botanical gardens are just beautiful and a must see. They were founded by Sir Stamford Raffles, the founder of Singapore itself, and later resurrected by the government in an effort to make Singapore a garden state. There is an amazing Orchid Garden – one of the newest and most popular attractions is the Princess Diana Orchid.

The Singapore Flyer

The Singapore Flyer is like a giant ferris wheel with enclosed pods that provide spectacular views of the city. Note: this is not for the faint of heart or those afraid of heights. The flyer towers over Singapore at 514 feet. They started construction on the Singapore Flyer in 2005 and it opened in 2008. It takes a full 30 minutes to make a 360 degree trip on the flyer.

Singapore Christmas

Singapore goes crazy for Christmas. I remember watching a show about 4 or 5 years ago about how many lights they put up in Singapore, but you really can’t imagine how crazy it is without seeing it. Every mall tries to outdo the other with decorations and lights. All of the main streets are light up and Orchard Road, the most famous road in Singapore is decked out. If you love Christmas, you will love celebrating it in Singapore. They really do go all out.

Orchard Road

Orchard Road is the shopping and entertainment hub of Singapore. You can find every and any store you’ve ever wanted to visit. The Marriott Hotel is at the epicenter of Orchard Road and provides a great starting out point for the avid shopper (though I must note, I couldn’t even afford to breathe in most of the stores, it was fun to look.) The Marriott is iconic and easily recognized by the pagoda shaped building it resides in.

Chinatown Heritage Center

This smaller, and older museum is a gem. I would not have found it had it not been for a recommendation from, of all people, the flight attendant. The center has meticulously recreated entire rooms from traditional 19^th century homes. This is a really great place to visit and I highly recommend making time to see it.

Singapore Sling at the Raffles Hotel

The Raffles name is synonymous with Singapore and a visit wouldn’t be complete without a visit to the Raffles Hotel. If you’re not lucky enough to stay at the hotel – which is very pricy – stop by, as I did, for a Singapore Sling. I’m not much of a drinker, but I did at least want to try one. It wasn’t my favorite, but now I can say I had a Singapore Sling in Singapore at the famous Raffles Hotel.

Clarke Quay

At the mouth of the Singapore River, Clarke Quay was the centre of commerce in the late 19th century. Today, it is full of life with restaurants, clubs, shopping and sightseeing activities. From the Quay, you can hop onboard a traditional bumboat and cruise the river. Along the way you can see a mix of historic shophouses and the new modern Singapore architecture. The boat tour was well worth the money, I had a great time.

Eat

Singapore has a million different food options. Whatever your taste, you’ll find something you like. There are celebrity chefs, local spots, hawker centers (food courts essentially) and tons of spots to grab a meal. Singapore is known for a few traditional dishes. One of the dishes that everyone recommends in Hainanese chicken. You can find it in many restaurants and in the Hawker centers. The dish is originally from Chinese origins, but has become a quite popular dish in Singapore. I had it one night and while I enjoyed it, I wouldn’t say I had to have it again. The presentation is impressive, and the Chicken was very moist and tender, but I didn’t find it as outstanding as some people find it.

Evening Entertainment

There are so many things that you can do at night in Singapore. I wanted to go to the Night Safari, which is a very popular activity for tourists in Singapore. However, it was pouring and I wasn’t able to go. The following night I went to the Sting concert. The venue is indoors, which made it very enjoyable – no rain, no humidity, no heat. This was a big treat to me on my vacation and I got a seat in the 3^rd row center. One of the things I’ve found w/getting last minute concert tickets is that there are often single seats in great locations if you’re willing to pay. This was worth it; I could see his face without looking at the big screens, heck, I could see the sweat on his face. Next time I’m in Singapore, I will make it to the night safari, but this was a good alternative.

Next Up

As I said, there are so many things to do and I just didn’t have enough time. I will be back to Singapore, it’s an amazing country. Next up on my trip: Langkawi & Kuala Lumpur Malaysia

Spoiler alert: Today is 12/12/12. I’m in Singapore and so far, the Earth is still spinning. Luckily, I’ll be at Sting LIVE in Singapore (row 3) by the time everyone in the US wakes up to realize the world doesn’t come to an end on 12/12/12. Sorry Mayans, this just wasn’t your year.

This is part two of my epic Southeast Asia Tour (I’m a little excited about the concert as you can see). Singapore has been great! So far, no rain today… I’ll have a full trip report about the night safari, botanical gardens, SingaporeFlyer, and much, much more!

I’ve also had some great food. Last night I ate at Andre. On the list of top 100 restaurants in the world. It’s not cheap…okay, it’s down right expensive as hell, but I thought the world might end and had it, I wanted an amazing last meal. Worth it!

Next stop: Langkawi, Malaysia.

Happy 12/12/12

For me, 2012 is pretty much in the books. My work year ends on Dec 10^th because I’m taking pretty much all my vacation in December. I thought this would be a good time to look back at 2012, the places I’ve been this year, the points and miles I’ve earned and some of the highlights in-between.

Where I was

I started the year off in Sydney, Australia for business and had the chance to work in Melbourne as well. The NYE fireworks in Sydney are spectacular. That has to be one of my favorite travel memories of 2012.

February: I spent February in Thailand

March: in London and Brussels

April: two weeks of April in Brussels and the Netherlands

May: back in Thailand

June: mostly at home

July: I was in Hong Kong and Macau. It will be a long time before I forget Typhoon Vincente! The second strongest typhoon to hit Hong Kong and Macau and I was there, in the craziness of it.

August: spent most of the month at home

September: it was back to London and it was amazing to be there during the Olympics and Paralympics

October: I spent in The Hague & Thailand

November: spent one week in Thailand and the rest at

December will be split between Thailand, Malaysia, Cambodia, Vietnam, Singapore.

How I got there:

Airline Miles:

• In 2012, I flew 126,154 butt in seat miles. Most I’ve ever flow in one year, surpassing my record by 12,000 miles
• 36,154 miles were credited to United – stupid mistake on my part
• 90,000 were credited to US Airways – so yes, I’m 10k miles short of earning Chairman and will have to buy up! I could kick myself for starting the year by crediting United now!
• In total, I earned/received 610,120 US Air Dividend Miles in 2012. I redeemed 665,000 miles this year. (I started 2012 with about 60k miles in my US Air account.) I earned bonus miles based on my Chairman status with US Airways, from the USAir shopping portal, the USAir Bank of America Debit Card (before they got rid of it) and through the Dividend Miles Multipliers. I also earned miles stays at Hilton, through other promotional offers. I bought 100,000 of those miles as well.

Where I stayed

Hotel Points:
Starwood

• In 2012 I have stayed 137 nights in 34 stays
• I earned a total of 348,189 points and redeemed 298,000 so I have a few left over to start 2013 with.
• I took advantage of as many SPG promotions as possible; I earned a 4^th point for SPG Platinum 75 as well.
• I will qualify for Lifetime Platinum at the end of 2012.

 

Marriott:

I decided in 2012 to move away from Marriott as my secondary chain.

• In 2012 I strayed 28 nights
• I earned 90,149 points and have redeemed 30,000 of those
• I earned a 25,000 point bonus in the Marriott Q3 promotion

Hilton

I made the choice to move to Hilton as my secondary chain of choice. I earned Gold status through a challenge.

• I’ve stayed 31 nights in 2012
• I earned 86,793 points all from stays
• I have not stayed enough to requalify for gold, so I have to decide if it’s worth it to use points to maintain gold

It’s been a very good year for points/mile earning and I also redeemed almost as many as I earned, however, that’s what they’re there for in my opinion!

How was your year?

Since I absolutely love Thailand, and have spent a significant amount of time there over the past 5 years, I thought I’d share some of favorite places and things to do/see.

 

Where to stay

Bangkok –

    Ultimate in Luxury

• St Regis Bangkok – the St Regis is a magnificent hotel and ranks among my favorite hotels in the world.
• Grand Hyatt Erawan Bangkok – I’ve only spent one night at the Hyatt, but I loved that 1 night! Even though I tend to stick with Starwood hotels in Thailand, I always return to the spa at the Grand Hyatt Erawan, it’s one of the best in Bangkok.
• Mandarin Oriental – the Mandarin is the personification of grandeur and luxury within the hotel world. Even if you don’t stay at the MO, make sure you stop by for tea or for a snack at the Mandarin Oriental Shop – they have amazing chocolates.

Affordable Luxury

• Le Meridien Bangkok – The Le Meridien in Bangkok is a modern and contemporary hotel that caters to the trendy traveler. The design reminds me of boutique hotels like Kimpton or Starwood’s own W hotels.
• Renaissance Bangkok – a great location makes the Renaissance an even more attractive property. The hotel is in walking distance from great hotels and endless shopping. The Renaissance frequently has special rates with AAA and directly on their website making it affordable.

Mid to Upper Scale

• Sheraton Royal Orchid – The Sheraton Royal Orchid Hotel is probably one of the best values in Bangkok and they treat SPG guests like royalty! The hotel is located on the Chao Phraya River and is just far enough away from the craziness of Bangkok.
• Conrad Residences – The Conrad Residences are serviced apartments that are connected to the Conrad Hotel Bangkok. You pay for what you get, but the advantages are the kitchenette and its location.
• Four Points by Sheraton Bangkok – while I haven’t personally stayed at the Four Points, a trusted advisor has highly recommended it to me – and so far, this advisor hasn’t steered me wrong (he happens to be a hotel insider). The Four Points is a new hotel in a great location.

Koh Samui –

    Ultimate in Luxury

• I haven’t found that yet!

Luxury

• Le Meridien Koh Samui – The Le Meridien Koh Samui offers a more traditional Thai experience with outstanding service. You have to love the outdoors if you’re going to stay at here though because all of the bathrooms are open air (some are more open than others). Don’t worry, you have complete privacy and mosquito nets are available upon request.

 

Phuket and the surrounding area

    Ultimate in Luxury

• JW Marriott Phuket – The JW Marriott is a secluded property that provides privacy and the ultimate in relaxation. The expansive property has a private beach, a variety of restaurants, spa, and just about everything else you could ask for. A short golf cart ride will bring you to a small shopping center with a couple of bars/restaurants.
• The Naka Island – While I haven’t been to this resort, it’s said to be one of the most unique and luxurious hotels in the area. Visitors must take a private boat to get to the island and the views are reportedly spectacular. The bathrooms are completely open air outdoors – so be prepared to share your space with little creatures. If you’re a naturalist you should check out this hotel.

Affordable Luxury

• Westin Siray Bay – Some people will undoubtedly disagree with me on this rating of “luxury” because the Westin Siray Bay definitely caters to a particular customer. If you’re looking for the perfect beach, this isn’t the hotel for you. If you have problems with steps – lots of them – this isn’t the hotel for you (unless you want to wait for a golf cart all the time.) If you’re looking for a large property with a laid back attitude and amazing pools, this is a great property.
• Le Meridien Khao Lak – This hotel is about 1 hour north of Phuket by car but is one of the best kept secrets in the area. The hotel offers great rates and frequently can be found offering sales through TravelZoo and other discount sites. The hotel is nice and the villas are awesome. The Le Meridien has a beautiful beach with plenty of chairs and beach front dining. The pool is also one of my favorites among Thailand pools.

What to eat

In Bangkok

The lists of restaurants is endless, but these are a few of my favorites

Expensive

• L’ Appart at the Sofitel Sukhumvit – L’Appart is a modern French restaurant serving exceptional cuisine from the 47^th floor of the Sofitel Sukhumvit. In addition to stunning views of the city, the restaurant is warm and welcoming. A meal will set you back about $50-60 per person without alcohol, but it’s worth the treat.
• Grossi Trattoria at the Intercontinental – Grossi is an amazing Italian restaurant in the heart of Bangkok. You’ll find stellar service and great food. Plan to spend around $50 per person without alcohol.
• Nahm at the Metropolitan – Nahm was ranked as one of the top 50 restaurants in the world in 2012. I’m not quite sure I would agree with that ranking, but Nahm offers one of the most up-scale Thai experiences you’ll have in Bangkok.

Moderate

• Baan Glom Gig – this small restaurant is tucked away on a small street behind the American Embassy. You wouldn’t find it if you didn’t know it was there. They offer good service and an extensive menu. The food is reasonably priced and very traditional. Dinner will run you $12-15 without alcohol.
• Nai Mong Hoi Thod – this restaurant was recommended by local chefs as one of the places they eat. Nai Mong Hoi Thod sells nothing but Oysters. Dinner will run you $10 – 15 dollars without alcohol.
• Krua Apsorn – a favorite of NY Times food critics and locals alike, Krua Apsorn is most known for their crab curry and that dish has been called one of the top 50 dishes in the world by T&L magazine. Plan to spend around $10 – 12 dollars for dinner.

In Phuket

There are a ton of places to eat in Phuket and depending on where you hotel is, you might not even venture out to find local places. One restaurant I highly recommend is Raya in Phuket Town. Raya is one of the most authentic, traditional Thai meals I’ve had. The restaurant has long tables that are filled with many families, locals and a few tourists. Almost nothing is in English (there’s lots of pictures) and don’t go with special requests or complicated orders, communicating can be challenge if you don’t speak Thai.

 

What to buy

Custom Clothing – Thailand is known for their high-quality custom tailored clothing made for unbelievably low prices. The tailor I recommend in Bangkok is Raja’s Fashions. They’re located at 160/1 Sukhumvit Road between Soi 6 and 8.

Silk – Thailand has a long history with Silk and it’s an important part of the history, culture and economy in Thailand. The most well known provider of superior quality silk is Jim Thompson. I recommend taking a tour of his house to learn more about Thailand’s Silk trade and while you’re there check out his restaurant and store. There are also stores located throughout the country. I buy something there every time I’m in Thailand.

Scarves – you can buy the most amazing silk and pashmina scarves in Thailand and prices range from around $6 – 100+ depending on the brand, quality, etc.. Any of the markets will have very reasonable prices.

Thai arts & crafts – you can find many different types of local crafts from wood carvings to chop sticks to jewelry. Prices are very affordable and you’re helping a local! Check out specialty stores and markets.

 

What to see/do

Bangkok

    See

• Temple of Dawn (Wat Arun ) – this beautiful 19^th century Khmer style structure is knows for is spires. They’re very recognizable.
• The Grand Palace – the Grand Palace is an awe-inspiring complex built in 1782. It served as the home to Thai kings for 150 years and today is open to visitors. It’s truly spectacular and something you can’t miss.
• Wat Pho – known as the home of the reclining Buddha, Wat Pho is a large complex filled with gardens, sculptures and the college of Traditional Medicine – the home of Thai massage.
• The Jim Thompson House – dedicated to the art of the silk trade, Jim Thompson is responsible for revitalizing a dying industry in Thailand. The complex is made up of 6 teak style buildings preserved as they were when Jim Thompson lived there. If you like a mystery, make sure you read up on the disappearance of Thompson – it still has people asking questions.

Do

• Chao Phraya River Tour – take a long boat tour of the river and its canals. It’s a unique experience and will show you parts of Bangkok you wouldn’t see otherwise. Some tours stop at the floating flower market which is a nice stop if it’s open.
• Chatuchak Weekend Market – the market is a landmark in Thailand and only open on weekends. It’s not my favorite place in the world, but it’s worth a visit if you’ve never been – at least you can say you went to the JJ Market, as locals call it. Why JJ Market? While its pronounced Chatuchak, it’s written Jatujak when translated from Thai. Hence, JJ. There are 8,000+ stalls selling everything from trinkets, foods and even animals! It’s a crazy experience.

 

Tips

• Always insist on a metered taxi – you’ll be taken for a ride otherwise!
• Pre-negotiate your fare if you take a Tuk-Tuk.
• Get address in Thai whenever possible, many drives don’t speak much English.
• Tipping has become expected in large chain hotels, but it’s not expected elsewhere. It’s appropriate to round up to the nearest baht for taxis and add an extra baht or two for excellent service at restaurants.
• Traffic is awful, try to travel in non-peak times if you can.
• Thailand is very safe, but be aware of pick-pockets and people looking to sell you cheap tours – they’re usually a rip off.

Do you have any insider tips? Feel free to share them!

I recently had the opportunity to visit The Hague on an extended business trip which meant I had plenty of time to enjoy many of The Hague’s restaurants and a full weekend to sightsee. The Hague, also referred to as Den Haag by the Dutch, is home to the Dutch government, parliament, the Supreme Court and the Queen’s home, but is not the capital of the Netherlands – that’s Amsterdam. Because The Hague is the center of government, most embassies are located there.

The Hague maybe most known for being the home to the International Court Of Justice and International Crimes Court. The Hague has many small streets in the center of town and some date back to the middle ages making the city very quaint and interesting.

Things to do:

There are many museums to visit in the Hague. One of the most notable is the Escher Museum. You can also visit a real mediaeval dungeon at the Museum Gevangenpoort, The Prison Gate, which dates back to the 15^th century. The Panorama Mesdag is a 360 degree panoramic painting and is worth a visit.

You should take a stroll down Lange Voorhout, a beautiful avenue lined with trees and amazing buildings. Many embassies are located on this street along with the Escher museum and the Hotel Des Indes.

The Paleis Noordeine is the working palace for Queen Beatrix and while it’s closed to the public, the gardens are not. It’s worth walking by the Palace to see the beautiful architecture. Queen Beatrix’ residential palace, Paleis Huis ten Bosch, is located just outside the city center and near the Haagse Bosch Forest.

There’s not much night life in The Hague, you won’t find nightclubs and late night cafes like you will in Amsterdam. The Hague moves at a much slower pace, and I liked that. The streets are lined with cafes and restaurants and the Plein, or Square, and Grote Markt, Great Market, are filled with sidewalk cafes and shops.

Fun Fact:

Did you know that Coldplay’s video Viva la Vida and portions of Oceans 12 were filmed in The Hague?

Getting around:

You can take a train to one of two train stations in The Hague, Den Haag Hollands Spoor (HS) or Den Haag Centraal Station (CS), both are very central. There is also a tram system in The Hague which makes getting around easy.

Taxis are harder to come by and can be expensive. There are no taxi stands which means you have to call a cab company.

Eating:

There are many great little lunch spots, my favorite was Bambci, a tiny little shop run by two Italian women. They made amazing sandwiches. Het Heden is a great lunch or dinner spot. It fills quickly so reservations are recommended at dinner time. There is a bar area with open seating and we were pretty lucky finding open tables each time we went. The food is really great.

If you’re looking for brunch or lunch, Brasserie t’ Ogenblik is a great spot. They had really unique and interesting options. I had pancakes with ham, cheese and apples. It was great. Another great dinner spot is Oni, a Japanese restaurant with traditional and more modern dishes.

Where to stay:

The historic Hotel Des Indes is likely the most well known hotel in The Hague. I wrote a full review of the hotel, but based on price, was only able to stay there one night. The Hilton is a modern hotel with great facilities and is centrally located. I enjoyed my stay at the Hilton. There are dozens of smaller hotels and b&bs to choose from as well. The Park Hotel is a very basic hotel, but a good value. The downside, it’s not a non-smoking hotel, which may turn some people off.

I really enjoyed my stay in The Hague and I’m glad I had the opportunity to spend some time there. I actually preferred it to Amsterdam because I liked the slower pace. If you’re in the Netherlands, make sure you plan a stop in The Hague.