Phuket Airport Hotel, Airport

Phuket Airport Hotel, Airport

It's location is excellent, within about 600 meters of the entrance of Phuket Airport, almost walking distance. Yeah right, not very appealing with a lot of luggage. The staff however is very friendly and accommodating and they offer pick ups at the airport for 100,-THB and free transfers in the morning to the airport. Easy peasy.

The hotel itself is rather small with just 12 rooms, a pool and a restaurant. Around the corner is a 7-11 and a few restaurants but why bother if you can eat on location? The beach is just 600 meters away but for most travelers; transit passengers, layovers and short-stay guests the hotel is just for a night or a day room and it fulfills this purpose excellently. There's free wifi but make sure you check the rooms near the restaurant where the router is. I had bad reception in my room and was offered an alternative room.

Looking for a fair price near Phuket airport, this may be just it, convenient, simple yet effective and easy, as long as you don't expect luxury. Very nice staff, did I mention that yet?

Booking by Agoda

Booking by Hotels Combined

Room with king size and single bed

Room with king size and single bed

Room exterior

Restaurant

Pool

Mystic Place, Bangkok

Mystic Place, Bangkok

This is at last a hotel that gives meaning to the word 'boutique hotel'. Located in the Saphan Kwai area of Bangkok, near the Chatuchak weekend market and near the Saphan Kwai BTS Station, Mystic Place is a perfect hotspot for guests who love Art and Fantasy, and desire a different out-of-the-ordinary experience when staying in Bangkok. Forget those "ordinary" hotels; Mystic Place is definitely one-of-a-kind destination.

Each of the 36 rooms have been uniquely designed centering around a theme by Thailand's most talented artists and gives this hotel a uniqueness that hasn't been matched yet in Bangkok.

There's a free Shuttle Tuk Tuk to BTS, MRT and Chatuchak Market for the guests which makes it convenient and easy to get around.

Although I haven't stayed here myself, it's high on my list of places to stay at during a next trip to Bangkok. This hotel was brought under my attention by a fellow blogger, Talen of Thailand Land of Smiles and during his stay he had a great time. One of the nice features of the hotel is that when you book on line, where you can see pictures of all 36 rooms, but you don't like the room upon, you can change rooms daily for a 200,-THB surcharge, unless you stay for more than 3 nights and the surcharge is dropped.

If in Bangkok and you're in for something different within a very reasonable price range, Mystic Place is your stop!

Booking by Agoda

Booking by Hotels Combined

Superior room

Deluxe room

Superior double bed

Lobby

Front desk

The Heart Inn, Saladan, Koh Lanta

The Heart Inn, Saladan, Koh Lanta

The Heart Inn is one of those places that reminds me why travelling around Thailand can be so nice, clean and cheap rooms with all mod cons! During my last IDC that I conducted on Koh Lanta, during February/March 2011 I stayed here and for the up and coming IDC for March/April 2011 I will stay here again!

The room I stayed in had a/c, a mini fridge, cable TV, wifi and a shower with hot and cold water for well under 1.000,-THB per night!

The reception/lobby area also offers internet service.

Fair enough, it's not on the beach, although walk out the reception, hang a left and walk 500 meters and you're on a beach! The Heart doesn't have a pool neither, which I never use during when stay somewhere during work, so this comes at no big loss to me. The bathroom was interesting and funny though, some real creativity was used, have a look here.

One other real benefit of this Inn is that you're within walking distance of pretty much all restaurants, banks and shopping in Saladan and the motorbike taxis take you for a few Baht to the nearby Long Beach where there are even more restaurant options. The Inn's location is also in a very quiet small street off the main road pretty much in 'downtown' Saladan.

For people leaving with the ferries, it's also within walking distance of said ferries, location is everything!

All in all, great location and excellent value, what else can I say?

Booking by Agoda

Booking by Hotels Combined

Guest room

Guest room

Guest room

Guest room

Reception/lobby area

Ananda Lanta Resort, Klong Dao, Koh Lanta

Ananda Lanta Resort, Klong Dao, Koh Lanta

Koh Lanta is becoming a hot spot during my current travels and it's easy to check out the hotels on this lovely island. One of my current March 2011 IDC candidates is staying at this hotel and he's pleased with it.

Good to know is that resort is not at the beach side of the road, however, within 3 minutes you can be at the beach if you just cross the road. On the up side, the hotel boosts one of the bigger pools on the island.

All 48 rooms have their own balcony and the resort is located near Saladan, the busiest part of the island. Restaurants are plenty full near the hotel, combining a quiet and relaxed environment with plenty of things to do and see very nearby.

Booking with Agoda

Booking with Hotels Combined

Superior room

Superior seview

Deluxe seaview

Swimming pool

Exterior

Four Seasons Resort, Chiang Mai

Four Seasons Resort, Chiang Mai

This typical Four Seasons luxury style resort with it's 80 rooms is located in the middle of rice fields and paddies and the hotel has spacious Lanna-style pavilions that overlook those terraced rice fields and the mountains of the beautiful Mae Rim Valley. How relaxing can it get?

It's a few minutes by car though to the hustle and bustle of Chiang Mai.

You can savour the unique flavours of northern and vegetarian Thai specialties at Sala Mae Rim restaurant, renowned for its sumptuous Thai and Western cuisine. A high teak wood ceiling complements Northern Thai artifacts and sweeping views of the Mae Rim Valley.

Located beside the Resort's main swimming pool, Terraces offers a stunning open air setting with an expansive view of the surrounding rice paddies and the distant Doi Suthep mountain range. Complementing the traditional Lanna-style architecture of the Resort, Terraces features international cuisine inspired by the region's abundant natural produce and showcases sensational dishes from Asia and beyond

From the Thai cooking school to the acclaimed spa and flawless service, this is a signature Four Seasons experience.

For a real relaxing experience in the middle of the country side, with prices that go along with the Four Seasons experience, this hotel comes highly recommended!

Booking by Agoda

Booking by Hotels Combined

Guest room

Villa

Exterior

View

Swimming pool

Royal Lanta Resort & Spa, Klong Dao

Royal Lanta Resort & Spa, Klong Dao

Located near Koh Lanta's main town of Saladan at the very popular beach of Klong Dao, the Royal Lanta Resort caters with just 48 rooms to guests looking for rest and relaxation on a white powdered beach!

Being near Saladan is convenient of you want some nearby day and night time activities and there are plenty of bars and restaurants within walking distance.

They have two swimming pools and on top of that they're located on the beach as well. For a fairly moderate priced ranged holiday this hotel will suit you well on Koh Lanta.

Booking by Agoda

Booking by Hotels Combined

Superior room

Deluxe room

Suite room

Villas

Swimming pool

Salad Buri Resort & Spa, Haad Salad, Koh Phangan

Salad Buri Resort & Spa, Haad Salad, Koh Phangan

Haad Salad is arguably one of the coziest beaches on Koh Phangan. It's definitely a very intimate beach and offers some amazing sunsets!

There's not much space here due to the size of the bay but there are a few options available and Salad Buri is at the higher end of your options and with 52 rooms they're not doing bad at all.

The resort is not too far away from the main port in Thong Sala and (luckily!) far enough away from Haad Rin and it's full moon madness in the very South of the island.

Enjoy a relaxing stay at one of Phangan's best bays in a medium ranged price bracket.

Booking by Agoda

Booking by Hotels Combined

Guest room

Superior room

Villa

Balcony

Swimming Pool