Thailand Explore

 

Thaivisa has teamed up with the Tourism Authority of Thailand and 5 great sponsors to encourage expat travel across all of Thailand. We must thank the Blue Haven Bay, Global Insurance - for all your Expat Insurance needs, Samui Bayside, Inspire and Dan about Thailand for their huge support with this project. 

 

 

 

 

 

Thaivisa has teamed up with the Tourism Authority of Thailand and 5 great sponsors to encourage expat travel across all of Thailand. We must thank the Blue Haven Bay, Global Insurance - for all your Expat Insurance needs, Samui Bayside, Inspire and Dan about Thailand for their huge support with this project. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thaivisa has teamed up with the Tourism Authority of Thailand and 5 great sponsors to encourage expat travel across all of Thailand. We must thank the Blue Haven Bay, Global Insurance - for all your Expat Insurance needs, Samui Bayside, Inspire and Dan about Thailand for their huge support with this project. 

 

 

An overview of the Butang (Adang) archipelago

David Luekens

 

Welcome to the last of five posts in a series covering the Butang (or Adang) archipelago in the far south of Thailand’s Andaman Sea. So far I’ve spotlighted boat trips to Ko Adang and Ko Rawi, met the indigenous islanders and gone on a slow walk to some of Ko Lipe’s out-of-the-way spots. Now it’s time to zoom out for a broader view of one of the most dazzling collections of islands in Thailand.

 

In this nerdier post, we dive below the water, climb around the rocks and pinpoint some of the remote spots that I hope to check out next time I visit.

 

 

Looking north from Ko Lipe towards Ko Adang (right), Ko Rawi and little Ko Hin Ngam Yai (left), Ko Hin Ngam Noi and Ko Yang.

 

A remote archipelago

The Butang archipelago’s two mid-size islands (Ko Adang and Ko Rawi), three small islands (Ko Lipe, Ko Tong and Ko Bitsi), six islets and 15 specks lie 75 to 98 km off mainland Satun province. Apart from one privately owned resort and two Urak Lawoi villages on Ko Adang to go with around three square km of developed land on Ko Lipe, the whole archipelago is protected as part of Mu Ko Tarutao Marine Park.

 

Continue reading: https://thaiislandtimes.substack.com/p/an-overview-of-the-butang-archipelago

 

 

How tourism and a national park pushed the indigenous people of Ko Lipe into a corner

David Luekens

 

Urak Lawoi kids head home to their village on Ko Lipe at dusk in March 2017.

 

More than a century ago, boat-loving people turned a tropical archipelago into their home and lived off the sea and jungle. After a while, outsiders pushed them aside in a burst of state-sanctioned conservation and profit-driven tourism, two things that are more related than you might think. This is the story of the Urak Lawoi people of the Butang (or Adang) archipelago in Thailand’s Lower Andaman Sea.

 

I’ll preface this fascinating story by pointing out that many of the archipelago’s islands have two commonly used names — one from the old Malayo-Polynesian dialect of the Urak Lawoi natives and the other coined by Thai people who took hold of these islands more recently. These baseline disagreements hint at the friction that surrounds so much of the archipelago’s history.

 

For example, the Urak Lawoi call the archipelago’s fifth largest island Pulau Bitsi (“Iron Island”) while Thais refer to it as Ko Lek or “Small Island.” The commonly used name for the third largest island, Ko Tong, is a Thai rendering of the original Urak Lawoi name, Pulau Betak or “Bamboo Island.” As for the fourth largest island, the name Ko Lipe comes from the Urak Lawoi nipih, meaning “flat.”

 

Continue reading: https://thaiislandtimes.substack.com/p/the-urak-lawoi-people-of-the-butang

 

 

 

Ko Lipe: Finding quiet spots on one of Thailand's most popular islands

 

Setting out from the Urak Lawoi-owned Gipsy Resort.

 

Welcome to the fourth in a series of five posts covering the Butang (Adang) archipelago in the far southwest of Thailand. If you missed the first three posts, check out Ko Adang and Ko Rawi, and then learn about the indigenous people of Ko Lipe.

 

Ko Lipe changed radically over the past 15 years, perhaps more than any other Thai island. In 2006, this four-square-km island had a total of 23 lodgings overlooking the marvelous beaches and sandy trails. By 2019 that number had jumped to over 100, including several large-scale resorts and inland hotels. Sidecar motorbike taxis clogged newly paved lanes as crowds piled on to Walking Street.

 

By my first visit in 2011, residents and devoted long-stay travelers seemed to know what was is in store for the boomerang-shaped island they loved. I like to think that I saw some of the last breaths of an older and mellower Ko Lipe during that trip, a moment before mass tourism tightened its grasp.

 

Some of the “old hands” left the island permanently after selling their bungalows and beach bars. Others stuck around, however, and echoes of the days before mass tourism can still be heard in places. Whenever I visit Ko Lipe nowadays, I always start with a long, slow walk to spots that remind me of what it was like before.

 

Continue reading: https://thaiislandtimes.substack.com/p/ko-lipe-finding-quiet-spots-on-one

 

 

 

 

Thaivisa has teamed up with the Tourism Authority of Thailand and 5 great sponsors to encourage expat travel across all of Thailand. We must thank the Blue Haven Bay, Global Insurance - for all your Expat Insurance needs, Samui Bayside, Inspire and Dan about Thailand for their huge support with this project. 

 

 

Lanta Paradise Package at Rawi Warin Resort & Spa

 

 

Lanta Paradise Package

– 2 Nights Accommodation in chosen room catagory

– Breakfast for 2 persons

– Roundtrip transfer from/to Krabi Airport by joint van for 2 persons

 

Booking Period:    13 November 2020 – 31 January 2021

Stay Period:           13 November 2020 – 31 January 2021

 

Package Rate

 

Deluxe Room:                  6,000 Baht

Pond Room:                     7,000 Baht 

Villa:                                 8,000 Baht 

Sunset Pool Villa:            12,000 Baht 

Beachfront Pool Villa:      13,000 Baht

 

Terms & Conditions
– The above room rate is net rate in Thai Baht
– Payment is required at the booking date and non-refundable.
– This voucher can be amended but request to amendment at least 14 days before arrival date without penalty
– This Promotion cannot be combinable with other special offer and promotion.  
– This voucher is valid for reservation 7 days in advance before the arrival date.      
– Please check room availability before making a reservation  Tel. +66 75 607 400  
– Additional charge THB 1,000 per room if stay on 24,25,31 Dec and 01 Jan 2021
– Flight detail should be advised at least 3 days prior arrival

 

For more information or making a booking please contact - call +66 (0) 75 607 400

 

 

 

 

 

Sunday Brunch at Coast Beach Club & Bistro Pattaya, Centara Grand Mirage Beach Resort Pattaya – 8th November 2020

 

 

Enjoy a well spent Sunday with your family and friends.

 

Join us for a delicious brunch serving Alaskan king crabs, Fin de Clair oysters, a foie gras station, sushi & sashimi station, a carving station with roasted rib eye, delicious curries, stir-fries and an expansive dessert station.

Live entertainment with Circus acts and fun for the kid & free access to the waterpark.

 

12:30 – 15:30 hrs.

 

COAST Beach Club and Bistro is a brand new beachfront drinking, dining and lounging experience. With beach clubs on the best beachfront locations of Koh Samui, Hua Hin, Pattaya, and Phuket, Coasters will enjoy the ultimate in laid-back cool – sipping chilled drinks, feasting on fresh food and sharing stories and laughter with friends and loved ones under the sun and stars – all against the back drop of waves lapping the shore and cool, ambient tunes filling the air.

 

Centara Grand Mirage Beach Resort Pattaya

 

Two gigantic cliffs connected by rope bridges, a cavern that reveals a jungle with a river and waterfalls, and a pathway leading down to the golden sands of Wong Amat Beach in North Pattaya. You are in the Lost World, a place of indulgence and great fun.

 

Centara Grand Mirage Beach Resort Pattaya is an exciting themed five-star resort that is a destination in its own right, an entire world of pleasure, a place where everyday cares are laid aside and where everyone will find something to amaze and delight. As a retreat for couples and honeymooners or as a fun place for families, you will love our ocean-facing rooms, suites and family residences, eight dining venues, our award-winning spa, a kids’ club, water sports and an extensive water park. With its impressive range of meeting venues, team-building options and expansive grounds, the resort is a prime destination for distinctive meetings and conferences.

 

The drive to and from Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi International Airport is easy and convenient, and takes approximately one and a half hours. A scheduled shuttle service connects to Central Festival Pattaya shopping and lifestyle centre on an hourly basis.

 

Address
Centara Grand Mirage Beach Resort Pattaya
277 Moo 5, Naklua, Banglamung, Pattaya 20150, Thailand Tel: +66 (0) 3830 1234
Fax: +66 (0) 3871 4999
Email: [email protected]
http://www.centarahotelsresorts.com/centaragrand/cmbr/

 

 

Thaivisa has teamed up with the Tourism Authority of Thailand and 5 great sponsors to encourage expat travel across all of Thailand. We must thank the Dusit Hotels & Resorts, Blue Haven Bay, The Riviera Group, Global Insurance - for all your Expat Insurance needs and Dan about Thailand for their huge support with this project.

 

 

 

Expat Travel Bonus at Hyatt Regency Bangkok Sukhumvit

 

 

THB 1,000 Discount on Room Reservation for all expats living in Thailand.
Prices start from THB 2,999 net after discount*.

 

Your next city getaway starts here! Spoil your loved ones with scrumptious breakfast, a dip in the pool, and delicious food from our experienced chefs at Hyatt Regency Bangkok Sukhumvit, a 5-star hotel located just around the corner. 

 

Special offer for all expatriates living in Thailand with discount of THB 1,000 net off on room reservations, the price starts from THB 2,999 net after discount* inclusive of daily breakfast for 2 adults and 1 child, complimentary early check-in and late check-out, 20% discount on food & beverages from a la carte menu, 20% discount on laundry and complimentary parking throughout your stay.

 

Offer Details:

 

THB 1,000 net Discount on Room Reservation for all expatriates living in Thailand, price start from only THB 2,999 net after apply the discount.

 

Special benefits include:

• Daily breakfast for 2 adults and 1 child
• Complimentary early check-in and late check-out 
• 20% discount on food & beverages from a la carte menu
• 20% discount on laundry services
• Complimentary parking throughout your stay

 

For reservations, please call 02 098 1234.

 

 

Follow Expat Explore on Facebook - To ensure you get the best deals and offers from across Thailand specifically for Expats

Coastal Thailand news for October 14-20, 2020

David Luekens

 

Widespread anti-government protests and serious flooding are the big stories from a week that might have changed Thailand forever. This edition of the Island Wrap also covers the first group of foreign tourists to enter the country since March along with environmental news and much more from coastal Thailand.

 

Last week I featured marvelous Ko Rawi and Ko Hin Ngam in the second of four posts on the Butang (or Adang) archipelago in the Lower Thai Andaman. My next installment gets a tad nerdy with an overview of the archipelago, including several maps, geographical facts and more. It will be out later this week.

 

 

A rare break in the rain in Bangkok, where tens of thousands of young people have come out to protest despite an emergency decree and the threat of riot police.

 

Feeling better after a bout with dengue fever, Stuart included Ko Sukorn on a list of places in Southeast Asia where he’s “ready to hide away.” On Couchfish, he dug into crab in Kep and pepper in Kampot as the Cambodia adventures continue.

 

Continue reading: https://thaiislandtimes.substack.com/p/coastal-thailand-news-for-october-ad2

 

Ko Rawi and Ko Hin Ngam: Remote beaches and cursed hornfell stones

David Luekens

 

Welcome to the second in a series of four posts covering the Butang (or Adang) archipelago in the Lower Thai Andaman. If you missed the first one, check out Ko Adang.

 

At 29 square km, Ko Rawi might be the most magnificent Thai island of a substantial size that has no development at all, unless you count the shacks and tents pitched at a couple of ranger stations. Circumnavigate the entire island in a boat, or bushwhack through its jungle-cloaked interior, and you won’t even find a fishing village or a hut used by swallow nest hunters. It is pure wilderness.

 

Protected as part of Mu Ko Tarutao Marine National Park and set within a half-hour boat ride of popular Ko Lipe, Ko Rawi does draw its share of day trippers during high season. That’s how I’ve visited twice, once for fun with a friend and a second time for Travelfish. On that first excursion, we also made a stop at the islet of Ko Hin Ngam to check out an unusual beach composed of polished stones.

 

 

Continue reading: https://thaiislandtimes.substack.com/p/ko-rawi-and-ko-hin-ngam-remote-beaches

 

 

 

 

Thaivisa has teamed up with the Tourism Authority of Thailand and 5 great sponsors to encourage expat travel across all of Thailand. We must thank the Dusit Hotels & Resorts, Blue Haven Bay, The Riviera Group, Global Insurance - for all your Expat Insurance needs and Dan about Thailand for their huge support with this project. 

 

 

 

Koh Phangan: Special Covid-19 Rates at Shades Of Blue villa

 

 

Shades Of Blue – Tropical chic Villa with amazing sea view for 8 people

 

Located on the west coast of Koh Phangan, only 3 min from the beautiful Hin Kong bay and 6 min from Sritanu, Shades Of Blue is a tropical modern villa that will charm you with  with its comfort and its incredible 180° sea view. A perfect place to enjoy your vacation with your family or friends.

 

Imagine yourself in an infinity pool with a great view on the sunset behind Ang Thong Marine Park. All you can see are coconut trees, the sea and islands.

 

Shades of Blue is a 300 SqM villa, offering full privacy.

 

4 Bedrooms/4 bathrooms with ultra comfortable Deleted size beds. Each bedroom has air conditioning and its own balcony with sea view.

 

The living space is entirely open, around the big terrace and the infinity swimming pool.

 

The kitchen is fully equipped with a big fridge, an oven, a micro-waves oven, dishwasher, a coffee maker, a toaster, a blender…

A very discrete employee is there daily to clean the villa. She can also, on demand, prepare thai food meals or even teach thai cuisine.

 

The swimming pool has a salt system filter with a maintenance twice a week.

 

Everything is included (electricity, high speed internet, Netflix, water).

 

We also provide drinking water for free.

 

 

Rates:

 

Low season (April 16 to June 30 & September 1st to Dec 12): 9.500 THB/night

 

High Season (Jan 10 to April 15 & July 1st to Aug 31 & Dec 13 to 19): 12.800 THB/night

 

Peak Season (Dec 20 to Jan 9): 19.800 THB/night

 

Weekly discount: 10%

 

Monthly discount: 25%

 

Minimum stay : 4 nights

 

Peak season: 7 nights

 

SPECIAL COVID-19 RATES (Thai & Expats):

 

5.000 THB/night until Dec 19, 2020

 

11.000 THB per night for peak season (Dec 20 to Jan 10, 2021)

 

8.000 THB/night in January 2021

 

 

Exact location: https://goo.gl/maps/naJExwKZQ7U2

 

FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/Shades-of-Blue-Koh-Phangan-1914271785560136/

 

YOUTUBE : https://youtu.be/NNKVbSSRhUI

 

AIRBNB (to check availability): https://www.airbnb.fr/rooms/22319226?s=67&shared_item_type=1&virality_entry_point=1&sharer_id=22964551

 

 

 

Bus Travel in Thailand – Vacation Tips

 

 

Bus travel in Thailand is one of the lesser-known ways for tourists and expats to get around the country. Since we don’t take the bus very often in our own countries, it is also not our first thought here. But for most Thai people it is the best way to get around at the lowest cost, and it is the same for foreigners. For tourists, it’s a great way to see more of the country during your vacation. For expats, it’s an economical alternative to driving or flying. The key to bus travel in Thailand during your vacation is to get all the right timetable information for where you are going. This is easy to do and you will enjoy your trip so much more when you leave the driving to them!

 

Why use Bus Travel during your Thailand Vacation
Bus travel to almost everywhere in Thailand is very easy from anywhere, especially from Bangkok. All major cities, provincial capitals, and most small towns have a bus terminal. The Government subsidized bus line “BKS” has the best busses and services and are the most safe and reliable. Buses are very cheap in Thailand. A one-way ticket from Bangkok to Khon Kaen, for example, is only 400 Baht. Long-distance trips like this always have a 20 min. rest stop, and water and snacks are provided. Riding a major bus line is also much safer than driving yourself, and you won’t get stopped at police checkpoints. There are very few bus accidents in Thailand. Buses also offer convenience. They go places where you can’t fly, saves you money, and often saves you time as well.

 

 

Five reasons to Travel by Bus in Thailand

1 – Busses in Thailand are Cheap!
The bus from Bangkok to Pattaya is only 120 Baht ($4.00 USD). It is 1,300+ by taxi, and driving there yourself costs 600+ in gas and tolls. To Koh Samui, the bus is only 1,000 baht including the ferry to the island. To Chiang Mai its 700 each way. The bus I regularly take from Bangkok to Nong Bua Daeng in Isaan, a distance of 350 km, is only 300 baht. These prices are impossible to beat. The price of long-distance travel by bus also includes a meal at the rest stop, snacks, and water. What a deal!

 

2 – The bus goes everywhere.
Every town and city in Thailand has a bus terminal. Sometimes that means just a small shelter, but in all towns & cities over 10,000 people, there is a proper bus station with staff. This is great compared to flying, and especially important if you are going home or to family in the country. Often times the nearest airport is nowhere near where you are going, even it is a district capital.

 

Continue reading: https://www.thebeartravel.com/en/bus-travel-in-thailand-vacation-tips/

 

 

Top-8 Things Do in Koh Chang

 

 

Are you are holidaying in Koh Chang or are thinking about it? This mesmerising tropical island in the Gulf of Thailand is approximately a 4-hour drive from Pattaya on the Eastern Seaboard and is located close to Trat via a ferry ride. This stunning tropical island merges breathtaking beauty with lots of luscious jungle terrain and a handful of stylish 5-star resorts and low-cost beachside bungalows, cool nightlife spots, wildlife trails, exotic beaches, and quality eateries. If you want to make the most of your Thailand holiday, here are the top-8 things to do in Koh Chang.

 

#1 – Basking at the Klong Plu Waterfall

Koh Chang is known for its stunning natural beauty. If you are already here, it would be sacrilegious to not visit a waterfall. The biggest and most popular Koh Chang waterfall is Klong Plu Waterfall, located near to the Mu Koh Chang National Park in the heart of the island.

 

Surrounded by thick jungle terrain, this waterfall is a 10-minute drive from the road, and although it is not accessed for free like some of the island’s other falls, the nominal price means the area is always clean and well taken care of. Just remember that if you are visiting in the dry season months between December and April, the waterfall might not even be there, or might be just a trickle. The best times of the year are between May and November.

 

 

#2 – High-Octane Adventures at Treetop Adventure Park

Are you an adrenalin junkie who needs his/her fix during your pilgrimage to Koh Chang? Although you thought you left the high-octane adventures behind on Walking Street Pattaya, the Treetop Adventure Park in Koh Chang is just the ticket. This purpose-built park has a vast amount of ziplines, rope bridges and much more in the heart of the jungle. Come and glide through the jungle terrain on these adrenalin-filled ziplines that float amidst the jungle canopy. If you are older than ten years old and above 1.4 meters in height, you can participate in all the activities. There are lots of staff working at the park, so you are in safe hands at all times.

 

Continue reading: https://www.thebeartravel.com/en/top-8-things-do-in-koh-chang/

 

 

5 Reasons to enjoy a Pattaya Family Holiday

 

 

When we think of Pattaya, a family-style holiday destination is not what initially springs to mind. We usually think of beers, babes and nights out. What you don’t realize is that Pattaya has some of the best family-attractions of any major tourist destination in Thailand. More than Phuket, Chiang Mai and Bangkok? Maybe more than all of them combined! Here are 5 reasons to enjoy a Pattaya family holiday.

 

1# – Pattaya is cleaning up its act!
I like kids a lot. I used to be one myself back in the olden days.  Now I have a couple of kids of my own, I am starting to see Pattaya in a different light. The ethos and philosophy of Pattaya tourism is changing. And has been for the past 7 or 8 years. Pattaya was always known as a ‘City of Sin’, but the cleanup is now in full effect. Major party areas such as Soi 6 and even Walking Street have been undergoing crackdowns in recent times. Pattaya is moving away from its seedy nightlife reputation and is trying to create a wholesome and family orientated.

 

In recent times, we have seen the construction of lots of infrastructure such as the Pattaya underpass and ferry terminals to Hua Hin. Other plans are in place such as reinventing Walking Street. The Thai government is finally moving ahead with the decision to change the city’s reputation for the better. Lots of Pattaya family holiday attractions have been constructed over the past 5-years. Especially in the surrounding countryside areas in Nong Prue, Huay Yai, Na Jomtien, and Bangsaray. Pattaya is not the same place it was 10-years ago and in 10-years’ time, it will be almost unrecognizable.

 

 

2# – Pattaya Water Parks
Some of the newest and most modern Pattaya family holiday attractions were built in recent times. Two of the most popular in the region are Amazone Cartoon Network Water Park and Ramayana Water Park. Both parks are located over in the Bangsaray region, just a 20-minute drive from downtown Pattaya. They offer state-of-the-art water slides that create awesome aquatic adventures!

 

Come and get down with all your Cartoon Network favorites such as Finn & Jake, Ben 10, The Regular Show and much more. The choice of water slides at the Amazone Cartoon Network is simply stunning. Amazone is open 7 days per week and ticket prices start from 790 THB! Ramayana Water Park was built in 2016 and is already lauded as the best water park in the region. It is definitely the cheapest and best value for money. With ticket prices that start from 600 THB, the value is great.

 

Continue reading: https://www.thebeartravel.com/en/5-reasons-to-enjoy-a-pattaya-family-holiday/

 

 

Thaivisa has teamed up with the Tourism Authority of Thailand and 5 great sponsors to encourage expat travel across all of Thailand. We must thank the Dusit Hotels & Resorts, Blue Haven Bay, The Riviera Group, Global Insurance - for all your Expat Insurance needs and Dan about Thailand for their huge support with this project. 

 

 

25% discount at Tepin Baan Lek holiday home, Chiang Mai

 

 

The promotion s Expat Explore and customers should use code exe to attract a 25% discount.

 

We also include pick up and return to the bus station, railway station and airport.

 

Booking and more info: https://www.tepinbaanlek.com/

 

 

 

 

 

Follow Expat Explore on Facebook - To ensure you get the best deals and offers from across Thailand specifically for Expats

 

 

Thaivisa has teamed up with the Tourism Authority of Thailand and 5 great sponsors to encourage expat travel across all of Thailand. We must thank the Dusit Hotels & Resorts, Blue Haven Bay, The Riviera Group, Global Insurance - for all your Expat Insurance needs and Dan about Thailand for their huge support with this project. 

 

 

EXPAT Travel Bonus Offer at Pullman Phuket Panwa Beach Resort - expires 31 Dec

 

 

 

EXPAT Travel Bonus Offer!

Starting from THB1,999 net/room/night (price after discount)

Only from 15 October – 31 December 2020

 

Pullman Phuket Panwa Beach Resort has participated campaign ‘EXPAT TRAVEL BONUS’ with Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) and Thai Hotels Association with special room promotion. Book our rooms and get THB1,000 discount for every room nights from 15 October – 31 December 2020!

 

Enjoy Phuket in a different way while having to stay on this beautiful island. Escape to the perfect family getaway staycation destination … Pullman Phuket Panwa Beach Resort. It has many fun activities designed for you and your children right in the heart of Cape Panwa. Check out the special #EXPATTravelBonus rates and book with us now!

 

 

Included in this offer:

• 15% off on Spa (a la carte menu).

• 15%% off for F&B all restaurants (excludes alcohol beverages).

• Kids eat free menu (age 4-12 years) max. 1 kid per 1 paying adult.

• Complimentary access to all water sport activities (excluding sailing & wind surfing).

• Complimentary access to kids activity in the resort.

• Complimentary Wi-Fi Internet access 24 hours.

• Secretarial Services at business center ex. Scanning and copying.

 

Book now: https://www.pullmanphuketpanwa.com/offers/expat-travel-bonus-promotion/

 

 

 

Thaivisa has teamed up with the Tourism Authority of Thailand and 5 great sponsors to encourage expat travel across all of Thailand. We must thank the Dusit Hotels & Resorts, Blue Haven Bay, The Riviera Group, Global Insurance - for all your Expat Insurance needs and Dan about Thailand for their huge support with this project. 

 

 

 

Koh Chang: Get 50% Discount at KC Grande Resort & Spa

 

 

KC Grande Resort & Spa is located on a secluded corner of Haad Sai Khao (White Sand Beach), where you can relax fully and take a deep breath of the refreshing, cool sea breeze alongside a clear blue sky, sparkling turquoise ocean, and lush mountain greenery surrounding you. Besides the beach itself, we have a wide variety of facilities to make your stay with us truly memorable.

 

Book Date         :  15 October – 31 December, 2020

Period of Stay  :  15 October – 31 December, 2020

Condition          :  Non Refundable

 

KC GRANDE RESORT & SPA

T: +66 (0) 39-552-111T: +66 (0) 61-413-8362-4

 

Web: http://www.kckohchang.com/

 

Offer expires at 11:59pm on Thursday December 31st, 2020

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Follow Expat Explore on Facebook - To ensure you get the best deals and offers from across Thailand specifically for Expats

 

I have traveled most parts of Thailand now and through my job and leisure visited some stunning hotels, but I think I have just discovered one of the best – if not the best.

 

Do watch this vlog through to the end and see their world class dining area with unbeatable views at https://danaboutthailand.com/2020/10/13/is-this-the-best-hotel-in-thailand/

Coastal Thailand news for October 13th, 2020

David Luekens

 

Welcome to the 20th edition of the Island Wrap! This week I cover damage from Tropical Storm Linfa; Thailand’s foreign tourism reboot in disarray; photos of Phuket in the 1980s; and your usual round up of environmental and travel stories from all around coastal Thailand. As always, thank you for reading.

 

Last week I published a story on Ko Adang, the mountainous and barely developed island that looms beside Ko Lipe in the Lower Thai Andaman. Later this week I’ll introduce Ko Rawi and Ko Hin Ngam as part of the second of four posts that transport you to the marvelous Butang (or Adang) archipelago.

 

Ko Rawi on the horizon. The post coming later this week is in honor of the recent reopening of Mu Ko Tarutao Marine National Park. If you’re in Thailand, head down there when the rain lets up?

 

Over on Couchfish, Stuart unfortunately ran into his not-so-friendly “old friend,” dengue fever. I wish him a speedy recovery. And readers in Southeast Asia, if you see a mosquito, do take his advice and “please hit it with a hammer.”

Pick of the week: CHARITY

 

In Krabi province’s Nua Khlong district, the Wongpanit recycling center exchanges money for plastic, glass, styrofoam, ropes, shoes, nets, metals and many other types of recyclable “waste” that the tides carry ashore. Assisted by Second Life Foundation, which facilitates recycling in other parts of Thailand as well, this setup incentivizes locals in places like Ko Lanta and Ko Klang to clean up the coasts. Here’s a video of an operation that brought in four tons of recyclables from the sea.

 

Continue reading: https://thaiislandtimes.substack.com/p/coastal-thailand-news-for-october-3c4

 

Ko Adang: Tremendous views, black sand and jungle trails

David Luekens

 

Welcome to the first in a series of four posts on the islands, people and attractions of the Butang (or Adang) archipelago in the Lower Thai Andaman. Next week I’ll cover Ko Rawi and Ko Hin Ngam, followed by a nerdier overview of the archipelago and, finally, a post on Ko Lipe in a few weeks. Enjoy.

 

The nose of our longtail boat lunged up and over the waves, spraying warm seawater on my face as we cruised from Ko Lipe to Ko Adang. This mid-size island in the Lower Thai Andaman exemplifies, along with some of its neighbors, how mainstream tourism has not overrun all of Thailand’s most stunning islands.

 

Both protected as part of Mu Ko Tarutao Marine National Park, Ko Adang and its twin sibling, Ko Rawi, are the two largest islands in the Butang archipelago. The park — but not the archipelago — also covers Ko Tarutao, a larger island set 50 km to the east, along with Ko Tanga and a sizable mainland section.

 

Ko Rawi (left), the islet of Ko Yang and a sliver of Ko Adang as seen from Ko Lipe’s western forest.

 

Continue reading: https://thaiislandtimes.substack.com/p/ko-adang-tremendous-views-black-sand

 

 

 

 

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Thaivisa has teamed up with the Tourism Authority of Thailand and 5 great sponsors to encourage expat travel across all of Thailand. We must thank the Dusit Hotels & Resorts, Blue Haven Bay, The Riviera Group, Global Insurance - for all your Expat Insurance needs and Dan about Thailand for their huge support with this project.

 

 

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Coastal Thailand news for October 6th, 2020
David Luekens

 

Greetings from coastal Thailand, where I’m writing this as rain pounds down and thunder booms outside my window. It’s a fitting mood for a week that included flooding in several places along with more delays on the country’s long-stay tourism plan and Covid-19 spiraling out of control in neighboring Myanmar. You’ll also find good news, however, in this edition of the Island Wrap.

 

For later this week I’m working on an article about Ko Adang and Ko Rawi, a pair of magnificent and almost entirely undeveloped islands in the far southwest of the Thai Andaman. They’re both protected by Mu Ko Tarutao, one of many national marine parks that are reopening in Thailand this month.

 

Over on Couchfish, Stuart wrote about the colors of Southeast Asia and a beach-rimmed peninsula on Cambodia’s portion of the Gulf of Thailand.

 

Gorgeous Ko Adang, one of many islands on Forra Diving’s radar, reopened to visitors on October 1st.

 

Continue reading: https://thaiislandtimes.substack.com/p/coastal-thailand-news-for-october