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Travelling to Chiang Mai or Chiang Rai

Are you contemplating between exploring Chiang Mai or Chiang Rai? Both cities, strategically located in the core of northern Thailand, offer a diverse array of experiences, each possessing distinct charm. This article endeavors to elucidate the discrepancies between these two engaging locations, assisting you in...

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  • Event Round-Up – March 2019

    Event Round-Up – March 2019

    The month kicks off with one of Thailand’s most unique and bizarre festivals and celebrations, that of the Tattoo Festival in Nakhon Chaisi in the province of Nakhon Pathom, around 50 kilometres west of Bangkok. Held at the Wat Bang Phra temple on 2 March, the festival also goes by the name Wai Kru Sak …

  • “Pattaya: Sex Capital of the World” – but tourism chief is determined to change image

    “Pattaya: Sex Capital of the World” – but tourism chief is determined to change image

    Pattaya’s tourism office says that changing the seaside resort’s seedy image won’t happen overnight. But office chief Sinchai Watanasartsathorn says he is determined to work with both public and private to change Pattaya’s image. Sinchai, also a member of the chamber of commerce, was speaking to the Pattaya News following a story that appeared in the UK’s Mirror …

  • Maya Bay – no plans to re-open The Beach

    Maya Bay – no plans to re-open The Beach

    That was before. This is now. The future remains uncertain for any re-opening of the southern Thailand tourist magnet, Maya Bay at Koh Phi Phi Ley. Thai authorities say they have no plans to re-open Maya Bay at this stage but that they continue to monitor the situation on Koh Phi Phi Ley and the …

  • Flying into history, the mighty Airbus A380

    Flying into history, the mighty Airbus A380

    In an era where airlines are now run by accountants instead of pioneers, aviators or passionate flyers, it’s no wonder we’re seeing the passing of an important aviation milestone this week. The Airbus A380, a passenger favourite, failed to ignite the interest it needed to sustain new orders and and a continuation of the program …

  • Chinese resurgence, Russian stability feature in tourist arrivals for the start of 2019

    Chinese resurgence, Russian stability feature in tourist arrivals for the start of 2019

    The Chinese returned in numbers at the start of 2019 giving the Land of Smiles a spectacular start for the year with a total of 3.7 million visitors in January 2019. This was a nearly 5% rise in total tourist numbers from the same month last year. Mainland China continues to lead Thailand’s source market …

  • The Patong Bay Hill Resort – where your holiday begins!

    The Patong Bay Hill Resort – where your holiday begins!

    Nestled into the hills above Phuket’s popular Patong Beach, the modern Patong Bay Hill Resort is a luxurious resort which overlooks the ocean and the eclectic neighborhood below. Welcome to Patong Bay Hill Resort Set in a beautifully landscaped garden, Patong Bay Hill Resort is set amongst the natural, tropical environment of Patong’s Hasib-pee Hill. …

  • Thai Airways hope to clear backlog of stranded passengers over weekend

    Thai Airways hope to clear backlog of stranded passengers over weekend

    PHOTOS: EPA-EFE Around 2,000 passengers were still stranded at Suvarnabhumi Airport yesterday as the national airline struggled to clear the backlog caused by Pakistan closing its airspace due to rising tensions with India. Thai Airways has been trying to transport the stranded passengers to their destinations ‘as quickly as possible’ according to Thai Airways president …

  • Thai Airways says it will stick to ‘rehabilitation plan’ despite 11.6 billion baht loss in 2018

    Thai Airways says it will stick to ‘rehabilitation plan’ despite 11.6 billion baht loss in 2018

    It hasn’t been a good week for Thai Airways as the national airline continues to fly passengers to their original destinations days after flights were cancelled and rescheduled due to Pakistan airspace closures. Even yesterday Thai Airways was reporting a backlog of up to 2,000 passengers they were hoping to clear before the end of …

  • Thai Airways resumes flights to Europe via Chinese airspace

    Thai Airways resumes flights to Europe via Chinese airspace

    Thai Airways International has resumed flights to Europe via Chinese airspace instead of over Pakistan after an abrupt cancellation of flights last night. The cancellations were due to armed tensions between India and Pakistan. Pratthana Pattanasiri, director for aviation safety at Thai Airways, said today that the national flag carrier was granted permission from China …

  • Flights delayed and cancelled at Phuket Airport – Closure of Pakistan airspace

    Flights delayed and cancelled at Phuket Airport – Closure of Pakistan airspace

    Flights have been affected at the Phuket International Airport, a knock-on affect from the closing of airspace over Pakistan. Latest in the tensions between India and Pakistan HERE. Thai Airways resumes flights. Read about that HERE. The Phuket International Airport has announced flights that have been affected at the Phuket International Airport. Delayed flights… AEROFLOT …

  • UPDATE: Thai Airways resumes flights

    UPDATE: Thai Airways resumes flights

    Thai Airways has resumed flight between Bangkok and Europe today after cancellations due to Pakistan’s emergency closure of its airspace. The cancellations, announced late last night, have caused havoc for travellers hoping to fly between Bangkok and Europe on Thai Airways last night and today. Flights between Bangkok to Europe, in both directions, normally fly …

  • 1000s of passengers stranded at BKK over Pakistan emergency

    1000s of passengers stranded at BKK over Pakistan emergency

    More than 5,000 passengers have been stranded at Suvarnabhumi Airport since last night night after many departure flights were cancelled due to the emergency closure of airspace in Pakistan. Many more passengers are ending up inconvenienced today as they learn about the cancellations. The debacle is causing another PR disaster for Thai Airways with passengers …

  • British Airways flight buffeted by strong winds – VIDEO

    British Airways flight buffeted by strong winds – VIDEO

    British Airways flight was forced to divert from its planned course after encountering strong gusts off the coast of southern Europe yesterday. Flight BA492 was scheduled to take off from London Heathrow airport at 8:25 a.m. and land in the British overseas territory of Gibraltar at 12:20 p.m. But it eventually touched down at 12:41 …

  • Strong baht a concern for Thai hotel sector

    Strong baht a concern for Thai hotel sector

    by Bill Barnett Thailand’s baht performance against Asian currencies in 2018, was unmatched, with the exception of the Japanese yen. Commenting on the trend financial news Bloomberg have highlighted that in 2019, a further 4% in growth this year have it sitting at the top of the table. Oddly, one of the underlying factors stimulating …

  • Chinese tourists spend big during Chinese New Year holiday

    Chinese tourists spend big during Chinese New Year holiday

    Spending by Chinese tourists during the Chinese New Year holiday around the world was the highest in Thailand. Alipay, a leading digital payment platform offered by Ant Financial, an affiliate of Alibaba Group has done the sums. The transactions were recorded between February 4-10, and data drawn from the 54 international markets where Alipay is accepted. …

  • Japan’s legendary cherry blossom is only 5 hours away

    Japan’s legendary cherry blossom is only 5 hours away

    by Kaoru Do you travel frequently between Thailand and North America and want to break your journey on the way? Or are you simply looking for somewhere to escape the scorching weather forecast for the next few months? Japan has become a very popular holiday destination among Thais with visitor numbers expected to reach one …

  • Kingdom from the sky – a tribute to the Thailand we love

    Kingdom from the sky – a tribute to the Thailand we love

    Amongst the chaos, the pungent aroma of spicy street food and bad driving, there’s also the daily connection with Thailand’s deep secrets – the land, the light, the hidden beauty. Just 2 Guys Creative have captured some of this in a short tribute to Thailand from the air, all shot on a DJI Phantom 2. …

  • Airport smokers kicked out of Thai terminals

    Airport smokers kicked out of Thai terminals

    The Southeast Asia Tobacco Control Alliance (SEATCA) says they strongly support Thailand’s move to ban smoking inside the passenger terminals of all its airports, to protect employees and non-smoking travellers from exposure to secondhand smoke. On February 3 this year, the Airports of Thailand (AoT) removed all smoking rooms inside the airports of Suvarnabhumi, Don …

  • Bangkok Airlines schedules more flights out of Chiang Mai

    Bangkok Airlines schedules more flights out of Chiang Mai

    Competition is heating up on two direct airline routes out of Chiang Mai – to Krabi and Luang Prabang in Laos. But Bangkok Airways is facing tough competition on the direct Chiang Mai – Krabi route, already served with three daily Thai AirAsia flights, while Bangkok Airways will schedule only three flights in March and …

  • Airbus signals end to A380 production, end of an era

    Airbus signals end to A380 production, end of an era

    Emirates Airlines says it’s reducing its Airbus A380 orders from 162 to 123 aircraft. They say this follows a review of its operations and developments in aircraft and engine technologies. The A380 is the double-decker mega aircraft that was developed as a new-age rival to the successful Boeing 747 ‘Jumbo’ jet. Whilst popular for passengers …

  • Update on renovations to Krabi International Airport

    Update on renovations to Krabi International Airport

    The Thailand Airports Authority has updated the expansion and refurbishment plans currently underway at Krabi International Airport. They report that work on a third terminal building will be completed by 2022. Manager Online reports that Amphawan Wannako, the director-general, says that work is also being done to refurbish Terminals 1 and 2, including the car …

  • Tourism Council of Thailand promises to raise standards of tourist safety

    Tourism Council of Thailand promises to raise standards of tourist safety

    By Chadamas Chinmaneevong, ttgasia.com The Tourism Council of Thailand (TCT) says they are “joining hands with state agencies including the Department of Land Transport, Marine Department and Tourism Authority of Thailand to improve tourist safety standards nationwide and overturn perceptions of the country as a dangerous tourist destination.” The project is a reaction to the many, …

  • Air Asia booking system down for 24 hours this weekend

    Air Asia booking system down for 24 hours this weekend

    Air Asia will be upgrading it Navitaire New Skies reservation system over the weekend causing a 24 hour blackout for all booking systems across all channels. Flight booking for Air Asia will be unavailable on Saturday, February 16 from 2pm (GMT +8) until Sunday, February 17 at 3pm. This will include AirAsia.com, AirAsia sales counter, …

  • Boom boom on the border – Thailand’s unlikely red-light district

    Boom boom on the border – Thailand’s unlikely red-light district

    PHOTO: The attractions of Thailand’s southern border town usually become apparent after sunset On one side of the Thai/Malaysian border is Sungai Golok, on the Malaysian side it’s the town of Rantau Panjang. The two towns are separated by the Golok River as well as decades of furious fighting between Muslim separatists who want to …

  • Thai AirAsia X flies to Brisbane June 2019. Thai Airways cut services to Australia.

    Thai AirAsia X flies to Brisbane June 2019. Thai Airways cut services to Australia.

    PHOTO: Airbus Today Brisbane Airport announced that the low-cost carrier Thai AirAsia X would start operating from the Queensland capital flying to Bangkok four times a week from June 2019. This will be Thai AirAsia X’s first Australian destination and would be using the Airbus A330-300’s which have 12 premium seats available in a 2-2-2 …

  • A vacation experience like no other with Club Unique, Phuket

    A vacation experience like no other with Club Unique, Phuket

    Club Unique offers endless possibilities and limitless luxuries. A true vacation experience like no other. A membership at Club Unique affords direct access to an ever-growing portfolio of resorts and destinations with over 3000 fantastic locations worldwide. Headquartered in the company’s flagship resort, Patong Bay Hill Resort & Spa, Club Unique serves as a private …

  • Thai tourists abandoned at Suvarnabhumi after buying dodgy tour to South Korea

    Thai tourists abandoned at Suvarnabhumi after buying dodgy tour to South Korea

    PHOTOS: The Tourist Police Bureau A Thai man has been arrested over the operation of an non-existent tour. He has abandoned five Thai tourists who had bought a tour to South Korea at Suvarnabhumi Airport this week. The Tourist Police report that 32 year old Thai man Puwanart Prakam was arrested at Suvarnabhumi Airport. He …

  • Smoking rooms, and smokers, being kicked out of Thai airports

    Smoking rooms, and smokers, being kicked out of Thai airports

    Ah yes, just finished that 11 hour flight from Europe and can’t wait to dash into the smoking room for a quick cigarette. In Thailand that’s no longer going to be possible. The AoT (Airports of Thailand) are scrapping the anachronistic smoking zones at all their airports, effective immediately. Smokers won’t be able to smoke …

  • Chinese tourists flock back to Phuket for Chinese New Year 2019

    Chinese tourists flock back to Phuket for Chinese New Year 2019

    Chinese tourists are flocking back to Phuket for Chinese New Year 2019 after a six month hiatus following last year’s Phoenix boat tragedy. 47 Chinese tourists drowned in the incident, including many children, after the boat capsized on July 5 in a late afternoon storm as the tour boat was returning to Phuket. In the …

  • Thailand #1 for Chinese travellers heading overseas for Chinese New Year

    Thailand #1 for Chinese travellers heading overseas for Chinese New Year

    Thailand, Japan and Singapore are topping the lists for Chinese travellers this Chinese New Year. The data comes from Hotelbeds.com, a leading accommodation booking platform. The website identified the top 10 international destinations for Chinese travellers for this year’s seven-day Chinese New Year holiday that starts tomorrow (Monday). Thailand was named the most popular destination followed …