Discover Thailand 2007-2008Prepared by Harold Stephens
Travel Correspondent for Thai Airways International
The ink may still be wet but nevertheless DISCOVER THAILAND 2007-2008 is now available at all Thai Airways International ticketing offices and with designated travel agents around the world. It’s a 90-page booklet with beautiful photographs and helpful maps that will be a definite boon for anyone contemplating a vacation in Thailand. There are four such new releases and this week I will be concentrating on Discover Thailand. In the limited space in this Weekly Travel Feature it is quite impossible to cover the entire contents of the booklet but I will attempt to give an outline and some highlights until readers can obtain their own copies.
The booklet is comprehensive and a complete guide to Thailand with an introduction that contains a section on Discovering Thailand. A second section tells what Royal Orchid Holidays has to offer: New Tours, Taste of Thailand, Adventure Tours, Golf In Thailand, Spas in Thailand, Romantic Getaways, Kitchenette, Fly-Drive Thailand, Medical Check-Ups and, of special note, Royal Initiative Discovery, projects supported by His Majesty the King.
Discover Thailand covers four areas in the Kingdom: Bangkok & Central Thailand; The Gulf of Thailand; Northern Thailand; and Southern Thailand. Royal Orchid Holidays has gone far out to create some incredible tours. A remarkable aspect of these tours is that they come at a savings for ROH clients. ROH is not a tour operator as such but ROH negotiates with tour companies and travel agents for the best services available. ROH then offers these services to their clients and at the best prices. So let’s first take a look at what’s available for Bangkok & Central Thailand.
From the booklet: Bangkok is steeped in history and tradition. Modern rail systems speed from upscale malls to tightly packed markets and tiny street stalls. Cruise the “River of Kings” to the capital's centuries-old birthplace glistening with golden temples or buzz by taxi from a top hotel to trendy night spots and eateries.
The underline factor to Royal Orchid Hollidays' success is what follows: Create a Personal Bangkok Stay: Start your journey in the Kingdom at Bangkok and Central Thailand, or wind up your visit in the heart of Thailand, knowing Royal Orchid Holidays is behind you every step of the way. Mix and match from a wide choice of full and half-day tours to come up with an itinerary made just for you. Check out a cooking class; pamper yourself in a spa; spend the day shopping; enjoy an evening dinner cruise. Excursions away from the city lead to Thailand's ancient capital of Ayutthaya and the legendary Bridge over the River Kwai in Kanchanaburi. Add a round of golf, or even a low–cost medical exam, when creating your personal Bangkok stay.
Something that is special about ROH tours are the options given to visitors. You can spend a night at Khao San Road, the backpackers quarter, or take an overnight cruise to Ayutthaya on a converted rice barge. You can visit the Jim Thompson House or the Grand Palace; you can take a rice barge cruise through the canals, called klongs; or spend an evening at the theater and witness the elaborate Khon dance performance. Side trips from the capital take you to the Bridge over the River Kwai or Boutique Camping at Farm Chokchai.
The second section, The Gulf of Thailand, covers all the beach resorts from Pattaya to Hua Hin with added island tours like Koh Chang, a new discovery. Emphasis here is relaxation and spas with some nightlife in Pattaya.
The third section takes on the road to adventure and exploration: CHIANG MAI, CHIANG RAI, MAE HONG SON & THE GOLDEN TRIANGLE. Return to nature among lush forests with cascading waterfalls, misty mountain peaks and rambling brooks. Head to the Golden Triangle, trek to hill tribes on elephant back and raft down a river. Looking to relax? Visit a rural temple, enjoy a tranquil spa or plan a romantic retreat with the one you love.
Here’s the chance to see mahout training, take a jungle cooking course or go trekking in the hills. There is also luxury at some of the finest resorts in the world, like the Four Seasons Resort private pavalion. The options in the north are nearly limitless. The booklet goes on for pages suggesting what a visitor can see and do.
The fourth section is Southern Thailand and, again, one would need a lifetime to see it all. ROH makes all kinds of suggestions. They even offer Phuket Stayover-kitchenette in which visitors can select one or two bedroom suites with cooking facilities; ideal for the family. Whatever you want to do outdoors is here: sailing, diving, deep-sea fishing, jungle exploring, elephant trekking, river rafting, canoeing or just plain relaxing in a number of fine hotels in the five-star category.
The Discover Thailand booklet has a special section on Fly-Drive Thailand, with everything from vans to four-wheel-drive vehicles. There is also a section on Romantic Getaways and another one on spas. There’s also a complete listing for medical check-ups, a service that is becoming very popular in the Kingdom.
And finally, the 90-page booklet has a listing of the hotels offered through Royal Orchid Holidays, from economy accommodations to deluxe.
Next week I will tell readers about the worldwide offers of Royal Orchid Holidays. QUESTIOINS & ANSWERSQ. Dear Harold Stephens, Would you please tell readers more about THAI’s Fly-drive program. Do I have to follow a schedule or can I drive much where I want? —James Kuran, Melbourne, Australia
A. Dear James. ROH has two Fly-Drive Programmes in Thailand and others in Australia and New Zealand. No, you do not have to follow a schedule. You may drive where you please. Rental agencies provide the road maps. Next week I will give more information on Fly-Drive outside of Thailand—HS
Harold Stephens
Bangkok
E-mail: ROH Weekly Travel (booking@inet.co.th)
Note: The article is the personal view of the writer and does not necessarily reflect the view of Thai Airways International Public Company Limited | 
