Let’s Visit Asia

When I wrote about China’s tightened visa procedures in light of the upcoming Olympics, I already said that they should watch out that it doesn’t backfire. Looks like my fears were not unfounded.
By now, Beijing hotels should already be fully booked in anticipation of the summer visitors. In reality, however, business is slow.
“We are not full at the moment, and we have rooms to fill,” said Anthony Ha, general manager of the newly opened Marriott Courtyard Beijing Northeast. “There’s not much time left, and we have a way to go.”
Ha declined to reveal the hotel’s occupancy rate. But he expressed …read more

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Out of the many out there, which website do you use to book your accommodations online? Which website do you find easiest to use? Which offers the best room rates?
Often, I consult 2-3 websites to book my travel needs, compare the rates offered, and book from that which returns the best offer. Although I have my favorites, they don’t consistently show the best rates, and sometimes I’m surprised to find better offers from websites I wold never have thought of checking out.
With Hotels Combined, the search for that best deal has become a few clicks easier. It searches more than …read more

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The next time I spend a holiday in the vicinity of these resorts in Thailand, I’d definitely would like to try the X2 Resorts, just to satisfy my curiosity. No, not to check out the resort facilities and amenities, but purely because I’m intrigued by the name: X2 (read as “cross to”).
There’s an X2 in Kui Buri, a 3 hour drive south of Bangkok and half an hour south of Hua Hin. Another is set to open in Koh Samui this month, and yet another in Koh Kood next year.
X2 Kui Buri is currently offering 2 nights free if you …read more

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Some mommy friends of mine are organizing an overnight trip with kids to Batam, Indonesia. It’s less than an hour’s ferry ride from Singapore and is a popular place for Singapore residents for a weekend away from the city. But I can imagine that even for a tourist or a business traveler, one or two nights on the Indonesian island may be a welcome retreat.
One mom I know has been there before and highly recommended the Purajaya Resort for those traveling with kids. I checked out the room rates (very reasonable) and the facilities (looks really nice on the web …read more

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Dreaming of Phuket or Koh Samui but are on a budget? Conde Nast Traveler suggests you give Vietnam’s Hoi An a try.
In it’s Dollar-Friendly Destinations 2008, they recommend the Victoria Hoi An Beach Resort & Spa. It’s not five-star, but the resort is certainly equipped with all the amenities one would need on a holiday, and, here’s the bottomline: room rates start at just $145 a night.
And while you’re in Hoi An, take the opportunity to get a made-to-measure suit or dress. Haute couture for a fraction of the cost!
Interest awakened? Let these pictures whet your appetite for more …read more

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Looking for accommodations in Bangkok? Have a look at the 9 leisure packages being offered at Metropolitan Bangkok:
Como Shambhala Reviver Package: for couples or friends looking for wellbeing and respite from the urban hubbub
Excess at the Met: for the ultimate extravagance
Global Explorer: ideal for travelers on stop-over on their way to explore Indochina’s gems, including Thailand’s beaches, Cambodia and Vietnam
Ready for Business: offers the sleek and efficient tools business travelers require
Seduce Me at the Met: modern interpretation of the classic romance package
Bangkok in Style: the best of Bangkok concentrated into a perfectly tuned three-night stay
Good Morning Bangkok: a simple, …read more

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The last week has seen a lot of new hotels opening in the Chinese region:
in Hongkong: Courtyard by Marriott Hong Kong, located along the Victoria Harbour in the Sai Ying Pun District on Hong Kong Island
also in Hong Kong: Novotel Nathan Road, located on the main thoroughfare of Kowloon, also known as the Golden Mile
in Shanghai: Swissôtel Grand, a luxury hotel located in the city’s Jing’An quarter

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Here’s something for the parents out there: The Landmark Mandarin Oriental in Hong Kong has prepared a pampering package for parents in time for the upcoming Mothers’ and Fathers’ Days.

Available on Mother’s Day and Father’s Day weekends the Parental Pampering package includes:
* One-night accommodation for two
* Welcome bottle of chilled champagne
* Welcome celebratory gift
* Breakfast buffet for two
* Pre-dinner drinks for two at MO Bar
* Five-course Mother’s/Father’s Day dinner for two at Amber restaurant (wine pairing included)
* A one-hour massage at The Oriental Spa
* Complimentary use of The Oriental Spa’s heat and water oasis including Roman laconium, Turkish hamam, …read more

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Want to learn diving in Thailand? Or perhaps you’re already a seasoned diver but have never seen Thailand’s diverse underwater flora and fauna?
You might want to take advantage of Centara Hotels and Resorts’ Diving Packages. You can download a brochure of their diving packages here. They offer quite attractive rates that include hotel accommodations, plus confined training dives for beginners to open water certification dives and recreational fun dives for the more experienced divers. If you have teens and tweens tagging along, note that the dives most packages are ok for 10-12 year olds.

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Been to Siem Reap? If ever, most likely you’ve been there to visit the Angkor Wat. But if you’re a golfer — whether a casual weekend player or a professional, you might want to try out the new Nick Faldo’s Angkor Golf Resort in Siem Reap.
Have a look at the list of their partner hotels for discounted accommodation packages. The Victoria Angkor Resort and Spa for example, offers the 3D/2N Nick Faldo Golf Package, which includes an 18-hole round of golf with caddy and return transfer between hotel and golf course or a half-day spa package for non-golfers.

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