Phuket is Thailand’s best-known beach destination with a lively (and some say notorious) nightlife centred on Patong Beach…

The resorts to the north of Patong are considerably quieter and more conservative.  Phuket is pretty well recovered from the tsunami although there are still some scars on the landscape.  The island has a great variety of shopping, from open-air food markets, street stalls and local shops, to western department stores and upmarket specialist shops.   Best buys include ceramics, bronze and pewter items, Thai silk, cotton, batiks, gems and pearls. There are also lots of ‘branded goods’ and pirate DVDs, videos and CDs.

Phuket has just two seasons– the rainy season (May to October) and the hot season (November to April). Even in the rainy season you can get an excellent tan and normally the showers are short.  The best time to visit is from November to February, when you’ll get clear blue sky and a fresh sea breeze in average temperatures that range between 23°C and 33°C.  Patong, once known as the sleazy red light district of Phuket, has undergone a transformation in recent years. The area’s nightlife has been toned down considerably to make it friendlier to women, couples and families and Patong now has something for everyone. That’s not to say that you can’t find some wild action any more - you certainly can if that’s what you’re after!

Patong is home to several nightclubs and discos where you can let your hair down amidst heaving dance floors and a lot of energy.  But it’s the Go-Go bars in Patong Beach that are the reason most people go there in the first place!  They are not the raunchy circuses they used to be, and according to the law, no actual nudity is allowed any more, but these rules are often bent if not just completely ignored.    The main Patong entertainment is the Beer Bar: little places that are packed together on the streets and sois of Patong, employing pretty hostesses whose job is to lure patrons.  Once you’re in the bar, these girls will lavish attention on you like you’re a celebrity and entice you to play a game - Connect Four is ludicrously popular.  Be wary if a girl wants to bet on one of these games.  They spend lots of time practicing. The day you beat a bar girl at Connect Four you’ll know you’ve been in Patong far too long!

Thailand lies in the heart of South East Asia, and has been a cultural and economic centre for the past 200 years…

The capital and largest city is Bangkok (or to use its full Thai name:  Krung Thep Mahanakhon Amon Rattanakosin Mahinthara Ayuthaya Mahadilok Phop Noppharat Ratchathani Burirom Udomratchaniwet Mahasathan Amon Piman Awatan Sathit Sakkathattiya Witsanukam Prasit) or Krung Thep Maha Nakhon or just Krung Thep (The City of Angels) for short.   You can see why westerners prefer Bangkok!

Thailand’s capital is the world’s 22nd largest city by population with approximately 8.2 million residents, but tourists, itinerant workers and other visitors swell those numbers to an estimated 15 million people. Thailand is an ethnic melting pot approximately the same size as Spain and one of the most devoutly Buddhist countries in the world.
With this rich history and colourful culture, Thailand is a feast for the mind and the senses. You can trail deep into the rainforest past roaring waterfalls or go on a white knuckle ride on a bamboo raft. For a more tranquil way of enjoying Thailand’s exquisite beauty, go to the coast and bask in warn, azure waters and soft white sand where you can indulge in diving and snorkelling and game fishing.

No trip to Thailand would be complete without a stay in Bangkok.  Here you can see the mix of traditional Thai and Buddhist culture with modern shopping or nightlife as cultured or as hedonistic as you choose. There’s no better base in Bangkok than the Shangri-La Hotel, one of the world’s premier luxury destinations.  Set in beautiful tropical gardens it enjoys convenient access to the central business and shopping districts. This five star luxury hotel is consistently voted one of the best hotels in the world, and boasts unrivalled services in an elegant and exotic setting.

In a recent blog posting we looked at Mahé, largest island in the Seychelles.  But it’s just one out of the 115 self-contained paradises on offer.  You should consider the islands of Praslin or La Digue too for a perfect Indian Ocean holiday…..

Praslin is the second largest island in the Seychelles and home to less than 10% of the nation’s population.  It’s 10 x 4 km of unspoilt paradise, with some of the most beautiful beaches to be found anywhere.   On Praslin you can choose between the luxurious elegance of the hotel Lemuria, which offers privacy and relaxation just meters from the beach as well as a championship golf course and extensive sporting facilities. Or plump for L’Archipel with its colourful and exotically scented tropical gardens and luxurious bungalows nestling on the hillside overlooking a lovely private beach.  It’s a small, intimate hotel ideal for honeymooners and those seeking peace and tranquillity.

La Digue (4th largest island) is situated 45 kilometres from Mahé and 7 kilometres from Praslin. It’s thought by many to be the most unspoiled and traditional island in the Seychelles chain. The long and beautiful beaches with their readily accessible coral reefs are ideal for long walks, swimming, snorkelling and fishing.  The La Digue Island Lodge mirrors that unspoilt nature, overlooking the Anse Reunion beach and inhabiting a peaceful and exotic garden.