TRAVEL GUIDE: THAILAND

When it comes to offering a well-rounded vacation, Thailand has it all—urban pleasures, fabulous beaches and remote jungle towns, plus great food and shopping. Whether you start down south on the islands (Phuket is a favorite) or up north in Chiang Mai, you’ll fall in love with this diverse country.


BANGKOK

BUSINESS AND PLEASURE
Business Travel Guide

When business visitors aren't converging in air-conditioned offices, they're taking full advantage of after hours pursuits, which range from global dining and non-stop bar hopping, to massage (the legit kind), meditation and even ice hockey.



CHIANG MAI

TRAVEL SPECIAL
Holistic for the Holidays
Escape the winter blues and indulge in some holistic healing at the Mandarin Oriental Dhara Dhevi in Thailand. This mystical hideway's December package includes a free, 80-minute ayurvedic treatment at the deluxe Dheva Spa.

The Mandarin Oriental Dhara Dhevi

THE NEC-PLUS ULTRA OF THAI SPAS
The Spa at the Four Seasons Resort, Chiang Mai
Nestled deep in the heart of the Mae Rim Valley is the Four Seasons Resort Chiang Mai, one of Thailand's—and possibly the world's—most luxurious and outstanding resorts.

PARADISE FOUND
Mandarin Oriental Dhara Dhevi
Sanskrit for "Star Goddess," the Dhara Dhevi resort is an ornate, sixty-acre royal village that pays homage to the lost Lanna Kingdom of Northern Thailand. Enjoy modern luxuries and an incredible spa set among traditional temples and teak villas.
See also: The hotel's Dheva Spa


LAND OF SMILES
Rachamankha
Setting the bar for the burgeoning boutique hotel movement in Thailand is the sophisticated Rachamankha in Chiang Mai. Rather than a designer's nostalgic idea of ancient Thailand, this is an authentic endeavor.

ON THE RIVER'S EDGE
The Spa at The Chedi, Chiang Mai
The Chedi, Chiang Mai hotel is a newcomer to the northern Thai city of Chiang Mai. It sits right on the banks of the Mae Ping River and oozes both minimalist design and historic charm.


HUA HIN

Chiva-Som International Health Resort

TOP 10 HEALTH RETREATS
Chiva-Som Health Resort

Located on the country’s western coast, this resort offers much more than a day at the beach. A holistic sanctuary with an emphasis on integrative medicine, Chiva-Som utilizes unique diagnostic techniques that can often identify issues orthodox medicine may have missed.


PHUKET

TRAVEL NEWS
Sri Panwa Phuket

Sri Panwa, one of Thailand's top luxury resorts on its southeast end, recently opened its Sai Spa, a fusion of traditional Thai techniques and modern treatments, as well as its Baba Dining Lounge, which offers contemporary Thai and international cuisine.

Baba dining lounge, Sri Panwa Phuket Resort's newest restaurant, boasts views of the Andaman Ocean


The Spa Villa at Banyan Tree Phuket, Thailand

TOP 10 SPA HOTELS WORLDWIDE
Banyan Tree Phuket

Indulge at Asia's original tropical garden spa, surrounded by coconut groves and blonde beaches. The signature treatment is a lemongrass and cucumber scrub combined with acupressure massage. Holistic therapies based on traditional Thai practices are offered here, along with Jacuzzis, steam rooms, outdoor showers and sunken pools.


OCEAN FRONT VILLAS
Sri Panwa Phuket

Situated on 32 acres of rainforest above the azure blue waters of the Andaman Sea, Sri Panwa is considered one of the top resorts in Phuket, Thailand. See why celebrities and jet-setters flock to this luxurious resort for splendid views and relaxation.

The view from a villa at the Sri Panwa resort in Phuket, Thailand


A pool at a resort in Thailand

For more information, visit the official Tourism Authority of Thailand site at www.tourismthailand.org or Mekong Travel and Tourism at www.visit-mekong.com.

Guides for other parts of the world

(Updated: 06/19/08 KR)



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