Thailand Trip

Andy Gilhooly on 25 September 2017
We started off by flying with Etihad to Bangkok via Abu Dhabi. Great service.

We arrived in Bangkok and firstly were off to the amazing Royal Orchid Sheraton. Destination Asia were looking after us on the ground. A quick rest before a boat trip up The Chaoprahya for lunch at The Babble and Rum Restaurant at The Riva Surya Hotel. The food was great.

It was then a boat trip on The Klong Tour and a visit to The Wat Arun. Back to the hotel for a quick change and a hosted dinner in The Thara Thong restaurant and site inspection of the hotel. Great facilities and amazing food. Breakfast in the morning and then back to the airport for our Bangkok Airways flight to Koh Samui. What a great airline. Everyone has access to their lounge where you can have a coffee and cake and the service on board the very short flight was incredible.

We then checked in at Vana Belle, a stunning property just outside Chaweng. We got into our rooms which were amazing: large and modern with your own pool. Awesome. It was then a discovery event where we had lots of great experiences of Thai culture including food, massage and drink.

We had a hosted dinner at night in the lovely Panali restaurant on the beachfront.

Next day it was off to the Ang Thong National Marine Park. It was a full day of boat trips, snorkelling, Kayaking, Thai Culture, Amazing Food and Amazing people. Well worth visiting.

At night, it was an amazing hosted dinner on the beach at The Ozo Chaweng Beach, a lovely modern hotel very close to the centre of Chaweng.

In the morning, we had a Tak Bat tradition of offering food to the Buddhist Monk. A great experience and blessing from the Monk. It was then a sweaty class of Thai Boxing and massage before a cooking class and lunch. We were really well looked after by all the staff at the amazing 5-star Vana Belle.

We took a speedboat transfer to the Santhiya Koh Panghan Resort, a 30-minute transfer from Koh Samui. What a stunning setting. We checked into our amazing rooms then it was a lovely dinner at the hotel.

Next day it was an inspection of the Panviman and Anantara which are also located on the same bay as the Santhiya. At night, it was off to the Thong Sala Food Market which was incredible to see. There were people coming from all over.

Next day it was all over and the long journey home. Speedboat transfer, flights up to Bangkok then home to Edinburgh via Abu Dhabi.

Amazing trip, amazing country and amazing people. Land of smiles.